The Other Woman.

Seraphina's mind raced, her heart pounded and her breath hitched. She didn't know why she felt so much fear rather than just responding to him and he noticed. He rushed down the stairs and held her

“what's going on with you?” Worry, painting his face. Seraphina had started looking

pale, compared to when she made dinner. Her phone had dropped and he looked to see but it was just her sister.

“You panicked because of Steph? Is she coming over” he asked out of genuine worry and Sera nodded weakly. Adrian let out a loud sigh as he put her on the couch and knelt in front of her

“Darling, Stephanie is family…she can come whenever” he raised his hands to rub her cheeks “okay, baby?” She didn't respond.

Tears ran down her cheeks quickly and it made Adrian scared. He kept asking what the problem was but she laid there crying while her mind and heart continued racing. When she eventually spoke, her voice was thinner than the usual melodic sounds she let out

“I should be asking you…you changed” she cleaned her eyes hurriedly while struggling to sit up. Adrian hugged her tight.

“I assure you, nothing is wrong.”

If she hadn't seen the text, she'd believe but she had. She saw pictures too…she knew he was lying but a part of her wanted to ignore it all and believe his lies.

His ringtone screamed out aggressively from the room upstairs

“Won't you go take it?” Seraphina asked, still in his arms.

“Shhhh…let's enjoy this moment” he said as he brushed her hair lightly. The ringtone pierced the air again making Adrian grunt loudly. He stood up, his voice was darker than ever “I'll be right back.” He walked up the stairs angrily, making Seraphina laugh a bit.

She kept laughing until reality came and slammed her doors open

“Where's the bastard!”

Stephanie screamed as she walked in with a machete. Seraphina rushed to her and took the weapon away from her

“Steph! We're trying to get to the bottom of this, not actually killing him!” “Let's kill him and end this! No one will suspect you!”

They both burst out laughing and hugged each other before it became serious. “Now,” Steph started” Explain everything that happened” and Seraphina started…leaving no detail out.

Stephanie didn't like it one bit, she kept inhaling and exhaling loudly, biting her fingers and sighing until Sera was done.

“So let me get this straight, he's cheating but if you didn't notice the subtle changes, the text and picture…you wouldn't know?” Steph asked

“Precisely,” Sera nodded.

“So what are you going to do now?”

“I'm going to look into her and find out who she is” she planted her hands on her face “maybe after work, because I have a very important meeting for 9”

“You should probably get dressed…”

“I should” Seraphina said as she stood up slowly. Steph did the same. “Thank you for stopping by, you're the best” she said into Steph's ear as she hugged her tightly. She walked her to the door and waved her goodbye.

“You and Steph are inseparable” Adrian chuckled as he came down the stairs, adjusting his tie. “You look better now, sweetheart” he walked up to her and kissed her. “I'll be leaving for work now, you should get dressed. Call me when you're there” he planted another kiss on her forehead and walked out, leaving Seraphina to her thoughts. She fully ignored every negative thought and skipped to the bathroom to shower. She did her make-up, wore her dress, picked up her sunglasses and her work phone and walked out of her house into her car. It was a brand new day…”yesterday's struggles shouldn't affect today's success” she said as she drove off.

On getting to the office, she noticed a woman talking to the secretary, she was going to ignore until a voice called out to her as though they were acquaintances.

“Madame Seraphina” she walked up to her. Seraphina squinted in disgust while the woman stretched out her hands for a handshake “it's nice to finally see you in person, Adrian talks about you a lot.

“Hello Madame Mistress” Sera tilted her head slightly, looking down on her “I need to know where you get your audacity from.” Seraphina looked at the secretary with a stink eye and laughed a bit at the woman, still gripping her hands tightly “let's go to my office now, shall we?” as they walked into the elevator.

“Hey, Lady? I have a very important meeting in less than an hour, so whatever you have to say make it quick” Seraphina said with disgust, hate and rage painting her face. Her hands contemplated whether to fight or just strangle her thin neck for trying to fix her already ugly makeup. “What does Adrian even see in this thing?” She thought.

“I'm pregnant for your husband.” The woman said, breaking the tension.

“You either get rid of it, or I get rid of you” Seraphina said with a giant smile on her face. Her hands hadn't shaken today and she loved it. “My husband can be foolish sometimes, I believe…but I don't care. Remove the bastard child.”

“I won't be doing that. I'm keeping the child” she continued fixing her make-up.

“Madame Vanessa, I've been very polite.” She stood up walking to her chair and placing her hands on her neck, her nails as sharp as ever “don't make me end your short miserable life”

Vanessa smacked her hands off her, making Seraphina laugh “I've known Adrian long before he met you. If anyone's a mistress, it's you!” Vanessa began yelling.

“Understood. Now, get out.” Seraphina said calmly “...and don't ever think of coming back here if you don't want your loved ones to grieve over you”

Vanessa picked up her bag and walked out of the office. Her heels made cheap noises as her fake perfume lingered in the air but Seraphina didn't flinch, she simply picked up her work phone and called Adrian

“Hello, sweetie?” He answered

“You have a lot of explaining to do when we get home.” She ended the call.