The Housewife's Return To Her Alluring Prime - Chapter 65: Chapter 65

Jared hurt me again with what he did, but if I couldn't even handle Owen, I was not even in a place where dreams and goals were up for discussion.
'You only get stronger when you learn to take all the nasty people and things in stride,' I told myself. 'I've always believed that a truly ambitious woman needs to have insane willpower and a clear sense of direction.'
Reputation didn't matter. Climbing one's way up, no matter what one had to step over. In the end, it was all about using every advantage and forming alliances, as long as one always put themselves first.
I made a pot of coffee in the living room and called Owen over for some. Grinning at me, he said, "Mrs. Holcomb, I just asked around and heard you guys haven't settled on the wardrobes yet. Is that true?"
"Yeah, we're still discussing it," I replied.
"Why not let my company take care of it? I'll give you the lowest price," Owen said. He might be a pro at flirting, and he could talk his way through any business deal, too.
"Just send me a quote first and I'll check it out," I said. Since it's an open bid, of course, I have to shop around.
"Sure, I'll have someone prepare the materials and send them over," Owen said, nodding happily. "How about we grab lunch together? My treat."
I smiled and nodded, "Sure, that's very generous of you."
"Not at all, Mrs. Holcomb. Just having you join me is enough," Owen replied.
Even though he was obviously checking me out, he knew who I was and wouldn't dare try anything. Then again, for all I knew, maybe Tracy put him up to this, trying to get some dirt to show Jared.
Right after I agreed to have lunch with Owen, Jared called me.
I got up and went to the office to take the call. Jared asked, "Do you have any plans for lunch?"
"A supplier invited me to lunch, so I said yes," I replied. This must be what he always called business socializing.
"Which supplier?" Jared's voice dropped a notch.
"Just some young guy, Tracy's cousin, Owen. Seems like a fun character. Oh, and we're still haggling over the hotel wardrobes, and we haven't settled on a price yet. I told Owen to send me a quote, too," I explained.
"Aiden's in Hachester. Has he reached out to you?" Jared cut me off.
"What?" I shot up from the couch. "Aiden's here? Where is he?"
"He just got in from Shaville yesterday with a few friends. I thought he'd call you," Jared said calmly.
"He hasn't called me," I said, totally bummed. Aiden Murphy was my brother, and yet he only bothered to contact Jared when he came to Hachester.
I almost forgot that Jared was the perfect brother-in-law. He was rich, generous, and always on top of everything. Aiden totally idolized him, swearing every year that he wanted to be as awesome as Jared someday.
"I've set up lunch with him. Wouldn't look too good if you, his big sister, didn't show up, right?" Jared drawled.
"Send me the restaurant address," I said sullenly.
Jared let out a quiet laugh on the other end. "Don't be upset. Aiden's just here to hang out."
"I'm not mad," I replied, and hung up.
Not long after, Jared sent me the restaurant address.
I went out and told Owen I had something else going on at lunch. He looked a bit let down, but immediately tried to reschedule for the day after tomorrow, and I ended up saying yes.
When I arrived at the restaurant, I saw Aiden chatting with a few friends. There was a girl with glasses who looked really sweet and innocent, leaning on his shoulder as she smiled. The two of them definitely seemed to have a spark.
"Victoria?" Aiden jumped up in surprise when he spotted me at the door. "Why are you here?"
I smiled and said, "Jared asked me to come. Hasn't he arrived yet?"
Aiden, looking startled, hurried over and grabbed my arm. "Victoria, can we talk outside for a sec?"
We walked out to the shade of a tree, and I immediately shook his fingers off my arm. "Come on, spill. How much did you hit up Jared for this time?"
"Not much, really, just a little bit," Aiden mumbled, noticing my expression darken. "Victoria, please don't be mad, okay?
"I brought my girlfriend here for a date, and I didn't want to bother you. Aren't you supposed to take care of Yvonne?"
I looked at him, knowing he was still pretty innocent. He was a college student with a girlfriend, and of course, he wanted to show her off. I could understand that.
But even so, it stung a little that he didn't think to contact me first when he came to Hachester.
Jared really had a knack for getting on everyone's good side. My whole family respected him. He was polite, spent freely, and everyone adored him.
"Victoria, the hotel Jared set us up in is like a hidden paradise. Seriously, it's gorgeous. Rich people really know how to enjoy life," Aiden said, looking totally enchanted.
I had a lot of mixed feelings. Aiden was my brother, and he had always been a decent guy. My parents told him to go back to our hometown for work, but instead, he landed a job in Hachester.
After a few years, he quit, claiming the pay was too low to live the life he wanted, then jumped into a small start-up with some friends.
He rode the wave; with Jared opening doors, he pivoted to foreign trade and made real money. By forty-plus, though, success had gone to his head. Wine, women, power, and cash were given to a man, and pride followed.
I had no clue how his life would turn out in this lifetime.
But seeing him now, in his early twenties, so full of life and swagger, I couldn't help but feel a little emotional.
Without thinking, I reached out and hugged him. Aiden looked totally baffled, and the next second, his face turned red as he pushed me away. "Victoria, seriously, I'm a grown man now. Don't hug me in front of my girlfriend."
I grabbed his ear instead, and he immediately put on a pitiful face. "I'm sorry, really. Victoria, next time I come to Hachester, you'll be the very first person I call, I swear. I won't break my word."
"Yeah, right," I said, laughing despite myself. I let go of his ear and sighed. "It's fine. Go on inside. I'll wait here for Jared."
Aiden happily ran back into the private room.
Not far away, a silver Bentley rolled up, turning heads in the sunlight.
Jared got out, dressed in a white T-shirt and gray pants, looking casual and at ease.
"What are you doing out here? Waiting for me?" Jared said, his good looks softened by that easy, charming smile.
Just then, a breeze drifted by, carrying the moist scent of the lake. My long hair danced lightly around my waist in the wind.
I tucked my hair behind my ear and said, "Thanks for arranging a place for Aiden to stay, and for taking care of him."
Jared paused for a second, then gave a faint smile. "I'm your husband. This is nothing. You really don't have to thank me."
"It's not a small thing," I said. "I know I once said you'd only get a 60 out of 100 as a husband, but as a family member, you'd easily score over 90."
Jared raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
I nodded.
Jared seemed to perk up all of a sudden, reaching out to entwine his fingers with mine. "Hey, we're husband and wife. No need to be so polite. And you're out here grading me? Want to know what score you get in my heart?"
I paused, stopping in my tracks. "Let me guess, barely passing, right?"
Jared shook his head. "You passed, but don't get cocky. You're not top of the class."
I immediately shook his hand off. "You've already got your star pupil. Like I'd ever stand a chance."
Jared stared at me, baffled, and the mood he'd worked so hard to build just evaporated.
"Victoria, just eat your lunch and try not to cause a scene today, okay?" Jared teased.
I sped up, but Jared easily caught up. As we walked into the private room, he slipped his arm around my waist, acting all affectionate.