All Chapters of The Mistress: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

"If it isn't the gorgeous Miss Ashcroft. You look ravishing""I clean up well. Don't I?""Is your husband not giving you enough compliments? Is that why you're fishing for them from me, of all people?""Asshole" Gideon muttered under his breath."Cut it out" Thalia chastised at the same time but she was smiling. And because of her smile, fucking Tanner Hale thought he'd won that round. "I thought you said it was a small gathering""Give me a break, Tee. It's my birthday. I can do whatever I want. You're free to make it a small gathering when it's your turn, Miss Ashcroft"Gideon refrained from rolling his eyes. She'd been Mrs Thane for more than fifteen years but some people refused to accept defeat. What a loser. Was it a wonder no woman wanted to tie themselves to him?"Thank you but we can't stay long. I have an early morning tomorrow""Still on the Winslow case? How is it coming along?""It's a headache but I have it covered""I've never doubted your abilities to kick ass in court

"Was that Gideon? Who is the woman with him?""A client. She has a relative who needs reconstructive surgery and wants him to do it""And she couldn't call his office?"Thalia shrugged "She did but he's fully booked. So she decided to try her luck and see if he could find time for her" She understood why the woman sought him out. Didn't people follow her around asking if she could take their cases? Sometimes she did and other times she sent them to her colleagues or even turned them down. It was the same with her husband. He was famous and damn good at his job. Anyone would want him to be their doctor. If only Cameron could understand that plastic surgery wasn't about body enhancement alone.Gideon treated people malformed by diseases or medical conditions. He helped them regain their confidence and she thought what he did was noble. Especially since most of the reconstructive surgeries he'd performed were for nonprofit organizations and free clinics. She would find time to explain ev

Gideon arrived home sometime after midnight. He was in a good mood. Being with Natalia always left him in high spirits. She was everything he wanted in a woman. Beautiful, adventurous, and always willing to let him take the lead. He could fuck her like a whore and she'd thank him. Thalia would never allow him to call her his little slut. All her life, she'd been treated as a princess and she expected him to do the same. Even when they were being intimate. When he'd first slept with her, he had thought she was too rigid but since it was her first time, he didn't let it bother him. He thought with time she'd loosen up. And she had. But he still felt something was missing between them. Every time he slept with her it left him feeling hollow. As if all he'd done was give but received nothing in return. Because deep down, he always knew she was in a different league. Nothing he did would ever satisfy her. She didn't jump up in joy the way Natalia did when he bought her a car. Or jewelry.

"Sit," Thalia told her secretary. When the woman hesitated, she smiled a little to dispel any tension in the air. They'd always had an easygoing relationship and Bianca was hardworking. Thalia didn't believe she'd ever done anything to scare her. Or arouse any hate in her. "Am I getting fired?" Bianca asked hesitantly. "No. Nothing like that. How long have you worked for me?" "It's been four years, Ma'am" "And what are your plans for the future?" "I'm happy here. I like working for you, Ma'am." "What about law school? Have you thought about resuming your studies? If I remember correctly, you dropped out because your father was sick?" "Yes. Thanks to your help, he's better now." Thalia blinked "My help?" "You don't remember it but you gave me a blank cheque and told me to fill in the amount I needed. I will never forget your kindness, Ma'am, and no matter what happens, I won't betray you" That was news to her but it also worked in her favor. At least now she wouldn't

She was acting strange. After resigning from her job, Thalia spent her time at her home office or going out with Cameron and Celia. She'd thrown out half of Celia's clothes and upgraded her closet. Cameron got a new car and a motorcycle. He'd also heard her talking to a realtor, asking if they could find her several places suitable for a college student. When Gideon asked her what she was doing, she'd told him she was making up to the kids for not being there. "I was so busy that I missed a lot of things but not anymore. I'm giving my children everything they want and need" "You say that as if they grew up lacking anything" "In a way they did. We've been so focused on our careers that we barely know anything about them. Tell me, Gideon, what is Cameron or Celia's favorite color?" He'd looked away because he didn't know "And food? When are their birthdays? Do you remember the date or even month they were born?" "Why does this feel like an accusation? We've never forgotten to thr