Seduced by my husband’s billionaire brother

Nelly stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the collar of her blouse for what felt like the tenth time. The soft white fabric cling to her frame, reminding her of the summer days she hadn’t had time to enjoy. She glanced at the clock on the nightstand, the red digits staring at her. She was running late again. “Have you heard back from any of the places you applied to?” She asked, her voice attempting to sound casual as she reached for her earrings on the dresser. From the bed, her husband, Derrick, looked up from his phone, wearing the same set of pajamas her wore every morning. His eyes met hers in the mirror, and he sighed, the sound heavy with frustration. Nelly’s hands stilled, the delicate earrings clutched in her fingers. “Derrick, did you even apply?” “I did,” he mumbled, his gaze shifting away. “But…” “But what?” She snapped, dropping the earrings onto the dresser with a clatter. “You’ve been saying that for weeks. I can’t keep doing this alone, Derrick. The bills, the mortgage—it’s all on me.” He sat up, the mattress sagging under his weight. “I know, Nelly, I know. But I’ve been trying to sort things out with my brother.” “Your brother?” Nelly cut him off, her voice rising. “You have been ‘trying to sort things out’ with this brother I have never met, for years! When is it ever going to happen, Derrick? When are you going to stop waiting for some miracle and actually do something?” Derrick stood, walking to where she stood. He placed his hands on her shoulders, turning her to face him. “I promise you, Nelly. This time it’s different. He has agreed to a meeting with me. We are going to be fine. We are going to be rich again, like before we got married. I promise.” Nelly searched his eyes, looking for any sign of the man she married, the man who used to have plans and ambition. She wanted to believe him, to hold onto the hope he was offering, but the weight of the past few years pressed down on her chest, making it hard to breathe. She nodded slowly, though the gesture felt more like an act of resignation than agreement. “I’ve got to go,” she murmured, turning back to the mirror to finish getting ready. Derrick let his hands drop from her shoulders, his face softening. “We’ll be okay, Nelly. I swear.” She forced a small smile, slipping on her heels. “I hope so, Derrick. I really do.” With a last glance at his tired face, she grabbed her bag and headed for the door, the weight of her worries trailing behind her as she stepped out of the house to her driveway, into her car and drove off to work. *************** Nelly pushed open the heavy glass door of the law firm, the cool air-conditioned breeze a welcome contrast to the sticky summer morning outside. “Good morning, Mrs. Evans.” the receptionist, Joan, said to Nelly with a bright smile as she passed by, but Nelly only managed a brief nod in return. The weight of the day already pressed on her shoulders, and it was barely eight in the morning. Her heels clicked rhythmically on the polished marble floor as she made her way to the elevator. Early mornings like this were her favorite, when the firm was quite, and she could gather all her thoughts before the rush of the day. But today, her mind was clouded, and the usual calm she found in these moments was elusive. As she reached her office, Nelly pushed the door open and flicked on the lights. The room was spacious, with large windows that offered a view of the city skyline. She dropped her leather bag on the chair and set her coffee on the desk, pausing for a moment to look at the framed photo of her and Derrick on their wedding day. It was taken three years ago, and she could still remember how happy they were. But ever since he lost his company, things had been… difficult. She shook of the thoughts and settled in on her chair, opening her laptop and taking a sip of her coffee, hoping it would jolt her out of her funk. She was reviewing the day’s schedule when there was a knock on the door. “Come on in,” Nelly called, not looking up from her screen. The door swung open, and her best friend and colleague, Jessica, breezed in, a stack of files in her hands and a teasing smile on her lips. “Good morning, sunshine,” Jessica said, dropping the files onto Nelly’s desk. “I see you’ve already hit the ground running.” Nelly managed a weak smile. “Just trying to get a head start. What’s all this?” She gestured to the files. Jessica flopped down in the chair opposite Nelly’s desk, crossing one leg over the other. “A new client. And not just any client—this one specifically asked for you.” “Me?” Nelly raised an eyebrow. “Who is it?” “Some big-shot CEO. Apparently, he has heard of your stellar reputation and won’t settle for anyone else,” Jessica said, her tone light but with an edge of seriousness. “I’ll warn you, though—he’s got a reputation for being… difficult.” Nelly sighed, leaning back in her chair. “Great just what I need.” Jessica studied her friend for a moment, her playful expression fading. “Hey, are you okay? You’ve seemed a little off lately. Are you worried about Derrick again?” Nelly hesitated, her fingers tracing the rim of her coffee cup. “Yeah, a little. It’s just been a rough patch, you know? But we’re… fine. Jessica’s eyes softened with concern. “You know I’m here for you, right? If you ever need to talk, or just a break from everything…” “I know,” Nelly said, giving her a grateful smile. “Thanks, Jess. I’m just trying to keep it together.” Jessica nodded, then stood up and gave Nelly a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “You’ve got this. And if that CEO gives you any trouble, just remember—you’re the best damn attorney in this law firm. Nelly chuckled, feeling a bit lighter. “Thanks for the reminder.” With that, Jessica left the office, leaving Nelly alone with her thoughts. She stared at the files on her desk, trying to get Derrick out of her mind. Taking a deep breathe, she opened the first file and got to work. ********************* Nelly closed her laptop with a sigh, the day’s work finally behind her. The clock on her desk read 5:30 PM, and she quickly gathered her things, eager to get to her daughter’s school before the afternoon rush. As she stepped out of her office, the bustling energy of the firm had already begun to wind down, with most of her colleagues either gone or preparing to leave. She nodded goodbye to the few remaining , her mind already focused on the next task: picking up Riley. The drive to Riley’s preschool was a short one, just ten minutes in light traffic. Nelly’s thoughts drifted as she drove, but the sight of the school building brought her back to the present. She parked and hurried inside, her heart warming at the thought of seeing her daughter. Riley spotted her the moment she entered the classroom, her little face lighting up with a wide grin. “Mommy!” “Hi, sweetheart!” Nelly knelt down, opening her arms as Riley ran to her, the soft scent of crayons and play dough clinging to her daughter’s clothes. “Did you have a good day?” “Uh-huh! We played with the big blocks, and I made a tower, and Miss Emily said it was the tallest!” “Wow, that’s amazing!” Nelly beamed, grabbing Riley’s backpack and thanking the teacher before they headed to the car. As they drove home, Riley chattered away in the back seat, her voice a cheerful melody that filled the car. Nelly glanced at her daughter in the rear view mirror, her heart swelling with love. “Mommy, can we have pasta for dinner?” “Of course, sweetie,” Nelly replied, smiling. “Pasta it is.” They pulled into the driveway, and Nelly couldn’t help but feel grateful for this small, perfect moment.