CHAPTER 19

(Mae's POV)

I was so pissed that I didn't go home that night, instead I partied all night at the Garage, an exclusive bar for elite people, and where most underground businesses are transacted.

"Wow! Mae! Long time no see!" Phil, the barista greeted me, "Usual?" he asked, I nodded.

"So, what's up?" he asked while mixing my drink.

"Well, you know, nothing new," I replied and looked at the people in the bar. These people, some are friends while others are rivals. In the business world having at least one underground connection was enough, but an entire empire... you're almost untouchable.

"MAE!! LONG TIME NO SEE!" Connor greeted me with open arms.

"Oh, Connor!" I responded and gave him a hug.

"I heard you got married, congratulations!" he said while giving me a toast.

"Yeah, part of my father's failing business," I replied. In this place I can be the real me, I don't have to pretend to be weak and helpless.

"You should just have paid him, why do you keep the place alive anyway?" he asked.

"Well, I have already given up in the BNB, but, you know me, I need something to distract myself from." I said and drank my cocktail in one gulp.

"So you mean , you're just messing around with your husband?" He said amused.

"Well, it's a long story," I said, but after several shots of tequila, I managed to tell Connor everything that has happened.

"Wow! Your husband is such an ass! If only he knows how capable you are! Well, Roger, Freya and Miranda are still on my top list. My god Mae, you're surrounded with terrible people" Connor said while giving me another toast.

"Well, you aren't terrible. And you know people like him, Jayce I mean... reputation and pride comes first. Besides, his ego gets the best of him most of the time," I said while pouring myself another drink.

"But Mae, seriously, don't you want to end the BNB? It's been dragging you down for years! And now you're married because of it?" Connor asked.

"Oh Connor, I really want to end it. But, where's the fun in that?! My plan is to reclaim the BNB and turn it to my showroom," I said.

We both let out a laugh and toasted again.

"Well, I have a plan," Connor said and whispered his plan to me.

"Don't you dare! If he finds out he might do something stupid!" I said and punched him lightly on the arm.

"Oh c'mon, don't you wanna know the reason why he chose you for real? The BNB is not the only business that fails every now and then, you really think he married you as payment? What if there's more?" Connor said.

"Of course it didn't make sense to me either, but, if I use my connections... I must admit, I'm afraid of what they'll find." I replied.

It really doesn't make sense, why would he marry me? He could just have bought the BNB and filed a lawsuit right? But why marriage? So now I'm back to the original question from the first day of marriage...

"If you want I'll look it up for you," Connor said, I was speechless, "Mae, I'm like a brother to you, and I don't want assholes playing around your feelings. I won't let anyone break your heart ever again!"

Connor Palma, a 28 year old businessman, he owns the Empire Hotel and Restaurant and has an underground casino. He's like a brother to me ever since my mom died. So his decisions are sometimes half-assed but he doesn't care, as long as it is about my welfare, he'll do anything.

"Connor, c'mon please don't bring up that story again," I said.

"Right, sorry." he replied. "Nevertheless you can't stop me from looking into it," he said and kissed me on the forehead before leaving.

I stayed in the Garage for another 3 hours and talked to other people in there.

Come to think of it, I didn't do a background check on Jayce, it never crossed my mind. But now that we've been arguing over things, it makes me think twice. I tried my best to be honest with him as much as possible but am I sure he's being honest with me as well?

*****

It was 8 am when I went straight to the office, I didn't bother calling Jayce to tell him my whereabouts that night. He didn't drop a message so why would I?

I took a shower in my private room in the office and called Aiden to push my meetings in the afternoon.

At around 10 am, Aiden knocked on my office,

"Boss, Mr Connor is here to see you," he said.

"That was fast, let him in," I replied and he let Connor in.

"I'm surprised you don't have a hangover right now, we drank an entire bottle of tequila!" he said and plopped on my couch.

"You know I have high alcohol tolerance," I chuckled.

"So, what did you find?" I immediately asked.

"You better hope I don't see him, or else I will kill him," he said in a serious voice while handing me a folder.

I nervously opened the folder, the first few pages were normal, but when I got into the last page...

"WHAT THE HELL?!" I was so surprised with what I was reading...

"What did I say," Connor replied and stood up to give me a hug.

I never felt so betrayed in my life!

I trusted Jayce to be honest with me, and here I am slapped across the face with a 6-PAGE PRENUP?!