Denise awoke without Mike by her side, with a bad feeling in her stomach, but she went to the shower anyway.
She didn't want to wear girly clothes, but she knew Mike liked it when she did, so she settled on a mini dress with puffy sleeves.
She then decided that she should probably get something to eat because her stomach had been growling since she woke up.
She went to the kitchen and grabbed a fruit bowl on her way to find Samantha.
Denise followed her instincts and went in the opposite direction of the kitchen, even though she had no idea where she was going.
Mike's office was close by. Surprisingly, there were no guards in the corridors she had just passed through. As she looked around, she turned another corner.
Denise then leaned against a wall and slid down until her ass made contact with the ground. She took her time keeping her cool, and while she was doing so, she heard a familiar girly voice giggle, breaking the silence.
She stood up and walked toward the sound of laughter. The closer she got, the louder the laugh became, but she couldn't hear it for long. Denise sighed as she took in her surroundings, but her face lit up when she realized she was in Mike's office hallway, her heart then began beating faster.
She then went to his office door and noticed that it was partly open. She then felt something was strange about this, especially because that girl's laugh was familiar to her, so she opened the door slightly and heard a strange noise, but she thought she had heard it before. Her heart sank to her stomach as she fully opened the door.
Mike was sitting behind his desk, half-naked Claire on his lap, sucking his face off. Mike must have seen Denise's tear-streaked face as he immediately sat up, pushing the girl off his lap, when they managed to break their kiss and she went down to kiss his neck.
"Denise, please, it's not what you think," he said as he approached her.
Denise then laughed. "Isn't that what they always say?" she retorted, her eyes rolling.
"Please, hon. Let me explain," Mike begs.
"F*ck, don't beg at her. She's not even worth it to you, Mikey," Claire stated. Denise couldn't take it any longer.
She bolted from the room, slamming the door shut with a thud as tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Denise, please wait! "
"Sh*t! Sh*t! Claire, it's all your fault! You completely ruined everything! Keep this b*tch in mind! I swear I'll kill you if Denise and I don't reconcile because of you! " Mike yelled angrily as he walked away from Claire.
~
Samantha had to have been looking for Denise for hours before she came across her. She was once again befuddled.
"Denise, are you okay? Should I get Mike-" Denise cut her off, raising her hand and shaking her head.
"No, I'm fine, I swear, I'm just...I'm disappointed and broken," she explained.
Samantha then knelt beside Denise and took a seat, giving her a sympathetic look.
"You know, people say I'm a good listener," she joked, and Denise smiled as she dried her face.
"It's a little silly, but I guess I'll take it.
I should speak with someone before I go insane."
"You know Mike forced me to love him, and you saw how I changed my heart for him because the longer I was here, the more I thought he genuinely cared about me."
"I decided to give her another chance and start over, but why did he do this to me?" she sobs.
"I was starting to think he liked me and wasn't just using me for my body," Denise said weakly.
"I then found him with Claire making out with that b*tch. If I hadn't gotten there earlier, I'm sure it wasn't the only thing I saw. It's really hurt Samantha. How can he do this to me?"
"He's hurting me emotionally, I'm not sure if his feelings for me were genuine; do you think I'm stupid?" Arabella asked, sniffling slightly as she finished her rant.
Samantha then drew Denise into her embrace, and Denise couldn't express how touched she was by the genuine act of kindness she received.
"If you ask me, I don't think you're being stupid; it's natural to feel that Denise because you're already his wife; you love him, which is why you're acting like this; but did you already listen to him? maybe you two have a misunderstanding," Samantha said, pulling away slightly to look into Denise's eyes.
"We both know that b*tch loves your husband, and of course, she will do everything she can to ruin your relationship," Samantha said. "The rest is up to you if you're just going to let that b*tch win and let her steal your husband to you." Denise exhaled, allowing the realization to sink in.
~
Denise then stood in the hallway for a few moments, contemplating what Samantha had said before deciding to return to her inside.
She then heard voices in the dining room and, with nowhere else to go, walked in.
"It's okay, Denise," Samantha reassured her.
into a bear hug
She resolved not to cry because she had been so weak for so long. Denise stepped back and sat on the sofa to relax.
Denise then looked down the hall, thinking.
It was quiet for a moment before the doors burst open, revealing Ronnie, who immediately went to his Samantha and drew her closer to him.
She wrapped her arms around his neck while he kissed her neck, temporarily concealing her face. They break their kiss just as Ronnie's gaze lands on Denise, and she watches as he looks away guiltily. He started leading Samantha out before coming to a halt in front of Denise.
"Mike is going insane looking for you, but I understand; if you don't want him to find you, I recommend going somewhere more secluded." She nodded silently, thanking him.
"He's right; I can take you to my room," Samantha stated.
"Denise!! where are you?!?" She heard Mike yell somewhere in the mansion near them as Denise nodded to Samantha and led the way.
"I'm sorry Mike. I need some time to think about this," Denise said to herself.