BE MY OBSESSION

CHAPTER 15

•SHELBY•

A new week began, and as Monday morning arrived, I prepared myself for work. I opted for a professional yet stylish outfit: a sleek black pencil skirt paired with a white silky top and a black blazer.

After completing my makeup, I brushed my hair and tied it back in a neat low ponytail. I gathered a few essential items from my drawer and quickly stashed them in my handbag before leaving my room.

Upon reaching the dining room, I found my parents already enjoying breakfast with Shanelle. Shay was nowhere in sight, indicating she had likely already left for work.

Joining them at the table, the maid promptly served me coffee and breakfast. An awkward tension hung in the room as we ate in silence. It felt strange to imagine having a normal family breakfast and engaging in pleasant conversation after the façade we put on during the company's anniversary party the previous week, pretending to be a perfect family.

But that was far from the truth. We were nowhere near being a perfect family.

Mom's struggle with alcohol continued as she mourned over Shawn, even though he had been gone for over a year. Dad found solace in immersing himself in work at the company, a fact that displeased me. However, I wondered what had become of his previous distraction. 

Had he grown bored with her and found someone new?

Except for me, no one else in the family knew about Dad's affair. I had stumbled upon it purely by chance a year ago when I saw him with the woman at a restaurant while having lunch with Michael. That night, he didn't come home, so it wasn't difficult to connect the dots.

To confirm my suspicions, I had Adam investigate. It came as no surprise when he confirmed that Dad was indeed having an affair with a woman named Elena Mathews—an ex-actress who now ran her own business. She was divorced and had no children.

I wasn't particularly shocked when I spotted Elena at the anniversary party. I guessed my father had personally invited her as well.

The sight of them exchanging suggestive glances across the room while my mother played the role of a trophy wife next to him in front of people who were already aware of their failing marriage, disgusted me.

Watching them grow more distant each day pained me, but I reminded myself that this was their problem to deal with. The rest of us would continue living our lives, turning a blind eye to their situation.

"By the way, I've been meaning to ask you something. Who was that guy you were dancing with at the party last week?" Shanelle's question broke the silence, capturing everyone's attention.

I glanced at her and noticed my parents watching me, eagerly awaiting my response.

"He's no one important," I replied, lifting my cup to take a sip of coffee.

"Really? Well, you two certainly got something going on there," Shanelle said with a smile, causing me to nearly choke on my coffee.

"He's the CEO of Elite Enterprises and our merge partner," Dad suddenly announced, directing his gaze at Shanelle.

Shanelle nodded slowly, drawing out a prolonged "Oh."

"Well, that explains it. Were you two close?" She redirected her question to me, and I narrowed my eyes at her.

"No, he's just a business associate. Whatever happened at the party was just for show."

"Could've fooled me. You two looked perfect together," Mom chimed in, and I whipped around to frown at her.