Becoming My Ex-husband’s Mistress

Chapter Five

“Where are you off to this late?” I stop in my tracks as I hear dad’s voice.

“Uh— I thought you were sleeping,” it comes off as a question.

“Yes, but Mia says she wants milk,” he says. “That doesn’t answer my question.”

Deflecting would be pointless, so I say the truth.

“I just need fresh air,” I say. “Some alone time would do me some good.”

He nods in understanding. “Okay. But take mine so I can track you in case of anything.” I hum.

I drop my keys on the table and pick his instead. I pull out, heading to a bar on the outskirts of town. There’s barely any traffic so the drive is about twenty minutes long.

With no intention of getting drunk, I order a cocktail.

“Who drinks a cocktail at a bar, at what— 10pm?” I hear a female voice behind me. The person, whoever it is, sounds drunk out of cognition.

I decide to ignore her but she comes by me, patting my back. I’m irritated now, so I stand up to get away from her and then I see her. She’s one of the most beautiful women I’ve seen. Waist-length dark hair, grey eyes, tall and slender. She looks familiar, but I think nothing of it.

“Can you take me home?” She asks, politely. “I let my driver off for the weekend.”

I blink, surprised. She was barely standing a minute ago, but now, she’s almost sober. I would rather be by myself tonight, but I don’t want to refuse to help her, so I nod ‘okay’.

We push past the sweaty bodies in the bar and finally make it to where I parked. She turns to look at my face.

“I can go in yours. I didn’t bring mine,”

“Are you sure you’re okay going with me?” I ask, trying to be sure she knows what she’s saying.

She laughs. “Don’t worry, I trust you.”

It catches me off guard but I nod. I help her into the passenger seat and get in the driver seat. Now seated and ready to leave, I ask for an address, but she’s already dozing off.

I tap her. “Can I please have your address?”

“No, I don’t give it to strange—.” She says, incoherently, then she falls back asleep, her head tilting. That test my patience, but I decide to pull out and head to a hotel nearby.

I park the car and try to wake her up but she doesn’t budge. I get out of the car, opening her door to help her out. After a while, she finally wakes up, looking at me.

“Where am I, and who are you?” She asks

“Uhm… didn’t you say to take you home?” I’m a bit confused. “You wouldn’t give your address to a ‘stranger’, so I brought you here.”

She makes an ‘oh’ face in realization. She takes out her phone to call someone. She’s on the phone for about a minute or so, then she hangs up looking disappointed.

“I called my brother but he’s out of town.” She says. I just stare at her because I don’t think this is any of my business.

“Okay, and…?”

“You can take me to my parents’ house.” She says slowly. I laugh, really hard, mostly at the absurdity of the situation. She stares at me like I’ve gone mad.

“I’ll pay you, Claire.”

Wait. How? We didn’t do introductions or anything, and it’s not like I walk around with a name tag on.

She seems to understand the confusion on my face. “Maison Claire. You own it right?” She asks, in an ‘it’s so obvious’ way.

“I do. I mean I did, until now.” I shrug. “But how do you know that? I barely have any interviews, and am not actively on social media.”

She laughs. “My brother is an investor. I have been to your office before. But we haven’t been formally introduced yet.”

My eyes widen in surprise. “Oh, wow. What a coincidence,” I say. “Who’s your brother?”

“I can’t say,” she giggles. “It’s supposed to be a secret.”

Weird.

I’m about to ask some more questions when I hear a familiar voice behind me.

“Look who we have here. If it isn’t Claire,” Isabelle’s mocking voice rings in my ear.

I turn, startled. They were supposed to be having dinner at the restaurant— oh! It’s just across the street, how didn’t I think of that.

“I presume you’ve seen the news,” She says. “Stalking us now, are you?”

“Actually, she’s here because of me,” the lady says. She still hasn’t told me her name.

Isabelle turns to her, sizing her up. “And you are?”

“Nora… Nora Carter.”

“Are you covering up for her?” Isabelle asks, then turns towards me. “‘Cause this behavior isn't going to help you win custody of Mia.”

So they really are trying to drag Mia into this. My hands clench tightly by my side, and she seems to notice because a visible smirk appears on her face.

“You really are shameless. Huh?” I ask. “I thought mistresses were supposed to hide in shame. But here you are, even before the divorce.”

Isabelle just smiles, my words seem to not get to her.

Nora comes between us, almost staggering.

“That’s enough. I have a headache and I'd like to rest. Claire and I were just going inside.”

Isabelle seems to get the memo. “I’ll go meet Grant. We’re also here for the night,” She smugly says. “We try to spice things up sometimes,” she says it like she’s whispering a secret.

I clench and unclench my teeth. The plan was to get some air and clear my head, but it seems trouble always finds me.

Nora grabs my hands and we both walk into the hotel lobby. She doesn’t seem drunk anymore, so I think it’s time to leave.

“I think I’ll lea—,” I’m cut off by a voice.

“Hello Miss Carter. Would you like your room ready?” The lady, who’s dressed as a valet, asks.

I look at Nora questioningly. She laughs and nods.

“It’s my family’s, but you can say I own a part of it.”

I’m about to speak when my phone dings. It’s a message from dad.

‘Where are you? Grant is here to take Mia.’