Welcome To Hell, Dear Wife-Chapter 43: Naomi first

Chapter 43: Naomi first
Stepping into the lobby of Lucas’ company was like walking into a different world.
A different one that was made of glass, steel, and silent power.
She had half expected a security guard to stop her, to ask what a mess like her was doing in a place like this. But it didn’t happen.
She was indeed no longer Mira.
People in professional clothes moved like they all had a purpose for wherever they were at.
A few, of course, glanced at her with curious eyes, but they didn’t say anything to her and only looked down or even offered a polite smile.
She heard some whispers clearly, but they were extremely cautious about it, almost muted even. As if they were afraid that the sound might carry to the top floor.
To him.
Even the receptionist, after a moment of wide-eyed recognition, had simply directed her to the elevator with a respectful, "The CEO is expecting you, ma’am. Top floor. You can just go right in."
Mira could not help the little feeling that filled her chest. It wasn’t acceptance, but neither was this outright hostility either.
For the first time since she’d become Lorena, a door had opened for her without her even having to fight for it.
She felt a ridiculous feeling of pride, but that feeling evaporated the second she opened the door to Lucas’ office.
The scene felt like someone had thrown a hammer at her,
right in the face.
Naomi was seated on Lucas’ desk like she owned it. With her legs crossed elegantly and her dress hiked up just enough to be provocative.
She looked completely at home. So relaxed.
And Lucas? Lucas was just sitting there with that stupid infuriating calm expression he always managed to have on, even when a fire was burning.
He didn’t look guilty, neither did he look surprised. He instead looked amused. As if having a woman sitting on his desk right in front of him was a perfectly normal business behavior.
This is so embarrassing and infuriating!
Mira could not help the heat that was rising to her face. And no, not because she was even jealous, she didn’t love Lucas at all to feel that after all.
But then it had to be Naomi? And he couldn’t even be discreet about it?
He knew she was coming today after all, he had told Jack to bring her here, so was this intentional?
The thought felt correct. This was exactly the kind of psychological game Lucas would play. He loved to set up humiliating situations just to watch her squirm.
Naomi finally stood up from the desk, but slowly. And deliberately, not breaking eye contact with Mira.
She rambled on and on, but the only thing that managed to catch Mira’s ears was, "I can explain."
And she was looking at Mira like she expected her to explode with jealous rage. But then Mira had learned a few things about this psychological warfare since waking up in this damned life.
So she merely took a deep breath to force her voice to remain leveled. She was not going to give Naomi the screaming and jealous reaction she badly wanted.
"Explain?" Mira asked in a cool tone. "Explain what? What’s there to explain, Miss?... sorry, I still don’t know your name?"
Naomi’s smile faltered slightly. She had obviously been expecting tears or even screaming, something that would justify her acting like a victim yet again.
"Naomi... Naomi Brooks," she stammered.
Mira put a finger to her lips as she pretended to think very hard.
"Hmmmmm... I don’t know. That name doesn’t ring a bell at all, it doesn’t just click no matter how hard I try."
She then tilted her head with fake innocence. "Who are you again?"
From behind the desk, a sound suddenly came. A soft and very low chuckle.
Mira’s eyes snapped to Lucas instantly.
Did he just... laugh?
The sound was so foreign and unexpected that it threw her off her balance for a second.
Did I just see that demon laugh?
But then, she shook her head as if trying to swat the question marks circling around it.
Forget it. Focus. Naomi first.
She walked over to Lucas’ chair while intentionally letting her hips sway just enough to draw Naomi’s attention. She reached out and then adjusted his tie so easily, like it was something she was so used to doing for him.
"Oh my baby!" Her voice suddenly turned sweet and loving as she cooed at Lucas. "You won’t believe what happened to me on the way here... I had no idea that it’d be this cold and I wore something so light, look at it..."
Lucas looked so genuinely shocked. Shocked enough to wipe the calm demeanor he always had on. It was obvious that he had no idea how to process this version of her.
Mira found his shock satisfactory and decided to escalate. She lowered herself onto his lap as her body pressed against his, then she settled herself there comfortably.
Lucas’ hand went limp as he had no idea what was going on or how to react.
Mira, on the other hand, turned her head toward Naomi with a sweet smile.
"Uhm... Miss??? I forgot your name again." Her voice dripped with false politeness. "Can you give us some time alone, or are you planning on watching my husband and I make love?"
Naomi’s face was already red, but it still managed to go even redder at this point. She grabbed her jacket and bag and stormed out of the room, making sure to slam the door properly on her way out.
As soon as she was gone, Mira let out a deep breath and rolled her eyes. That bitch.
Yet the satisfaction of finally winning something over Naomi,
even if it was ridiculous
, felt better than she had expected.
She was so focused on that that she forgot where she was sitting until Lucas’ voice stabbed through her thoughts.
"So we are going to do it right here?"
Reality slammed her back to focus. She realized that she was sitting on his lap with her face only inches from his. So close enough to see the specks in his eyes. Close enough to smell his cologne too!
She got up like she’d been electrocuted.
"Do what? That was just an act!" she snapped.
Lucas adjusted himself in his chair, now back to his calm self, like he hadn’t been shocked just seconds ago.
"You know, I find these acts of yours very likable. Especially when it comes to that woman." His voice was curious. "Why does she even always manage to get such acts out of you?"
Mira knew she couldn’t answer that, so she only cleared her throat and looked away before deciding to steer the conversation in the correct direction.
"That’s beside the point. Lucas, what do you think you’re doing? I don’t give a damn what you do with your life, we’re only bound by a piece of paper and not love, but still, can’t you have some decency and respect? Did you invite me up here just to watch that, or what?"
Lucas stood up slowly and started walking towards her, leaving Mira with no choice but to keep stepping backwards until her back hit the wall.
"I’m not saying you shouldn’t have a girlfriend, you’re human after all and you have needs, but just have some respect. And why would it even have to be someone like her? Just be respectful, that’s all. I’d have a boyfriend too, but I’d never do that shit—"
"What?" Lucas’ voice cut through her rambling.
Mira blinked. "What, what? I said you can have a girl—"
"No," he cut in, in a cold voice. "Not that. The last part."
Mira repeated slowly, not knowing which part he needed repetition for. "I’d have a boyfriend? And I’ll never do—"
"Like hell you will," he snapped before staring at her for a second, then continuing.
"Now, Lorena, quit the ramblings and let’s go to court already. I’ve got no time for this."
With that said, he turned, opened the office door, and walked out without looking back.
Mira scoffed inwardly.
Bipolar bastard.
But before following him, she pulled out a phone.
Not Lorena’s, but a new phone with a new number that she had just bought. She found her messenger and typed in a number that she had not managed to forget no matter what happened.
Travis
.
She smirked as her thumb hovered on the screen.
"I never thought I’d ever text this number again... but here I am."