ACCIDENTALLY HIS MISTRESS

CHAPTER THREE - RETRIVE WHAT IS MINE

"I'm here to offer my congratulations," I said, my tone surprisingly steady. The room was surprisingly silent, so I took the opportunity to continue. "Let's raise a toast to this lovely family, shall we?"

"Do we all remember that interview where Grandmother Hales credited her grandson's success to a special woman," I said, and the room erupted into whispers as people nodded in agreement. "I am honored to finally meet the legendary woman who has selflessly sacrificed everything for her husband's success."

"Come on, everybody, let's give a round of applause, shall we? After all, we owe our jobs to Mrs. Hales' sacrifice and hard work." The room erupted into applause, and Steven's face turned even paler. I remembered how he had told me that his grandmother had been referring to me during that interview. The memory of his deception burned within me.

"As the General Manager of this company, I wholeheartedly endorse Mr. Hales' decision," I said, meaning every word. With that, I turned to leave.

As I walked away, I felt lighter, free from the chains of my devotion. Eight years of living for someone else, building his business and raising his children, had taken a toll on me. I had unknowingly drained myself, sacrificing my own desires and dreams.

Stepping out into the crisp air, I took a deep breath. I was going to get back every single thing he owed me, even my time would be paid back in full. I promised myself.

The rain poured against the windows as I navigated the city's streets, finally I pulled into the office building parking lot. I rushed to Steven's office, I was there to retrieve my architecture designs. Every house and estate sold by this company has been crafted and designed by me and my team. For years, I had allowed Steven to take credit for my work, but those days were over.

I quickened my pace, hoping against hope that he had somehow forgotten to change their location. My heart pounded in anticipation as I reached his office door and pushed it open.

In the dimly lit corner of his office, I frantically rummaged through old files, finally, my fingers stumbled upon the hidden safe. With trembling hands, I entered my birthday as the password and the safe's lock swung open.

The contents of the safe lay before me, but it was the memories that the open safe evoked that cut deepest. Steven had told me that everything he owned was secured with this date, my birthday. Such a liar, who knew what this date really meant, tears flowed down my eyes, the pain of his betrayal threatened to overwhelm me, but I steeled myself, focusing on the task at hand.

I finally laid my hands on the folder containing my designs. Clutching it tightly to my chest, I felt a rush of triumph, but it was short-lived. The sound of footsteps echoed outside the office. Just as I had suspected, he had come for the designs too. So immediately after our fallout, the only thing that mattered to him was not me, he did not search for me to apologize or explain, he had run for the designs.

I scanned the room for a safe place to hide, but every corner seemed exposed. I needed to distract him, but how?

Think Alexa, think, my mind raced for a solution.

I quickly stripped off my clothes, leaving myself completely naked. I went to his wine cabinet and picked up a bottle of Vodka, drank some sips and quickly ran to his chair. I slid the files onto the floor under my discarded dress and buried my face in my hands, I allowed myself to cry, raw and unrestrained sobs.

Soon after, the door swung open, and Steven's voice cut through my tears.

“Alexa!” his voice was a mixture of confusion and surprise. He stood frozen for a moment, his expression shifting as he took in the scene before him. “What are you doing here?”

As the tears flowed, I looked at him, my heart aching with the need for answers. “Why, Steven? Why would you choose another woman over me? Did our years mean nothing to you?” I screamed, pointing the bottle of Vodka at him.

He ran a hand through his hair, his expression shifting from shock to guilt. “I… I didn’t mean for you to find out like that. I wanted to tell you,” he stammered, his eyes darting around the room as if he were searching for a way out. “It’s complicated.”

“Complicated?” I shouted. “Unbelievable, you have had a wife and kids this entire time, Steven! Complicated doesn’t begin to cover it. All those hours we spent together, the plans we made. Were they all just lies? Eight years of devotion to this company and to you, Steven. Eight years where we talked about family, yet you brought back the very woman who abandoned her children to let me raise them alone.” Each word dripped with controlled fury. I screamed, standing in front of him completely naked.

“I care about you,” he insisted, stepping closer, desperation etched on his face. “It wasn’t supposed to go this far. I thought…”

“Thought what?” I interrupted, rising from the chair. “That you could have your cake and eat it too? A pretty wife to bare your children and a mistress to help you build your empire?”

“Alexa, please, just listen.” but he stopped, we both quieted down listening to the chaos outside. It seemed like the coworkers had brought the party here.

"Can you please get dressed?" Steven asked, his voice laced with urgency.

But I just lay there, sprawled on his desk, cradling a bottle of Vodka in my arms. A sly smile spread across my face as I met his gaze. I had no intention of letting him off the hook that easily.

"What are you doing, Alexa? Please, get dressed," Steven urged.

I gazed over at my discarded blue professional dress and thought to myself, no one would ever suspect that the poised and polished manager was, in reality, the mistress.

"When did you marry her?" I demanded, my voice trembling with rage. "Why didn't you tell me? I could have left."

Steven began to pace around me, his frustration visible. "That's not what's important right now," he said, his tone firm and commanding. "Get dressed and leave. We'll discuss this later."

I laughed, he had ordered me, not asked, not begged but ordered. I met his gaze, wondering how I had been so blind, so foolish to love him.

I stepped closer to him, tracing a finger along his lips, down his chest, slowly unbuttoning his shirt, my eyes locked on his. "Don't you like what you are seeing?" I whispered, my voice low. "You have always gone crazy for my naked body."

Slowly, I leaned in, my lips brushing against his bare chest, leaving little bite marks. Then, I pulled back. I looked into his eyes, which were now clouded with desire. Good, he was clearly distracted now. Seizing the moment, I secretly picked up my dress and files.

I slipped back into my dress, carefully tucking the files inside, smoothing out the wrinkles to hide the files properly. My eyes drifted to Steven, he stood before the mirror, looking magnificent as usual, beautiful lips, those mouth watering broad shoulders, and blue eyes. He was a rare man, flawless in every way, except one. He just wasn't my man.