2 - Infidelity

Freya's Pov

The first rays of morning light filtered through the curtains, pulling me from sleep. I stretched, my movements careful not to disturb the sleeping figure beside me. Caleb’s steady breathing echoed in the quiet room, and I watched him for a second, his face peaceful and free from the worries of the day. Gently slipping out of bed, I tiptoed to the kitchen, where the coffee machine was already set up, ready to whirr to life.

I leaned against the counter, watching as the dark liquid dripped slowly into the carafe, filling the kitchen with its warm, comforting scent. My fingers tapped on the countertop, nails clicking in rhythm as I ran through my thoughts. I hadn’t been home in over two days. The tiny edge of guilt gnawed at me, but I brushed it off, this time was for Caleb, for us.

With two mugs in hand, I returned to the bedroom, where Caleb had just begun to stir. His eyes blinked open, and a sleepy smile played at the corners of his lips when he saw me.

“Good morning,” he said, his voice rough and soft, doing things to me he likely knew too well.

“Good morning, my love. How was your night?” I sat beside him, leaning over to press a kiss on his neck, letting my lips linger just long enough to feel him shift under my touch.

“Perfect,” he murmured, pulling me closer, his hands warm and possessive. “But if you keep doing that, we’re never going to make it out of this room.”

“Is that a challenge, Caleb?” I whispered, my lips brushing his ear, feeling his shiver against me. In one swift movement, he flipped me onto the bed, his eyes taking me in, deep blue and intense.

“Definitely a challenge.” He smirked, lowering his mouth to my neck, his fingers tangling in my hair. His touch was surprisingly gentle, knowing just where to kiss, to linger, leaving me writhing and breathless beneath him. He moved with practiced ease, each touch familiar but somehow new, his lips trailing down to my shoulder, igniting my skin as they went.

By the time he was done, I was a mess of sheets, tangled hair, and bare skin, completely lost in him.

The hours slipped by in a delicious blur until the afternoon light began to angle through the window. I stirred again, blinking lazily at the clock beside the bed, my body protesting at the thought of leaving this cocoon.

“Freya,” he murmured, “it’s almost two. You should probably get going if you don’t want to be missed.” He leaned over, brushing a hand through my hair, a knowing smile in his eyes.

I groaned, throwing an arm over my face. “You are no fun.” But I rolled out of bed, padding toward the bathroom to freshen up. After a quick shower, I wrapped myself in a fluffy robe and made my way back to him, where he was now at the desk, papers scattered around.

“Want to talk business, baby?” He reached for my hand, pulling me down beside him on the couch.

I hesitated, looking at the stack of documents spread out before us. “Caleb, are we doing the right thing?” I bit my lip, my gaze meeting his. “Taking everything from him… It seems drastic. We could leave him with at least twenty percent.”

A slight frown creased his brow, and he tilted his head, studying me. “Freya, now is not the time to get soft,” he said, his voice low. His fingers found mine, their warmth grounding me, calming the uncertainty. “This is for us. Every piece of it.”

He leaned closer, his lips brushing mine, chasing away any lingering doubts. “Just trust me, okay?”

I nodded, settling back as we dove into the papers, crafting the next steps with pen marks and arrows. For hours, we worked side by side, piecing together the plan that would give us everything. It was intense, but there was a thrill to it, a feeling of control that I rarely found outside of these stolen moments.

A knock on the door broke our focus. Caleb’s voice echoed through the room. “Come in.”

Mr. Fadmin, the butler, stepped inside, holding a pink shopping bag. “This was delivered for you, sir,” he said, his face impassive as always. He handed Caleb the bag and left quietly, closing the door behind him.

I glanced at the bag, raising an eyebrow. “What’s that?”

A smile tugged at his lips as he handed it over. “A surprise for you my love,” he said, a hint of embarrassment in his voice. “Though it wasn’t supposed to arrive while you were here, guess they messed up delivery time.”

My heart warmed, a rush of affection swelling in my chest. I opened the bag to find a small black box inside. Slowly, I lifted the lid to reveal a delicate silver necklace with a tiny heart pendant. It was beautiful, understated in a way that felt special, unique.

“Oh, Caleb…” I looked up at him, unable to keep the smile from my face. “You didn’t have to, and I certainly do not care about delivery time.”

“I wanted to babe, I hope you know how much you mean to me Freya.” he murmured, lifting the necklace from the box. “Turn around.” I obeyed, gathering my hair as he fastened it around my neck, his fingers lingering against my skin.

“Do you like it?”

“Like it? I love it,” I whispered, hugging him tightly. “Thank you babe.”

"I'm glad you love it. I love you."

"I love you too."

He kissed my temple, his arms wrapping around me as we sat there in comfortable silence, savoring the warmth of the moment.

Finally, he stood, offering me a hand. “Come on, let’s see what the chefs have made for lunch.”

I hesitated, a flicker of guilt passing through me. I should head back soon, the kids would be wondering. But Caleb’s hand was warm and steady, and I found myself taking it, letting him pull me to my feet.

“Only for a little while,” I murmured, grinning as he lifted me off my feet, carrying me down the stairs.

In the kitchen, he set me down, pulling out a chair at the dining table. The chefs were already bustling around, bringing out an array of dishes. My eyes landed on a plate of spaghetti and meatballs, and my stomach rumbled in anticipation.

“You are going to eat all of that, aren’t you?” Caleb teased, raising an eyebrow.

“Watch me.” I piled a generous portion onto my plate and dug in, savoring every bite. The food was incredible, and before I knew it, I had gone through the pasta and a bowl of fruit, feeling delightfully full.

“You never fail to amaze me with how much you can eat,” he chuckled, shaking his head.

I shrugged, reaching for my water. “Can’t help it. Besides, I have been busy.”

As we finished, a sigh escaped my lips, and I knew it was time to leave. I leaned against his shoulder, feeling his arm snake around my waist.

“I should go,” I murmured, my voice heavy with reluctance.

His jaw tensed, his hold on me tightening. “I wish you didn’t have to,” he said quietly. “I want to have you here, Freya, always. When I wake up, I want you next to me. And when I go to bed, I want you there.”

I touched his face, running my thumb along his jawline. “I know, Caleb. Soon. Just give me a little more time.”

He sighed, and I knew he didn’t want to argue, so he simply nodded, helping me gather my things. “I will book a ride for you.”

The ride back felt endless. By the time I arrived home, exhaustion was beginning to settle in, my limbs heavy and my eyes tired. I stepped out of the car, barely acknowledging the guards as I slipped inside.

“Mummy, Mummy!” Kamila and Kamrin’s voices rang through the hallway as they rushed to greet me.

I offered them a tired smile, patting their heads before leaving them with the nanny. I climbed the stairs, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on me. I barely registered the empty bed as I collapsed onto it, letting the quiet finally lull me toward sleep.

Just as I was drifting off, my phone buzzed on the nightstand. I reached for it, squinting at the screen as Caleb’s name lit up.

“Hey,” I murmured, a small smile tugging at my lips despite my fatigue.

“Are you home yet?” His voice was soft, and I could hear the tension just below the surface.

“Yes, love. I just got in.”

There was a pause, a quiet breath on the other end. “Where’s your husband?”

I glanced around the dark room, noting the empty space beside me. “Your brother isn’t home yet, Caleb.”