(02
her
“Your rich boyfriend, huh?” I asked.
Hailey looked shocked to see me as she stood up and turned off her phone, pasting a fake smile on her face.
“Hello, Mrs. Reeds, what are you doing here?” she asked nervously
I scoffed, “This is my husband’s office, I should be asking you that.”
“Uh… he’s at a meeting. Please don’t tell him I was sitting here,” she pleaded.
“Stop playing games with me, Hailey, I know you’re fucking my husband,” I snapped, tossing the lingerie toward
The vulnerable facade she had earlier slipped from her face as a coy smile formed on her lips.
“Oops,” she giggled as she picked up the lingerie, “Busted.”
I was surprised by her nonchalant attitude, “Aren’t you ashamed that you’re sleeping with my husband?”
She flashed her bracelet at me and shrugged, “Nope, why should I be? You’re the one who should be ashamed he’s cheating on you.”
I reacted before I could think and my palm landed across her cheeks as I stared at her harshly.
“You vile creature, you will regret ever speaking to me in that tone,” I threatened.
Hailey’s eyes flashed with hatred as she glared at me, “No, Ciara, you’re the one who would regret laying your filthy hands on me.”
I was surprised to see that there was no remorse in her eyes when suddenly she threw herself to the floor and clutched her cheeks as she cried out in pain.
“No, Mrs. Reeds, please, I’m sorry. I didn’t ask for this, you’re misunderstanding,” she cried.
I scoffed, oblivious to her schemes, “Okay, now you’re asking for mercy?”
It was when I saw the small coy smile playing on her lips that I realized it was all an act. Just then the door opened and Tony burst into the office, his face filled with fury.
“What nonsense is this?” he yelled at me, “Why are you here, Clara?”
I scoffed as I watched him help Hailey stand up. He checked her cheeks that had my palm print on them.
“What? Here to defend your mistress?” I hissed at him.
6
“I’m sorry, sir, your wife seems to be misunderstanding the gift you got me. Please, don’t blame her, it’s not her fault,” Hailey said pitifully.
“Wow, you deserve an Oscar!” I snapped at her.
“Get out!” Tony said to me.
I was momentarily shocked as I stared at him my eyes widening in surprise.
“Wh…what?” I stuttered.
“Get out of my office, Ciara, and never come to my workplace to create such a scene,” he snapped.
I
*But I saw her –“My words were cut short when I felt a sharp sting across my face only to realize Tony had just slapped me.
“I am your husband and you will obey me. GET OUT!” he yelled.
I touched my cheeks as my eyes stung with tears while Hailey gave me a smug smile as I stumbled out of his office, my body frozen with shock
Tony, who had never let me get hurt before, had just slapped me for another woman. The realization was like a bitter pill to swallow as I drove to the cemetery where the burial was supposed to be held.
I tried not to think of the incident and focus on comforting the man’s wife but it became worse when Tony arrived with Hailey and they stood beside me trying to mirror the image of a perfect couple with me as their secretary.
Just as the service was concluded and the coffin was lowered into the ground, the woman burst into tears. I was certain she was mourning a love that had ended abruptly.
Even though my husband wasn’t dead I knew how she felt because, for the past two years, it felt like my husband
was dead.
That was when we heard the screeching of tires as about ten SUVs surrounded the cemetery. Before I knew it the sound of gunshots filled the air as people screamed and scrambled away while I watched as Tony dived down with Hailey shielding her with his body and I stood frozen with shock.
There was danger and my husband instead of protecting me had left me for the wolves while he protected his
mistress.
“Get down!” an unfamiliar voice yelled.
The words barely registered before I felt a sharp pain as someone tackled me to the ground and I lost track of time as my eyes suddenly grew heavy.
“Stay with me!” I heard an unfamiliar voice but it sounded so distant.
Then I slowly closed my eyes and gave in to the darkness.
