Betrayed By My Husband; Claimed By My Boss

He makes things happen

Lucas’s POV

I couldn’t sleep all night.

How could I even sleep?

Every time I closed my eyes, that image came back.

Adrian’s hand on her thigh in his car.

And his silly message.

You’re already too late.

My jaw tightened as I stared at the ceiling. My big room suddenly felt suffocating, like there was barely any distance between the walls and me.

Wasn’t I running late?

Wait, late to where?

Oh damn, work.

I sat up, ran through my hair with my hand. I felt some tightening in my chest, it was heavy with something or maybe someone.

I do need to hear her voice.

Not later but right now.

I reached for my phone over the bedside table and dialled her number.

It rang once.

Twice.

Her soft voice came out.

“Hello?” Her voice came through, in the most angelic voice.

This was what my ears and heart needed.

For a second, I didn’t say anything.

“Emily,” I finally called out.

“Lucas?” she asked, obviously surprised. “Uhm why are you calling me this early?”

I took in a deep breath, making sure my breathing was controlled.

“I need to see you.”

She didn’t say anything.

Then she scoffed. “Is this some joke?”

“No, I’m serious,” I said clearly. “I really want to spend a few days with you.”

There was a longer silence this time.

For the first time, I was a little bit scared of her reaction.

“You’ve lost your mind,” she said flatly.

My fingers tightened around my phone.

“Have I?” I asked.

“Yes,” she replied immediately. “In case you’ve forgotten, I actually have a life.”

“I want to be a part of it,” I said solemnly.

“You don’t have to be,” she shot back.

That hurt me, more than it should have.

I sighed deeply as I placed my phone on the bed.

“Emily, take a few days off,” I said. “I want you to come with me.”

She let out a soft laugh.

“Can you hear yourself right now?” she asked. “Do you think you can just call people and order them to drop everything to go to some place with you?”

“I’m not ordering you and neither am I asking you to drop everything,” I said. “I’m asking you to make a choice,” I added.

There was a heavy silence.

Maybe she was considering it or not.

“You can’t just put me in tight positions,” she said quietly.

I pressed the temple of my head with my hand.

“How about I make it easier then,” I said.

“How?”

“What if I give you a reason that will convince you enough?”

She went quiet.

“And what do you mean by that?” she asked carefully.

A small smile formed at the corner of my lips.

“All I need you to do…,” I said slowly, “is for you to be willing.”

“And what if I’m not?” she asked.

“Then I’ll make sure you are,” I replied.

“You’re unbelievable.” She said, her voice low.

“And yet, you picked up my call,” I said.

I could almost hear her roll her eyes.

“Should I help refresh your memory that I have a job, Lucas,” she said impatiently. “A real job.”

“So do I,” I replied. “And I’ll handle it.”

“Oh really…how?” She asked, amused.

“Why don’t you leave that to me?”

“Just don’t do anything stupid,” she warned.

I smirked slightly.

“Too late.”

And I hung up.

***

I rushed over to my office.

And no, it was not in excitement for any deal.

By the time I got to the office, my mind was already made up.

“Get me Frank,” I said as I walked past the reception.

“Your PA is in his office Sir,” the receptionist replied quickly.

“Good.”

I pushed the door open without knocking.

Frank looked up immediately, slightly startled.

“Sir?”

“I need you to set up a five-day retreat for the best-performing staff,” I said, walking to my desk.

He glanced at me.

“A retreat?”

“Yes,” I said impatiently. “Only the staff who have made it on the Staff of the Year list. And make sure to signify that attendance is mandatory.”

He grabbed his notebook immediately.

“Which location, Sir?”

“It has to be somewhere private with a good ambience,” I replied.

He nodded, already typing.

“And Emily must be on the list,” I added.

He paused for a second.

Then nodded again.

“Yes, sir.”

I leaned slightly on the desk.

“It must look official,” I continued. “There have to be structured activities and presentations.”

“Okay, Sir.”

“And Frank?”

“Yes, sir?”

I held his gaze.

“Make it impossible to decline.”

He nodded right away.

He didn’t ask any questions, the biggest reason why I have kept him around for so long.

That’s why I kept him.

***

I entered the conference room for the shareholders’ meeting

I scanned the room checking for a particular face, Harold Winifred.

He wasn’t here.

That’s very sleek of him.

Everyone was waiting for me.

As I finally got to the head of the table, they all stood up.

“Let’s begin,” I said, gesturing to them to sit back.

The room went silent.

I listened to each of them on the reports of the departments they were in charge of.

We discussed areas where the company was lacking and areas where improvements were needed.

This was where I thrived.

Being in control of a structured organization.

This was my World.

My mind suddenly drifted back to her.

And that picture, damn you, Adrian.

“Lucas.”

The voice snapped me back.

I looked up.

The board members were observing me closely.

“We were asking for your thoughts?” the man who called my name asked.

I straightened myself slightly.

“It is a good idea,” I said calmly. “We have to push the numbers up if we don’t want to be left behind.”

There were a few nods around the table.

They agreed with me.

“And we must not let there be much delay to avoid further risks,” I continued. “And most importantly I am not here to play safe.”

There was a heavy silence around the room.

Until they nodded their heads one by one.

Exactly how I wanted it.

The meeting ended in my favour as always.

***

I decided against going home after work.

I wanted some air and needed to relax.

Going to the pub with my friends was the best decision.

A perfect place to rewind from the past week's dramas.

The dim lights and low music welcomed us.

We took seats at the bar.

One of my friends signaled to the bartender to come over.

“Whiskey,” I told the bartender.

He nodded and poured it into my cup.

I drank from it slowly, it burned and warmed my body.

Exactly what I needed.

I took in my surroundings, watching friends having fun, clinking their glasses.

Until I heard a laugh.

It sounded familiar, too familiar.

My grip tightened slightly on the glass.

I turned my head.

And there they were.

Brian and Vanessa were sitting together, with no distance between them.

Vanessa threw her head back, laughing at something he said, while his hand was over her shoulders.

Brian looked relaxed and comfortable.

Like what they were doing was wrong, normal, or right.

Like he wasn’t a married man.

My jaw clenched just at the sight of a husband and a best friend fooling around.

I watched them for a moment longer.

The way they looked at each other stirred up irritation in me.

I picked up my drink again, taking another slow sip.

Then I stood up and walked straight to their booth.

I might as well stop by and say hello to the lovebirds.

If they wanted to play, they could be in need of another player.

So let’s play.

I appeared in front of them.

Vanessa looked up first and saw me. Her body stiffened and her smile wavered.

And Brian followed her gaze, then his expression changed instantly.

There was a thick tension in the air.

They looked like thieves caught in the act.

“Funny,” I said calmly, slipping my hands into my pockets.

Neither of them spoke.

“You both seem shocked,” I said, smirking.

Vanessa finally cleared her throat. “Lucas,” she said, faking a smile. “What a surprise.”

“Is it?” I asked.

Brian’s jaw tightened. “What are you doing here?” he asked.

I let out a soft laugh.

“Same thing you’re doing,” I replied. “Having a drink.”

My eyes moved between them.

I smiled, then I leaned in slightly. “You might want to be careful,” I said, my voice low but enough to be heard by them.

“Secrets don’t stay hidden forever.”

Vanessa suddenly laughed maniacally. “Enough,” she said, as she stood up.

Brian looked at her, surprised.

She turned to me.

“Mr Reed, do you think you’re the smart one here?” she asked.

My fist clenched tightly..

“You’re already behind.” She said in a low voice.