Chapter 64

“I have another meeting to attend tonight.” Gabriel had snuck up behind Mia’s chair as she spoke to Lana, whispering the words in her ear. Lana eyed him uninterestedly. She was overwhelmingly unimpressed by Gabriel Evans presence.

“What time?” Mia questioned, not at all moved by his inevitable absence. She had to find a way to check the time. She’d left her cell phone up in her room and there was no one else she knew to ask.

“Uh,” Gabriel slid the sleeve of his jacket slightly to reveal the watch adorning his wrist. “It’s quarter to eight right now, so in fifteen minutes.” He gazed back at her.

“I hope you have fruitful discussions.” She smiled, happy that he’d be preoccupied again. She didn’t want to risk any unannounced visits from him, although she’d probably not answer and hope he scurries away. Gabriel had taken it upon himself to be extraordinarily clingy to Mia ever since he revealed his desire to have his family back, but Mia was no fool. He’d played the wolf in sheep’s clothing far too many times for her to trust him.

“Don’t stay out too late, a lot of men here are drunk.” He warned her, straightening his back and peering at her for a response.

“I’ll be in my room for eight, actually tired. Just finishing up a conversation with Lana before her husband comes back to whisk her off again.” Mia smiled at Lana suggestively and the woman blushed. In fact, they’d been chatting nonstop for over an hour and Tristan had already attempted to pull her away multiple times. Right this second he was sitting two tables away with a group of his friends but his eyes did not waver from his wife.

“Pleasure to hear that.” Gabriel said, pressing his lips to her cheek. Mia’s hands clenched at her side, Lana growing tenser at the contact and the pain in Mia’s eyes. He was then gone, wandering off again with a group of men.

“Does he often force himself on you?” The worry in Lana’s voice was painstakingly apparent. Mia cleared her throat and wiped the discomfort from her features. “No, don’t worry,” she assured Lana. “Just those tiny gestures when we are in public to portray the image of a happy couple.”

“Tiny or not, he shouldn’t even touch you.” Lana spat. It was nice being truthful to someone else other than her sister. Mia had felt too isolated in her circumstances till date that she realised the power of venting. Her mind wasn’t a raging flood anymore but rather a forecast of light showers and overcast was promised.

“I am fine. Besides, I really should get back to my room; your husband’s patience seems to be running on low.” Mia nodded to Tristan giving them puppy eyes. Lana giggled over her shoulder, biting her lower lip as she gazed at him. She never thought she was capable of loving a man but then she’d never encountered a man quiet like Tristan before. She’d been falling in love with him from the moment he rescued her from ruin, asking for nothing in return. He’d offered her up her freedom but where was she to go? Back to the father who’d just sell her again and again?
Choosing to stay with him had been the best decision of her life. She remembered offering her body up to him to let her stay in his house. She’d used the only tool that men seemed to want from her but he’d shut her down, giving her a place, safety and security without as much as a touch. He’d promised her she’d be safe with him, that he’d respect her and he did.
She wasn’t a tool anymore, she’d become human and it was all thanks to him. She’d love him till the day she died.

“Let us at least walk you to your room.” Lana phrased under the guise of an option but she’d already signalled her husband over and he was more than happy to oblige.

“Lana is right, Mrs. Evans I regret to say some of the characters at our wedding are not the best.” Tristan addressed her after she’d refused their kindness for the tenth time.

“Oh for Goodness sake,” Lana exclaimed, “Do not address her in that title, it’s belittling to her.” Lana hated that Mia was branded as the wife of Gabriel Evans. Life could not have been crueller in sticking such a passive person with an aggressor.

Tristan and Mia were taken aback by Lana’s outburst, both exchanging stunned looks with each other. “Very well, my dear.” Tristan replied soothingly. He could tell his wife was besotted with Mia and that made him open-minded. His wife was a loner and her quick attachment was very telling.
If he was honest with himself, he’d often wondered what sort of woman was married to the infamous adulterer, Gabriel Evans, himself. In Tristan’s mind, he’d pictured someone severe, bitter and taciturn—someone like Jeffory’s wife.
Mia was nothing of the sort. She possessed a lively dispossession despite her sad eyes. Tristan listened in on their conversation as they three of them walked towards Mia’s room. He was content in being the armour for them both, quiet enjoying how energetic his wife was with someone other than himself.

“This is it.” Mia stopped in front of her door and turned to face them, “Thank you both and congratulations once again.” She smiled as she finally noticed that their fingers were intertwined.

“Pleasure was ours.” Tristan said for him and his wife. They waited for Mia to enter the room and close the door behind her before strolling off. They met Harvey not two minutes later coming from the opposite direction. They all paused at the sight of each other.

“Heading to your room so soon?” Tristan shoved his hands in his trousers and Harvey nodded, noticing a knowing smile coming from Lana.

“Stop harassing our guests to do as you please, love, he must be tired” Lana interjected. “We aren’t even going back to the reception.” She finished, sometimes she wondered how her husband could be so clueless. The simplest things he was unable to connect.

“Ah, you’re right.” He said to his wife, turning to Harvey, who’d continued to hold his silence. Silence was better than bullshiting his way out—no words to be used against him in the future. “Get some rest old chap.” He patted Harvey on the shoulder as he led his wife away.
Harvey exhaled sharply as Mia’s door came into sight. He scanned the area around him to ensure the coast was clear. He knocked once and the door eased open, he pushed inside and shut the door behind them instantly, yanking her into his arms.

“I have waited too long to hold you again.” He sighed and Mia leaned into his arms, her eyes closing at his warmth enveloping her.

“I missed you this morning.” Mia hadn’t the energy to keep her emotions under lock and key.

“I hadn’t the heart to wake you, but it was getting late.” This was his view on an apology. He desperately wanted to not have to sneak out of her bed but they had little choice.

“Will you stay the night with me again?” She rubbed her cheek against his chest and his grip tightened.

“Yes, but I have a secret meeting to attend.” He rolled his eyes, even though she couldn’t see the reaction.

“When?” She took a large inhale to have his scent infiltrate her.

“Now, actually,” his chest vibrated and she peered up into his eyes in utter dismay, “I wanted to see you first.” He pushed her hair back and cupped her face, bringing her lips up towards his for a lingering kiss.

“Hmmm.” Mia groaned. The sound stuck in her throat. “I don’t plan on staying long, I’ll be back soon.” He promised and before anything else could be said he’d slipped out of her room.
She took the time to call her sister and talk to her daughter. She’d been missing Amiyah like crazy. She’d then peeled the clothes off her body and hopped in the shower.

***
Harvey strolled into the secret meeting the crowd of men smoking cigars and laughing. There were a few women drifting about as well—no surprise there. He wanted to reject any dealings with his crowd and head back to Mia. He did recognise one face. He was certain it was the same woman he’d seen Mia speaking to in the ice cream parlour. She was hanging around Gabriel and he was eying her body hungrily. In that instant, Harvey knew he hadn’t mistaken her face. She was one of his mistresses; the kicker remained, why was Mia so friendly with this woman? He didn’t even know her name.

“The way Evans is staring at Nylah, you’d forget he was a married man.” A faceless voice shouted teasingly and all the men laughed…including Gabriel.
Ask you shall receive. Harvey made a mental note to remember the name and ask Mia about it later. It was a very strange situation to him.

“I’d like to have my wife under whatever spell he’s using.” Another person roared and Gabriel smirked. Harvey attempted to ignore the rum shop chatter. There was no use in him getting angry at unimportant men who didn’t know a lick of fact.

“All you have to do is satisfy ‘em in bed.” Gabriel added. “The woman will grovel at your feet then and you will be free to do as you please.” He brought his glass up to his lips and wiggled his brows at Nylah. She scoffed and stormed away.
The only reason she’d come up to Gabriel tonight was for answers. He’d been ghosting her for a bit and she wanted to know where she stood. Sure enough, she was put in her place for everyone to see. She knew fully well Gabriel wasn’t referring to his wife, he’d been throwing shade at her, and only seconds before telling her he wanted nothing more to do with their affair.

“Fucking pathetic.” Harvey growled in the thick of silence. His words reaching everyone in the room and any hint of laughter were replaced with astonishment.

“What the fuck did you say Regal?” Gabriel moved towards Harvey, the path between them clearly automatically. No one wanted to get involved with a Regal/Evans dilemma. These two steered clear of each other for years, acting as if the other didn’t exist.

“I said you are fucking pathetic.” Harvey shrugged. “I am speaking English, right? I do tend to unconsciously switch to Russian sometimes.” It wasn’t a lie. He’d learned a few languages to aid in international business affairs and sometimes he switched between them.

“Mind your manners, Regal before I’m forced to teach you some.” Gabriel replied through clenched teeth.

“The same way you’re teaching all of these men here to potentially disrespect your daughter?” Harvey laughed sardonically. Amiyah would grow up and be exposed to these very men who was laughing about the way Gabriel treated women; it only gave them license to treat her the same way in the future. “And father of the year award goes to—” Harvey let his voice trail off, bringing his hands up to clap disdainfully slow; the sound echoing through the room.

“You should worry about your own family, before that precious mother of yours ends up in our grasp again.” Gabriel shot back. Harvey laughed. It was the last straw; before he could reconsider his actions his fists swung out in front of him and landed a blow smack in the middle of Gabriel’s face. The man fell backwards and stumbled to the floor, Gabriel’s nose bleeding.

“Fuck!” Gabriel screamed out enraged by the humiliation but the pain and shock was too much for him to retaliate.