Fated

I sat down, trying to drown myself in the paperwork that lay before me, but the uncertainty in my body remained, and a taut string was ready to snap. The thrill of last night mingled with the bitter taste of reality left me restless. I had given him everything, yet here I was… Just another face in the crowd.

As the afternoon sun shone through the office windows, I made a resolution to confront my emotions. I picked up my phone, and my fingers hovered over his number. It felt like a dangerous temptation, one I knew I had to resist. Reaching out would only deepen my wounds, reminding me of the abyss that lay between us.

But the urge gnawed at me, a reminder of the intimacy we had shared. My mind drifted to the time I caught sight of him through the glass walls of his office, a figure of power and control, oblivious to the turmoil fuming within me. He looked commanding as he spoke to his assistant, making decisions that shaped lives, yet he held my heart in a precarious balance. The injustice of it all provoked my stomach.

Suddenly, a knock on the door broke my reverie. It was Caroline, my closest colleague and confidante. She could read my face like a book, and the concern on her face was obvious.

“Are you okay?” she asked, stepping inside.

I forced a smile.

“Just busy.”

But she wasn’t deceived.

“You’re not fooling anyone. What’s going on?”

I hesitated, weighing my options. I could keep my secret locked away, but the consequence was becoming far too unbearable for me.

“It’s him,” I admitted. “Last night… it changed everything.”

“Is he still treating you like the other woman?”

I nodded, the pain flaring up anew.

“He wants me to wait while he plays house with his wife.”

“And are you willing to do that?” she probed.

“I don’t know,” I confessed, tears prickling my eyes. “But I can’t just turn off my feelings like a light switch.”

She stepped closer.

“You deserve more than being a secret. You deserve to be somebody’s first choice, not a backup plan.”

Her words sounded like a siren’s call, resonating deep within me. Perhaps it was time to confront my worth. I had let him entangle his way into my heart, but I didn’t have to remain in the dark. I could fight for my place. For my happiness.

As the clock ticked down to the end of the day, a spark ignited within me. I might have surrendered a large part of myself to him, but I was still whole. I could take back my power. It was time to make a choice, not just for him, but for myself…

The days passed quickly, and I was uncertain about what to expect. It had been a week since his trip, and I hadn't heard from him. He also hadn’t shown up at the office, which was concerning to me. Finally, I made the decision to reach out.

Phone ringing…

“Hello, who’s this?”

Shit! His wife picked up…