The CEO's Entanglement

14 Unwanted Messages

Elise POV

I wasn't going to check the message because I really didn't want to hear any more of this woman's bulls*t, but I can't stop myself from looking at it even when I know it's going to upset me. I stare at the message for five minutes, wondering what the hell she could possibly be talking about.

"Make sure you check Morris's briefcase when he gets home. I'm leaving you a special present so you'll know he's lying if he says there is nothing physical between us. I'm sorry you are the one getting hurt, but we love each other. I hope you'll do the right thing and let him go so he can be happy with me. Don't worry about your little girl. I'll be the best stepmom."

She ended the message with a praying hands emoji and a smiley face. She is either completely psychotic or Morris is lying to me. I have never felt rage like what is bubbling inside me right now. She talked about my daughter. "Elise, what the hell has that look on your face? It looks like you don't know whether to puke or kill someone," my mother says.

She couldn't be more right. I hand her my phone and her eyes scan the message. When she picks her head up, she looks just as pissed as I feel. "You need to send this message to Morris. One thing I'll say about the little hussy is she is smart enough to not put her name on the message," she says. "What if he is lying to me, mom? If I send him the message, then I'm basically warning him."

Sympathy flashes in her eyes. "I hate that I feel like I can't trust my husband. I want too, mom. I never thought that anything could shake our marriage. I still believe that Morris loves me, but what if he's bored? What if he wants the excitement of this woman? What if my body" I start to say, but she cuts me off.

"Don't you dare finish that sentence, young lady. First, you are the same gorgeous woman he married. Hell, the curves that are curtesy of having Emmy, are what men dream about. I should know" she says, with a smirk. I smile knowing she is talking about the way my father to this day can't keep his hands off her. They have always been my relationship goals. When I married Morris, I thought that's what we had.

"Second, if he was bored, then he should get a hobby, not another woman. Besides, I haven't seen anything of Morris's behavior that leads me to believe that either of those things are true. If he was really with this woman, he would have been relieved when you found them together in his office, but he wasn't."

My mind wanders to the night. I walked into his office. Morris looked between me and the food on the table. He never even looked at her until I did. That's when he realized exactly what I thought was happening. "I'll tell you what he was, he was scared sh*tless. He followed you and threw you over his shoulder because you are who he wants," she says.

"That does not speak to a man that is bored with his wife. Has he made some really stupid choices? Absolutely. Do I think that this woman is trying to come between you and your husband? Absolutely. Do I believe that your husband wants her in any way? Absolutely not. I know you feel like you can't trust him right now, but if you keep things from him, you're letting this woman win. She is separating the two of you so she can try to weasel her way in," she says.

"So, you think I should go home?" "No, I think that is something you need to decide for yourself. I do think you need to communicate with your husband. If you want to make him sweat until you know he's learned his lesson about putting your feelings first, then do it, but don't shut him out. Don't let this woman succeed in coming between the two of you."

I decide my mother's right and send him a screenshot of the last message. "Mom, I'm going to go paint for a while. Can you keep an eye on Emmy?" "Of course, take your time. We are going to make some cookies." I head to my old room. Taking a seat behind my easel, I stare out toward the small pond. I pick up my brush, just about to touch it on the canvas when my phone dings again.

I roll my eyes, but it doesn't stop me from checking the message again. Maybe this time after I read it, I should block the number. This time when I read the message, I feel bile rise in my throat. It's a picture of a flight confirmation with two tickets to the Maldives for M. McNair and L. McNair.

Morris POV

I'm at my desk when my phone dings. I smile when I see it's a message from Elise until I see exactly what it is. What the f**k? She plans on putting something in my briefcase. Again, she doesn't name herself in the message. I grab the phone off my desk and dial Amber. "What can I help you with, Mr. McNair" she asks like she didn't call me an id**t a day ago. "Can you come to my office Amber?" "I'll be right up" she says and disconnects the call.

I run my hand down my face, wondering what the hell this woman's end game is. Even if my wife left me, I would never be with her. I may have been stupid to believe she was innocent, but I don't want anyone but Elise. Nothing is going to change that. A few minutes later, there is a knock on my door and I expect Amber to step inside, but my body stiffens when it's Loreli.

I reach into my desk like I'm reaching for my pen and push on the recorder. "Loreli, what are you doing here?" "I was hoping I could talk to you about the meeting" she says, moving further into my office. "What about it?" "I know the real reason you reassigned me and I don't think I deserve to be prohibited from doing my job because your wife has a problem with me working around you," she says.

My cell rings and Elise's flashes on the screen. I won't dare answer her while Loreli is standing in my office. I also won't keep things from her. I'll tell her Loreli came to my office and about recording her. "My wife has nothing to do with your work. No other executive had their assistant in that meeting, and you were not needed. There was no benefit to your presence, hence the reason I had Michelle send you back to your desk."

This time, when the door opens, Amber steps inside. I can see the surprise in her eyes at Loreli's presence. She quickly schools her expression. "Loreli, is there a reason you are here in Mr. McNair's office. You were reassigned to Michelle Banner, were you not," Amber asks. "I was, but I needed to discuss something personal with Mr. McNair" she says.

"As the head of HR, I encourage you to maintain all interactions with Mr. McNair about work. There is no place for personal matters in the workplace" she says. "Of course, Mrs. Jones. I will keep that in mind in the future" she says before she turns to leave my office. "She is going to be a bigger problem than either of us realized" she says. "Tell me about it. This is the last message that Elise got this morning."

When she reads it, I see anger flash in her eyes. "You should think about getting Elise a new number and just keep this phone for evidence purposes if she ever slips up. It can't be easy for Elise to read this even if it's not true," she says. "That's the problem. I've given my wife reason to doubt me. She wants to believe me, but I broke her trust. I can't lose my wife Amber."

"I get it Morris. Just keep reassuring her." The phone dinging on my desk interrupts her. I grab it, seeing Elise's name flash on the screen again. When I open the message, my heart sinks. "Thanks for answering my calls. I'm sure you're busy with your girlfriend planning your trip to the Maldives." Attached is a picture of the confirmation that I found on my desk.