ACCIDENTALLY HIS MISTRESS

CHAPTER TWO-HIS MARRIED

I made my way through the crowded room, exchanging warm smiles and greetings with familiar faces. "Greetings, Mrs. Jones," Most of the guests greeted me warmly. I had grown accustomed to being the face of the company, having handled most of the business dealings over the years.

I scanned the room for my family. I had caught glimpses of Steven here and there, but unfortunately, I had missed the chance of talking to him.

The emcee's voice filled the room as he announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, we finally reached the reason for your presence tonight. Please join me, and let's welcome Steven Hales, our company's new CEO!" The room erupted into applause as Steven walked confidently onto the stage, a warm smile spreading across his face.

His majestic presence commanded attention, and I couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. At six feet tall, with brown hair, and piercing green eyes, clad in a tailored black suit, he radiated an aura of success and authority.

My sister's words echoed in my mind, "You sacrificed a lot for him", but as I gazed at Steven, I knew at that moment that it had all been worth it.

The room was still in applause. The success of our real estate business had clearly impressed the gathered crowd, and they welcomed Steven's leadership with enthusiasm.

I stood in a corner, sipping wine as I overheard snippets of the guests' conversation. "I heard Mr. Hales has been in charge of the company's real estate sector," one guest said.

"And what a wonderful job he has done! That sector has grown under his leadership."

Another guest nodded in agreement, adding, "It's not a sector but his own privately owned enterprise and I heard its profits have been surpassing those of the entire company. He has really taken it to the next level."

A third guest chimed in, "And have you seen the Venco Homestead? It is said he personally designed that masterpiece. It is one of the most sought-after places to live in the city!" The group nodded in approval, clearly impressed by Steven's accomplishments.

"I absolutely adore that neighborhood," one of the guests gushed. "I have heard it's a self-sustaining community, with everything you could possibly need right at your doorstep, from restaurants and hospitals to clubs, hotels, and even an artificial beach! It is truly a dream home."

A third guest spoke up, "He has proven himself to be a shrewd businessman and a worthy successor to the Hales legacy. He deserves to be named the heir of Hales Enterprises." The group murmured in agreement, their praise for Steven echoing through the room.

I shifted my attention to Steven on stage, he was in the middle of his acceptance speech. My mind began to wander back to the previous day's events. I had unintentionally overheard a private conversation between him and his grandmother. He had mentioned that he would be announcing his wife and children to the public tonight. I felt a shiver run down my spine as I realized how embarrassing it would be to be called on stage unprepared. Luckily, my accidental eavesdropping had given me a heads-up. I was grateful for that as I checked my dress one more time.

Steven concluded his speech, his words commanding the attention of the entire room. "Thank you all for this honor," he said, his eyes scanning the crowd. "I am greatly grateful for the unwavering support. But I couldn't have done it without the help of my family. And now, it is my pleasure to introduce to you my lovely wife and children." The room fell silent, all eyes fixed on Steven as he swept his gaze across the audience, a warm smile spreading across his face.

The whispers intensified, a collective gasp of surprise rippling through the crowd as the news sank in. Most were surprised at the fact that the young bachelor was not only married but with children.

I rubbed my hands together anxiously, my eyes scanning the room for Michael and Michelle. I spotted their nanny, busily tidying up their clothes, and I started to make my way towards them, eager to join Steven on stage. But the next statement stopped me in my tracks.

"Let me introduce my lovely wife Nicole Hales, I have loved this woman for years now, since my college days." He smiled, his voice was filled with warmth and adoration. "We got married immediately after school, and we made a decision to keep our relationship private. Finally, I am so happy to finally introduce her to the world." The room erupted into a collective "aww" and applause, with guests smiling and nodding in approval.

“What?” Everything around me melted away, leaving only a deafening silence. I reached out instinctively, grasping the nearby pole to steady myself. Married? Immediately after school? Private relationship? None of this made any sense to me.

I stared at Nicole, radiant and poised on stage beside Steven, as if she belonged on that pedestal beside him. The way he looked at her ignited a fierce burn in my chest. Did he just call her his wife? What was happening? Was this some kind of cruel joke?

So he was married all along. I laughed as it all came pouring back to me. Nicole was a famous model. It seemed after having the twins, Nicole pursued her modeling career, and I was left to care for the children. A high-profile model like Nicole wouldn't want to raise children, so she handed that responsibility over to me. I felt a wave of anger and betrayal wash over me. I have been played and used.

The applause faded away, and my heart sank as Nicole stepped forward, taking Steven's arm. Her eyes shined with pride, and maybe even a hint of triumph.

I turned to face Steven, and our eyes locked. I gave him a bitter smile, and his face went pale. He had the audacity to look scared. It was infuriating.

I unconsciously moved, my feet carrying me across the hall towards the podium where Steven and Nicole stood.

"Congratulations, Mr. Hales," I said, my voice slicing through the crowd's murmurs. I wasn't even sure what I wanted to say. I watched as Nicole, that b***h, was discreetly signaling the security guards to drag me out. At that moment, I realized she knew about me, the mistress. A bitter laugh escaped my lips. So the wife knew, not the mistress. What a twist.

Everyone turned to face me. "Alexa, what are you doing there?" Steven's voice trembled. I enjoyed the fear I saw in his eyes. But he quickly recovered, masking it with a charming smile, the same smile that had once melted my heart.