The CEO's Entanglement

15 Expected Visit

Morris POV

I immediately dial my wife's phone, and she picks up on the second ring. "Glad to see your phone is working or did your girlfriend leave so you can talk to your wife now," she says with all the venom she can muster. I want to scream she isn't my girlfriend, but right now, despite what she just said, she wants my reassurance not my anger. "Elise, I love you. That woman is not my girlfriend. She is nothing to me. You are the only woman I want. The only woman that I love."

"So, she wasn't with you when you didn't answer the phone" she asks and I freeze. I debate about lying because I fear she'll hang up, but I promised to always be honest with my wife. "She did step into my office but the only reason I didn't answer you was because I was recording her. In fact, Amber is sitting there with me in my office. Can I put you on speaker, love?"

There's silence and I check the phone to see if she hung up, and I didn't realize it, but she didn't. "Fine, put me on speaker." I press the button and Amber greets her. "Why was she in your office if she isn't your assistant anymore?" I say a silent prayer she is talking to me. "Elise, I know you want space, but there are some things I would like to show you in the office. I also want to talk about your phone."

"What about my phone" she asks. "Can you please come to the office so we can talk?" Part of me expects her to flat out tell me no, but she doesn't. "Fine, I'll be there as soon as I can" she says. "I love you, Elise" I say not expecting her to say it back, but she does. I swear I can feel tears pr*ck my eyes hearing my wife say she still loves me. Amber saying my name brings me back to the moment. "I think you should have your new assistant get Elise a new phone so we can suggest it when she arrives" she says.

I nod dialing Daniel. I give him directions to get the latest version of the iPhone with all the bells and whistles. Once I'm done, I can see Amber has more she wants to say. "I think you should also put a video monitor that detects motion in your office. It needs to be inconspicuous so she won't realize she is being recorded. I sent the memo to all the departments," she says.

As soon as Amber leaves, I open my laptop and research video devices with motion detection. Twenty minutes later, my desk phone rings. Melissa's name flashes on the screen. After her bulls*t in the meeting, I'm half tempted to let it go to voicemail. "McNair," I say curtly. "Mr. McNair, I was wondering if you had a few minutes this afternoon to spare for the PR department. We have a few ideas for marketing changes and would really like your input," she asks.

"How long will the meeting take? I'm expecting someone in my office shortly." "It shouldn't take more than thirty minutes" she says. "Fine, I'm on my way down. Please make sure that everyone is ready." I shoot a quick text to Elise asking her to let me know when she arrives because I'm meeting with PR. She quickly sends back a thumbs up.

I never thought I would be so happy to see an emoji as a response. The fact that she is responding at all gives me hope. I grab my laptop and close my office door behind me. Daniel still hasn't returned from getting the phone, so I shoot him a quick text to let me know immediately when Elise arrives.

I make my way to the elevator, dreading the possibility of seeing Loreli outside Melissa's office. When I arrive, a wave of relief washes over me when she is nowhere to be found. The quicker we get this meeting over, the quicker I can see Elise.

Elise POV

Everything in me wanted to refuse to go to Morris's office, but my mother's words keep replaying in my mind. Am I willing to let this woman come between me and my husband? The answer is f**k no. If Morris is being truthful and the part of me that loves him believes he is, then there isn't a chance in hell I'm letting that b**ch win.

I clean up my paints before I head into the bathroom to shower and dress. I try to convince myself I'm not putting on a pencil skirt and a sheer blouse with a camisole underneath to torture my husband, but I know I'm lying. I may not be a size eight, but I still look good despite the extra weight.

I slip on a pair of heels and head downstairs where I hear music playing. I smile when I see Emmy and mother dancing around the kitchen. When my mom's eyes meet mine a knowing smirk spreads across her face. "You look a little over dressed for painting don't you think, sweetie," my mother says. "Morris asked me to come to his office to discuss the messages. Part of me didn't want to go, but I'm taking your advice."

She covers both of Emmy's ears with her hands. "Good, that trollop needs to know who your husband belongs to." I roll my eyes, but I can't help the smile on my face. "I won't be gone long." "Take your time. Emmy and I have a fun day planned," she says as I head for the door.

When I walk into the building, the older woman, I believe her name is Barbara, at reception smiles. "Mrs. McNair, it's so good to see you again. Does he know you're coming?" "He does, is he in his office?" She types something on her computer screen. I'm sure she is checking Morris's schedule. "He should be. I don't have anything on his schedule for this time," she says, waving me toward the elevators.

Flashes of what happened the last time I was here makes my stomach flip. I know I won't find the same scene today since she is no longer his assistant. Besides the fact that he is expecting me, but it does nothing to stop my mind from replaying finding him in his office that night. Even if it was innocent on his end, it was wrong to be having dinner with her when he was supposed to be home for dinner with me.

My steps falter as I step off the elevator to find the woman he swore he reassigned, sitting at the desk outside his office. She smiles when she sees me. I'm tempted to step back into the elevator, but instead I walk toward her, my eyes never leaving hers. She stands when I reach her. "Elise, Morris didn't mention you would be stopping by today. He is in a very important meeting so he doesn't have time to see you."

I clench my fists at my side, stopping myself from reaching out and slapping this lying b**ch. I'm not sure why she is sitting at this desk, but my husband isn't stupid enough to tell me to come here and not make sure she is out of my sight when he is trying to prove that I am the only woman he wants. "That's funny because my husband, Mr. McNair, to you told me to come to his office."

I watch as the smile fades, but before she can say another word, an unfamiliar male voice speaks from behind me. "Loreli, why are you at my desk" he says. Based on the glare she is giving him, she didn't expect him to ask her that question in front of me. I'm just about to pull my phone from my purse to text my husband when the elevator dings and the man himself steps out.

When his eyes meet mine, he smiles warmly before it quickly fades as he looks behind me. "What the hell is going on here" he says. "Daniel, why is Loreli standing behind your desk," he asks, his voice laced with irritation. "Honestly sir I just got back from getting the phone you asked me to procure, so I'm not sure" Daniel says.

I turn to face Loreli wondering how she plans on getting out of this. "I'm interested in that answer as well, since you made it seem like you were still Morris's assistant when I arrived." Her face turns a shade of red that is very unflattering. "You must have misunderstood Mrs. McNair. My boss sent me down to get a file from Daniel. When I saw you, I knew you were here to see Mr. McNair. I simply didn't want you waiting while he was in a meeting with Ms. Banner."

"Loreli, I put that folder in your mailbox two hours ago after you called me," Daniel says, breaking the awkward silence. "Loreli, I think it's best you head back to your desk. If Melissa needs anything from me, I will make sure Daniel delivers it," my husband says. I noticed Loreli balled up hands at her side. "Of course, Mr. McNair" she says before quickly leaving.