The Independent Woman: The Salamander, #2

By Misha Quinn

After the wedding night, a selfish and calculating billionaire husband leaves his young wife alone. 

Doubts haunt Graham: does Ella love him or his money? And he gives her the right to dispose of his entire fortune. 
The young woman remains confused, as love alone is insufficient for their marriage with Graham. 

Unexpectedly, Graham's attractive and sociable friend Adam rushes to fill the empty place in the heart of the lonely rich woman. But his motives are very dark.

Ella will have to decide what is more important to her - the hope of regaining her love and happiness with Graham, who has disappeared, or the opportunity to start her life anew with Adam, who is always by her side.

 

The complete 4 BOOK THE SALAMANDER SERIES is available now! Reading order:

The Lonely CEO (The Salamander #1) is a feeling-packed first love experience story featuring a virgin heroine and an irresistible playboy hero, her arrogant billionaire boss Graham. The story ends with a cliffhanger to the next story in the series, The Independent Woman.

The Independent Woman (The Salamander #2) is a suspenseful love story with a lively heroine who hopes to save her true love for her egocentric billionaire husband, husband-best-friend, dark love triangle, fortune, temptation, second chances, and HEA ending.

The Return Game (The Salamander #3) is a heart-warming, HEA-ending second-chance romance with a sassy, independent heroine with a broken heart and her confessed billionaire ex-boss and ex-husband trying to win back his ex-wife's love.

The Christmas Gift (The Salamander #4) is the final part of a tender and tempting love story of Ella and Graham, full of feelings and high hopes, with a Christmas gift and miracle.

And don't miss the Throne of Flames series, where Ella's life and love continue in the fae fantasy romance world!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Misha Quinn
• Release date: Jun 17, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201460136

Misha Quinn

Misha Quinn is an independent author from Finland who has published over 20 contemporary and fantasy romance stories. With diverse life experience, a love of practical psychology, and knowledge of the creative arts and business world, she creates stories with adventurous plots and surprising twists. Her heroines are strong women who grow through life lessons. You can find ALL Misha Quinn's books and series on the website: http://www.mishaquinn.com/ - Please subscribe for FREE bonus content and Author updates exclusively to the newsletter’s subscribers.

Book preview

Chapter 1

A ray of sunlight touched Ella’s face as she slept on the luxurious double bed silk sheets. The young woman reached up, brushed curls of curly dark hair from her eyes, squinted, looked directly into the sun, and smiled. She smiled at everything that had been and what awaited her today: a new life, new happiness. It was her happiness with her beloved husband, Graham.

Yesterday, their wedding took place. Ella turned to her side and saw the empty bed on Graham’s side. Then her eyes darkened, and she realized that all those memories were now in the past.

Ella had nothing now. She had no future, no happily married life, and no spouse.

So yesterday morning, when the young woman awoke from her first wedding night, Ella saw that the bed was empty. She noticed from the balcony that Graham was getting into the car with his travel bag and driving away. Her husband did not answer her calls or those of his parents or friends.

Ella did not know what had happened to him. In addition, she did not understand what had happened to them. Why did Graham leave her like that - alone, right after the wedding? Ella lay back again, staring up at the crisp white ceiling of the room.

Where is Graham now? What has happened to him? What should I do now?

Indeed, Ella overcame this helplessness and started looking for him. She was his wife; she had the right to know what happened and the problem. She had a right to know!

Ella closed her eyes, and before her inner eyes swam images of yesterday. A white limousine was waiting for Ella in the driveway of her house. A young woman was ready to leave. The Empire wedding dress was simple: it was custom-made from the fabric of her mother’s wedding dress. The light fabric with a patch of embroidered white roses flowed down Ella’s slender body, falling elegantly to her feet. Ballet flats encrusted with sparkling crystals were in the white shoes. The woman’s dark curly hair was loose and fell in waves over her shoulders. The thin hoop of the tiara slightly tempered the cascade of thick hair. Ella covered her nails with sheer pink nail polish.

Although Ella had forgiven the embellishments that other young women were overly fond of, she now desired to be like a normal bride: pink lips, pink nails, and a white wedding gown. Ella wore a diamond pendant around her neck, a gift from Graham. She did not wear a diamond ring, also a gift from Graham, because she thought wedding bands should be the most important thing in her hands. Instead, Ella turned to her mother.

So, do I look good? She asked.

You are just beautiful! I always knew you were extraordinary, but now I know that you are a beauty in this dress! And how has this beauty gone unnoticed by men until now? replied her mother, looking lovingly at Ella.

Ella laughed.

Yes, mother, I was the one who did not notice them. You know, it was recently that books meant a lot more to me than finding romance in real life.

Mom sighed and said a little anxiously,

I know, I know. Your father and I were worrying a lot, and suddenly, you are getting married! You are all grown up now, my daughter...

Mom wiped away the tears that came to her eyes with a handkerchief. Then Ella came up to her and put her arm around her shoulders.

Mom, do not worry. I will be fine! I am so happy! Because Graham is the best man in the world, and he loves me so much!

Yes... However, you are still so inexperienced in relationships. You never know what happens in life... The main thing is to believe in yourself and how we raised you. Stick with your people, those close to you, like your family, friends, and us. Do not forget us, even if you have a man as rich and powerful as your future husband. No one knows how life will go... Well, let us not talk about the realities of life now. I will get your friends. They have been waiting half an hour to see you in your wedding dress.

With these words, Ella’s mother left the room, and excitedly chirping girls burst through the open door: several former classmates, a couple of friends from school, and several acquaintances from work. The women surrounded Ella and gasped - she was so beautiful. Ella’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She was not used to being praised for her looks.

However, only some were genuinely enthusiastic. None of these people around had ever seen Ella so happy before. Women are always in competition with each other. The happiness of the other makes many people jealous, good or bad, and want to prove that I am just as well.

Suddenly, a shadow of doubt came over Ella. Ella still did not understand what Graham saw in her. Well, she was so ordinary. She would only wear that dress tonight, and Graham had not seen her in it yet.

Ella thought,

What if he did not like her style? I mean, he is so precise about everything around him. What if I cannot fit into his lifestyle at all? I do not even know how to drive well! Of course, I have a driver’s license, but I still have no car. My driving skills must have almost disappeared.

Well, she cannot drive. So, Ella never considered buying a car and living in the city’s center. Everything was close by, and to get somewhere far away, the subway or buses were enough for her. Well, and as a last resort, a cab was always close by.

And yes, she grew up in an austere environment and knew little about high society and business etiquette. She needed to learn how to order food in a restaurant.

After a couple of minutes, Ella got her high spirits back. She turned to her friends and said,

Well, look what I have got.

She lifted the hem of her dress above the knee and showed them a thin garter with lace. The same band should be thrown to the bridesmaids at weddings to choose who would marry next. Yes, the old beliefs live on today. Ella had read in books that it was the right thing to do, and now she did not mind following the tradition. The girls jumped around her and argued excitedly about who would catch the garter.

Ella enjoyed having something to give them such pleasure and laughed happily with them at the jokes about her. Yes, she is the gray mouse who suddenly gets married first among them. Yes, Ella has such an enviable fiancé.

But all negative thoughts immediately disappeared because Ella was so happy, just over the moon. Graham was her first love, and she was marrying him! Ella imagined how they would live in the future.

Soon, Ella will rise from her bed in the morning, covered in snow-white silk sheets, throw a peach-colored silk negligee over her bare body, trimmed with the finest lace, and glance back at Graham sleeping peacefully. Then, she will go to the bathroom to wash and tidy herself up.

There will be two sinks and two toilets in the bathroom. Everything will be marble, with gilded faucets and handles on the doors and cabinets. The shower and bathtub will be hidden behind a light, translucent curtain. That is where Ella will go to the shower in the morning and leave the bathroom for the evening. Then, she will prepare everything for a romantic breakfast for two, which she will serve to Graham on a silver tray right in bed. He, satisfied, will eat hot croissants and wash them down with freshly squeezed orange juice.

After breakfast, they will go to the balcony and, sitting in their bathrobes and enjoying the beautiful sea view, drink a cup of thick, fragrant coffee. Then, finally, they will spend the day pleasantly worrying about this and that.

However, Ella could not imagine what they might do as a married couple. In the evening, Graham would arrange for her to watch a romantic movie in the home theater. Then, after a glass of champagne, they would be returned to the bedroom and made love. Then Graham would fall asleep, satisfied, and Ella would lie there with her eyes open for a long time, thinking of how happy she had become.

Dreams, dreams! What comes next? Children, of course. How many will there be? Ella smiled.

As many as Graham wants! After all, Graham was such a wealthy man. He would provide for the whole family, and I could concentrate on the children. There could be many children.

The young woman could not imagine over three children. Yet, acquaintances who would have four or more children in the family were outside their social circle. S o Ella settled on three children and was immediately comfortable within her future family. She thought the eldest would help her raise the youngest and be her father’s favorite. But, of course, it would be a boy. The middle child, a girl, would be daddy’s spoilsport and mommy’s delight. Finally, the youngest, again a boy, would delight everyone around her grandparents, aunts, and uncles.

Ella’s friends still needed to see Graham. Ella had invited no one she knew from her first job at the corporation, which Graham had headed until recently, to the wedding. She left that job because Graham tried to use her as a friend and confidant to discover what was happening at the company when they got to know each other. Ella considered this beneath her dignity and rejected this type of relationship with him.

After that, he repeatedly tried to regain her trust and win her affection.

Ella knew now that Graham needed her mental purity and beauty. It turned out that Graham needed Ella so much for her openness and directness that he had not realized how much he had fallen in love with her. However, he never once told her he loved her.

Ella remembered her refusal to accept a relationship with Graham in his usual style, one-time meetings as a mistress, and the sudden marriage proposal that followed it all. Graham’s marriage proposal and this wedding were in an almost emergency rush. Everything was a real surprise to Ella. Somewhere in her mind, Ella felt doubts that all this was happening to her - so quickly was her wedding day arranged.

That was why Ella did not have time to go through the typical stages of a relationship with Graham that most people who start a family do. If she had this time together, she would gradually get to know Graham and his family and friends and get their opinion of him. But Ella felt guilty in front of her parents and girlfriends that they had not yet got to know Graham properly.

I mean, he is so busy! Ella fought off questions about why she was uncomfortable introducing Graham to Ella’s social circle. Yes, Graham met her parents, but also briefly.

Everyone understood he was a busy man and had a huge responsibility. No one remembered Graham had resigned from his position and was completely free. It did not seem possible that he had nothing else to do. Indeed, he was working on new projects, looking for another job, or preparing to start his own business. No one could imagine Graham not doing anything right now. Nothing that Ella’s acquaintances could think of.

Ella thought, of course, that she was just afraid of Graham’s reaction to her friends. He was older and more experienced than they were.

Somewhere in her mind, Ella was afraid her friends would like him. They are women, not like her. If they want a guy, her friends are not shy, and they look for ways to start a relationship themselves. Yes, they were much more modern than she was.

What if Graham also noticed one of them and grew cold toward her? That thing frightened Ella.

It never occurred to Ella that he could have chosen any woman in the world but her. However, he picked her, and he even married her.

Also, Ella had never been to Graham’s house herself. She did not even ask Graham where they would live after the wedding. Somehow, naturally, the subject did not even come up. Ella imagined Graham would show her his house right after marriage. Naïve! He was supposed to show her his home before the wedding. Did she imagine they would live in her rented den in a house with no elevator?

Such thoughts cannot help Ella be happy today. The young woman needed to do something enjoyable. So, Ella packed her things for the road: a small bag of everyday clothes and chirped to her family and friends,

And now, let us hit the road! To happiness!

Everyone poured out of the front door of the limousine and their cars in a jolly crowd. Ella got into the limousine with her friends, and the long white car started, swaying slightly on the bumps in the road. The limousine carried Ella to happiness with the man she loved. Graham was already waiting for his bride at the door of the marriage registration hall. It was a civil ceremony, but even that made his knees tingle.

Graham and Ella had applied for a state marriage license two days earlier. However, the opportunity to perform the