Niamh flashed a small, knowing smile and asked Marina, “So, how much did Ms. Thornton pay to hire Mr. Thomas as her assistant? Was it two hundred as well?”
The word “as well” made Marina’s smile freeze ever so slightly.
She promptly slipped her arm through Jonathan’s. “Jonathan, what’s Niamh saying about you? There’s no way you’re that cheap.”
“He only charged two hundred to be my driver,” Niamh said, deliberately bringing it
- up.
Judging by Marina’s reaction, she clearly hadn’t known Jonathan had driven Niamh home that night.
Niamh was set on divorcing Jonathan, but that didn’t stop her from enjoying the little storm brewing in Marina’s heart.
Marina’s curious stare at Jonathan made it obvious she wanted to know what this “two hundred” was all about between him and Niamh.
Too bad Jonathan’s gaze never left Niamh’s face.
“I charge two hundred to drive, and the same rate applies to… other services,” Jonathan said offhandedly, his tone cool and careless.
Now it was Niamh who felt a little awkward.
But the real discomfort radiated off Marina.
She forced her lips into a smile, but inside, she was seething. Why, after all this time apart, did Jonathan still sleep with Niamh?
Marina’s grip on Jonathan’s arm grew so tight he finally noticed.
“Are you alright, Marina?”
“I’m fine…” She snapped back to herself, shaking her head. “I think the sun’s just getting to me.”
Jonathan raised his hand and shielded her from the sunlight.
As the shadow of his large hand fell across Marina’s smile, Niamh quietly nudged her suitcase forward and started walking away.
“So you made it to the finals and Peter didn’t even show up?” Jonathan called after her.
1/2
19:52
Niamh replied without missing a beat, “He’s got a meeting this afternoon.
Peter had wanted to come, but as the CEO of FY, he couldn’t exactly skip the board meeting just for her.
“Here, let me get that.”
Without waiting for permission, Jonathan grabbed Niamh’s suitcase and wheeled it away, taking one in each hand and striding ahead into the convention hall.
Now it was just Marina and Niamh, face to face.
“Jonathan’s always been so considerate,” Marina said.
“Well, he is my husband. If he’s not considerate to me, who would he be considerate to?”
Niamh’s comeback wiped the smile right off Marina’s face.
“Niamh, Jonathan doesn’t love you. He loves me!” Marina snapped, her voice sharp. Niamh felt nothing. She’d known this for ages; it was hardly news.
“When he decides to marry you, maybe then you can say that,” she replied coolly, and stepped inside the hall.
Today was the finals–no point getting distracted by Marina or Jonathan.
All ten competitors waited in a spacious lounge. Jonathan handed a suitcase to each woman.
Just then, Liam Grant and Devon walked in.
They didn’t look the least bit surprised to see Jonathan.
“Mr. Thomas is quite the businessman–and even more attentive to his girlfriend,” Liam teased.
Jonathan smiled politely and let it pass. Liam hadn’t said which girlfriend he meant, but Niamh knew full well it wasn’t her.
“I’ve got to catch a flight soon. If you need anything, just contact Prescott. I’m leaving him here,” Jonathan said quietly to Marina.
Niamh remembered how Jonathan always used to take Prescott, his personal assistant, on every business trip. This was the first time he’d made an exception–for Marina.
“If there’s anything you want, just text me. I’ll bring it back for you,” he added.
