za

y with Gavin' s calls and texts, but I ignored them all. He tried se

needed to face the woma

ing, glass and steel reflecting the morning sun. I parked across

ternity. People came and went, b

perfectly coiffed, her tailored suit exuding power. She loo

g I wasn't. Every

pain coiling in my gut. I pushed ope

I called out, my vo

eyes narrowing as she looked at me. A

r. "Hello, Chanelle," I said, my voice unwavering.

entary shock passing through them, before she quickly regaine

h, almost condescending. "Yes, Gav

ter smile playing on my lips. "A

said, her tone dismissive. "A wonderful mot

to him. The quiet, domestic wife. The one he could safe

asked, cutting through her patronizing ton

e's always been very open about his domestic arran

s, you've been publicly posing as his wife?" I asked, my voice rising slightly. "That yo

It was his decision. I'm merely a business partner, Eliza. You know how t

allenged, my voice shaking with barely suppressed fury. "You just

n to do anything. He's a grown man. And frankly, my relationship

when you send him intimate messages? When you take lavish trips together, staying in hote

es, the hotel bookings, the HR document. Her face went pale, he

charine smile returning. "Those can all be explained, Eliz

... they need a certain kind of partner for their public life. A woman who understands their world. A woman who can k

hen, a strange, bitter laugh escaped my lips

ping my eyes, my voice suddenly calm

usion clouding he

close my eyes to it. And I'm going to make sure Gavin and everyone else involv

l and walked away,

ut behind me, her voice now

op. I just