After Divorce, She Bloomed

Stepping out of her car, Vanessa walked into Dana's restaurant.

Today, she was meant to meet up with Daniel, her private investigator. She was expecting him to be able to give her some useful information on her husband's mistress.

One more day's stay in the marriage with Ethan was an ordeal for her.

"This way please, Mrs."

"Alright," Vanessa nodded at the waitress, following her towards a "This way please, Mrs."

"Alright," Vanessa nodded at the waitress, following her towards a table where she spotted Daniel seated, sipping on a glass of wine as he waited for her.

As soon as he caught sight of her, he stood up to welcome her.

"Hey, Vanessa."

"Daniel, Hi."

"Have a seat," He gestured to the seat he had quickly pulled open. Vanessa thanked him as she sat down and watched him return to

his seat. "So, what were you able to gather?"

At her question, Daniel turned his tablet on and pushed it across the table, angling it well enough for her to see the details he had compiled.

"Based on the photos you provided, I targeted one person after going through multiple comparisons. Serene Vans is the name. Her mother is deceased and her father is Marcus Van, a real estate business tycoon.

She's twenty-three, an internet celebrity and big time Actress with countless fans."

Vanessa studied the profile intensely as Daniel explained.

The woman on the screen was pretty indeed. Brown wavy hair and round doe eyes accentuated her baby-looking face. Her lips were thick and painted a rosy pink and her skin was pale, not overly so but just enough to make her look like a doll.

Although Daniel had stated there was still a lack of evidence to point directly that Serene Vans was Ethan's mistress, Vanessa's gut instinct told her they were the same. At some point, she found herself wondering if it was Serene's beauty that had stolen Ethan's heart, or if he was just a plain scumbag who couldn't keep his dick well in his pants. "She was basically born with a silver spoon in her mouth, not to mention the wealth and popularity she has amassed in recent years. Bringing her down would be harder than you think, Vanessa," Daniel added, not missing the way Vanessa's fingers tightened around the tablet before she handed it back to him.

"Is that so?" He nodded.

"If we don't have enough evidence and make one mishap, it could blow up in our faces. I'm sure Ms. Vans here wouldn't hesitate to sue our asses for defamation. She's pretty good at stirring up public opinion."

Vanessa's expression darkened as she looked through the list of Serena Vans' achievements.

First, the supplementary agreements, then a cunning mistress, her road to divorce was much harder than she expected.

"What is your suggestion, Daniel?"

"For now, we could only wait and let her have her way until some scandal that is enough to bring her down."

Daniel smiled a bit as he passed her the tablet again after tinkering with it.

"Some of my birds told me that Serene frequently visits a private club called 'The Red Room'."

Vanessa raised her brow as she saw the image of the club on the screen, signaling Daniel to continue.

"But people who go in and out of there basically wear disguises, making it difficult to do forensics.

After all my investigation, 1 deduced that Ms. Vans and Mr Bennett should have got to know each other there a year and a half ago."

Vanessa felt her jaw tighten, anger flaring up in her and the desire to rip Serene's head off, and Ethan's, grew. A whole fucking Year and a half, that bastard had been cheating on her and had the guts to come up and act like an angel while painting her like the fucking devil each time she made the slightest mistake!

But she quickly schooled her expression when she felt her finger nails digging into her lap through her jeans.

"Thank you for this, Daniel. Your first commission has just been credited."

The investigator nodded at her words, accepting her appreciation, as well as the money.

"Please continue to keep an eye on Serene Vans."

"Understood."

After exchanging a few more words and setting the next date for their next meeting, Daniel excused himself, leaving the restaurant first.

Vanessa had remained seated for a little longer, trying to calm her nerves as her fingers drummed lightly on the table.

'Calm down, Vanessa, getting angry will not help.' She repeated to herself. 'Step by step, you'll finally let them taste their own medicine one day.'

Gathering her thoughts, she prepared to leave for her work.

Just as she was about to vacate her table, someone brushed past her, bumping her shoulder harshly enough to have her lose her balance.

She tipped forward, almost falling, had a strong arm not caught her by the waist, and pulled her towards a sturdy chest.

"You alright, Ma'am?" A deep baritone voice rumbled and Vanessa looked up to stare into the face of a very handsome man.

His Dark brown hair was combed neatly, revealing a prominent widow's peak, and his jawline was strong and chiseled, his cheekbones were sharp and his nose straight and slender.

His features, although masculine, were perfectly proportional and balanced, giving him a regal and aristocratic look. For a moment, Vanessa was taken by his looks, but then she remembered that she was in the arms of a total stranger.

Immediately, she pushed off him, taking a few steps back as she cleared her throat.

"Thank you for catching me."

The man smiled and Vanessa's felt the pace of her heart pick up.

"Be more careful, beauty. There won't always be someone to catch you in time." He teased and all the pink bubbles in Vanessa's heart busted as she felt offended by the way his eyes scanned her, examining her from head to toe.

Of course, someone as handsome as him was supposed to be a part of New York's womanizing gang.

"Thanks for the advice, Sir. But I think you should redo your etiquette of addressing strangers, especially how you stare at them." Vanessa replied coldly.

The man tilted his head slightly to the side, his lips curved into a small smirk as he regarded her.

"My apologies, beautiful Ms."

"It's Mrs." She flashed her ring finger, although she wasn't too proud of her marriage right now, she was sure she needed it to school this arrogant womanizer.

"I'm a married woman, Sir. So please, l'd appreciate it if you didn't treat me as a piece of meat you'd love to sink your teeth into." The man's eyes went to her ringed finger and Vanessa wasted no time in giving him a mocking smile before she moved past him.

'Handsome men these days are something entirely.' She thought, unaware of how said handsome man's eyes followed her until she stepped out of the restaurant.

'An interesting woman.' Michael thought, smiling subtly at her back leaving. "Lena," The private investigator was by his side with a single call.

"Yes, Boss?"

"Look into her more thoroughly."

"Who sir?" Lena tilted her head in confusion. Was there someone else she was meant to investigate?

"Who else," Came Michael's response. "Vanessa Bennett. Get me everything you can on her. I'll pay you double."