Who is Iris Blair

Iris hated going to parties as of late. 

She didn’t like showing up alone, especially when it was a group of her friends together. She felt like the odd woman out. Everyone else had a significant other or was content with being single. Iris was neither. 

She watched with jealousy as Joi and Freddie kissed each other. Iris was still shocked that two relationships had come out of that night at the bar. She was envious that Freddie didn’t have a wife and he and Joi could be out in the open. It’s all she wanted with Emile.

“Where is Emile tonight?” Korah questioned. 

“Dinner with his wife,” Iris mumbled. 

“You see how shitty of a deal this is for you, Iris? You’re miserable at a party while your boyfriend is with the woman he committed himself to! You think that’s fair to you?”

“It’s not about fairness, it’s about love. I love Emile and he loves me. You just…you don’t understand Korah. What it’s like to love someone so deeply and have to do everything you can to have them.”

“But you don't have him, babe. His wife does,” Korah whispered. “I hope he leaves his wife and you two get to be together, but…I need you to realize that it’s possible that it might not happen.”

“I know that!” Iris snapped.

Just because she knew that, didn’t mean she actually believed it. She was so sure that she and Emile would work out. They were soulmates, they had to be.

“I’m only saying this because I care, Iris,” Korah gently squeezed her shoulder before walking off. 

Iris went to get a drink, hoping to get drunk enough to enjoy the night. She mingled with friends, taking drink after drink. Suddenly she felt a presence behind her that made her uncomfortable. 

“You look good Iris,” A gruff voice said. 

Iris turned around to face her ex boyfriend, Cal. She still remembered why she fell for him. He was tall and buff. When they met, his dark brown eyes held warmth for her and she loved running her fingers through his long black hair. Iris used to rub her small nose against his large pointed one before kissing his thin, pink lips. 

Iris no longer felt anything positive for Cal. Over their relationship he turned aggressive and possessive. While he liked having a pretty girlfriend that everyone stared at, he hated that Iris liked it too. He loathed that she had male clients, still went out with her friends, and didn’t want to spend every waking moment with him.

“Hello, Cal,” Iris said dully. 

“I see you’re alone…again.”

“My boyfriend is busy tonight.”

“I’m starting to think this boyfriend doesn’t exist,” He smirked. “That he’s someone you made up in that pretty little head of yours to make me jealous.”

“I don’t care about making you jealous, Cal.”

“Yeah you sure proved that during our relationship.”

“Look Cal-”

“I’ve been thinking, Iris…I’m ready for us to get back together.”

“I’m not,” Iris stated. “We didn’t work out for a reason, Cal.”

“Because you like attention more than you loved me. I’m ready to work with you on your issues,” Cal said quietly. “I know we’re meant to be.”

“We’re not.”

Iris tried to walk away, but Cal gripped her arm tightly. Fear invaded Iris’s body. She knew Cal wouldn’t hurt her in public and yet she was still transported back to being against the wall when Cal would yell and scream at her. When he would call her names and threaten her and himself if she didn’t admit that she loved him. 

Her eyes darted around, hoping someone would see she was in distress but everyone was distracted and busy.

“Iris, you know I don’t like when you walk away from me,”

“Cal, please. It’s over and it has been for months.”

Cal pulled Iris to him and hugged her tightly. From the outside it seemed like a friendly hug, but Iris could barely breathe. Cal was crushing her in his large arms. 

“We’re meant to be, Iris and we will be together, no matter what. I will do anything to make that happen.”

He let her go from his tight embrace and gave her an almost sinister smile. 

Iris turned away from him and pulled out her phone to text Emile.

***

Discomfort filled Emile’s body upon seeing Iris waiting outside for him. 

He didn’t like that she was out at night in the dark alone. Though when he stopped the car, he realized she wasn’t alone. There was a man standing behind her. He was buff and seemed to be intimidating her. 

Iris hurried over to the car and got in. “Please drive.”

Emile listened immediately. 

Cal watched the car drive off. He was not pleased with watching the woman he felt belonged to him with another man. This other man seemed to be incredibly rich, which also bothered him. Iris had always liked nice things. 

He heard the clicking of heels and turned around. A beautiful redheaded woman appeared out of the shadows. 

“Hello,” She stated. 

“Hi…” Cal responded slowly.

“That girl that just got picked up, I think I know her, do you?” Sienna asked.

“Oh yeah, she’s my ex. Iris. Do you know her from the wellness place?” 

“Yes, that’s it! I was just there last week! What’s her last name? I want to follow her on social media.”

“Iris Blair.” Cal informed her. 

Sienna typed in the name and showed him the profile. “This one right?”

“Yeah, that’s her.”

“Thank you so much! Have a good night!” Sienna walked away smirking.

She planned on finding out everything she could about this Iris Blair.

***

Iris was visibly shaken in the car.

Emile didn’t want to pressure her, so he remained silent. He couldn’t help but shudder thinking of that man behind her. He was so domineering and he had never seen Iris so scared before. 

Finally they reached her home and walked inside. 

“Want a glass of wine?” Iris asked. 

“Sure,” Emile sat down on the couch. 

Iris returned with a glass of Zinfandel and sat next to Emile. 

“Who was that man?” Emile finally asked. 

“My ex.”

“Cal?” Iris nodded. “You never told me what happened with him.”

“He’s dangerous, Emile. He was so controlling and possessive. I felt like I couldn’t breathe when I was with him. And then he’d scream and yell at me and…”

“Did he ever hurt you?”

“Yeah, a few times. He wants me back now and it scares me, Emile. He thinks I don’t have a boyfriend and I made you up to make him jealous. I just…I don’t know what to do.”

“Don’t hang out with him anymore,” Emile stated. “Stay away from him.”

“We’re in the same friend circle, it’s hard.” Iris whispered. 

Emile frowned and downed the rest to his glass. He knew this was his fault. If he could be exclusive with Iris, Cal would leave her alone, he was sure. He hoped Cal seeing another man pick her up would be enough for him to stop his advances.

If not, he planned on handling it in a not so nice way.

“You’ll let me know if he tries something on you, right?” 

“Of course babe. I don’t want to talk about him anymore though…”

Emile grinned as Iris hiked her tight purple dress up and climbed in his lap, straddling him. Iris kissed him so passionately, he moaned into her mouth. 

No matter how great of a time he had with Sienna that night, it didn’t compare to how he felt with Iris. She brought him to life. 

His desperate hands felt her ass and squeezed it just like he always did before dragging her back and forth on his crotch, getting turned on by the second. One hand went to her head and took the decorative clips out of her hair, letting it fall wildly. 

Iris’s lips moved to Emile’s neck, causing him to moan loudly and buck his hips. Iris knew she was playing a dangerous game. Although he was allowed to leave any mark he wanted on her, she had to be much more careful.

But maybe she didn’t want to be anymore. What would happen if his wife found a hickey on his neck? She figured if Emile had a problem he would stop her.

Emile was much too lost in pleasure and lust to fully grasp what she was doing. He would surely come to regret that later. 

Iris pulled away from his neck and kissed his lips once more. Their tongues swirled and danced along one another’s almost erratically. Like they would never get to kiss again.

“How long can you stay?” Iris murmured against Emile’s eager lips.

“Maybe an hour…that’s enough time right?”

“Oh that’s more than enough time.”

--

An hour and a half later, Emile arrived home. 

The house was dark, except for the hall light Sienna always left on for him upstairs. He assumed she was already asleep, but he was wrong.

Sienna had stayed up in the dark on her phone, stalking all of Iris’s online profiles. She found herself engrossed by all the bikini selfies, brunch dates, and wellness advice. Iris Blair seemed absolutely perfect and it was driving Sienna crazy.

No wonder her husband was so enchanted by her.

When she heard the front door open she put her phone down and clicked on the television. She wanted to see how well Emile would lie to her tonight.

“Oh hey, you’re still awake,” Emile said when he opened the door to their room.

“Yep, late night cartoons,” Sienna responded. “So, how is Freddie?”

“He’s going to have the nastiest hangover in the morning, that’s for sure.” Emile chuckled as he pulled his suit jacket off. 

Sienna couldn’t help but be impressed by Emile’s ease with lying. In a way, she respected it. 

Emile stripped off his shirt and put on his pajama bottoms before climbing into bed. Sienna scooted over and touched his abs as she kissed him. 

“Babe…I-I’m sorry, I’m so tired,” Emile whispered. “Freddie was extremely hard to deal with tonight.”

Sienna realized he must have had sex with Iris and that’s why he was turning her down. “Oh okay.”

“Tomorrow, for sure though, okay?”

“Of course dear. I love you.” Sienna went back to her side of the bed. 

“Yeah, you too.”

Emile turned over, his heart beating rapidly. He couldn’t help but wonder if Sienna could smell Iris’s perfume on him while being that close to him. 

She definitely could.