Chapter Nineteen
Carter
We were in a private dining room, but it didn't make keeping an eye and an ear on the conversation any easier. Shelby and the men sat close by at a table while I sifted through documents on my phone, trying to find a loophole to the prenup. I finally gave up my multitasking as a lost cause, worried I'd miss something with my inattention. I could barely keep my eyes off of the pale, withdrawn woman next to Dirk. My hands had been tied earlier, and listening to every demeaning thing Shelby had been subjected to had shaken my resolve to stay out of it. It didn’t help that her moans and sounds while reaching an orgasm had gotten me hard. I'd thought I was going to have to hurt Milo for the same, but I’d managed to keep myself in check.
Jerry turning on me though, that had hurt as much as my inability to save Shelby. Now I had to find a way to get her away from Dirk, and I was going to use Winston to do it. I just had to figure out how. Jerry had his own plans, and I’d use them if needed, but if it came down from his father, Dirk would have to comply...in theory anyway.
Winston’s voice carried over to me; he was addressing Shelby after having ignored her through most of the meal, but her lack of appetite had been noticed. Which meant he hadn’t read the update I’d sent him yet, not that I thought he would step in at this point.
“What’s wrong with you, girl? You’re not eating. You’re not expecting, are you?” Shelby blanched at the suggestion, and I wondered what the old man was up to. He knew quite well that she wasn’t since he was the one that stipulated they wait and made sure it happened.
“N-no, sir, just not feeling well today.” She tried for a smile but failed in the face of Winston’s frown...and Dirk gripping her knee under the table. More bruises to pay him back for later. One day, I’d have a go at the pretentious prick, but that was only if my plans came to fruition.
"Dirk, you brought your wife to dinner while she's ill?" The brow he raised in Dirk's direction didn't bode well if the answer was yes. But that wouldn't help Shelby at all.
"It's women's things, Father, nothing to concern yourself with," Dirk claimed, trying to nonchalantly brush it off.
"Hmm… If it's causing her this much distress, I'd like it looked into. Something could have been missed in the initial screenings, which also brings me to the main reason for inviting you out. There were a few areas of concern with your own that I want rechecked, can't have the heir unable to produce more, now can we? There are also current developments I've become aware of, and before I make a decision, I want it verified." Dirk's expression was pure confusion until Winston clarified somewhat.
"While we, as a family and a business, work with certain unseemly aspects of the industry, we don't personally partake of them. Am I understood?"
While Winston's stern warning was vague enough in case the private room wasn't as secure as he'd been promised, it was enough to change my mind about him reviewing my latest report. And Dirk knew it from the flush of anger that crept up his neck and pulled his features into a fierce frown.
"I'm not sure what developments you've been informed of, but I can assure you that it's all under control, Father," Dirk gritted out before briefly glaring at a petrified Shelby.
She hadn't had anything to do with it, and guilt settled heavily in my gut like a stone. It appeared that, yet again, she'd be the one to pay for my actions. Nothing I tried to do seemed to help the situation, but ignoring it all was only going to end in her death. For once, I was beginning to consider taking her and running, but that would leave others behind to deal with the fallout of my choices.
But the old man wasn't satisfied with his answer and punished him with new hoops to jump through.
"Well, we'll see about that. Carter will be taking a more direct hand in your venture to oversee your work if you can’t handle the responsibility. In the meantime, I want you to attend the appointments I’ve had set-up. They’ve been forwarded to your secretary, so she can clear your schedule if need be.”
More composed, but no doubt still pissed, Dirk asked, “Can you at least tell me what they’re for? Or is that a surprise too?”
Winston seemed to find him amusing, smirking at him as he explained. “Seems your recreational pursuits might have affected your ability to procreate. It could be due to a...faulty sample, hence the need to have it repeated. And while we’re at it, there will be a work-up done for the compatibility of you and your wife regarding any future children. Apparently, you’re not the only one that can’t follow directions, and that panel wasn’t run.” He frowned then, and I imagined the tech that mishandled it was out of a job, if not worse.
Dirk only nodded in response and asked if dinner was through, then stood up when Winston told him it was. As for Shelby, she barely reacted to any of it, and I worried that she was either going to pass out or was already broken enough that she didn’t care.
As they filed out, Dirk holding on to her a bit too tightly, Winston called me over. “Keep tabs on everything, and let me know if anything he does is going to cause legal trouble. Otherwise, leave him be with the girl for now.” I wanted to protest, but I knew it would only raise suspicions, so I swallowed the words and nodded in agreement instead. “I dislike the thought that her blood will taint my family name more than it already has. Besides, if she inherited the mental health issues of her mother, other measures would have to be taken when it came time for an heir.” He seemed to think he needed to explain his actions and decisions to me, which was odd and had never been the case before. Yet again, I had to wonder what had happened since I’d left his side months ago that was causing him to act so out of character. It would be too much to hope that he was dying...
“Yes, sir, I understand,” I agreed again, hoping to make it to the car before Dirk could torment Shelby too much or leave without me. His foul mood should have worn off after his afternoon of debauchery, but he was still too wound up for my peace of mind.
“Very well, then. I’ll email anything else pertinent. You’ve been a good asset, Carter.” With that, Winston got to his feet and made for the door where his new guard awaited him on the other side. It seemed he hadn’t earned the trust to be privy to much.
As soon as he was gone, I quickly made for the parking lot, sighing in relief when I saw the car idling, waiting for me.
* * *
Shelby
After that night with Winston Sr., Dirk disappeared for a few days, and I had another appointment with the family doctor—at his clinic this time. I didn’t even care what they wanted now. I was just glad to get it over with and go back home to bed. That was where I’d been for the majority of my time since I’d been refused when I tried to leave the house. Carter said it was because he had to be absent on errands for Winston Sr., but surely one of the other guards could have filled in. Regardless, I was stuck inside with nothing to do...and no voice to even argue with.
By the third day of being holed up in my room, Jerry came to find me and pestered me until I went with him, then he promptly handed me off to my personal trainer to get some exercise. I wanted to refuse, but he disappeared out the door before I could complain, and I didn’t want to be rude to the man that had come to do his job. And it seemed to actually help, burning off some of my frustration from being cooped up again.
Later that night, Dirk showed up in my room and announced we had a charity ball to attend that weekend. It would be my first big society event, and I was nearly in a panic that he’d only given me three days to prepare. I hadn’t gone out shopping since Nina was kicked out, and now I had to find a dress that wouldn’t need alterations on short notice. When I said as much, my husband shrugged and walked away, calling back that I’d better make sure I was ready.
The interaction was bizarre, and I didn’t understand what had changed his demeanor from obsessive and cruel to...indifferent. With a groan, I’d flopped back on my bed and then proceeded to toss and turn half the night, waiting for the other shoe to drop. But it never came.
* * *