As I step out of Colin’s office, I keep watching them… the way his hand lingers on her arm, the way his gaze softens, turns almost reverent. Devoted.
Barely two days ago, he was skin to skin with me, buried deep inside me, and the memory is still too close, too vivid. My body remembers before my mind has a chance to shut it down.
The door closes behind me, but her voice carries through. Soft, composed, almost regal. The sound of a perfectlittle housewife, chatting casually about lunch with a friend.
I sit at my desk, trembling. My hands shake so badly I can’t steady the mouse. The screen blinks—five minutes, then six—and my chest feels stretched tight, like it might split open.
He wouldn’t.
Would he?
Not in there. Not with her. Not while I’m just a door away.
This is our place.
Only ours.
She doesn’t have to do anything. She just exists—and he falls apart for her. Worships her.
Ten minutes later, she walks out smiling. Sweet. Soft. Oblivious. I return the smile, bitterness curling low in my gut. She has no idea what I take from her husband—and what I give him in return.
When she turns away, my eyes catch the diamond beside her wedding band. Pretty. Delicate. A statement.
I don’t let it get to me.
I’ll just make sure Colin ends his night in my bed.
Chapter 20
November
This is my home
Colin
I’m on my way back from Jonathan’s office when raised voices catch my attention, Maya and Margaret. Again. Ever since Margaret returned from medical leave last week, the tension between them has been constant. Their approaches couldn’t be more different, and Maya—competent as she is—has never been known for backing down.
By the time I reach them, Maya is explaining, with pointed firmness, that Margaret is still entering data through the old system. Less efficient. Obsolete. Margaret doesn’t budge, arms crossed, jaw set.
“I already told you,” she mutters, “I don’t need shortcuts.”
I step in before the situation escalates any further. “Margaret, I’ll need you to start using the new system Maya implemented while you were away. It’s important we stay aligned.”
The displeasure on her face is clear, but I don’t engage it. I’ve learned that dwelling on resistance only feeds it. Instead, I turn to Maya. “Join me in my office for a moment.”
Once the door closes behind us, I take my seat and fold my hands on the desk. “All right. Have you finalized the preparations for the ADVTECH Silicon Valley 2025 convention next week in San Jose?”
She nods immediately and opens the folder in her hands. “Yes. Everything’s set. The hotel is close to the convention center—not the official one. It’s quieter, with less congestion. You won’t have to worry about traffic.”
She slides the itinerary across my desk. Color-coded. Tabbed. Impeccable. I skim it quickly.
“Good,” I say. “That will make things easier.”
Margaret hadn’t voiced any objection to my decision to take Maya on this trip instead of her. And frankly, she had no grounds to. Maya’s performance has been consistent, her growth undeniable.
Maya is almost out the door when she hesitates and turns back. “I received an email from Mrs. Montgomery. She invited me to lunch this Sunday. Should I accept?”
I meet her eyes and answer evenly. “Of course. The entire team will be there. You played a role in the acquisition—it would be difficult to justify your absence. Or any attempt to excuse yourself.”
