"Good morning, everyone! I'm back! The one and only queen of Mathias Monroe is back!"
Cleo's voice echoed through the mansion like thunder. She tossed her purse onto the couch and stretched her arms dramatically, her tone filled with mock royalty and wild energy.
Mathias froze the moment he heard her voice from upstairs. Panic flickered across his face.
Without wasting a second, he rushed into the bathroom, turned on the shower, and began to bathe….fast, nervous, as if washing away his guilt could hide it.
There was something interesting about Mathias Monroe.
He was a strong man outside, feared by employees and respected by his circle, but when it comes to Cleo… he was weak.
He avoided confrontation like it was fire.
No one could tell if it was guilt or just his nature….but he always ran from her storms.
Cleo walked up the staircase, her heels clicking sharply against the floor. She looked every inch the queen she claimed to be ... .her red silk robe flowing behind her, her perfume filling the rooms with a commanding scent.
She opened the bedroom door and smiled.
"Oh, wow! Mathias Monroe is taking a bath," she teased, knocking on the glass wall of the shower.
Mathias sighed. He knew what was coming.
Cleo didn't hesitate. She untied her robe and let it slide down her body, stepping inside the shower with him.
The water ran over her smooth skin as she pressed herself against his back, her hands trailing down his chest, her voice turning into a seductive whisper.
"Miss me?"
Mathias tensed. He didn't answer.
Cleo wrapped her arms around him from behind, her fingers teasing, her lips brushing against his neck.
"Come on, baby," she whispered. "You've been lonely without me."
But Mathias didn't react. His body stayed still. The chemistry that once burned between them was gone….dead.
Cleo pulled back slightly, her expression hardening.
"What's wrong? You can't even get hard for your own wife now?"
Mathias closed his eyes, frustrated. "Cleo, please. I'm tired. I'm not in the mood."
Cleo stepped closer, her eyes narrowing.
"You're tired? You? The man who used to drag me out of bed just to prove a point? Don't lie to me, Mathias. I can smell the guilt on you."
"I'm not lying," he said, his tone low but defensive. "And I have no reason to cheat. You already feed me enough nagging to last a lifetime. Why would another woman even want me?"
He tried to make it sound like a joke, but it only made her angrier.
"Mathias," she said, her voice suddenly cold. "Look me in the eyes."
He turned reluctantly. Their gazes locked….hers fierce and burning, his restless and unsure.
"If I ever catch you cheating," she said slowly, "say goodbye to your mistress. Because it'll be a slow journey to hell."
She stepped back, grabbed her robe, and tied it tightly around her waist.
Then, without another word, she stormed out of the bathroom…her heels hitting the floor like gunshots.
Mathias exhaled deeply, leaning against the shower wall. His pulse raced, but not from desire…from fear.
He knew what Cleo was capable of when pushed too far.
She wasn't just jealous. She was dangerous.
---
A few minutes later, he walked out of the bathroom, half-dressed, trying to calm his thoughts. He was buttoning his shirt when his phone started ringing on the dresser.
Before he could reach it, Cleo snatched it first.
Her eyes darted to the screen. A smirk curved her lips.
"Well, well, well," she said. "Look who's calling our former house help,the fuckee is calling the fucker."
Mathias froze. "Cleo, give me the phone."
"Oh no," she said, her voice sharp with mock sweetness. "Go on. Pick it up. Let's both say hi."
"Cleo, don't…"
"Pick it, Mathias," she ordered, holding the phone out to him. Her eyes gleamed with dark amusement, but beneath it, rage boiled.
His hands trembled slightly as he took the phone.
"Hello?" he said quietly.
The old house help voice came through, nervous but bold. "Mr Mathias, I just wanted to confirm….should I still come tomorrow?"
Cleo leaned against the wall, her arms crossed, watching him like a hawk.
"Tell her to come," Cleo said sharply.
Mathias swallowed hard. "Uh, no…ok, you can come tomorrow. I….I'm around," he stammered.
"Tell her your wife is out of town," Cleo instructed again.
"Yes, she'll be out of town," Mathias repeated numbly.
"Now hang up," Cleo whispered dangerously close to his ear.
He did.
But before he could drop the phone, she stopped him. "No, not yet."
"What now?" he snapped, his patience thinning.
"Call your secretary," she said coldly. "Tell her to cancel all your meetings for tomorrow."
"What? Why?"
Cleo turned her head slowly, her voice dropping to a terrifying calm.
"If you raise your voice one more time, one of us will leave this house in a body bag."
Mathias froze. He believed her.
There was one thing certain about Cleo Monroe….she wasn't bluffing.
She'd endured humiliation, neglect, suspicion, and she was reaching her limit.
And when Cleo snapped… She didn't care who got hurt.
She leaned in close, her lips brushing his ear.
"Relax, Mathias," she whispered darkly. "We'll make it fun. We'll do a threesome."
Mathias blinked, his heart pounding. "What?"
Cleo laughed…low and dangerous. "You like threesomes, right? Or should I make it four? Maybe five?"
Her laughter filled the room like madness.
Mathias stood frozen. His breathing grew shallow, his hands trembling as he stared at her. He couldn't tell if she was joking…or losing her mind.
Cleo turned to the door and locked it. Slowly. The click echoed through the room.
She faced him again, her eyes gleaming with something between fury and thrill.
"This new phase of our marriage," she said with a smirk, "let's see who survives it."
Mathias swallowed hard, unable to speak. The air between them turned heavy, thick with danger and desire.
He'd played with fire for too long…and now, the fire had come home.
Cleo's phone buzzed on the bed.
She glanced at it…and a picture notification flashed on the screen.
It was from an unknown number.
The photo showed Mathias and the old house help,kissing.
Izzy was the one who sent the picture. Mathias had seen it on his phone the night they slept together, and he decided to forward it to Cloe…unaware that Cloe already knew about the affair. Izzy wanted to shift Cloe's suspicion toward Nat, the former cleaner.
When Cloe checked the picture, she smiled and said,
"Someone is playing the game without knowing the rules."
Her smile faded.
Her eyes darkened.
And the queen…is about to change the rules of the game.