Emily Thompson had always prioritized family values, but one day she fell in love with a married man, paying a heavy price for it. She sat at her desk, sorting through papers.
Her fingers deftly handled documents, but her thoughts were far from the task. The morning was calm, nothing hinted at trouble. The office smelled of coffee and fresh printer toner.
On the shelf behind her stood a photo of her favorite place, a lake in the mountains. She glanced at it and smiled faintly. Just finish this report, and she could take a break.
She muttered to herself, clicking the mouse on her screen. A soft knock came at the door, so faint Emily barely noticed.
The knock repeated, louder and more insistent. “Yes, come in!” she called, not looking up from her monitor. The door opened.
Heavy footsteps, slow and deliberate, impossible to ignore. High heels clicked on the floor, and with each sound, Emily’s heart beat faster. She looked up and saw a stranger.
In the doorway stood a woman, tall and poised, like she’d stepped off a fashion magazine cover. Her expensive suit fit perfectly, accentuating her flawless figure. Long blonde hair was neatly styled, her makeup impeccable down to the last detail.
Claire Bennett. The CEO’s wife. Claire’s gaze was sharp as a knife She entered the office slowly, scanning the room with a critical eye. A hint of disdain flickered across her face. “Hmph, what does he even see in you?” she sneered, her eyes narrowing like a predator’s.
Emily felt her legs weaken. She stood quickly, leaning on the desk to steady herself. “Who are you talking about?” Her voice trembled, like a leaf in the wind.
Claire stepped closer, her heels sounding like gunshots. “Don’t play dumb!” she scoffed, circling the desk to stand directly in front of Emily. “Are you my husband’s mistress?” “No, I…” Emily looked down, her hands shaking.
“Oh, of course, you won’t admit it!” Claire tilted her head, as if studying a curious insect. “I have sources who told me, and they’re rarely wrong…” “I don’t know what you’re talking about…” Emily’s voice grew quieter. “Don’t know?” Claire echoed, taking another step closer.
Her face was inches from Emily’s. “Say it again, that you don’t know. I won’t believe that nonsense anyway…” Her tone was venomous, her gaze piercing.
“Please…” Emily tried to step back but bumped into the desk. “I don’t have anything with your husband. I’m just an employee…” “Just an employee, huh?” Claire’s eyes glinted.
“Then why do you linger in his office after hours?” she added mockingly. “Or is that part of your job duties now?” “That’s not true!” Emily cried, her voice breaking, instantly fearing she’d revealed too much. “Don’t you dare raise your voice at me, girl!” Claire’s tone turned icy. “If I find out you’re still seeing him, I’ll crush you. Got it?”
Each word hit like a bullet. Emily froze, unable to respond. Her breathing grew heavy, her heart pounding.
“Got it?” Claire repeated, drilling her with a stare. “Yes…” Emily whispered, cold sweat trickling down her back. Claire smiled, a smile that promised nothing good “Good…” she nodded, turning and heading for the door without looking back. “I’ll be watching you. Remember that.” The click of her heels faded as the door closed.
Silence enveloped the office. Emily collapsed into her chair, covering her face with her hands. Her body trembled like a leaf, her thoughts racing like frightened birds.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. Anxiety and panic swelled within her. “Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!” she whispered, hiding her face.
She sank into her chair, her legs no longer supporting her. Her temples throbbed, her throat tightened as if a noose had been pulled taut. Everything that had happened minutes ago felt like a dream.
A heavy, unpleasant dream she couldn’t wake from. “She came here. She stood in this office. She threatened me…” Her breathing grew uneven. Her chest heaved.
With trembling fingers, she unbuttoned her shirt’s top button to breathe deeper, but it didn’t help. “Calm down. Everything’s fine. It’s under control…” she whispered, trying to quell the panic.
But it was a lie. Nothing was under control. “He’s married…” The realization tore her apart.
Her Matthew, the man she thought was her salvation, was married. The pain of betrayal spread through her like poison, tainting every thought. Then, a knock at the door.
Emily froze, her gaze darting to the entrance. “Who’s there?” she asked hoarsely, trying to sit up straight. The door cracked open, and there he was—Matthew.
His confident stride, slightly raised chin, and easy expression were painfully familiar. His tailored suit, perfectly pressed, underscored his status and self-assurance. “Emily, are you okay?” He looked at her with mild concern, then, without waiting for a reply, walked to a side table with a water pitcher.
He poured a glass and handed it to her. “Here, drink.” She stared at him but didn’t move. “Come on,” he said gently, holding the glass out.
She slowly took it and sipped, the cool water burning her throat. “I’m fine,” she said faintly, setting the glass on the desk. Her gaze dropped to hide the tears welling up.
Matthew frowned, leaning against the desk. “You sure? You look…” He studied her closely. “Like something happened.” Emily clenched her fingers to stop the trembling.
“It’s fine…” she forced out, avoiding his eyes. “Emily, I know you,” he said, leaning closer to meet her gaze. “Something’s wrong. Tell me.”
She looked up, their eyes locking. Her lips pressed into a thin line. “Matthew, are you married?” Her voice was soft, but each word cut the air like a blade.
His face froze. For a moment, shock flickered in his eyes, but he quickly composed himself. “Yes…” he said slowly, holding her gaze “But we’ve been living like roommates for years. You know, with my position, I can’t make rash moves…” “You lied to me?” Her voice was hollow, like the calm before a storm.
“Do you get that?” He stepped closer, his face twisting with regret. “Baby, I love you,” he said in a warm, velvety tone.
His eyes softened. “What we have is real.” She gasped, indignation rising. “Real?” Her voice jumped an octave.
“Matthew, your wife was here! In this office! She threatened me!” His eyes widened. “Claire was here?” He straightened, his gaze hardening. “Damn it!” “Yeah, and you call this real?” Pain and anger laced her voice.
“How could you?” Matthew stepped closer and pulled her into a tight embrace, pressing her against his chest. “I’m sorry, Emily! I’m sorry! Things will change, I promise!” His arms wrapped firmly around her. “I’ll divorce Claire! I’ve got it all planned!” “I need time,” she said, her voice muffled.
She felt his warmth, the scent of his expensive cologne. “I understand,” he said, cupping her face and looking into her eyes. “I won’t rush you.
Just don’t shut me out. I need you.” He leaned down and kissed her forehead, as he’d done so many times.
That touch used to soothe her. But not today. “I have a meeting in fifteen minutes,” he said, releasing her.
“But tonight, I want to talk. We’ll figure this out. I love you.” “Matthew,” she started, but he was already heading for the door.
“Get those deal documents ready, okay?” He flashed a smile over his shoulder. “You’re the best.” The door closed, leaving Emily alone in the silence. She sat at her desk, staring at her monitor.
As if nothing had happened. As if everything was back to normal. But it was a lie.
Her thoughts spiraled. “Get it together,” she told herself, grabbing the mouse and opening work files. “Just work.” But the text on the screen blurred.
Her gaze drifted aimlessly over numbers and charts. After a few minutes, unable to focus, she closed her eyes and rested her head on her hands. “How did I not see he was married?” Later, Emily methodically arranged documents on her desk.
Each paper in its place. Each file perfectly aligned. Work always helped her pull herself together, focus on something concrete “But we’ve been living like roommates for years. You know, with my position, I can’t make rash moves…” “You lied to me?” Her voice was hollow, like the calm before a storm.
“Do you get that?” He stepped closer, his face twisting with regret. “Baby, I love you,” he said in a warm, velvety tone.
His eyes softened. “What we have is real.” She gasped, indignation rising. “Real?” Her voice jumped an octave.
“Matthew, your wife was here! In this office! She threatened me!” His eyes widened. “Claire was here?” He straightened, his gaze hardening. “Damn it!” “Yeah, and you call this real?” Pain and anger laced her voice.
“How could you?” Matthew stepped closer and pulled her into a tight embrace, pressing her against his chest. “I’m sorry, Emily! I’m sorry! Things will change, I promise!” His arms wrapped firmly around her. “I’ll divorce Claire! I’ve got it all planned!” “I need time,” she said, her voice muffled.
She felt his warmth, the scent of his expensive cologne. “I understand,” he said, cupping her face and looking into her eyes. “I won’t rush you.
Just don’t shut me out. I need you.” He leaned down and kissed her forehead, as he’d done so many times.
That touch used to soothe her. But not today. “I have a meeting in fifteen minutes,” he said, releasing her.
“But tonight, I want to talk. We’ll figure this out. I love you.” “Matthew,” she started, but he was already heading for the door.
“Get those deal documents ready, okay?” He flashed a smile over his shoulder. “You’re the best.” The door closed, leaving Emily alone in the silence. She sat at her desk, staring at her monitor.
As if nothing had happened. As if everything was back to normal. But it was a lie.
Her thoughts spiraled. “Get it together,” she told herself, grabbing the mouse and opening work files. “Just work.” But the text on the screen blurred.
Her gaze drifted aimlessly over numbers and charts. After a few minutes, unable to focus, she closed her eyes and rested her head on her hands. “How did I not see he was married?” Later, Emily methodically arranged documents on her desk.
Each paper in its place. Each file perfectly aligned. Work always helped her pull herself together, focus on something concrete
