The Mistress

Iris Blair was a victim. 

Of love, anyway. 

She was deeply in love with a man that wasn’t hers and probably never would be. She felt like a crazy person every time her phone rang and it was him. The excitement that would surge through her entire body made her brain fuzzy. She became giddy.

Giddy for someone who was married to another woman.

Iris made many justifications for being a mistress. He wasn’t happy, he didn’t love his wife, and he made her feel like she was the center of the universe. Somehow he made her feel more than just the other woman.

Maybe it was the way he held her and whispered how she was what he had been waiting for his entire life. Or the way he would get a little jealous when she would laugh at other men’s jokes. It was definitely the way he made love to her for hours on end and swore up and down it had never felt so good with anyone else.

Emile Astor made her feel much too important and that’s why she was okay with being his mistress. 

It’s not like he neglected her. If she asked him to come over, he would drop everything and do it. He was devoted to her.

Iris was all too aware she meant more to Emile than his wife ever would. 

“Can you guys close?” Iris asked. “I have a date tonight.”

“With Emile? The married man?” Joi questioned, raising her thin eyebrows.

“You can just call him Emile.”

“Iris…when is this going to end?” Korah asked. 

“Maybe never.” Iris stated. 

Korah and Joi exchanged looks. While they loved their friend and even liked Emile, they hated seeing her like this. They didn’t understand how she could share a man with another woman. How she could be with someone who clearly didn’t believe in being faithful. 

“You want to be a mistress forever?” Korah asked incredulously. 

“I’m not saying that, it’s just…I’ve never felt this way before. I love Emile and he loves me.”

“He has a wife!” Joi exclaimed. 

“He doesn’t love her,” Iris shrugged. 

“So is he going to leave her?”

“I don’t know, I never ask him.”

“Why not?” Korah demanded. 

“Because I don’t care that much. I like what Emile and I have. It’s special.”

“But you deserve more than this, Iris.” Joi whispered. 

“Sure, but maybe I don’t want better. I know this isn’t ideal or smart for that matter, but I’m not ending things with him. It will have to be him that ends this relationship. I don’t have it in me.”

Korah and Joi exchanged uncertain looks. Why did Iris always have to be the reckless one? The one who never thought about the consequences of any of her insane actions. Of course usually she didn’t receive consequences. They feared this time she would. 

“Is he at least taking you somewhere nice?” Korah asked.

“Of course. Emile always takes me to nice places. It’s what I love about him. He spoils me.” Iris giggled. “I’m wearing my new emerald green dress tonight.”

“He’ll love that,” Joi smiled slightly. 

No matter how much they didn’t understand the affair, they still couldn’t help but feel a little happy with how thrilled Iris got when she talked about Emile.

It was a nice change from how her relationship with Cal had been. He was so controlling of her. He made her insecure and small. They wondered if that’s why she thought being a mistress was the best she could do. 

No matter what they said, Iris was happy.

And that’s what mattered the most.

***

Emile Astor was a strategic cheater.

He never took Iris to any of the places that he and Sienna frequented and even then, he always got a table in the back corner to minimize the chance of being seen. He also had a story for if anyone did ever approach them. 

Iris was a client who had just come into some money that was interested in putting stocks in his company. 

He was always one step ahead. 

Emile also always wanted to get there first. He never wanted Iris to worry about him not showing up. He had never missed a date with her and never planned to. 

He tapped his thick fingers on the white table cloth as he waited for his date. His phone buzzed and he glanced down at it. Just a text from Sienna.

You forgot to tell me which shirts you wanted dry cleaned.

Even through text he felt he was being nagged by her. 

He typed back quickly. 

Sorry, I’ll lay them out tomorrow

He rolled his eyes at her response.

K.

Iris would never send him that. Every text she sent him was filled with emotion, no matter what it was. She was never emotionless. 

Emile looked up and saw Iris making her way over to him. She looked stunning in her tight silk emerald dress. He couldn't help but let his eyes dance lustfully over her body. He loved the slit and the way the dress made her immaculate breasts look. 

Her dark hair was up in a high ponytail with two strands framing her face. She was magnificent. 

“Hi, sweetheart,” Iris smiled. 

“Hello, gorgeous.”

Emile rose to his feet and kissed her quickly. Of course he wanted it to go on longer, but he didn’t want to draw attention to them.

“I’ve missed you,” Iris stated. 

“I miss you too, baby. I’m sorry I haven’t been able to get away. With work and my wife guilting me about being away so much, I just couldn’t. But I hope you know how much I’ve been thinking about you.”

“All the gifts you’ve been sending kind of clued me into that. But it’s okay. I’ve had time for other things now.”

Emile frowned. “Other things? Such as?”

“Work, meeting new clients, meeting new people in general-”

“New people? Like…sexually?”

“You're not supposed to ask about that, Emile,” Iris said quietly. “I thought we agreed-”

“I didn’t agree to anything, Iris. I have made my stance on this very clear. I do not want you seeing other men or women.”

“Fine, I don’t want you seeing other women.”

“I don’t.”  Emile stated. 

“Including your wife.”

“That’s not-”

“Fair?” Iris cut him off. “Yeah neither is you telling me I can’t see other people.”

“Iris…it drives me crazy thinking of you with another man. I just…I lose my goddamn mind about it. You’re my girl.” Emile hissed. 

“No, I’m your mistress, Emile. When it comes down to it, I’m just this dirty little secret. What am I supposed to do? Wait around for you to leave your wife or just end things with me? Do you like that I’m lonely without you?” 

Iris wasn’t sure why she was acting this way. She knew she was in the right, but she didn’t usually give Emile such a hard time. Deep down the conversation with Korah and Joi bothered her a little.

Maybe she did deserve better. 

“Baby, of course not, I hate it. But I can’t leave my wife right now. There’s the prenup and the contract. B-but once I clear ten years, I can divorce her.” Emile explained. “Just another eight months.”

Iris sighed. “Eight more months of being the other woman.”

“Don’t act like I treat you poorly. I do everything for you Iris.”

“Except give me all of you. It’s not easy sharing, you know?”

“I do, that’s why I don’t want to share you.”

“I just don’t think it’s fair for you to dictate that while we’re not even exclusive.” Iris declared. 

“Iris, baby, I love you.” Emile whispered. “So much and that’s why it hurts thinking of you with someone else. And I know it’s not fair or right, but you have my heart. I’m just worried if you start something up with another man, when it’s time to leave my wife…you won’t be there.”

There was such sincerity in Emile’s gorgeous green eyes. Iris could tell he meant everything he was saying. 

Once again she was being swayed, not only by his words, but his looks. He was a picture of perfection with his flawless dark brown hair hanging on his forehead. A beard covered his immaculate jaw and his smile could make any woman melt.

Especially Iris.

“I understand, Emile,” Iris whispered. “But you have to know, no one could take me away from you.”

Emile brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it softly. “That’s all I need to know. I love you so much.”

“I love you too. Let’s not argue anymore, we should be having a good night.”

“I agree. It will be even better when I get you out of that dress.” Emile smirked. 

Though Iris did have a good night with Emile, she still couldn't help but wonder why he was so jealous. Was he that way with his wife or was it just with her?

Either way, it made Iris feel special.

***

After dinner, the couple walked out into the warm night and waited for the valet to bring Emile’s car around. 

“I’m sorry if I’m too intense sometimes,” Emile whispered. “You’re just the most important thing in my life and I don’t want to lose you.”

“You’ll never lose me, sweetheart,” Iris smiled up at him before pressing her lips against his.

Emile wrapped his arms around her tightly, feeling safe to kiss outside like this.

However, he shouldn’t have felt safe. Across the street in a black Mercedes sat an extremely upset red haired woman. 

She was jealous as she witnessed her husband wrapped around a gorgeous woman. Sienna gripped the steering wheel tightly. 

Well at least she knew why Emile was attracted to this woman. She was stunning in all aspects. That didn’t make her feel any better.

Emile liked her way too much and had been doing this for too long.

Sienna was starting to wonder if she had to intervene.