Too Late, Valera
The remote flew to the television as I turned it off. The cracks on the screen spread like a spiderweb. I sighed heavily, sick of what's on the news. It has been a week, and yes Lorenz saved my name from its total ruin.
But the news broadcasting my canceled projects, brand deals, and partnership boils my blood. I get it! I am ruined. I barely have a project to work on right now. My fingers brushed the waves of hair covering my face.
"You know, it's good that you're laying low," I heard Ella as she picked up the remote. Her lips pursed seeing the broken screen of the television.
I scoffed.
"Nothing is good right now especially when we lost half of my projects."
"Time passes and the public will forget. Don't worry, you'll be back on top in a few months."
I've been stuck inside this dreaded mansion. Making the public believe that Lorenz and I are fine is painstaking. Faking and lying is what I'm good at but this arrangement with Lorenz is bothering me.
I've been staying here for a week and not once have I seen Lorenz come back after work. His whereabouts? I don't have a clue. If Ella weren't here, I'd be crazy being alone.
"You know there's nothing wrong with asking where your husband is," she stared at me anticipating a question from me. I just rolled my eyes.
"I don't bother looking for someone who doesn't even want to see me."
She gave me a brown envelope. I eyed it intently, sitting on my lap. I looked back at her and she shrugged at me. My brows raised, urging her to spill the purpose of the envelope.
She sighed, "It's not like I never heard your rants in the kitchen while you're drunk."
My head lowered as I got what her point meant. For the past week, I have indulged myself with martinis and bottles of champagne, getting drunk. But I guess, she heard all my rants about Lorenz and his woman- his secretary.
"Please, I don't need this," I denied.
"Trust me, you do," she gestured to open the envelope.
With a huff, I picked up the envelope. My eyes went back to Ella.
"This better be worth it," I opened the envelope and saw several pictures of Lorenzo and… his secretary. Great! But I had to swallow my pride because of my curiosity.
Two pictures were Lorenz picked her up from her apartment complex. I rolled my eyes. Five photos were them having a date at some five star hotel and restaurant Lorenz never took me. I bit the insides of my cheek. Despite my breathing getting heavy, I continued to look at the remaining photos.
My shoulders dropped. Two photos of them kissing passionately. Another photo embracing each other. I only stopped from turning from one photo to another when I saw them enter and exit a hotel. My hands, barely stable, took one paper that peeked with the secretary's photo on it.
It's her biodata. Alyssa McGray. 23. Ordinary parents, teachers. No siblings. A fresh graduate with latin honors. Now, his secretary. I saw the line of credentials and achievements, I had to drop the envelope.
"Thanks for making me feel so much better, Ella," I dropped on the couch. Defeat. That's what I felt. I thought I have buried my feelings for him a long time ago. For years, I believed that I'd be fine if he loved someone else.
Did he feel the same way when I went out with several men? When I did, he never really cared. Never batted an eye at my dirty deeds. This is my karma. I pursed my lips and slumped more.
"You need some reality check, Val," she sat beside me.
"That I lost?"
"No. That you're a bitch and a wife. You have every right to be against what you saw."
"I've been cheating on him for our whole marriage. What right do I have right now? Who am I to go against his happiness?"
Ella and I grew silent. My arms hugged my bent knees tighter with each second. No one said a word for a while until we heard a car arriving at the entrance gate. Ella and I looked at each other at the same time like we had the same thought in mind.
"He's home?" I asked.
"I think that's the sound of his car."
I jumped from my seat and went straight to the window. When I saw his black Aventador, I froze. He's here! After a week, he's here! Finally!
"You had a reason for your actions," I heard Ella, also peeking out the window.
"You cannot justify cheating, Ella."
"But you can change. I know you can change. For you and him. For the sake of your marriage."
I exited my room and headed out. Since we got married, Lorenz liked to stay in his office all the time, barely spending time with me. He usually comes back home at midnight and goes to work before dawn breaks.
He came home. And it's one in the afternoon! Excitement flowed in my veins. I've done a lot of actions that are unforgivable but I'm willing to change things. No matter what. I will save this marriage.
I was about to open the door at the entrance when it opened first before I could touch the door. My jaw dropped revealing who stepped inside of this mansion. She had the same expression as mine. I eyed her intently, from head to toe.
"Miss Valera," she smiled like she won a contest. My blood boiled.
"Mrs. Huxley," my voice is firm as I corrected. I watched her as her smile faded with every second.
"Uh…" she must have been lost for words.
"So, now the secretary visits the home of the boss."
She cleared her throat and took steps forward as she closed the door.
"I am here to assists Mr. Huxley."
I bit the insides of my cheeks. She's indeed a beauty. Young and proud. Her sleek brown hair complimented her tan skin. She's the same height as me. She must've modeled considering her body proportions and features.
Her green eyes, almost like Lorenz would be a perfect match with him. Her curtain bangs fell effortlessly on the sides of her face. Jealousy sparked in me. Lorenz chose a beautiful woman. Younger. Accomplished.
"I'm sure you've done a lot for my husband."
"I am always beside Mr. Huxley to help him," even if we were the same height, somehow she felt taller, like a winner talking down to the loser.
I swallowed hard.
"Help him? Like stealing him from his wife?" I snapped.
Her expression blanked when I finally mentioned the elephant in the room. Finally, I can read her now.
"Well, stealing him was easy. Especially if he really wants me… more than his cheating wife."
I gritted my teeth. "I've done things in our marriage. Who are you to judge? You're not a part of our marriage."
"I'm not judging you. It's the truth. And Lorenz deserves someone who will love him truly. Not someone like you."
"I am still his wife," it's the only reason I have.
"Not for long. He's filing for a divorce, right? You'll be out of his life."
My lips curved in a sly motion. "Not if I get rid of you first."
The corner of her lips rose. My heart skipped beats, feeling the intensity to see her confidence overflowing. She took steps forward, closing the gap between us. Her head leaned beside mine. I felt her breath just near my ears.
"You're too late. He already owns me. And I own him. We've claimed each other. Multiple times. On bed. At the office. In the car. Hotel. Restaurants. I can't name all of it. Do you know how passionate he is with everything he does? Not just his work, but with me," she whispered like a devil.
She took a step back and her eyes returned to mine, bloodshot. My hands turned to fists, ready to punch this woman. I swallowed hard not trying to give in from slapping her disgusting face.
"Too bad, you don't know how it feels. He hasn't touch you–"
Before she could finish her sentence, my hand flew to her face. The sound echoed throughout the room. The force was so strong that she fell to the floor. Her hand covered her cheek. There must be a mark of my palm by on it by now. A tear was threatening to fall but it stopped when I heard Lorenz's voice echo.
"Valera! Get away from her!"
I turned around and saw Lorenz fuming mad, eyes not on me. But on Alyssa, on the floor. He went to save her. When he saw her red cheek, that was when he looked at me.
"Seriously?! Is this how you want things to go?! You haven't changed a bit! What do I expect from you?" his hands gripped on my shoulders, so tight that I winced from the pain.
When he released me from his hold, he went back to Alyssa. He helped her stand up. He swooped her on his arms, bride style. It's a sore in the eyes looking at them. He placed her inside his car.
As he closed the car door, he went back to me. But with his eyes full of anger, fists turning red, and just hatred at me.
"Can you not do this to her?" he's calmer now but just loath in his eyes
"What do you want me to do? Pretend like you don't have a mistress?!" I bursted.
He scoffed, mocking me with my words.
"C'mon, let's not pretend like you're innocent."
"Do you really love her that much?" He's a man of principle and justice. I know keeping a mistress is not him. But for him to go against what he believes, he must love her.
"She's not like you," his voice hoarse.
I nodded.
"I can change, Lorenz. Please… let's fix this," my hand caressed his fisted palm. But he only took his hand from me the moment I touched it, like I'm some insect. I watched him go back to his car. Leaving me. Like he always does.