Ruth was teetering on the brink of depression, exacerbated by the fact that, like Alicia, she was also jobless. When she had first confided in her friend Alicia about her office romance with her boss, Alicia had expressed grave concerns. When they eventually met, Ruth had defended her relationship.
"I love Mark, and I'm sure he loves me too. Why don't you chill out and let me give him a chance?" she had asked Alicia, who couldn't fathom the idea of mixing work with romance. To complicate matters, their relationship had been kept discreet, away from public scrutiny and gossip—though few people seemed to care about Ruth. Mark, however, was another story; he was well-regarded.
For a year, she had felt like she was living her best life, dating her boss who was thirty-nine at the time while she was twenty-eight and eager to settle down. Mark had repeatedly assured her that their relationship was heading towards marriage. Now twenty-nine and single, Ruth was heartbroken. She had quit her job and nearly spiraled into hysteria when she discovered that Mark, her boss, was actually a family man who shielded his private life from the media and public eye.
After a year, she had started to investigate him, hoping to marry him, since he had never been in the papers for anything other than business. Her initial searches yielded little information, but she eventually found references suggesting he was married. Horrified, she called in sick the next day and locked herself in her room, scouring the internet for details about Mark.
She discovered he was married with two children to a Japanese woman, though their names were withheld. Sources indicated his family lived in New York—the same city where he worked and dated her.
The tension was unbearable. She had centered her life around the relationship, convinced marriage was imminent. Marriage was crucial to her, a dream she had held since youth. With tears streaming down her face, she tried calling Alicia, hands trembling as she awaited a response. Alicia didn't answer, likely busy at work. When Alicia finally called back, Ruth was still shaking.
She picked up the receiver, holding the cord in her left hand, lips trembling, trying to steady herself.
"What's wrong?" Alicia asked as soon as she picked up the phone, hearing Ruth's sniffling, which immediately worried her.
"Alicia... I'm sorry I didn't listen to you. Mark isn't single!" Ruth blurted out, her voice breaking as she started crying. Alicia had always harbored doubts about Ruth's relationship with Mark, but she never explicitly voiced them, which led Ruth to dismiss her concerns as paranoia.
"He's married?"
"Yes."
"How did you not know? How did you find out now?" Alicia inquired.
"I googled it, and there it was. I'm so disappointed in myself for trusting him blindly. I've messed up big time, Alicia, and I feel like I could just drop dead," Ruth sobbed loudly, disturbing her neighbors with her sniffles.
"Don't think like that, Ruth. You need to confront him and hear his side," Alicia advised, trying to comfort her friend.
Ruth took Alicia's advice. She had spent the previous night crying and writing on paper after paper, ultimately drafting her resignation letter. As she entered his office that morning, Mark could see from her eyes that she had discovered something about him. He didn't look like he was going to apologize for whatever she had found out; he seemed prepared for whatever bombshell she had brought.
He flashed her a smile, but she didn't return it. He waited.
"You never told me you were married, Mark," Ruth stated bluntly, showing no interest in small talk.
"Well, are you asking or telling me?" he replied coolly. Mark was never one to apologize, regardless of how wrong he might be. After all, he was the boss.
Ruth looked at him then, feeling a surge of self-hatred for ever considering marrying a man like him.
"You're married, Mark. Why did you lead me on about marrying me? Why did you lie to me?" she demanded.
"I know this building is soundproof, but I would appreciate it if you kept your voice down," Mark interjected firmly.
"Mark!"
"Don't shout. Whatever you've found out about me on your own, I have no intention of disputing," he said flatly. Ruth realized then that he had never cared for her; he had used her and never valued her. She loathed how she had been used and discarded once again. As she threw her resignation letter in his face and ran to her car, crying, she vowed to stay single. Marriage was out of the question for her, and she swore never to fall in love again. Tears clouded her vision as she pulled over to cry her heart out.
Later that day, Alicia tried to cheer her up over the phone, but Ruth remained inconsolable. Now, as she pulled into the Waffle House where she was meeting Alicia, she tried to reassure herself that she would be okay. She had applied for a few jobs abroad and hoped to secure one soon.
Alicia was visibly nervous, tapping anxiously on the table. When Ruth approached her, Alicia's face visibly relaxed with relief.
"Hey, Ruth. I wanted to meet you here now because I have to start my shift at Ford's in an hour."
Ruth nodded and pulled a chair for herself. She looked disheveled. The lines and shadows under her eyes, a result of insomnia, were impossible to conceal, even in the dim light of the evening.
"Okay... why are you so fidgety?" Ruth asked, unable to ignore her friend's restlessness.
"I didn't want to talk about this over the phone, so I decided to meet you here. I'm facing eviction from my apartment in the next five days because I can't come up with the rent. I spoke with my boss, Ford, but he's on the brink of bankruptcy and can't spare anything. He's even trying to get a loan himself. I need the rent from you, and I'll pay you back as soon as I can get the money," Alicia explained, her voice tinged with anxiety. Ruth looked on the verge of tears, her lips trembling.
"What's wrong, Ruth? Are you okay?" Alicia asked, concerned that Ruth might still be overwhelmed by grief from her heartbreak with Mark.
"I don't have money to give you. I've spent my savings and now I'm searching for a new job, Alicia. You can move in with me until you can find another apartment," Ruth offered, her eyes moistening as she wiped at them occasionally.
"Don't worry, I'll figure something out. I can't impose on you, Ruth. I have my siblings with me," Alicia replied.
"I understand. We could manage for a while, and then we'll find a way for you to get another apartment."
"Finding an apartment in this part of New York is incredibly difficult, and that's why I don't want to be evicted. I'll find a solution. Thank you for your concern," Alicia said, standing up.
"I have to be at Ford's in a few minutes. See you another time," she added.
Ruth nodded. Since Alicia had started working at Ford's, she had stopped using her truck. Tony often used the truck for aimless outings, and she hadn't bothered to retrieve her keys from him, planning to do so only when necessary. As she watched Alicia walk towards her truck, she realized their paths diverged, so she hailed a taxi and left. Soon, she arrived at Ford's.
****
Mac was growing weary of flying into America every few weeks to see Antonia Flemming. Just days ago, he had been in France for business, and now, he was in America dealing with the spoiled brat his parents had matched him with. Few things annoyed him more than his parents' constant interference in his life, always trying to dictate what they thought was best for him. Despite repeatedly asserting his independence, they continued to pester him relentlessly.
Born into wealth, Mac had enjoyed the privileges of a rich upbringing. His father, an Italian who operated as an international olive oil exporter based in Greece, provided the best education and world tours for Mac and his sister, Olives. His sister had been married off to an English nobleman three years ago, leaving Mac to excel in managing the family business. Under his leadership, their profits tripled, impressing his retired father who had handed over the reins.
However, his father's meddling extended to arranging a match with Antonia, the daughter of a family ally. Antonia had shown as little interest in the match as Mac did. He found her artificial appearance off-putting—fake lashes, overly long nails, and a brazen demeanor that openly flirted with attractive men.
Their forced interactions, like the one at the fancy restaurant where they sat silently eating and drinking, only emphasized their mutual disdain. According to their parents, they were supposed to be courting each other, leading inevitably to marriage. Mac knew he could back out anytime without consequence, but he felt a curious urge to see how things would unfold with Antonia. Perhaps it was a desire to placate his parents, despite knowing their disappointment would not affect him.
Lost in thought, Mac realized he had been staring at Antonia for too long when she abruptly looked up from her phone.
"You're staring at me!" she snapped through gritted teeth.
Shaking his head, Mac replied coolly, "There's nothing about you worth staring at, miss. My mind wandered, and my eyes wandered with it."
She started to retort but then restrained herself, forcing a tight smile. Mac's words had clearly struck a nerve, and he knew it.
"Keep your wandering eyes off me. Play with your phone if you're as bored as I am," she muttered.
Sighing inwardly, Mac wondered how long this charade would continue.