The Temporary Boyfriend

Chapter 109: Get the hell out of town

​Catalina’s plans were fragile.

Everything was built on secrets and perfect timing. One wrong move could make the whole house of cards fall down. Julian was almost hers. He didn’t need a wildcard like Seraphina making things worse.

​Catalina turned to her vanity. She saw a flower vase. With a fast, angry motion, she swiped it off the table and as it scattered on to the floor.

It was time to make things right and set her plans into motion, but with Seraphina in town...

There was a single knock and Eleanor walked in. She saw the mess on the floor and frowned.

Catalina forced a smile on her face, quickly hiding the rage that had just boiled over.

​"Mother," Catalina said softly. "Forgive the mess. My hand slipped."

​Eleanor stepped over the broken porcelain, her gaze sweeping over the room. She didn’t buy the excuse for a second, but she played along.

​"Your hands seem very unsteady lately." She looked down at the shattered pieces on the floor. "You want to finish every vase in this house? Should I be concerned for the rest of my house?"

​"Of course not," Catalina replied, forcing a polite smile. "I was just deep in thought. I only missed my husband. I was thinking of paying him a visit."

"I wouldn’t advise that."

"And why not?"

"Because things between you two are... strained," Eleanor replied calmly. "It would be wiser to wait. Your father-in-law is already working to resolve the situation."

Catalina let out a soft, disbelieving laugh.

"Resolve it?" she repeated. "You mean ignore the problem until it goes away?"

"Catalina—"

"No," she cut in, her voice tightening despite her efforts to stay composed. "Let’s not pretend. We both know that, insignificant girl, is all over him. You all see it. You just don’t care."

Eleanor’s expression hardened.

"Mind your tone."

Catalina took a step closer.

"Why?" she asked quietly. "Because I’m finally saying what everyone else is too polite to?"

Eleanor’s gaze turned cold.

"You are speaking out of turn, that’s why."

"And you, are pretending not to see what’s right in front of you. I’m sure you even encourage your son to sleep around."

"You watch your tongue young woman. You do not talk to me like that."

Catalina held her gaze.

"Like what?" freewebnovёl.ƈom

"Like a girl who forgets her place. You are here because we allow it. Do not mistake my silence for weakness."

​"I am Julian’s wife," Catalina snapped, her polite mask finally cracking. "I shouldn’t have to ’forget my place’ when another woman is trying to take it."

​Eleanor took a slow step forward. "You are his wife only in this house. If you keep acting like a child, throwing a tantrum, you won’t even be that, for long."

Without another word, Eleanor turned and walked out, leaving Catalina alone. Fuming.

She took her phone and called her mother. "Pick up... pick up."

The phone rang three times before a sharp, melodic voice answered.

​"Catalina? It’s nearly eleven. This better be a crisis. Or a triumph."

​"It’s a disaster," Catalina hissed. "Eleanor was just in here. She’s threatening me, Mother. She’s actually siding with them."

​There was a pause on the other end, the sound of a martini glass being set down on marble.

"Siding with whom?" Yolanda asked. "Don’t tell me you’ve allowed that girl, the one you told me about, to get under your skin again. Since when are you this disorganized."

"I am trying not to, but I think Eleanor’s covering for him."

The woman on the other end of the line let out a low, displeased hum. "I see. And what exactly do you plan to do about it, Cata? You’ve been saying Julian would come back to his senses, but it sounds like he’s further gone than we thought. The marriage has already been annuled, and the chances are not encouraging."

"I didn’t think the relationship was serious. He is usually not serious about anyone."

"Ok, like I said what have you done about it? Or plan to do about it? I honestly think you should just come home and forget this whole marriage thing."

Catalina stopped pacing.

"I’m handling it mother."

"No," Yolanda replied coolly. "You’re reacting. There’s a difference."

Catalina’s jaw tightened.

"Well I will not sit back while some, nobody walks into my marriage and takes what’s mine."

"Then stop behaving like a jealous wife," her mother cut in sharply. "Jealous women lose. Strategic women win."

There was a beat of silence. Catalina swallowed.

"Listen carefully," Yolanda continued. "You don’t fight the girl. She’s irrelevant."

Catalina frowned.

"But she’s in his bed mother."

"And you are his wife. That is the only position that matters. Stop lowering yourself to compete with some lowlife."

Catalina’s grip on the phone tightened. "I need you to take care of her for me. Make her... disappear. Permanently."

"Cata, this is your mess. Clean it up by yourself. You have resources. Use them."

Catalina’s eyes narrowed. "You know there isn’t much I can do. Julian will kill me if I try to touch her."

Yolanda only laughed. "Since when has that stopped you."

The line went dead.

"Since when has that stopped you?" Catalina repeated the words.

​Her mother was right. She needed to go ahead with her plans.

She would let the crazy Seraphina handle the girl. While they fought, Catalina would focus on her secret plans with Mateo. Which will unravel very soon.

Oh she was happy. She smiled to herself, feeling powerful again.

​

​Meanwhile, Mr. Carter arrived at Seraphina’s hotel room. He rang the bell once... then another. Then he kept ringing.

​The door opened instantly. Seraphina stood there looking wild. Her hair was a mess and her eyes were too bright. She wore only a robe, hanging open to reveal she was barely dressed.

​"Father," she said in a dry, bored voice. "Did the clean-up crew finally arrive?"

​Mr. Carter looked past her into the room. A young man and a girl were hurrying to put their clothes on.

Ropes and various adult toys were scattered across the expensive carpet.

​"You look... busy, Seraphina," Carter said. His voice was cold and flat.

​"I’m more than... busy," she replied. She leaned against the doorframe, not caring that she was exposed. "Did Julian send you? Is he checking up on his favorite disaster?"

​"What exactly are you doing back here?" Carter stepped into the room, ignoring the two strangers as they scrambled past him to the exit. "It is like you have a death wish."

​Seraphina let out a sharp, laugh.

​"Don’t be dramatic, Father."

​"Dramatic?" Carter turned on her, his eyes snapping with anger. "Look, if you want to ruin your life, be my guest. But you will not drag this family into your mess. You will not destroy what I have built for years."

​Seraphina’s smile didn’t fade, but it turned cold. "You didn’t build it for me, Father. You built it for your other daughter and her mother. I’m just the ’problem’ you can’t seem to fix."

​Carter pulled a thick envelope from his coat. "Then let’s fix the real problem. Take this and get the hell out of town before Julian decides to kill us all."