Housewife Gone Wild

Chapter 26

Nathan’s insight surprised me. He seemed to know me better than I’d realized.

“Have you been checking up on me?” My smile faded. The collapse of my marriage was painful enough without strangers poking through the remains.

“Sorry, I overstepped,” Nathan blurted out, uncharacteristically flustered. “Just heard some things in passing. No background checks, I promise.”

“Lovely meeting you.” I gave him my best polite dismissal and walked away.

Nathan stayed frozen where he stood.

Back at our table, Melissa was still nervously eyeing the handsome stranger at the other table, clearly working up the courage to talk to him.

“Melissa, ready to go?” I asked, already gathering my things. Nathan’s lingering gaze and that unsettling confession had me suddenly desperate for an exit.

She rose with obvious reluctance, just as Nathan came back inside.

I pulled Melissa forward. “Mr. Hallman, meet Melissa–legal genius and my best friend. Keep her number handy for when you inevitably need a lawyer.”

“Victoria…” Melissa hadn’t expected me to be so forward. She turned bright red, wishing she could vanish on the spot.

I shot her a reassuring look. “Don’t worry. Mr. Hallman and I know each other.”

Nathan handed Melissa a business card. “Ms. Jenkins, my company could use legal counsel. If you’re interested, reach out to my assistant, Zachary Chandler.”

“Hello,” said Zachary, the handsome guy across the table, raising his hand. He slid his card toward her. “Just give me a call.”

Melissa took both cards, her face burning. “Nice to meet you,” she murmured, and then yanked me out of the restaurant at lightning speed.

one look at her tomato–red

for their contacts

and nudged her. “You’ve got their cards now. It’d be a

strange and grabbed my arm. “You know Mr. Hallman? How?

you two meet?”

caught off guard by her

it. I can see it in his eyes–the way he

I didn’t want to hide things from her. So I told her everything–about volunteering at the charity and

created a tech mogul?” She’d seen his business card–the

was

and I didn’t even know who he was. Back then, people talked about this genius kid- how his family went bankrupt

time. When I heard his

a real gift for investments. Your instincts are spot–on,” Melissa said,

Jared’s money, not

“This is perfect. Jared financed his own romantic competitor. Imagine how

your voice down. If anyone hears you, we’re through as

voice dropping to a whisper. “So… you’re really divorcing Jared? Need

me laugh. “Alright, draft something up

half?” Melissa

“Probably not. I don’t expect half. Even ten percent of

stingy with you. Honestly, he’d probably hand over whatever you

did you ever think it would end in divorce?” For all her blunt humor, she asked

bitterly. “We were all in, picturing silver anniversaries, matching rocking chairs, a house full

is, it’s just a partnership. Pick right,

losses

smile. “Exactly. We’re still

“I’m done with relationships. Men and women are all the same. The magic always