Chapter 11 – Mrs Rios Takes The Throne

• The building, I confirmed, was a golf club. It was a joint project by the casino owners of Las Vegas, Jett being one of them, and it's an exclusive club. We are to greet and play with the co-owners, as Ross informed me. He has been looking at me weirdly ever since I left the van. Probably because of whatever transpired inside, I came out as a completely different person. I started the act the jerk ordered me to be as soon as I left.
• "Are you alright, Fall?" Finally, Ross asked the question he's been itching to ask.
• "Yes, perfectly fine. Thank you for your concern," I replied with a controlled voice, my tone well-modulated. His gaze only became more suspicious, but thankfully he did not push it. The jerk, the person whose side I was supposed to be on, was out asking for a golf cart and his equipment that was stored in his office. He was talking with staff in the distance, so I stayed with Ross. His grumpy mood was still there. Really, he's a man of a lot of questionable personality sides.
• I asked this before, but is he sick in the mind?
• Not long after, we continued walking to the field, my arm now around his. When the field came into view, I remembered my satin wrap dress which was completely not appropriate for golfing.
• "Jett," I called him. He stilled for a bit before turning to me. "My dress is..." I trailed off.
• His eyes surveyed my outfit. "It's alright. You look decent."
• "I mean, it is not for golfing," I quickly replied. "I need to change."
• "You're not going golfing."
• My brows rose in question. "Then what should I do while we're here?" I can't possibly sit still while he goes golfing with the co-owners.
• "The other owners brought their wives," he said. "They'll keep you company." His tone is lighter now compared to earlier and his face is also now smooth, devoid of creases created by his constant frowning. I chose to ignore his mood swing.
• True to his words, we did spot a group of ladies in the roofed deck of the field. There are seven of them in total, where most of them were middle-aged ladies. I could only spot two or three women around my age, judging by appearance. We neared them and my assumption was confirmed when the jerk conversed with them.
• "Hello, ladies," he greeted with a boyish smile. He's back to the man I first met two nights ago, the playful, exuberant Jett. "Did your husbands already start without me?"
• "Why if it isn't Mr. Jett!" Exclaimed one of the middle-aged ladies that was speaking when we neared. "This is only their first game; you can still catch up. Is that...?"
• Her eyes trailed down to me, surveying my entirety with her eyes. The other ladies followed. Instead of the cowering Fallon, I channeled Hawk—my true personality—and met all their intrigued stares with my chin up.
• "Fallon Rios. Pleased to meet your acquaintance, ladies," I casually greeted them, the corner of my lips slightly rising. They looked at each other, gazes that are carrying silent conversations, and carefully nodded their heads.
• "T-The pleasure is o-ours, Mrs. Rios," the woman who previously spoke at the jerk with subtle haughtiness and arrogance was completely taken aback. She then blinked rapidly. "I-I mean..."
• "I'm fine with Fallon," I clarified and unclasped my arms with him, finding a spot beside the youngest of the group. "May I?" I asked. She was smiling at me and gladly offered the seat.
• I heard the jerk's chuckle. "Well, I hope my wife will be taken care of while I excuse myself to join the others in the field."
• "O-Of course..."
• As I sat, I met his eyes glistening with amusement. Mine were expressionless, but as I felt the others' eyes, I smiled at him with my eyes. Ross followed him, and the guards that were just with us are now nowhere to be found. But they're probably around the place.
• We were silent for a moment, my appearance and shocking attitude earning a moment of silence from Las Vegas's richest women. I quietly sipped on the tea offered by one of the staff, supposedly watching my husband getting ready to play. He looked well-acquainted with one of the co-owners and was tapping his back. The others that are middle-aged, were standing in a distance.
• "So..." One of them trailed off. She was near the first woman who spoke. "How are you adjusting, my dear?"
• I turned to her. Compared to the first woman's arrogant air, she was calm and mellow. She was probably second to oldest, but I like her better than the other.
• "I am adjusting well, thanks to my husband's unconditional attention and care. Though I am still looking for a way to help him in the business." I smiled. It was a safe answer and I thankfully managed to keep myself from wincing at the mention of 'my husband'.
• "That's good to know." She returned the smile. "I am Ellie, John's wife. We've been married for 25 years and thankfully, the love is still there. I wish you, newlyweds, a similar future."
• "Thank you, Ellie."
• "Well, I'm Aurora, call me Rory," the youngest beside me—who was surprisingly British because of her thick English accent—introduced. She looked excited as she asked, "Pray tell, Fallon, how is the honeymoon?"
• My smile was barely a push away from becoming a wince. The honeymoon...Last night's events flashed on my mind. I am not telling them that. Definitely not.
• "It was a passionate night for the both of us," I said instead, with a naughty wink. The statement gathered a series of gasps from the ladies. "Our room was decorated with roses and candles courtesy of my romantic husband."
• My sly smile widened when I saw their dreamy eyes. Only the oldest looked uncomfortable.
• "How about your courtship? I'd love to know how Mr. Jett charmed his wife," another one asked. The others agreed, all of them looking invested in our love story. I looked around, realizing having influential girlfriends like them while on this mission wouldn't be so bad. Of course, save for the oldest woman who arrogantly rolled her eyes. She must be trapped in a miserable marriage, oh pity.
• "Well, my dear Jett actually seduced me first," I started, weaving yet another made-up story in my mind. Actually, that first part isn't too much of a lie. He really did look seducing that night when I was first taken into the mansion. But to hell with my first impression of him. His personality remains trash.
• "He was very conceited and childish, which made me not like him at the start. He told you I was feisty, yes?" They all nodded. "That was only because of his foul attitude. I was once described by my mother as sweet and brave. So, I stepped up to him and scolded him for his attitude. It was terrible in the past, and I told him to change or I will never look his way if he continues behaving like that."
• Rory spoke, gasping with amazement, "Don't tell me—You tamed him?!"
• I chuckled, placing my leg over the other. "Well, if you say it like that, then I guess it seems like it."
• The ladies swooned and released dreamy sighs. "Oh, if only my husband was like that."
• "Your love story is so romantic, so much like a romance novel!"
• "I would love a beauty and the beast romance, too...Oh, my stupid husband!"
• Then, the oldest, snapped, "Kids these days. That's a very impure love story, Fallon. Did you mean he wanted to take you to bed but you refused because of his foul attitude and then he changed?"
• I was about to retort at her when Ellie answered, "Oh, Janet, Mr. Jett, and Mrs. Fallon's love story is more than that. Did you not hear her story? It was Mrs. Fallon's heart that Mr. Jett wanted and so he changed for her. If your love story was half as beautiful as theirs, I would have let you criticize how the two bloomed their love." Her voice was calm and her expression controlled, but I did feel the sharpness of her tone.
• Rory clamped her mouth shut, controlling the smile. The other ladies' shoulders shook with laughter, especially the other middle-aged ones who didn't even bother concealing their chuckle.
• Janet's face reddened with embarrassment as she turned to Ellie. "Ellie—!"
• "Well, do you mind telling us your love story, Janet?" I asked, my expression calm, like Ellie's. "I am sure it is still a beautiful story."
• She huffed. "Ronald and I were promised to be married when we were young."
• "How awful." She glared at me, and I gasped. "Sorry, I slipped."
• And so, the time with the wives was a time well-spent. I believe I've made new friends and enemies alike. This is a legal gathering, so I didn't expect to do much spying. I'm looking forward to the illegal gatherings, where I will hopefully stay by that jerk's side, with the businessmen than their wives. Although their wives may give information away easily.