THE SILENT WIFE’S REVENGE

Insidious

John stood by my side as I entered the Harper Empire Tower, a skyscraper that kissed the clouds. Inside, several bodies were moving to and fro, all clad in cooperate attire. I was supposed to be used to such madness, but it had been a long time.

We reached the receptionist’s counter, and a brunette lady smiled at me. “Good morning. Do you have an appointment here today?”

I rolled my eyes and turned to John, the family Chauffeur, and my personal security detail. He stood six feet five inches tall. He was so huge that his raven tuxedo seemed to be complaining of the size of his muscles.

“Who is that?” I asked him.

“Forgive give her, ma'am. She is new.” He replied with a stern face.

“Please, get my office keys from her,” I instructed and moved to the private elevator at the distal end of the hall, my destination, the top.

While in the elevator, I ran my fingers over the letter I had meticulously readied. I just had to seal it with the official Harper insignia which was in my office, and submit it to the board of directors. That was it.

The elevator dinged and I moved down the hallway, scaling past several glass-walled offices, observing how those who recognized me either stared with dropped jaws or stood up in surprise.

I waited in front of my office for John to arrive, but just adjacent was my husband's office. It was covered with a blind, perhaps because of his absence. On an afterthought, I decided to check it out since it brought back memories of the good times — our office romance. But while I was close to the door, a young lady strode out. We nearly collided.

“I’m sorry,” she apologized with a bright smile. I could tell from her name tag that she was my husband’s secretary. Very typical of him to employ the hottest woman in the building as his secretary.

“It's fine.” I faked a grin, peeping into the slightly open door, only to behold another shocker. Nicholas was sitting in his office with a half-n***d lady on his lap. Oh, and was she stunning! She was caressing his chest and was just about to kiss him when the secretary blocked my view.

“Who is that?” I let out a low octave growl as my eyes grew smart with tears.

“Forgive me,” she quickly shut the door, having noticed where I peeped into and what I saw.

“You are not forgiven.”

“Excuse me?” She maintained her plastic smile.

“Who is that woman in Nicholas Harper’s office?” A lump grew in my throat.

“I don't know what you are talking about, ma'am.” Her somewhat polite response ignited rage in me that would have exploded if John hadn't arrived.

“Hello, Mr. John,” She greeted.

“Audrey.” He nodded back.

“John, who is this?” I interjected, my eyes still transfixed on her.

“Audrey Bernard. She is new as well. Barely six months here.” His response was clinical, his voice ice-cold.

“Is she aware that she could lose her job if she lied to me?”

“I’m not sure she knows who you are, Lady Harper.”

“Kindly explain to her please,” I instructed with a tear-filled voice.

“Audrey, meet Lady Andrea Harper, the Baroness of Fleetwood, and owner of Harper Enterprises.” He elucidated, and her smile instantly vanished, her face turning a shade of red.

“F—forgive me, Lady Harper. I w—was not aware.” She stammered.

“Answer my question now or you're fired,” I said sharply.

“Ma’am, that woman is Maya Jackson.”

My heart stopped. The same Maya — the one Nicholas stole my kidney for! I blinked severally to prevent my tears from falling. “And what do you know about her, Audrey?” I managed to probe on.

“Not much, to be honest. Only that she is married to some famous fashion designer in Fleetwood, and has a child.”

“A child?” I raised my brows, my pulse breaking into a sprint.

“Yes, ma'am. That's all I know, I swear.” She replied. “Please, I love my job…”

“Be quiet!” I growled, and she kept mute.

Ah, Nicholas! I bit my lower lip.

“You know what? I have a task for you.” I said.

“Anything, ma'am. I will do anything to keep my job.”

“Good.” I nodded. “Find out everything you can about Maya Jackson and her family. I also want a DNA report of the child and a paternity test result. Mail this information to me by the end of the day.”

“Today?” Her eyes widened.

“You prefer to lose your position in this company?”

“No, ma'am.” She cleared her throat. “I will get it done.”

“Perfect. You're dismissed.” I forced out a smile, and she strode away visibly quivering.

Having had enough for one day, I handed the letter to John. “Please, get this sealed and sent to the board immediately. I'm heading home.”

“You would not have me drive you?” His brows arched with pity. He had been in the Harper family's service since I was nine years old and had seen it all. Now that my parents were late, he remained my most trusted confidant, friend, and family.

“Please, I cannot wait a minute longer,” I complained, with tears blurring my vision.

“Alright, I will get a driver to take you home.” He wheeled me back to the elevator while placing a call to the company transportation department.

Meanwhile, my thoughts were spiraling out of control. My husband had not called or texted since he left for that business trip, yet somehow he was in his office with a half-n***d Maya Jackson, a married woman!

And was that child his?

Before I could finally have some quietude in my head, the evening had come. I was seated on the balcony and staring at the old button phone when John waltzed in with a phone in his hand.

“A call for you,” he reported.

“From who?”

“Your husband.”

My heart tightened. I swallowed hard as I took the phone from him. “Hello?”

“My sweetheart, how have you been?”

“I am alright. How is your meeting going? Have you lots reached a consensus yet?” I played along, taking note of his erratic breathing. It was as if he was climbing a mountain while speaking to me.

“Of course we have. Just that it has been long and rigorous, and I was thinking of you throughout the meeting.” His lie stung me, and I struggled to swallow the lump in my throat before speaking.

“Are your colleagues aware that you have not been concentrating?” I replied.

“Not really,” he giggled oddly, then I heard a woman’s moan in the background. I could not be mistaken. He was having s*x with Maya while talking to me on the phone!

“My love, I have to go now. Kent is calling. It must be urgent.”

“Okay, baby,” I responded, and the line went dead. I handed the phone to John. The look in his eyes said it all. He knew what I was going through.

“Oh, Andrea…”

“I wish to be alone please!” I shut him down harshly, and he nodded and departed, while I simply tossed my gaze away, focusing on anything but him. I didn't mean to be rude, but the last thing I wanted was to be pitied.

I bit my lower lip hard as hot tears rolled down my cheeks. That was the moment my heart was made up. Nicholas’ fate was sealed.

Just then, the old button phone rang!