Chapter 13
Chapter 11
Colettes voice trembled with raw emotion as she faced Matt. She wants you, Mast And I don’t believe you’re completely blind to her feelings!” Her eyes hore into his, searching for any sign of remorse or guilt. She saw a faint flush spread across his cheeks–a silent confirmation. “You’re too sharp not to have noticed how she feels about you. Yet here you are, fighting with me to keep her by your side. Do you enjoy it, Matt? Do you enjoy having ben women fight over you? Does it give you an ero boost?”
Matta silence was deafening, but Colette pressed on. “Answer me!”
“That’s not true!” Matt finally broke his silence, his voice hoarse and strained. He met her fiery gaze, realizing he needed to change his approach if he had any hope of reaching her. “Maybe I was aware of tris’s feelings. I knew she had a little crush on me. She asked me out for coffee twice when she first started working for me.” He paused, his eyes pleading with Colette to understand. “But I shot her down both times and made sure she knew there could never be anything between us but a professional relationship. And that was nine years ago! She has never done anything like that since. She works hard for my company—” His words were abruptly cut off by Zoe’s sarcastic laughter echoing from the bedroom.
“And I swear, I have never slept with her. Matt’s voice softened, almost pleading. Zoe’s snoot of disbelief from behind the closed door cut through the tension. Colette stood there, torn between wanting to believe him and the nagging doubts that grawed at her heart. Maybe he hadn’t physically cheated, but there were worse kinds of infidelity than sex. Matt was undeniably closer to his secretary emotionally than he was to her, and to Colette, that was a betrayal.
As the realization settled over her, a surge of determination replaced her despair. If Matt couldn’t understand the pain of emotional betrayal, then maybe he needed a taste of his own medicine. She straightened her back, her resolve hardening. Maybe it’s time for you to see what it feels like, Matt,” she thought, plan forming in her end:
Colette’s voice was a mixture of anger
Iris has never been anything but professional to you? Does that mean she has never said anything about me? Never unintentionally hinted at how stupid amor what an attention–seeking child you married?” She watched as Matt’s face tumed a deeper shade of red, confirming her worst fears. His guilt was evident. He opened his mouth to defend himself, but Colette cut him off, her patience worn thin. “No, Matt That’s enough! Come back to me when you’ve gotten rid of your ice–cold bitch secretary, and not a second before.”
The room fell silent, the tension thick and oppressive. They stood facing each other like adversaries about to duel. Colette’s heart pounded, each beat echoing the hurt and betrayal she felt.
After a long, tense silence, Matt’s eyes tumed dark and emotionless, filled with empty aggression. “And what if I refuse to dance to your tune? And don’t giv in to your madness of blackmail?” His words were like daggers, each one piercing Colette’s heart. She recoilled internally at the word “blackmail,” knowing she wasn’t trying to manipulate him. She was simply at her wits end.
“You mean, if you keep your secretary?” Colette’s voice was steady but filled with surrow “Then I wish you a happy life with her. Just send me the divorce papers when you make your decision.” The words were like poison on her tongue, each one painful to utter. But she stood her ground, determined to protect herself from further emotional harm.
Matt’s eyes flared with a mix of bitterness and anger. The tension in the room was palpable, an invisible force pressing down on both of them. He turned abruptly, storming out of the flat and slamming the door behind him. The sound echoed through the apartment, a final punctuation to their heated exchange.
As the door closed, Colette felt the weight of the confrontation settle over her. The pain was beyond anything she had imagined. Her legs gave way, and she sank to the floor, broken sobs wracking her body. The enormity of what had just happened crashed down on her like a tidal wave. She had given Matt an ultimatum, and now she had to face the reality of what that might mean.
The week passed in a blur, a haze of dark, depressing clouds that seemed permanently settled over Colette’s head. She spent her days toiling away in the city, moving from one place to another in a desperate search for a job. Each evening, she returned to her friend’s flat, and the façade of strength she wore all day crumbled. She cried into her pillow, mourning the man who had made his choice. Matt hadn’t called, nor had he tried to see her again. His silence was a loud declaration of his decision. He had chosen Iris.
Every morning, Colette told herself that it didn’t matter, that life must go on. But as night fell, doubts and fears consumed her. She tortured herself with thoughts of Matt, wondering if tonight he had finally taken that other woman to bed. The scene played out vividly in her mind. Matt’s naked body entwined with the pale, slender form of another woman. She twisted and turned in her narrow single bed, the sheets tangled around her legs, before finally crying herself to sleep.
She thed her best to stay away from her friend’s flat for as long as possible each day. Searching for jobs was a convenient excuse to avoid the place that had become her torture chamber. The bed reminded her of Matt, and she couldn’t escape the images of what he might be doing in their bed–whether alune ar
with someone else.
She didn’t need to wonder for long. Fate intervened in a way she never anticipated. That week, the landed a job as a waitress at Dupree’s, an upscale
nt in the middle of the city, bustling with rich patrons passing through its revolving duor every other minute. The manager was a good friend of Zue’s and agreed to take her on a staff, despite her lack of experience. Colette had never wasted tables before, but she was determined to prove herself.
Monday marked Colette’s first day at Dupree’s, and she was eager to make a good impression. The restaurant huzzed with activity, a symphony of clinking classes, sizzling pans, and lively chatter. The stall was welcoming and supportive, each person playing a crucial role in the seamless operation of the
Stacy, a
a towering figure at six feet with vibrant chewing gum pink hair, was the first to greet Colette. Despite her striking appearance. Stay had a warm infectious energy that pub Colette at ease. “Welcome to the team,” she said with a broad smile, banding Colette an aerin. “Stick with me today, and you fi de
Ive, who worked the till a petite woman with a sharp wit and a quick smile: She pave
ve Colette a resting nod. “If you need anything, just haller.” said, her Engers fiving over the register as she handled a customer bill.
The morning passed in a blur of actrity. Colette shadowed Stacy, learning the ropes of waitressing: balancing trays, raking ordam, and navigating the buy dining floor. The afternoon rush had sost ended, and the restaurant staff was enroving a brief full when a group of black–tie busineuman walked
Their polished leather shoes and the expensive scent of their cologne signaled that they were high–end clients. Stacy, ever the professional Ens to take their order She returned to the counter, visibly bristling.
“All cars, Stace?” Eve asked, noting her friend’s flushed for
“Yes, last that female blonde per among those men irritated the hell outta mer stacy shrugged, passing the order in the chefs.
what did she save pressed.
“She asked how the manager allows me to have pink hair while working in a place like Dupree’s,” Stacy replied, rolling her avans,
What a bitch” Evse noted, and Colette, though listening, silently agreed.
approached them
The order was large and extravagant barbecued lamb, grilled wood salad, chicken parmigiana, lamingtons, and their best dish, the Barramundi Colette ambted Stacy in taking the food and drinks to the table.
y approached, Colette’s heart sank. There, in the center of the group, was Matt, miling and nodding an Iris, seated beside him, made an elaborate Explay of net business acumen, dacussing stock market anecdotes with the men around her.
Chapter Comments
