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.

look at her tomato–red cheeks and burst out laughing,

for their contacts like that? Now

got their cards now. It’d be a

something strange and grabbed my arm. “You know

you two meet?”

off guard by

Mr. Hallman like you?” Melissa squinted. “Don’t even try denying it. I can see it in his eyes–the way he looks

I didn’t want to hide things from her.

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

star who was killing

him, and I didn’t even know who he was. Back then, people talked about this genius

the Holcombs‘ charity work at the time. When I

Your instincts are spot–on,”

money, not

out laughing, slapping her knee. “This is perfect. Jared financed his

covered her mouth. “Keep your voice down. If anyone hears you, we’re

her voice dropping to a whisper. “So… you’re really divorcing Jared? Need me to handle the paperwork? It’s what I do best–my

laugh. “Alright, draft something up

you half?” Melissa asked, her eyes alight with

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

Honestly, he’d probably hand over whatever you needed without you asking.” Melissa studied

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

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

romanticized marriage too much,” Melissa interrupted. “Truth is, it’s

losses early,”

knowing smile. “Exactly.

relationships. Men and women are all the same. The magic always fades. Why not just keep dating? Always have someone