Hired Wife

Chapter 9. Shocking Reception

 Addison

"Hey, are you ok?" I ask and he slightly nods his head as he gently grabs my hand and leads us back to our guests. 

"I don't want you to be concerned about me, Addison. For right now, we have to give another brilliant performance and let these people see how happy we are and how in love we are," he whispers before grabbing a shot of whiskey from the silver serving tray.

"I can clearly see something has angered you, Dom. But I won't press you into telling me what is making you so angry. Let's just try and get ourselves through the reception."

"Addison," he gently grabs my arm pulling me back against him. His lips barely brushing against my neck sending a shiver down my spine. 

"I need you to stay in my sight," he whispers. I turn to look up at him. Once I do, I see a hint of concerned in his eyes. 

"Dominic, what is wrong?" I ask and feel his grip loosening around my arm.

"I just need you to make sure I can see you at all times, Addison."

"Ok. Dom, I know something is wrong, something or someone is obliviously the reason why you appear to be so angry and concerned." 

"I don't want to get into any details here, Addison. Our guests are expecting to see a happy loving newlywed couple. Let's just focus on that at least until everyone is no longer here."

"Fine. Let's try and give them what they are expecting to see from us," I cautiously wrap my arms around his neck and surprisingly feel his strong arms wrapping around me and pull me closer to him. 

"You smell divine," he whispers in the crease of my neck. 

"So do you," I inhale his intoxicating scent. 

"Well, now this is what I enjoy seeing. Two people on their special day embracing one another with such love commitment," Stephano cheers as he raises his champagne glass.

"My apologies for ignoring my guests, Stephano. Something unexpected came up that needed my complete attention," Dom says.  

"Please, no need for apologies, Dominic. We all understand what a busy man you are. Just try and not be so busy tonight with your lovely bride. You don't want to be in the doghouse on your wedding night," Stephano chuckles. 

"Forgive me for interrupting, but Dominic, I want you to come and meet my brother, Anthony. He and his wife came in from New York," Celine says as she wraps her hand around Dom's arm. 

"Go on, Dom. I have already met Anthony and his with Marlena. I am going to go grab me a glass of strawberry punch.

"Addison, please remember what I said."

"I'll be right over there at the dessert bar, Dom."

"I won't be long, Addison," he whispers before making his way towards the coffee bar.

"I can clearly see something is making him very angry, but I'm not going to press him on it. I guess he will share whatever is bothering him with me if he wants me to know. 

"Addison," I hear a familiar voice shouting causing me to drop the glass of strawberry punch.

"What the hell?" I snap and look back to see Roxanna stumbling her way towards me with a bottle of Jack Daniels gripped firmly in one hand and a shot glass in the other. 

"Roxanna, are you ok?" I ask as she lifts the bottle up to her lips.

"Who me? Oh yes, I am per-perfectly fine," she slurs her words while barely keeping herself steady on her feet. 

"I really think maybe you should consider switching to some coffee, Roxanna. Preferably black and strong. Come with me, let's go in the house and I will make a special pot of coffee just for you," I place my hand on her arm, but she pulls back away from me.

"I'm fine, Addison, but if you ever find yourself all alone with Darlene, let's just say your brand-new sister-in-law belongs either in a metal hospital or six feet in the ground. That chick is loco," she says while spinning her finger in a circular motion.

"Ok, Roxanna, perhaps you would like to go get some rest. I can help you to the guest house," I say and hold onto hope she will agree to let me escort here there.

"We're never going to be able to keep this dark secret forever. I'm at the point I no longer give a damn what they do to me. They all have threatened me, tried to keep me from speaking the real truth. And I admit, at first, I was willing to go along with this horrendous plan, but I can't keep doing this. This kind of secret won't stay hidden in the dark forever, Addison," she whines causing me to wonder why she is repeating herself and what dark secret is she talking about?

"Roxanna, you're not making much since and you're repeating yourself. Let's go to the guest house and you can better explain to me what you're talking about after you've had at least three cups of coffee.

"Addison, you need to know I only did this to hold onto Dominic and because they threatened the people I love. I think you can see I'm in love with your husband, but apparently he's in love with you."

"No, Roxanna, he isn't in love with me."

"Trust me, Addison, Dominic is completely in love with you. Haven't you noticed how he looks at you? To him no other woman exists for him. His dead wife could resurrect from her grave, and he would never put her before you. Especially if he knew the truth about his deceiving bitch not so dead first wife.
 
"The truth about what, Roxanna?" 

"The saying really is true. Just when we think we know someone so completely, turns out, they are the ones who end up betraying us," she whispers and stumbles into me. 

"Roxanna, we are going to the guesthouse right now. I don't want to hear an argument from you. Come on," I insist as I wrap my arms around her and help her to the white stone colored guest house. Once we make our way inside, I help her to the sofa, and she instantly passes out. 

"You keep sleeping, but I am still going to go in the kitchen and make a strong pot of coffee for you." 

"I love mine with cream and sugar, please," I hear a familiar voice from behind me. I slowly turn to see Darlene. Her hands pull out of the long black leather jacket pockets, and she proceeds to point a small handgun on me.

"Shit, Darlene. What the hell are you doing?" I snap. She grins as she steps closer to me. 

"Why, Addison? Well, because I made a choice little over five years ago, that is I, and some other people made a choice to lay a path for me to take over and become the person in charge."

"Become the person in charge of what, and who helped you plan whatever it is you're wanting to do?" I ask. Her menacing laughter echoes through the room."

"This is going to be so delicious seeing the look on your face, Addison. Let's see if you can figure this out. Once upon a time there was the first Mrs. Dominic Bradford but unfortunately, she met her untimely doom. Or did she? And now, standing before me is the second Mrs. Dominic Bradford who is about to go to her early grave," she grins as she steps back cocking the gun and aims it at my head.

"Or is she? Oh god, you don't mean Dominic's first wife is really alive?"

"You are one smart cookie, Addison. But here is something nobody saw coming. That ex-husband of yours, he is in this so far and you never suspected a thing. Neither did my brother until someone opened her big fat mouth," she snaps looking down at Roxanna."

"You will never get away with this. Dominic might not be in love with me, and maybe he's still in love with her, but your time will soon run out, Darlene."

"That's where you're wrong, Addison. I know my brother. I have seen the way he looks at you. He might not even realize it himself right now, but he is in love with you. Unfortunately for you, I must remove anyone I view as a threat."

"You're the second person who seems to think Dom is in love with me. He isn't."

"Yes, he is, and you're in love him. And that poses a problem for me," she says as she steps back once more.

"Don't worry Addison, I'll help my brother cope with your death. And I'll make sure Roxanna pays for your death," she grins as she looks back down at Roxanna.

"Darlene, wait, no," I shout as I try shielding myself by raising my hands up. The deafening sound as the bullet leaving the chamber causes Roxanna to open her eyes. The room starts spinning as I feel myself slowly succumb to the darkening room and to the silence.

"Oh my god, Darlene, what have you done?" Roxanna asks with a panicked tone.

"Not me, Roxanna, you," Darlene grins.

"Son of a bitch, you shot me," I say while placing my hand over my chest.

"Darlene, not again. This is the second time you have done this," Roxanna snaps.

"Pay back is a bitch, Roxanna. I'm making sure you go down for this," Darlene growls as she swings her hand back and quickly swings it towards Roxanna's jaw. Roxanna falls back onto the floor. Darlene soon wipes her fingerprints from the gun and places in Roxanna's hands.

"Oh my god, Darlene. Shit, you shot my wife?"

"Dominic, thank God you're here. Roxanna just shot Addison," Darlene replies.

"What? Shit, she is the one who has been lying to me all this time?"

"Yes, Dominic. Addison needs help."

"Oh god. Roxanna, you are a dead woman walking. I am about to inflict as much pain on you as I possibly can.