The plates were almost empty when Damien got a called, he picked up his phone and looked at Iris and said,
"Excuse me."
He walked to the couch and answered the phone.
Iris continued eating, but a moment later, she glanced over at him.
"Yeah, come up. I'm around."
She frowned slightly, wondering who he was talking to.
Damien ended the call and walked back to the table. He sat down and glanced at his phone.
Iris watched him for a moment, expecting him to look back at her.
When he didn't, she finally asked,
"Who was that?"
He looked up
"Oh.. that was my assistant. I hope you don't mind, I told her to bring me some documents."
She chuckled.
"It's your house, bring whoever you want."
He smiled
Before either of them could say anything else, they heard a knock at the door.
Damien walked over to the door and opened it.
A young woman with black curly hair walked in, dressed in a crisp white shirt with the top button undone. She wore a black leather skirt paired with black heels and carried a black handbag. A few documents were held neatly in her hand.
"Good evening, Damien..... here are the—" She paused as she saw Iris seating at the table.
"Who are you?" She said.
Damien looked at Iris and then at the woman.
"This is Iris, my wife." He paused then looked at Iris
"This is Catherine, my assistant."
Iris walked over to her and stretched her hands.
"Nice to meet you."
Catherine forced a smile and shook her hand.
"Oh yes..... I heard you were getting married, but..." she paused and looked Iris.
"I thought you had better taste in women."
"Catherine!" He said.
Iris scoffed.
"Im just kidding." She smiled.
"Sure." Iris whispered.
"Hm... Damien, I think we should get started." She said.
"Yes.... Please sit." He said.
They walked to the couch.
"Im thinking I will excuse you guys." Iris said.
"Where are you going? He asked.
"I'm just going to get some things and all."
"But my driver isn't here."
"I think Im capable of driving myself."
He sighed.
"Fine." He stood up and walked over to her and reached for into his pocket and pulled out his car keys.
"Here." He said
"Thanks." She paused.
She turned to leave, but Damien held onto the key for a second.
"Drive slowly."
"I know how to drive."
"I dont want a scratch on that car."
"Of course you care more about the car." She smirked.
"Is there anything I can get you?" She asked.
"Hm.. can you get me a double espresso?"
"Sure."
She turned and was about to walk to the door.
"Catherine, would you like anything?" He asked.
She looked up and smiled at Iris.
Iris turned to her.
"A caramel macchiato would be nice."
"Sure thing." Iris smiled back, though she could tell Catherine's smile wasn't genuine.
Damien stretched his card to her.
"I have money."
"Im aware, just in case."
"Whatever." She collected the card and walked out.
She got down and walked to his car. She opened it and got in, then picked up her phone and texted Sienna.
Iris: I'm coming over.
A few seconds later, she replied.
Sienna: Okay? What's up?
Iris: You'll know.
She dropped her phone and started the car and drove out.
Iris pulled out of the private driveway and onto the main road.
For a few minutes, she drove in silence, her hands resting comfortably on the steering wheel.
The city was busy despite the late afternoon hour. Cars moved steadily along the streets, pedestrians filled the sidewalks, and the occasional horn sounded in the distance.
Iris glanced at the passenger seat where Damien's card sat beside her phone.
She shook her head.
Then, her mind returned to Catherine.
The way she had looked at her.
The comment.
And that fake smile.
Iris sighed.
"Unbelievable."
She changed lanes and continued toward Sienna's apartment.
Her phone buzzed.
She glanced at it briefly at the red light.
Sienna: You better hurry. Now I'm curious.
Iris smiled despite herself.
Iris: I'm almost there.
The light turned green, and she put her phone down.
As she drove, she couldn't help replaying the conversation in her head.
Catherine clearly knew Damien well.
Too well, perhaps.
Iris frowned.
She didn't know why it bothered her.
It shouldn't.
Their marriage was an agreement.
Two years.
Nothing more.
She focused on the road and pushed the thought aside.
About twenty minutes later, Iris turned onto a quieter street.
She slowed down as she approached Sienna's house.
She spotted the familiar entrance and pulled into the parking area.
After finding an empty space, she parked Damien's Bentley and turned off the engine.
For a moment, she simply sat there.
She looked at the building.
Then she glanced at herself in the rearview mirror.
She took a deep breath.
Whatever was going on with Catherine, she wasn't going to let it get to her.
At least, that's what she told herself.
Iris grabbed her phone and put Damien's card in her pocket, and stepped out of the car.
She locked it and walked toward the entrance and knocked.
A few moments later, the doors opened.
Sienna stood there with a curious expression.
She looked at Iris.
"Okay..."
She stepped aside.
"Come in."
Iris walked inside.
Sienna closed the door behind her.
They walked to the living room, and they sat down.
"Your parents aren't home?"
"Nope." She stood up to get a bottle of wine and two glasses.
"Forgot about my parents, tell me what happened?"
Iris chuckled
"Can you believe Damien assistant came?"
"Okay? I don't get it."
"Wait, I didn't say it right." She paused.
"Damien and I were having this beautiful lunch and was so cute and amazing."
"Awwwn"
"I know, right?" She paused.
"So he got a call from his assistant, then he said he called her over for some documents. I was like, okay, no problem."
Sienna nodded.
"So when she arrived and she looked like a hooker, her buttons were half done, her skirt was so short, and do you know what she said?" She paused.
"She said she thought Damien had better taste."
Sienna gasped.
"How could she? I mean, has she seen you."
"Thank youu."
Iris leaned back.
"Later, I was about to leave, and I asked Damien if he wanted anything. He said a double espresso, and I'm like, sure, no problem."
She paused.
"Then he asked her if she wanted anything, and I'm like, who the hell is she?"
Sienna laughed.
"And then she goes..."
Iris straightened her posture and imitated Catherine.
"A caramel macchiato would be nice."
Sienna burst out laughing.
"If you had seen her, she was so all over him. Like she wanted him."
Sienna stared at Iris for a moment.
Then she smiled.
Iris narrowed her eyes.
"Why are you smiling?"
"It's just cute how you care."
"Excuse me? Care about who? What?"
"You care about who's around Damien. In the same way, you were wondering who he was getting the outfit for."
"Ew! No. What? No. Stop it!"
Sienna chuckled.
"Okay, fine. If you say so."
Iris crossed her arms.
"I don't care."
"Sure."
"I don't."
"Whatever helps you sleep at night."
Iris rolled her eyes.
"You're so annoying."
"And yet you came all the way here to tell me about your husband's assistant."
Iris opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
Sienna's smile widened.
"Exactly."
The conversation continued for a few more minutes, with Sienna teasing Iris every chance she got.
Eventually, Iris stood up.
"Okay, I should probably go."
Sienna looked at her.
"Already?"
"Yes. I left Damien with his assistant."
Sienna raised an eyebrow.
"Exactly. You better get back before your imagination creates an entire story."
"My imagination is perfectly fine."
"Sure it is."
Iris rolled her eyes.
"Bye, Sienna."
"Bye. And Iris?"
She turned.
"Don't worry about Catherine."
Iris paused.
"I'm not."
Sienna smiled.
"Whatever you say."
Iris shook her head and walked toward the door.
She stepped outside and glanced back at Sienna.
"Call me later."
"I will."
Iris walked toward the Bentley, still thinking about what Sienna had said.
She unlocked the car and got inside.
For a moment, she sat quietly, staring through the windshield.
She didn't care about Catherine.
She couldn't care less.
At least, that's what she kept telling herself.
Iris started the engine and pulled away from the house.
Back at the apartment, Damien was still waiting for the documents he had asked Catherine to bring.
And Iris had no idea that when she returned, she was walking straight into another conversation she wasn't expecting.