The Ceo's Mistress

My eyes fluttered open and almost immediately flickered over to the phone on my bedside table. That right there...is my lifeline. It's the only thing in this entire world that's worth looking at for a whole freaking day! The reason is simple: attention.

Smirking slightly as it buzzed with new messages, I reached out and grabbed it before rolling over on the bed and stuffing my pillow underneath my chest to get comfy.

I rubbed my eye a bit, attempting to rid myself of drowsiness when a call from my mom suddenly popped up as my ringtone blared. I glared at the screen. She's been calling me nonstop since three days ago. I didn't want to hear her rant on and on about me not contacting her so I texted her yesterday and told her that I'd be coming over today, hoping that it'd soothe her. But it seems like she's dead set on tormenting me...This is what I get for leeching my family.

Rolling my eyes, I declined the call then unlocked the phone and quickly tapped on the Instagram icon. I scrolled through all the new comments on the photo I posted yesterday with a pleased smile...the endless compliments I receive every second of the day is most likely the reason why my ego keeps getting bigger and bigger...but who cares? A flawless person like me should know my worth.

Around an hour later, I finally managed to climb out of bed. I tidied my room, brushed my teeth, took a shower and then made my way over to my walk-in closet. I pulled it open and looked around slowly, letting my eyes take the pleasure of roaming over the vibrant red that adorned almost everything residing in there...clothes, shoes and purses all included.

Stupid enough, I believe wearing red adds to my otherworldly beauty. If it wasn't such an outrageous act, then I'd even paint my house in crimson red....that's how far my obsession goes.

I put on a tight fitted dress and matched that with a simple red heel before walking out of the room and down the stairs. As I descended, I couldn't help but notice that it was unusually quiet. If I remember correctly, my bestfriends; Katie and Harry spent the night here. They wouldn't leave without telling me.

My thoughts quickly evaporated when I reached the bottom of the stairs and low voices filled my ears. I turned in that direction.

"...at the party."

"What party?" I waltzed into the dining room and took a seat on one of the chairs, crossing my leg over the other. I looked at Harry expectantly but his lips remained pursed as he stiffened. I shifted my gaze to Katie (Harry's girlfriend) and rose a brow. "Care to fill me in, Katie?" She moulded her lips together and averted her gaze elsewhere.

They were obviously hiding something big.

"So you won't tell me huh..." I nodded in agreement with my words and stretched across the table, grabbing the wine glass that someone had apparently been drinking from. Wine in the morning?...Best thing ever.

I twirled the glass a little then took a sip. "I guess you're finally tired of having a third wheeler..." I forced a sad look unto my face.

Harry was the first one to speak up, "My mom's throwing a birthday party next month, I was inviting Katie." He rushed through his words.

"Really?"

He nodded and I sucked on my teeth, annoyed. I knew he was lying. I could see it on his face. If they thought they could have fun without me then they had another thing coming. I never miss out on a party...never.

"Do you think I'm stupid?" I drank the rest of the wine in one gulp then noisily settled the glass down on the table, discontinuing my act. "Come on, just tell me the truth...what's the big deal?!" I pleaded frustratedly.

"I don't think you'll be very happy to hear it," Katie told me, "It's about Layla Crawford."

My face immediately hardened. "You mean Layla...the boyfriend thief?"

Katie hesitated a bit. "...Well, yeah."

I scowled. After all these years, the mere sound of her name placed me in a VERY bad mood. "What does she have to do with anything?"

Harry answered this time. "She's moving back to Satoya and Nathalie's throwing a welcome party for her. We..." He gestured to himself and Katie. "--got invited."

I clenched my jaw, my nails unconsciously digging into the table cloth that covered the table. "She's moving back here? Why?!" They shrugged and I wrinkled my nose in disgust. "She's probably here for the guys...that wench!"

"She's not that type of person anymore." Harry vouched, a tiny pinch of irritation in his eyes that anyone could've missed. Why is he getting so worked up?

I shook my head, pitying him for naively thinking that. "People don't change, my friend...they only get better at hiding their true selves."

He sighed. "This time it's different...she's married."

I did a double take. "I didn't quite catch that..." I leaned over the table and attempted to clean my ear with my pinky finger. "Say what now?"

He rolled his eyes. "She's married, Haley."

I snorted, flopping back down on the chair. "Married? That's so damn ridiculous that it doesn't even count as a joke." I expected them to show some sort of reaction...anything to put my mind at ease, but they didn't. I instantly knew that they were being serious. "You're serious?! To who?!"

"We don't know that yet...but I hear he's rich," Katie informed. "She definitely hit the jackpot."

I straightened up, eyes widening at her words. Rich? Where did Layla snatch a rich guy? I can't believe this. Layla's nothing but a petty, jealous bitch! She doesn't deserve anyone!

"How rich is he?" I squeezed through my teeth with a deep scowl.

"Rich enough to be buying the largest house in Satoya."

I squinted. "The largest one?" The wheels in my head began turning until everything clicked and my eyes widened in horror. "Don't tell me it's the one next door!?"

"That's the one!"

My mouth dropped.

"How do I look?" I twirled around slowly with a broad smile on my lips. I was wearing a thin, tight fitting red dress that hugged my curves at the bottom and exposed my shoulders and a bit of my cleavage at the top. It stretched down to around three inches above my knees, though I guess you can call it four since it keeps riding further upwards whenever I walk. Of course, I was also packed with expensive jewellery.

Katie shook her head disapprovingly while Harry sighed as he watched me.

"What's that look for?" My smile was quickly replaced with a frown.

"You weren't invited," Harry stated bluntly as he moved behind Katie in order to zip the back of her dress.

Ignoring his words, I turned and grabbed my red lipstick from the dressing table, coating my lips while admiring myself in the mirror. "I'm so gorgeous," I acknowledged, sweeping my black hair behind my shoulders and stepping back a little so I could get a better view of my prominent curves. "I can totally get married if I want to."

Through the mirror, I saw Katie roll her eyes. "Your jealousy is showing, Haley," She said matter-of-factly.

I scoffed. "Jealousy....I've never felt that before."

"You make it obvious that you are."

"Someone like me can't get jealous of someone like her." I gnawed at my nails to make myself seem preoccupied, hoping she'd drop the conversation. But as always, Harry was the one who didn't seem to know when to shut up.

"Someone like her?" He butted in with a raised brow.

"Yup...she's beneath me," I told him with such certainty that a smile broke out on my face.

"Yet look who's the married one with a hotshot husband..." He countered.

I glared at him through the mirror. These were the times when I wanted to smash his head to goo with my bare hands. He's so freaking annoying! I seriously don't know how Katie puts up with his sissy attitude.

"Who's side are you on?" I fired at him, tossing the lipstick aside and turning to him with my arms folded across my chest.

"No one's."

I sharpened my glare and flipped my hair angrily then stomped over to Katie and laced our arms together. "Since that's the case, you can go by yourself...Katie and I will go with Josh." Frowning, I grabbed my purse and stomped out of the room, dragging a reluctant Katie behind me.

"...But you weren't invited," I heard him repeat under his breath after I slammed the door shut.

"I heard that, you punk!"

I dragged Katie all the way outside, setting her free when I stood infront of the old, wooden bench underneath the small tree. I flopped down on the bench, my heel unconsciously tapping against the ground out of anger. Katie watched me cautiously, as if afraid that I'd explode...that may as well be the case.

The bench was cold, almost like ice against my skin and the night air was chilly, causing goosebumps to rise as the wind swept over me, but my momentary anger left me mentally oblivious to that for a while.

Stupid Harry! He and I had been friends since high school so he damn well knows how I feel about Layla yet he keeps on defending her and makes it seem as if I'm being unreasonable! What kind of bestfriend does that!?

"Have you called Josh?" Katie asked after a while, pulling me from thoughts. My scowl deepened. "He should be here by now."

Josh...another friend that needs to be disposed of! Why? Well for starters he's stupid...and he's a total chatterbox. If it were any other time, I'd honestly walk through a freaking storm just to prevent myself from seeing him but right now, I'm in dire need of his help, though I hate to admit it. Since I'm single-- which isn't something to be proud of around here---I'll need someone to be my boyfriend for the night. Obviously Harry can't do it, so on such a short notice, the only person who can get the job done is Josh...the most annoying person ever as well as the only friend I have apart from Katie and Harry.

Reluctantly, I took my phone out of my purse and dialled Josh's number.

He picked up on the third ring. "Haley?"

"Where the hell are you?!"

The beeping of a car filled the other end of the call then Harry's voice mixed in as he answered me, "I'm just around the corner."

My jaw ticked. "Just around the corner my ass! Hurry up and get here!"

"Just give me tw-" was all he got to say before I hung up on him.

After the call ended, silence reigned for a while...very much appreciated silence... until Katie got a little too impatient. "Hey...its been a while," she started hesitantly, "why don't we just go with Harry?"

My eyes narrowed in irritation. "I already said we're going with Josh-"

"No YOU'RE going with Josh..." A voice cut me off. I looked around, finding Harry standing on the porch. Smirking smugly, he walked forward and grabbed Katie's hand in his. "Katie's coming with me," he finalized.

Katie bumped his shoulder with hers and sent him a warning look, one that didn't look very scary on such an innocent face, "Stop being so childish, guys." She turned to me with a smile, "Come on, Haley. We can all ride together in Harry's car since it doesn't seem like Josh will be coming."

I stared at her indecisively. Despite Harry being VERY annoying right now, I honestly want to go with them, but I can't. Showing up empty handed would make me look inferior and not showing up at all would make me look like a damn wuss.

Ugh! I don't even know what to do!

"I'm going with Josh." I insisted, though I was pooling with agitation. I swear if Josh messes this up I'll break his freaking neck!

Harry ran a hand over his face. "You're seriously too-"

Just then, the sound of beeping filled the air. My eyes searched and found Josh's car pulling up.

My face instantly brightened. "Well..." I said, jumping to my feet, "that's my ride." Flashing a smug smile at Harry, I waltzed over to the car, patting a slightly flabbergasted Katie on the shoulder as I passed by. Like the gentleman he is, Josh opened the car door from the inside. "Toodles!" I waved at them before sliding in, but my good mood suddenly evaporated when I looked over in the driver's seat.

"Take that shit off!" I demanded, frowning as I stared distastefully at the big-rimmed glasses Josh was proudly sporting.

He smirked at me. "As you wish princess~" he cooed. He removed the glass and flipped his chocolate brown hair that stopped just above his eyebrows as his blue eyes remained trained on me...I guess that was his ridiculous attempt at looking hot.

I glowered at him, scrunching up my nose in disgust. "I'll kill you." I warned and a loud laugh left him in response. Sighing, I sat up and shifted in my seat so I was facing him. "Now that that's taken care of...let's set some rules."

"Rules?"

I nodded. "1. Don't drink, 2. don't do anything stupid and 3. don't talk unless spoken to...got it?"

He pouted but nodded nonetheless. "Alright, let's go make a bitch mad!"

Around fifteen minutes later, Josh pulled up infront of Natalie's house. I grinned from ear to ear, finally feeling the excitement. "It's time to show her who's boss."

I fixed my posture and leaned back in my seat, waiting for Josh to make his move. When he remained seated, I turned to him and glared.

"What?" He asked, chewing on the matchstick he had in his mouth.

"Get out of the damn car and open the freaking door!" I reached over and plucked the matchstick from his mouth before opening the door on his side and shoving him out. I stationed myself back in my seat, my eyes shifting to the rear view mirror for a last minute look at myself. I brushed a strand of hair aside and leaned forward so I could see myself better.

I'll totally slay this damn party!

Josh finally opened the door to my side and gestured for me to step out. I instantly plastered my best smile on my face before stepping out foot by foot and daintily flipping my hair.

As an uninvited guest, I was going for the unbothered look so I didn't bother looking around, but I'm sure as hell that every single person paused just to stare at me. I didn't need to look to know that.

Seeing the stares people were giving me, Josh stepped to the side to give them a better view, his own eyes starting to scan my form thoroughly. I smiled. "I forgot to ask...how do I look?"

"You look..." His gaze left my body and roamed over the persons standing outside then moved back toward me, "...overdressed," he finished, a loud laugh escaping him when my jaws slackened and a dumbfounded look formed on my face.

He covered his mouth with both hands as he tried to sober up from his needless laughter. "I'm serious...Compared to everyone else here you seem like an uninvited prostitute. That's probably why everyone keeps staring a--"

I pressed my heel against the tip of his shoe...hard. "Do me a favour and stop talking." I gritted my teeth, my eyes boring holes into him as he winced, "One more word from you and I'll slap--"

"Haley?"

I stiffened. Ah...that must be the wench....splendid!

I quickly lifted my heel off Josh's shoe and straightened up, my hands reaching over to attempt at straightening out the wrinkles in his shirt as I looked up at him with a broad smile that was obviously only there for show.

"You must have gotten tired of running away." I fixed a smug smirk on my lips and linked my arm with Josh's as I spun around.

But disappointment filled me when I saw who exactly was standing behind me. "Nathalie..." I grumbled bitterly, my eyes scornfully roaming up and down her old fashioned dress. Rolling my eyes, I wriggled my arm out of Josh's since I found no need in trying to impress someone like her. She was and still is Layla's best friend, so she's probably here to pester me in her place.

"How nice of you to throw a party without inviting me." I said sarcastically.

She smiled crookedly. "It's not that I didn't want to invite you...I just didn't want you to make a fool of yourself, but it seems to me like that's what you're aiming for."

This scoundrel!

"Hey! You ca-" Josh started to say but I jutted him in the side, silently telling him to shut up.

I can deal with her on my own.

Holding back my growing anger, I laughed humourlessly. "We've known each other for years, Nathalie... When have you ever seen me make a fool of myself?"

"Fair enough...then I'll let you think of this as me gladly giving you a chance to do so now."

I scoffed. "I see the two years you've been married have made you a tad bit delusional..." I drew my lips close to her ear. "Haley Mighty never makes a fool of herself." I leaned back a bit to look her up and down again. "Apparently you're the one who's doing that... You should try wearing something better the next time you try to size up to me."

Smiling deviously at her now tongue tied form, I straightened up and tilted my head back a little to look at Josh. "Let's go. We've got people to greet."

I waltzed toward the front door, purposefully bumping her shoulder as I passed. The crowd that had bundled up at the door parted to make way. Seeing me as a threat, the girls glared at me and clutched their boyfriends closer while the men openly stared as I gracefully walked by them. I bet they've never seen such unfathomable beauty before.

I flashed some a smile and threw others a wink but other than that, I showed no interest. Frankly, I'm not interested in dating...well atleast not these rascals...what I am interested in though, is bringing Layla Crawford to her knees. I'll definitely make her pay, one way or another.

The inside was just as boring as the outside. Nobody dancing, nobody drinking and to make matters worse, there's a stupid opera song on replay! What kind of party is this?!

I grabbed a wine glass as the waiter passed and took a sip, scrunching up my nose at the taste. Apple juice? Seriously?!

"Haley!" Hearing my name being called, I looked to the side and saw Elliot, another one of my ex-friends...Here comes the party pooper.

"Oh Eliot! It's so nice to see you alive and well." I smiled, but it disappeared as quickly as it came.

Elliot chuckled as he stopped infront of me. "We both know you'd prefer to see me lying in a coffin rather than standing before you."

"You know it." I laughed it off as a joke but I'm sure he was bright enough to know that I wasn't kidding.

"You came alone?" He asked, reminding me of the dimwit that followed me in and disappeared the second I took my eyes off him.

"No. I came with my boyfriend." I lied, smiling broadly.

"Well aren't you going to introduce me?"

"Uh...yeah." I looked around until my eyes zoomed in on Josh. He was gathering handfuls of the baked treats that a female waiter was carrying around. I nearly facepalmed. Trying my best to hold my smile, I looked back at Eliot sadly. "He's around here somewhere but I can't seem to find him."

He nodded, seeming a little disappointed. "Ah well that's a shame...but let me introduce you to my wife." He smiled innocently but I already knew from the sly glint in his eyes that he was only trying to boast about getting married.

"Sure." I reluctantly nodded and followed after him as he began to lead the way.

"She's standing by the couch over there." My eyes followed his line of vision and indeed, I spotted three women standing by the couch, but the one who caught my attention was the one to the left...Layla Crawford.