I know what spa we’re at without having to ask. I’m planning on being a brat today and I’m going to spend as much money as I can. God knows I could probably buy the place and it wouldn’t dent Wyatt’s bank account. I follow his cases because I can’t help myself. I have too much time on my hands, and as a housewife with no house to actually run I read all his cases because I’m bored. At least that’s what I tell myself. It’s definitely not because I want to know everything he’s up to.
His very first case made the man a millionaire, but who knows what he has now. If there’s a list that tracks the fast-rising lawyers in the country, I’m sure he’s at the top of it. While he made something of himself, I’ve done nothing but exist. If you can even call it that anymore.
I let out a long sigh as I pull myself together. I don’t want to be here because I’ll know half the women inside. They’ll be nice to my face then talk behind my back. Others will outright insult me in a passive aggressive manner. You don’t realize they’ve cut you until they’re already walking away and you’re left bleeding all over the place. It really is an art form and no one is better at it than my own mother.
I thank the driver then walk into the lobby of the hotel and go to the spa elevators. I pull out my cell phone to look busy and hope no one notices me. I’m sure everyone has something they want to ask me so they can share the gossip. It’s not because they actually care that my marriage was annulled, or that my medical records were leaked. They don’t care about how I’m doing; they just want the dirt.
I’m surprised but relieved that paparazzi haven’t followed me. They were all over Aiden, so maybe I’m not interesting enough anymore. They got their virgin headline article and that’s probably enough for them when it comes to me.
The elevator chimes and the doors slide open. I step on and a woman in a suit steps on with me. She looks familiar, but I can’t place her even though I’m sure I’ve seen her before.
Her face is emotionless—and not from Botox—as she stands straight, her shoulders back.
“Everything okay, Mrs. Carmichael?”
It takes me a moment before I realize she’s talking to me because she just called me by Wyatt’s last name.
“Yes,” I manage to say, and then I realize who she is. “You’re my bodyguard.”
“Yes, ma’am.” She nods in conformation.
“My name is Savannah.” I smile at her and she looks surprised.
People think I’m rude, but most of the time I’m just direct. I don’t pretend like some other women who run in my circle. I don’t wear a mask of civility, unless I’m with my parents; then I just keep my mouth shut and nod. It’s a skill I learned early in life.
I’m never rude to staff. In fact, I always find them to be my favorite people to be around. I try to sneak away from a party and into the back at most events. Their company is always better.
“I’m really sorry, Mrs. Carmichael, but I was told I could only call you that or ‘ma’am.’”
I know there is no arguing with her. When Wyatt tells someone to do something they do it. The corner of my mouth pulls up in a smirk because I’m probably the one exception. I don’t have to do what he tells me, and I bet it drives that man crazy. He’s been driving me crazy for years, so I don’t mind the payback.
From the moment I spotted him at school cleaning the pool I knew he was different. He didn’t care what everyone thought about him. He did what he wanted and set his own expectations in life. Not only that, but he was the best at everything he did. He’s a cocky bastard, but after everything he’s accomplished he has a right. Cocky without reason is unattractive but Wyatt is— I stop my train of thought. This isn’t the place to be getting turned on. Especially when I want to throttle him.
He gives no fucks about what others think of him and that’s what began my life-long crush. I became obsessive and went out of my way to run into him. I stayed on the stupid swim team because I knew he’d be at the pool after school each day and I wanted to see him. I didn’t care how much I hated the sport. My new sport was letting Wyatt see me in a swimsuit.
But like everything in my life, my father took it away from me. He found out about my crush because I’d written Wyatt’s name over and over again in one of my secret notebooks. I couldn’t stop myself, and drawing had always been my safe place. When my father found my notebooks he took them all and then warned me that if I didn’t stay away from Wyatt he’d make sure he stayed away from me. I could read between the lines easy enough. He would get him kicked out of our school and I knew how hard Wyatt worked to be there. I also knew I couldn’t be the one that got it taken from him.