Reclaimed Obsession

Chapter 6

She was mentioning Clara again.

"What do you want, Lena?"

She uncrossed her legs and stood, moving toward me slowly. "I want you to stop pretending last night didn't change anything." She stopped close enough that I could smell her. "Because it changed everything."

"It was one night."

"It was us, Ace." She snapped. "It was always us. I made a mistake leaving. I know that. And I know you know it too."

"You don't know what I know."

She reached up and pressed two fingers to the center of my chest. Right over my heart.

"It's pounding," she said quietly.

I grabbed her wrist and squeezed hard.

But no pain flashed through her eyes. Instead, she leaned closer… What a sadistic bitch.

My phone chimed noisily.

I stepped back, dropping her hands. "You need to leave. And don't come to my place of work again."

She held my gaze for a long moment. Then she picked up her bag from the chair, smoothed her skirt, and walked to the door.

She paused with her hand on the frame.

"Clara knows who I am, Ace." Her voice was eerily calm. "I made sure of that this morning. She and I had a very interesting conversation on the phone." A small, knowing smile showed her dimples. "I'd ask her about it tonight, if I were you."

Then she left.

I stood there, staring at the door with the phone still ringing on my desk.

What the hell had she done?

___________________________________

Eager to find out what Lena had told my wife, I stopped at the mall.

“Can I have a medium-sized cake?” I asked the cashier, flashing a charming smile.

But inside, I was losing it. My mind kept running through every possible scenario of what Lena might have said. If she told Clara about what happened between us, Clara would take everything.

She had already taken the car this morning.

Next might be my job.

But then I saw it—the Sweet Melody cake. Clara had always had a sweet tooth. Whatever Lena told her… maybe she’d soften once she saw the cake.

At least, that’s what I told myself.

I was sure.

…Fuck this.

________________

I opened the front door, half-expecting to find Daniel or some other stranger buried deep inside my wife on the couch. Instead, Clara sat there in one of her oversized shirts, watching TV.

I paused.

What was going on? Did her meeting go that well?

I walked in and set the cake on the table where she couldn’t miss it. This was my peace offering. I just hoped she would take it. Then we could talk.

But as usual, Clara’s eyes found me… and stayed there.

The cake? Completely ignored.

“How did you get to work today?”

I paused. “There’s something called Uber, Clara.”

Her lips curled into an ugly sneer. “I’m not stupid.”

Before she could say anything else, I was already heading for the room. If only she had looked at what I brought for her.

“I’m not done talking!” she shrieked, rushing to block my path again.

I eyed her petite frame warily. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“I should be asking you that.” She leered.

“What does it look like? You took the car, so I used Uber. I’m tired, and I need sleep.” I pointed toward the table. “I also got you cake… you know, in case you feel like something sweet.”

Her gaze flickered to the cake and something unreadable crossed her face, but just as quickly, the frown returned.

“We’re still married, Ace. Tell me how your day went. I got a very strange call, so…”

I froze.

Right.

How could I forget what Lena did?

Just then, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out.

Lena: April Fools.

I stared at the message.

Fucking unbelievable. “Oh, now you remember we’re married?” I shot Clara a sharp glare. “Whatever call you got, it's none of my business.”

Clara’s left eye twitched.

I shook my head and let out a dry chuckle before gently pushing past her. Was her ego bruised? Or had Lena filled her head with nonsense? She didn’t even know half of what I did to Lena.

“Definitely not vanilla,” I muttered under my breath. It died quickly when pain shot through my hands.

Jesus.

My right palm—still cut from the glass—throbbed, and my left knuckles weren’t any better. The bandages had done nothing to stop the swelling.

Both hands hurt like hell.

I grabbed the small first-aid box and made my way back downstairs. Might as well fix this and get something to eat.

Ding dong.

I stopped.

What the hell?

I glanced at the clock. 10:00 p.m.

I wasn’t expecting anyone. I had already bought the cake, so unless Clara had suddenly decided to order food—

I looked over at her.

She was busy with her nails now, the TV completely forgotten.

“Did you order anything?”

“Fuck off, Ace.”

Right. That was a no.

I swallowed whatever comeback sat on my tongue and walked to the door.

“Hi—”

“Good evening, sir. Ace Sinclair?”

I frowned. “Yeah. That’s me.”

The delivery man handed me a large black envelope, neatly sealed and adorned with silver and gold ribbons. I scanned the package carefully.

It was too extravagant for someone like me.

I turned to Clara, wondering if she'd ordered it. But something told me not to bother asking. Did Mom get it for me? I slowly shook the box, making my way back to the dining table.

I yanked the ribbons out, noting the black suede finish of the box beneath. My eyes caught the logo pressed into the material in gold foil: Luna-Nova Enterprises.

That name was oddly familiar.

I clipped it open, eager to see—

The air in my lungs vanished. Right there, nestled against the black velvet was a sleek metallic cock cage with a small padlock attached to a matching chain.

Beside it were straps and rings folded neatly like handkerchiefs.

What the hell?!