Two Can Play (Celeste and Dominic) novel Chapter 150

Chapter 150

Riley took a deep breath, her hands clasped together on the table, her fingers twisting around each other in a nervous dance.” Listen, I know you and I do not have the best relationship.”

I snorted. “You and I have nothing. In the past, you could have said that my marriage to Julian connected us. But we will be divorced soon, so do not even pretend there is a relationship to salvage here.”

“Fine, fine,” Riley said, holding up her hands in a gesture of surrender “You are right. I will not pretend. But I am here on behalf of Julian.”

I let out a laugh, sharp and humorless. “Wow. Is that surprising? Of course you are.”

“Come on, Celeste,” Riley said, her voice taking on a pleading quality that set my teeth on edge. “I have tny faults. I will not deny it. My mother also has her faults. And it is true that you were not exactly our choice for a wife. Or rather, you were not exactly my mother’s choice. But it is also a fact that Julian loves you. He really does.”

I smiled, a slow, dangerous thing that spread across my face like oil on water. “Julian loves me. That is interesting. Why do you not explain to me how he has shown this love? I would love to hear it.”

“What do you mean?” Riley asked, confusion flickering across her features.

“For starters, he married you,” she added, and I could hear the uncertainty creeping into her voice, the realization that she was walking on thin ice. “Listen, I know about the affair now. I was there when you two spoke about it this morning. But I did not think it was possible for Julian to cheat on you. His world revolved around you, Celeste. Everything he did was for you.”

I cut her off with a wave of my hand. “Of course. That is how Julian made it seem. Like I was the luckiest woman in the world. So let me ask you a few questions, Riley. Just a few. And I want you to answer honestly.”

“I guess. I mean, he is my husband.”

“Alright then,” I said, settling back in my chair. “What if the reason is that he feels there is no need for you to be a model? He can provide for you. He can take care of you. Why go through the stress of modeling when you are not lacking anything in his house? What if that is his reason? Would you stop modeling then?”

“No,” Riley said, and I saw the answer click into place behind her eyes, the first crack in her certainty. “No, I would not ”

“Okay. Hold that thought.” I held up a finger, pausing to let the waiter set down my water glass before continuing. “Now let us look at the way you dress. This is how you like dressing, is it not? Tight fitting dresses, showing off your figure, looking sexy and confident. This same man met you looking this way. That is how you got married. And then suddenly he starts complaining about your dressing. He says he wants you to cover up more. To look more decent. Would you change how you dress for him?”