A Wife for the Billionaire
Chapter 126: SOFIA

Chapter 126: SOFIA

"What’s it called?" Richard asked, walking away from the painting.

"You... you mean the name?" Alicia stuttered. Revealing the obvious truth, she didn’t recall the name of the painting.

"What else would I be asking of?" The billionaire chided, "every piece has a name, doesn’t it or is theirs a radical?" he pointed to the twins.

I watched Alicia swallow, and the twins edge closer to their mother.

"It’s called Garden, Sir" I said before any of them could disgrace themselves.

"Oh yes, that’s true" Alicia added, chuckling nervously, "Sofia dear, my late husband’s illegitimate child, helped name it. Her own way of contributing"

The illegitimate part was not necessary, but trust Alicia to always clarify things, even when you are saving her ungrateful ass.

"Is that so?" Richard mused, "Nice name, if not a bit literal, ’Spring’ could have been a better choice, hinting at the setting while maintaining the nostalgia theme figuratively"

"If ’Spring’ pleases you then perhaps we should call it that" Alicia agreed quickly. Ever eager to please, because she has met her better, it was pathetic.

"To hell with ’Spring’" I wanted to yell, but I couldn’t, not with the leash Alicia had on my neck.

But he was right, ’Spring’ sounded better, but coming from him, I didn’t want it. As if I had a choice in the matter not with Alicia eager as a puppy.

"Where’s the originality in that?" He said, staring at the fire, the blaze haloing his frame, "An artwork should never be renamed, it rids it of originality, like shredding a design of its brand, it puts its authenticity into question. Whatever name a piece was given at first should remain so till its death or the time it ceases to exist."

"You are right, Mr Well..."

"Let’s get to why I’m here," he said, turning abruptly and cutting her off, "as you know, I’m a very busy man" he continued, smiling as if he hadn’t just silenced a woman twice his age.

"Would you like anything, tea, coffee or even a meal?" Alicia asked him.

He smiled. Not an actual smile. The kind that was a stretch of the lips in condescension.

"A meal?" He mused, "but it’s barely time for dinner, and it’s too late for lunch. You know, this situation has got me thinking. A meal between breakfast and lunch is called brunch, what of a meal between lunch and dinner? Perhaps I will check it out later. But there will be no need for any of that. I would have settled for wine, but I doubt you have one worthy of my taste palette, so let’s just discuss"

He sat, no that’s not it, he lounged on the one of the armchairs, to the right of Alicia and her daughters. Lanke stood behind the chair, looking all macho, despite the wrinkles already beginning to line his face.

"And not offer the great Mr Wellington anything, no now, it’s not right. Dear Felix!" the host called.

I think that was the first time she had called the butler, ’dear’ and it was stupid doing it to impress her guest because the man doesn’t give a damn about his servants and employees. If anything, he was worse. If he wasn’t, he would have had the common sense to tell his driver to sit down rather than allow him to stand.

"Ma’am?" Felix answered, appearing from the entrance hall.

"Get a bottle of those vintage wines"

"You mean after your late husband’s indulgence, there’s still any of that left?" The prick asked, crossing his legs.

Alicia was pained. That hurt her. But not emotionally as it should because I don’t think she loved her late husband, it had more to do with a social scathe. Talking about her past like that, like a joke, was a blow to her social standing.

He was unknowingly, no, definitely knowingly reminding her that she had been nothing at one time and even now, she was nothing to him. From the way the dowager raised her face higher and the way she bit on her lower lip, she was insulted and it was taking a lot of restraint not to offer a retort.

"The death of my husband," she began, not looking at the billionaire, "was an unfortunate..."

"A very unfortunate tragedy," Richard cut in, massaging his jaw, "but do go on"

Alicia squeezed her lips in frustration, she hated him. It was evident, but what can she do, he was her superior in every way. She could only endure.

I hated Alicia, but at that moment, I think I hated the billionaire more. He was intentionally being a serious asshole, perhaps more than necessary. It made me wonder why people actually liked the guy, why there were millions of followers and fans fawning over his cruel ass?

But then again, people have always liked famous people. It’s like a standard in the setting programmed in the way of the world. It has always been there and it will always be.

Their popularity and fame was like a cloak, hiding away their bad sides which people are always blind to see. And most times, even when they catch a glimpse of it, they choose to ignore it.

"Right" Alicia gritted in agreement, "a very unfortunate tragedy, it wasn’t planned or anything, but one thing my husband always planned for, was the shortage of his vintage wine collection. Even if he had to borrow to stack it up. So, yes, there are still some bottles left"

"Hmmm," Richard mused, scratching at his ear, "these news and blog writers should never be believed. Writing about selling your house arts and properties to pay off your late husband’s debts. And if perhaps that’s not true, but if it is then shouldn’t the vintage wines be the first to go? Even if it’s not as a means to pay off the debts then to rid yourself of the bitter memories surely, am I wrong?"

The twins shifted in their seats. They were young when their father passed away. They were five.

They didn’t know about these things. As some worth public figures, they must’ve heard about it. But Alicia always waved it off as rumors. Hateful comments aimed at tarnishing their reputation. Jealous remarks from envious rumormongers. But now, they were just realizing that there might be truth in those words.

Richard was a devil. Period.

"Mama, but... but you said..." Mira croaked, before Alicia cut her off,

"I know what I said, dear. Just be silent"

The ice in her tone was enough to freeze the pond at Leek Park where children used as an ice rink in winter.

The twins shifted away from her, no, they flinched away almost as if they could physically feel the iciness.

"If you don’t mind, I would like to discuss the present. The past to me is a touchy topic, so if you don’t want the wine, that’s fine." she forced a smile, the kind a serial killer would give before cutting off his victim’s head.

Don’t get this twisted. I hated the bitch, but in that singular moment I couldn’t be more proud of her. Speaking upto Richard took guts and Alicia Blake had guts.

But the psycho won’t let the fucking thing go. Even though he knew he was poking at old wounds, he was reviving memories that should remain buried, he couldn’t care less as he said,

"They don’t know," he pointed to the twins, "like really know, do they?"

"Know what, mama?" Anna blurted before Alicia could answer.

"What’s he talking about, mama? What don’t we know?" Mira trailed after her sister, offering their mother no chance of answering.

"They really don’t know, how interesting" Richard purred, he was so enjoying this. Only a twisted psycho would enjoy hurting others. The guy was truly demented. Like on very fucking level.

The look Alicia threw his way was poison itself. So vile that if looks could kill, the billionaire and that seat would have been burnt to crisp.

Not even his driver looked happy. He was really trying to keep his face void of expression, but his eyes twitched every now and then. He wasn’t enjoying this as much as his master. He was a good man. I could tell.

A good man that somehow found himself roped in the affairs of the heartless billionaire.

Again Alicia said, gritting each word,

"What they know and don’t know isn’t any of your business, so, respectfully, can we discuss why you are here"

Silence settled like a drop of oil on paper, spreading, and really uncomfortable.

Alicia in her words have angered the billionaire and now, the man must be thinking of what to do or how best to handle her. And yet, Alicia didn’t cower. She still sat straight backed, her face raised high, her eyes on the billionaire, pools of defiance.

It didn’t matter that she was playing with fire, Alicia looked like someone very much ready to be burnt. That was how much she loved her evil daughters, but will that love be enough to protect them from the wrath of the cruel billionaire?