Would be Wife
"Why did you style your hair in a bun?" Xavier asked somewhat angrily.
"Because I feel free," Deyna answered, stretching lazily.
Xavier didn't know why he felt annoyed at the thought of someone seeing his fiancée's neck, but the possessiveness in him flared.
"But I don't like it," Xavier said, frowning.
"Oh? Are you jealous?" Deyna asked playfully, turning to face him fully.
"Yes, I am," Xavier admitted without hesitation, his gaze darkening slightly.
Deyna chuckled and untied her bun, letting her straight, jet-black hair fall gracefully down to her waist. The silken strands shimmered under the soft lighting.
"That's more like it," Xavier said, a smile finally tugging at the corners of his lips.
Deyna stood up slowly, only to straddle Xavier's lap again. She adjusted herself, resting her head in the crook of his neck. The scent of his woody cologne wrapped around her like a blanket, grounding her in comfort and security. Within minutes, her breathing deepened, soft and even—she had drifted off into a peaceful slumber.
Xavier, however, was going through his own version of hell. For the second time that morning, Deyna had unknowingly put him in a torturous position. Her body was curled against his, her chest rising and falling rhythmically, every exhale brushing warmly against the sensitive skin of his neck. Her scent, her warmth, the soft sounds of her breath—all of it was driving him insane.
So much for taking my arousal lightly, he thought bitterly. This woman is going to kill me someday.
He clenched his fists on the armrest, forcing himself to focus on his laptop. Work. Focus. Numbers. Strategy. Anything but her.
And just when he thought he could power through it, the office door slammed open.
"Xavier, who the hell is on your lap?" Marcus's voice thundered through the room.
Lucas followed right after, eyes wide. "Don't tell me you're cheating on sister-in-law!"
"I told you she and Leon were meant for each other! Not a scumbag like you!" Lucas added, pointing accusingly. Him not receiving any reactions from Xavier annoyed him further.
"You are an asshole, dickhead, scumbag, and also a bastard," Lucas continued, his voice rising with each insult. He was clearly rattled, his chest heaving in frustration.
"Oh, Xavier, why'd you want to wake me up with this noise?" Deyna's voice interrupted, lazily rolling from her lips as if she'd just been disturbed from a peaceful slumber.
Marcus's eyes shifted over to her as he registered her voice. He immediately recognized it. But Lucas, still far from calming down, was walking towards Deyna, ready to yank her off Xavier's lap. Just as his hand reached for her, he was stopped by a strong, cold grip that wrapped around his wrist, firm but smooth as if it was made of iron.
"What's wrong with you, Lucas?" Deyna asked, her tone a mix of curiosity and annoyance.
"Um, um, um, I mean… I thought Xavier was cheating on you," Lucas stammered, trying to cover up his panic.
"Oh, so you mean that Xavier's been bringing other women here to sleep with?" Deyna smirked, eyes narrowing playfully.
"No, that's not what I meant! I thought it was that Maddy vixen from yesterday," Lucas quickly corrected himself, his cheeks turning red with embarrassment.
Just as Lucas finished speaking, the door swung open, and Iris stepped in. Her outfit, tight and revealing, screamed of intention. Her presence was loud, and her attitude even louder.
"Speak of the devil," Lucas muttered, eyes wide with disbelief.
"Iris," Xavier said, his voice laced with irritation. "What are you doing here?"
"I see you've been busy, Xavier," Iris said with a smirk, looking at Deyna on his lap. "So, you're cheating on your fiancée with your secretary? I'm going to tell her about this."
Deyna's eyebrow quirked, her lips curling into a sly grin. "Is that so? You told her yesterday, right?" she asked, her voice dripping with amusement.
Iris hesitated for a split second but quickly pushed forward. "Yes, I did. I told her you were sneaking around behind her back, and guess what? She was heartbroken. She wanted to divorce you, Xavier. You should've seen how upset she was."
The room went quiet for a moment as the four of them stared at Iris in disbelief. It was as though they were watching a bad performance.
"Did you talk to Iris yesterday?" Xavier asked Deyna, his voice suddenly serious, cutting through the tension.
"No, I don't think so," Deyna replied, her laughter light and teasing. "I didn't even know she existed until now."
"Well then, Miss Holloway," Xavier's eyes bored into Iris with a calculated edge. "Who exactly did you talk to yesterday?"
"I—I… I talked to your fiancée about you having a secretary," Iris stammered, clearly losing her earlier confidence.
"But my fiancée here says she didn't talk to you yesterday," Xavier said, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife. He leaned forward slightly, his gaze locking with Iris's, his expression calm but tinged with a sharp edge.
Iris blinked in disbelief, her mouth hanging open slightly as she processed the information. "What do you mean by your fiancée here?" she sputtered, her voice a mix of confusion and irritation.
Xavier gave a small, sarcastic smile. "Sorry for not introducing you to my fiancée," he said smoothly, his tone almost too polite. "This is Deyna Wolfe, my fiancée, would-be wife, second boss to Draven Companies, and youngest madame of the Draven family."
He said it all with a finality that resonated in the air, his voice carrying the weight of someone with power and authority. There was no room for doubt, no hesitation.
Iris's face paled as she heard the full extent of Deyna's position. "What? This can't be true," she muttered, her eyes flickering between Xavier and Deyna as if trying to make sense of the situation. "This can never be possible."
"I'm afraid it is," Xavier said, leaning back in his chair, his demeanor calm but with an undeniable air of confidence. His eyes never left Iris, the silent challenge in them clear as day. "And now that you've been introduced properly, I suggest we move on. You've caused enough of a scene for one day."
The tension in the room was palpable. Deyna, ever the poised one, remained quiet but gave Iris a glance that spoke volumes, a mix of amusement and challenge. She had seen enough of this petty drama for one day, and she wasn't interested in engaging any further.