The Divorced Billionaire Mafia Queen

“No, cease all operations. It seems I will be back sooner than we had planned,” I spoke into the phone as I bit down hard on my lips trying not to show weakness.

The moment I hung up, I released a shaky breath as I stared at the gift bag in my hands. My eyes watered and I let out a scoff.

“Seven years of dedication and this is the thanks I get,” I muttered, staring at the box.

I was staring at the contents of a small gift box I had found inside my husband’s jacket. Seven years of marriage and my husband had never given me anything, he’d say I was vain when I requested something.

But here is a customized diamond bracelet worth ten thousand dollars. He's gotten it for his secretary, Hailey. The words engraved on the body of the bracelet made my heart shatter into a million pieces.

My love forever and always, from Tony to Hailey.

The bedroom door creaked open as my husband, Tony, stepped inside with a frown on his face.

“What’s taking you so long to get my jacket, Ciara?” he asked when he came inside.

“This,” I answered, shoving the gift box in his hands.

His face crumpled a bit and he sighed, “Hailey’s boyfriend broke up with her and she's been sad so I decided to get her this gift to cheer her up.”

I chuckled, at the fact that he was lying straight to my face. He had a lot of nerve, it’s been two years since Hailey entered our lives as his secretary and since then our marriage has never been the same.

Tony had stopped sleeping at home for several days since then and he’d come back only when it was necessary. I had long suspected he was cheating on me with Hailey but I've never caught them in the act.

Maybe because I was too busy running my husband’s business in the shadows while he thought it was his hard work that brought him success.

“Listen, Ciara, it’s not a big deal. Hailey works for me and I can decide to gift her or give her a bonus to buy things for herself so she can be efficient in her work,” Tony added when I didn't say anything.

I nodded, “Does it include using the lines from our wedding vow?”

Tony seemed tongue-tied for a moment before he recovered, “Why are you questioning me, Ciara? Don't you trust me? I told them to engrave her ex-boyfriend’s name with the words but they made a mistake and put my name instead since I paid for it.”

I laughed, “Yes, Tony, keep talking to me like I’m a toddler. You can gift your secretary but not your wife.”

As expected, Tony exploded and got defensive, “How dare you? I’ve been working and taking care of you all these years while you stayed home doing nothing and yet you're still an ungrateful woman!”

With those words he stormed out of the bedroom, taking the gift box with him. I didn't bother dwelling on his words as I needed to prepare for the burial we were supposed to attend together but now he's gone.

One of his colleagues and work friends had passed away in a fatal accident. I was a bit close to the late man’s wife so I wanted to show my support.

I opened the wardrobe and got dressed in my black simple dress then I went outside only to find out Tony had left with the limousine.

I grabbed his car keys and took his black sedan instead. As I opened the glove compartment, a box stumbled to the floor. I frowned, how many gifts did he get her?

I opened the box and the scent of vanilla and cinnamon tickled my nostrils. I was familiar with this scent, it was a perfume that my husband always came back home with. When I asked he said he meets a lot of people every day so it’s normal for their perfume to rub off on him.

There was red sexy lingerie inside with a note that read: to remind you of our explosive night yesterday. My hands shook as I clenched the note.

Yesterday, Tony hadn't returned home until early this morning. He went out with this car and claimed that he worked late with Hailey and he had to drop her off because there wasn't any cab available.

I scoffed and chucked the box beside the passenger’s seat as I drove toward his office. I've been patient for two years listening to his lies and being treated like a gullible teenager but no more, I deserve an explanation. It’s the least he could give me after seven years of our life together.

I pulled up in front of his office and entered inside, my eyes scanning every employee but Hailey was nowhere to be found.

I took the elevators to the top floor and went to Tony’s office. As I opened the door I saw Hailey doing a video as she displayed her bracelet and said, “Hey everyone, see what my rich boyfriend got for me.”

Chapter 2

Ciara’s Pov

“Your rich boyfriend, huh?” I asked.

Hailey looked shocked to see me as she stood up and turned off her phone, pasting a fake smile on her face.

“Hello, Mrs. Reeds, what are you doing here?” she asked nervously.

I scoffed, “This is my husband’s office, I should be asking you that.”

“Uh… he's at a meeting. Please don't tell him I was sitting here,” she pleaded.

“Stop playing games with me, Hailey, I know you're dating my husband,” I snapped, tossing the lingerie toward her.

The vulnerable facade she had earlier slipped from her face as a coy smile formed on her lips.

“Oops,” she giggled as she picked up the lingerie, “Busted.”

I was surprised by her nonchalant attitude, “Aren’t you ashamed that you're sleeping with my husband?”

She flashed her bracelet at me and shrugged, “Nope, why should I be? You're the one who should be ashamed he's cheating on you.”

I reacted before I could think and my palm landed across her cheeks as I stared at her harshly.

“You vile creature, you will regret ever speaking to me in that tone,” I threatened.

Hailey’s eyes flashed with hatred as she glared at me, “No, Ciara, you're the one who would regret laying your filthy hands on me.”

I was surprised to see that there was no remorse in her eyes when suddenly she threw herself to the floor and clutched her cheeks as she cried out in pain.

“No, Mrs. Reeds, please, I’m sorry. I didn't ask for this, you're misunderstanding,” she cried.

I scoffed, oblivious to her schemes, “Okay, now you're asking for mercy?”

It was when I saw the small coy smile playing on her lips that I realized it was all an act. Just then the door opened and Tony burst into the office, his face filled with fury.

“What nonsense is this?” he yelled at me, “Why are you here, Ciara?”

I scoffed as I watched him help Hailey stand up. He checked her cheeks that had my palm print on them.

“What? Here to defend your mistress?” I hissed at him.

“I’m sorry, sir, your wife seems to be misunderstanding the gift you got me. Please, don't blame her, it’s not her fault,” Hailey said pitifully.

“Wow, you deserve an Oscar!” I snapped at her.

“Get out!” Tony said to me.

I was momentarily shocked as I stared at him my eyes widening in surprise.

“Wh…what?” I stuttered.

“Get out of my office, Ciara, and never come to my workplace to create such a scene,” he snapped.

“But I saw her —” My words were cut short when I felt a sharp sting across my face only to realize Tony had just slapped me.

“I am your husband and you will obey me. GET OUT!” he yelled.

I touched my cheeks as my eyes stung with tears while Hailey gave me a smug smile as I stumbled out of his office, my body frozen with shock.

Tony, who had never let me get hurt before, had just slapped me for another woman. The realization was like a bitter pill to swallow as I drove to the cemetery where the burial was supposed to be held.

I tried not to think of the incident and focus on comforting the man’s wife but it became worse when Tony arrived with Hailey and they stood beside me trying to mirror the image of a perfect couple with me as their secretary.

Just as the service was concluded and the coffin was lowered into the ground, the woman burst into tears. I was certain she was mourning a love that had ended abruptly.

Even though my husband wasn't dead I knew how she felt because, for the past two years, it felt like my husband was dead.

That was when we heard the screeching of tires as about ten SUVs surrounded the cemetery. Before I knew it the sound of gunshots filled the air as people screamed and scrambled away while I watched as Tony dived down with Hailey shielding her with his body and I stood frozen with shock.

There was danger and my husband instead of protecting me had left me for the wolves while he protected his mistress.

“Get down!” an unfamiliar voice yelled.

The words barely registered before I felt a sharp pain as someone tackled me to the ground and I lost track of time as my eyes suddenly grew heavy.

“Stay with me!” I heard an unfamiliar voice but it sounded so distant.

Then I slowly closed my eyes and gave in to the darkness.

Chapter 3

Ciara’s Pov

The incessant beeping of the machine was the first sound I heard when I opened my eyes followed by the bright lights hanging above me.

I realized I was in the hospital as the memories of Tony shielding Hailey with his body flashed before my eyes. What had happened? I wondered as I felt a sharp pain close to my stomach.

The door opened and a doctor came inside. She had a bright smile on her face.

“Mrs. Reeds, I’m so glad you're awake,” she smiled.

“What happened?” I asked, my throat dry.

“You don't recall?” she asked, frowning.

I shrugged, “It’s all a bit fuzzy.”

The doctor helped me sit up as I let out a sharp groan, she smiled apologetically at me before propping me with a pillow.

“You were shot, Mrs. Reeds,” she said, as I gulped down the water she gave me.

My mind flashed to the gunshot and I frowned, I had thought it was a dream but that was the sad reality of my life.

“In the course of performing surgery to remove the bullet we found out you were pregnant, we tried our best but you lost the baby,” the doctor added.

The words rang in my ears as I sat feeling numb, staring at her while my hands subconsciously touched my lower belly.

“I was pregnant?” I asked.

The doctor nodded, “We are so sorry, Mrs. Reeds. If there's anything you need at all —”

“When will I be discharged?” I asked, interrupting her.

She blinked, “The nature of your injuries is severe, I don't recommend leaving the hospital soon.”

“How fast can I be discharged?” I demanded, a bit forceful this time.

The doctor swallowed cautiously, “We can keep you for observation, and if there's no bleeding you can leave tomorrow but you're not allowed to do any strenuous task.”

I nodded, “Thank you, Doctor.”

She smiled at me and left. I grabbed my phone and sent a quick text message to an unsaved number on my phone just as I heard a light knock on the door.

I raised my head and saw it was Tony, standing in the doorway with a guilty look on his face.

“I’m sorry, I just panicked and I was closer to Hailey and you're older than her so I figured you'd know what to do, I didn't know you would keep standing till the bullet hit you,” Tony rambled in what seemed like an apology.

I just gave him a blank look without batting an eye at him.

“Say something, please,” he said, “The doctor told me about the baby too. I know we've been trying to get one for years. I'm sure you'll get pregnant again.”

I scoffed, for two years Tony had never touched me until he came home one-night drunk as a skunk one month ago and we had. After that, he never touched me and that was how I got pregnant.

I looked away from him and focused my attention on my phone which was now pinging with a series of text messages.

“Mrs. Reeds, please forgive us.”

The sound of Hailey’s mocking voice was like a slap to my face as I looked up and saw her hiding behind Tony, without a single bruise on her body while Tony had scratches on his arm and face from protecting her.

Without thinking, I removed the IV and stood up ignoring the searing pain I felt below my abdomen. Tony, who knew me so well, saw the rage on my face as he tried to shield Hailey with his body.

“Please, Ciara, she's just a kid don't be mad at her,” he pleaded, “Be mad at me instead —”

The words were barely out of his lips when I slapped him, pushing him aside. Tony was so shocked he barely had time to stand up as I slapped Hailey twice and pushed her to the ground.

Hailey cried and held her cheeks while Tony scrambled and ran toward her.

“Ciara, are you mad? See what you've done to the innocent girl. She's not the one who sent shooters to the burial or made you keep standing like a fool while they were shooting,” Tony spat angrily.

I stared at him and scoffed, “Both of you will regret this, I will make sure of it.”

With my eyes blazing in anger, I walked out of the hospital. I barely made it to the car park when I realized my stitches had ripped and I was bleeding.

“Damn it!” I groaned.

I leaned heavily against a car when I saw two black SUVs heading toward me. The cars stopped before me as armed men stepped out of the car. One of the men stepped forward and bowed before handing me an envelope.

“It's ready, Mistress,” he said.

I opened the envelope and read the contents nodding as I hurriedly signed before giving it back to him.

“Make sure he signs it,” I ordered.

The man nodded as he led me to the car which drove off immediately.

“Relax, Mistress, we’ll soon arrive at the private airstrip where we parked the jet,” the driver said.

I nodded and relaxed even though my lower abdomen was hurting me. Just as we arrived and I was about to enter the jet, my phone rang. I glanced at it and saw it was Tony.

“Ciara, what is this madness? Instead of you to apologize for what you've done to Hailey you hired goons to force me to sign a divorce certificate? Come here right now!” Tony spat angrily over the phone.

“Go to hell and so help me God if you ever call my number again I’ll make you wish for death!” I threatened before I hung up and tossed my phone into the trash.

I smoothed my dress as I walked into the helicopter. I will make Tony and Hailey regret their actions. They just wait!