The Housewife's Return To Her Alluring Prime - Chapter 70: Chapter 70

As soon as I got to the hotel's temporary office, my phone buzzed.
I was in the middle of a conversation, so I didn't check it right away. By the time I finished, over ten minutes had passed.
I picked up my phone and saw a message from Nathan. He sounded a bit jealous, asking: [When did you and Mr. Holcomb get so close?]
I froze for a second. 'Nathan's tone is really weird,' I thought to myself. 'Why does it sound like Nathan and I are the couple here, and Jared's the lover?'
As a married woman, I had to stick to my principles. I couldn't let Nathan get the wrong impression, like there was always a chance something could happen between us.
So, I replied: [Thanks for your concern, Mr. Hallman. Our relationship is neither good nor bad at the moment.]
Nathan replied almost instantly: [I thought you were mad at me and didn't want to talk to me.]
I wasn't really trying to ignore him; I just didn't want to leave any evidence for Jared to blow things out of proportion.
'Is this the secret monologue of every cheater? Afraid of getting caught, but unable to resist the temptation?' I couldn't help but think.
I replied, [It's just a normal chat. I'm not upset.]
Nathan didn't message me again after that. Maybe he was busy, or maybe I was a bit too distant, and he took the hint.
At noon, Owen showed up. As Tracy's cousin, he seemed pretty interested in me.
His squinty eyes kept glancing over me, sizing me up at least a dozen times. Finally, he grinned and asked, "Mrs. Holcomb, are you free for lunch? I know a place with some really good grilled fish. Want to try it together?"
I nodded. "Sure, I love fish."
Owen instantly decided I was the type who didn't have much of a guard up. He immediately called to book a private room.
Of course, I kept my guard up around Owen. Even though I was planning to divorce Jared, I couldn't let him get any dirt on me; instead, I needed to collect evidence against him.
I reached into my bag and felt the voice recorder. Thank goodness I had it with me.
Owen offered to give me a ride, but I turned him down. I drove myself and brought along a couple of hotel managers.
I wasn't sure if Owen was in cahoots with Tracy. When we got to the underground parking lot, I thought I saw a familiar sedan. It was Jared's. Not far away was Tracy's low-key but luxurious red Porsche.
I pretended not to notice either car, chatting with the hotel managers about the renovations as we walked into the elevator.
Owen pressed the elevator button, his squinty eyes kept sneaking peeks at me to see how I'd react. When he saw I looked completely unfazed, he let out a silent sigh of relief.
When we got to the first-floor lobby, I was still expecting Jared and Tracy to be eating in a private room.
But to my surprise, the two of them were sitting openly by the window, sipping red wine, eating grilled fish, and chatting away. Jared was wearing a black shirt today, which made his skin look even more noble and refined.
Owen looked like he'd completed his mission. He shot a glance over at the window seat and said in a deliberately casual tone, "Oh wow, Tracy and Mr. Holcomb are here, too. What are the odds, right?"
I just gave them a brief, indifferent look and said calmly, "Owen, let's not bother them. Let's go upstairs and talk about work."
Owen was still hoping I'd go over and make a scene, but I just turned and headed upstairs, completely unfazed.
He hurried after me, calling out, "Mrs. Holcomb, aren't you going to say hi to your husband?"
"He's not dead, so why bother?" I shot back, already pushing open the door to the private room he'd reserved.
Owen looked utterly lost, while the managers trailing behind me wore knowing smirks, clearly ready to watch the drama unfold.
I sat down, and someone quickly made me a cup of coffee.
I thanked them politely, then pulled out my phone to go over the latest material lists and price sheets, not even bothering to think about catching anyone in the act.
Maybe what Tracy really wanted was for me to see just how lovey-dovey she and Jared could be, not necessarily to make me throw a fit.
That was just her style. She liked to use those calm, everyday scenes to get under my skin.
They didn't look like they were doing anything intimate. At least, I didn't catch them in bed together. But it was those little moments of sweetness, the silent display of how close they were, that stung even more.
Tracy had always played her games this way.
I knew her all too well, so I had to beat her at her own game. She wanted me to watch. Well, I watched, but so what now?
Owen went to place the order, and before long, Jared came over, with Tracy right by his side.
If one didn't know the real story, seeing them standing together like that, one would honestly think they looked more like husband and wife.
"Mrs. Holcomb, what a surprise to see you here." Tracy put on a look of shock, then turned to Owen. "Are you treating Mrs. Holcomb and her team to lunch today?
"Is it because she's decided to work with you on the panel business?"
Owen grinned. "Mrs. Holcomb is still considering it, but I'm serious about making this deal happen. With Mr. Holcomb and you here, I can guarantee the panels I provide will be top quality and at the best price."
Jared just stood there, his gaze deep and unreadable, saying nothing.
I propped my chin on my hand, flashing Owen a bright smile. "Alright, since you said that, I might just consider it. But don't think you can get away with anything sneaky just because Tracy's the VP."
"No way. You're the boss's wife," Owen said, quickly topping off my coffee.
I picked up my cup and took a light sip. "Well then, here's to a smooth partnership."
Owen's squinty eyes turned into little lines as he grinned, his face flushing red as he looked at me.
Once we finished talking business, I finally pretended to notice Jared standing nearby. "Jared, are you and Tracy done eating? Want to have some more with us?"
Jared's face didn't look too good, his voice dropping low. "No, you guys go ahead."
With that, he turned and walked out. Tracy immediately turned to Owen and said, "Make sure you take good care of Mrs. Holcomb. Don't let her feel neglected."
Owen practically jumped at the chance. "Don't worry. Mrs. Holcomb is like a goddess to me right now. I'll make sure she's well taken care of."
I didn't let Jared's dark look get to me. I just sat down and had a meal with Owen and the others. I used to think these business dinners were a total drag, and all that drinking culture was just a headache.
But when you're the one calling the shots at the table, all those rituals suddenly feel like they're under your control—and honestly, it's not boring at all.
Since I had to drive, I didn't touch a drop, and nobody even tried to get me to drink. I just sat back, listening to the guys shooting the breeze and cracking jokes, and I actually found myself in a pretty good mood.
That afternoon, just as I was about to sign the contract with Owen, I got a call from headquarters. They very politely told me they'd already arranged a new supplier for me—and made sure to mention it was Jared's decision.
My hand froze mid-signature. Owen was watching me anxiously, waiting for me to sign. When I put my phone down, his expression froze too.
I gave him an apologetic look. "Sorry, Mr. Maxwell, but the head office has already found another supplier. The deal is already set."
"What do you mean?" Owen's eyes went wide.
I leaned back in my chair, my voice calm. "It just means we can't work together. Maybe next time, if there's a chance."
Owen's voice got urgent. "But Tracy's the VP, and she's my cousin."
"Oh, well, maybe she can't make the final call. Mr. Maxwell, you seem like a straightforward guy, and I'd love to do business with you. Why don't you ask her where things went wrong?" I said with a crafty smile.
Owen hurried out to make a call.
I spun the pen between my fingers, a sly smile tugging at my lips. 'That crazy Jared—he just can't help but stir up trouble behind my back,' I thought to myself.
Tsk, men were so petty sometimes. He could have a romantic dinner with another woman, but the moment I talked business with another guy, he just had to butt in and ruin it for me.