what wife

Leslie POV 

"Wife? What wife?" Austin asked. Or should I say he snapped.

Seeing his reaction deeply satisfied me.

I threw Mikhail a glance. He was enjoying this, more than I was actually. He stood there with that cigar hanging from his lips and that unbothered expression that drove people insane because they could never tell what was going on behind it.

It had the same effect on me too. I could never tell what was going on through his skull even after knowing him for so long.

Without saying another word to Austin, I turned around and walked away. I didn't forget to throw Sally a glance on my way out.

She looked like she had swallowed something bitter and was struggling to keep it down.

Good. That was a good look on a conniving bitch like her.

Mikhail followed behind me, unhurried as always.

I hadn't taken ten steps before Austin caught up and grabbed my hand. His grip was tight and I fought the urge to wince in pain.

"Leslie, explain yourself. What's the meaning of this? Are you throwing a tantrum because of yesterday? I already told you that I was caught up with…"

Austin started to throw in excuses because that's the only thing he knew…throw excuses…but I cut him off before he could finish.

"I don't care where you were caught up." I snatched my hand back and glared at him. "Why should I? Who am I to you to care?" 

I was his other woman, the person he never considered worthy enough to carry his name so why bother explaining that to me?

He might as well go explain shit to Sally.

But of course…she didn't need his explanation because she was part of this whole facade.

Austin's eyes widened momentarily before he schooled his expression.

"What do you mean by that?" He asked, feigning ignorance. Or perhaps he was testing me which was a rather bad move at this point.

"Are you sure you don't know what I mean?" I threw the question back at him. "Go back to your wife Austin. How will you explain to her that you rushed after the other woman and left her sitting alone?" I scoffed, letting him know that he was having misplaced priorities coming after me…the fake Mrs Cox.

Something shifted in his face.

"The other woman?" He repeated slowly. "Leslie, what exactly did you hear?" He asked, something resembling fear evident in his eyes.

"I heard enough." I replied simply, meeting his gaze without flinching.

Austin's jaw tightened. "Whatever you think you heard…" 

"Your legal wife is inside." I cut him off. "She is also pregnant with your child." I smiled pleasantly. "Congratulations by the way. I forgot to say that earlier."

The colour left his face completely.

"Leslie…” he called but I was not ready to listen to him utter another lie.

"We are done here." I said then turned to leave.

"I will end things with Sally." The words tumbled out rushed and desperate out of Austin's mouth.

“I'll divorce her and we can do this properly this time. 

Leslie, we can have a real marriage, everything legal.

I will give you everything you deserved from the beginning. Just give me a chance to…"

Listening to him blabber about made me sick in the stomach.

"Hey asshole,” Mikhail's voice cut through the night.

It was low and unbothered. "She said you are done here." He echoed my words and I was grateful for that.

Austin's head snapped toward him and whatever grief was on his face a second ago hardened into something ugly.

"This is between me and Leslie." He snapped. "Who gave you the right to run your mouth?"

He looked genuinely angry which was hilarious and ridiculous at the same time considering our current situation.

Mikhail took one slow drag of his cigar and tilted his head slightly, observing Austin the way someone observes something beneath him.

Mikhail looked at Austin like he was some homeless pikin.

"You mean between you and my woman?" He asked, his voice carrying a dangerous hint.

The two men stared at each other.

Austin looked like he wanted to say something but the look on Mikhail's face made him think twice about it.

"We don't have anything to talk about Austin." I stepped in before this became something I couldn't control. "Whatever we had ended the moment you chose someone else. Nothing you say tonight will change that." I informed him.

Even an apology accompanied by a thousand kowtows would not wash away his sins.

"Leslie please…" Austin started but he was cut off before he could say anything.

"She said what she said." Mikhail's voice dropped half an octave.

It was the kind of quiet that made people pay attention. "The next time you put your hands on her without her permission, I will make sure you never use them again." He added.

The warning wasn't loud nor was it dramatic but that's what made it terrifying.

Austin opened his mouth then closed it. His hands clenched at his sides. For a moment he looked between the two of us like he was calculating something, weighing options and trying to find where he is standing.

He found nothing so I turned and walked away.

Mikhail followed closely behind me.

Behind us, Austin said my name one more time.

It was softer this time, almost like he already knew it wouldn't work.

It didn't work because no amount of nothing could make things go back to how they were.

Outside the bar,  the night air was cool against my skin. I kept walking toward my car, my heels clicking against the pavement.

"Should I give you a ride?" Mikhail asked, falling into step beside me.

I stopped and looked at him.

"Do I look like a damsel in distress who needs you to be my knight in shining armour?" I asked, fighting myself not to snap that.

The corner of his mouth lifted.

"I told you I will deal with Austin myself." I continued. "I didn't need your help there. I didn't ask you to threaten him." I reminded him in case he forgot. I had already told him that I was capable of taking care of my own shit.

"I didn't threaten him." Mikhail said calmly. "I made him a promise."

"Mikhail…"

"He grabbed your hand." His voice stayed even but something in his eyes shifted.

“ It was hard enough that you almost winced. Did you think I wouldn't notice?" Mikhail asked, looking pissed

I said nothing to that.

He studied my face for a moment then stepped back, giving me room.

"Drive safe then, Princess." He said, bringing the cigar back to his lips.

I turned toward my car.

"Leslie."

I stopped but didn't turn around.

"He will come after you again." Mikhail said quietly. "Men like Austin don't know how to let go of things they've lost. Especially things they never deserved in the first place."

I stood there for a moment.

"I know." I said.

I got in my car and drove away without looking back.

But somewhere between the hotel and the highway, I realised my hands were gripping the steering wheel harder than necessary.

Not because of Austin but because of the way Mikhail had noticed small things without making a show of it. 

He just noticed and stepped forward.

Three years of marriage and Austin never once looked at me that carefully.

I loosened my grip on the wheel and kept driving.