(Zane POV)
"Zane, there's someone out there for you." One of my co-workers hollered in the kitchen.
"I'll be right out!" I said before plating the last dessert. As soon as I finished, I folded my towel and headed for the door until I was grabbed by Gardenia.
"Zane, if you're going to have sex with Orville again, make sure it's not in the janitor's room anymore because Mr. Soren has been whining nonstop about his broken table, it's annoying already."
"Alright, I will take note of that." I laughed before going out of the kitchen. I went to the lobby to see if it's Orville but it's not. It's actually a woman. She has a blonde hair and a pretty face. She's wearing a slim fit black tank top with a monochromatic black and white vest over it. Her white skirt has fancy ruffles all over and she paired it with a black belt and stilettos. To top that off, she also decided to wear a white hat with black rose wrapped around it. I must say, she looks so stylish. She looks like she just came out of a chic fashion show.
"Zane? Are you Zane?" She asked while I just stood there and nodded my head.
"Come sit with me." She smiled.
I don't even know who this lady is but maybe, that's why she's here, so she can introduce herself properly and talk to me regarding what this meeting is about. I went and sat on the chair placed in front of her with a table in between the two of us.
"Do you want to order?" She asked politely.
"No, thank you, miss! And if you don't mind me asking, who are you? Have we met before?"
"No, we didn't but to answer your question, I'm Eloise, your lover's wife." She said but she didn't say it in an intimidating way. She said it in a very cautious and friendly approach.
"Oh…um!"
"Zane, it's okay, you don't have to pretend anymore. I'm not mad or anything. I just want to make something clear."
"No, I'm not trying to and yeah…Orville really does talk about you a lot but this is the first time I have actually seen you up close."
"How's Orville by the way?" She asked.
"He takes me out to different places and we have been…well…you know." I stuttered because I just couldn't tell her that her husband and I have been busy too much.
"It's okay, I know what you mean by that but…" Eloise stopped to shake her head as if she couldn't believe something like this is happening.
"But?" I asked.
"But you are so young, Zane!"
"Trust me, ma'am! I'm already of legal age. I just look way younger than I really am like Orville." I retorted.
"I just don't think it's right for Orville to be with you, especially because I am pregnant and he should be taking care of me." She had the nerve to say.
"But you were impregnated by another man so I can't understand why Orville should be taking care of you when it's supposed to be your other one." I took enough courage to say to her face.
"Orville told you that."
"He sure did and according to Orville, you also told him that it would be for the best if you both get a divorce already."
"What?" Eloise's face turned puzzled and confused.
"He said that you both talked about it already and you agreed to the divorce."
"Zane, I think my husband just lied to you." She said in a sympathetic tone, no malice whatsoever.
"We never talked about the divorce because we always prioritize our kids. Our kids can never recover from the trauma that a divorce will cause so there's no way that will happen."
"But he said you agreed!"
"Trust me, I didn't, Zane! You know what, you're so young and you're so naïve. I think you still have a lot to learn about this evil world we are living in. I am pregnant and I know that it isn't Orville's child but he still will be the one responsible because we're still married. Plus, he shouldn't act like he's Mr. Perfect because he also slept with so many women before you and it's to retaliate against me so I'm not the only monster in this relationship."
"What did you say?" I asked in a mortified tone.
"You don't know? That he slept with so many women before and it is all just because he wants to get revenge against me for cheating on him first. He even said to me once, 'I pretend, I play dumb and I play dirty'. I don't know if he just used you to retaliate or not but I just want to say if you can please let him go already. He has a family that needs him. He has kids that need him the most."
Everything then connected. When we were in the bath tub and Orville took so long to answer my question about whether or not he talked to Eloise about the divorce and he said yes, his phone conversation with Harold, everything made sense now.
As much as I kept telling myself that she's just lying, as much as I kept telling myself to not give her the satisfaction of me crying, as much as I kept telling myself to hold back those tears and as much as I kept telling myself that Orville loves me, it did not help, even a slight bit. It is what it is, the truth hurts. Accept it. She has known Orville for a longer time than I did and I have just known him for like…weeks. I am so stupid to even trust him and believe everything he says.
Tears began flowing as I just realized that everything might be a lie. Maybe he never cared about me, maybe Eloise is right. All these butterflies, these heart-warming sensations I felt towards him, maybe it was all non-existent for him.
"Zane, I'm sorry if I'm too frank and on behalf of what my husband did, I truly apologize. You're still young and there are plenty of fishes in the sea. You can still find someone out there. Maybe even more handsome than Orville, who knows?" Eloise said as she held my hand tightly.
"I get it, we're both victims here. I'm sorry for my rudeness earlier. You can have Orville back." I said, wiping my tears and standing up to walk away.
"Zane, will you be okay?" She asked, obviously concerned. I cannot sense any element of maliciousness from her which I truly appreciated and also for her boldness to spill the truth to my face…that Orville is a cheating and lying bastard.
--
(Orville POV)
I heard the door open. Zane finally arrived and he will love the dessert I made for him, for sure.
"Hey…" I said as I froze, seeing his eyes red from crying. He is glaring daggers at me. Is there something I did?
"Zane, what's wrong?" I asked.
"You! You're what's wrong, you fucking liar!"
"What did I do?"
"Thank God, your wife came to me and told me everything about you. You're a fraud and you're a scumbag."
I was livid at Eloise for what she did but right now, I have to listen to Zane and what my good for nothing wife said to him.
"Zane, what did she say?"
"She just said that we are all living in an evil world, full of wicked people like you. Using me and so many women as a way to get revenge against your wife and to retaliate, are you fucking serious? How immature and cruel can you be? She also fucking said that there is no divorce agreement so you fully lied to my face. That's why it took you so long to answer, that's why you mentioned something about retaliation during your phone conversation with Harold because that's what you are. You are a petty husband who wants to retaliate by fooling everyone around you!!!" Zane was fuming with anger and I feel my heart breaking.
"Zane, calm down!"
"Orville…I think the biggest favor you can do for me right now is to say that your wife is lying. Is she lying?" He said and I just looked down.
"Orville, don't fucking look down and look at me. Is it true or is she lying?" He said with tears flowing already.
"Zane…let me explain."
"Orville!!!" He said my name before crumbling and turning into a sobbing mess. I pulled him into my arms to give him comfort and warmth because I know he loves that but he is too heartbroken right now.
"You know what? Just go back to your family. Eloise is right. This is wrong. I don't even know why I did this with you." He said and at that moment, I felt like my world stopped when Zane said those stinging words.
He pushed me before going for the door but I ran to him and hugged him from behind, trying my best to not let him go.
"Orville stop it!" He cried even more but I didn't move or let go. He forcibly turned around to face me before saying something.
"It's over. Your game is over. I'm sorry, I didn't know this was just a game to you." He said, finally breaking free of my grasp. He was walking away but I caught his wrist which made him slap me hard across my face.
We were both shocked after that and there was silence for about a minute before Zane decided to leave his last words.
"I'm sorry I fell in love with you, big mistake." He exited the door and I am in so much pain. I have never felt this dejected before that I couldn't even run after him.
Maybe I deserve it for all my past actions, for retaliating against Eloise, for lying to Zane, for not being honest with him, for everything.
I'm sorry Zane. I…I love you.