Liam
That late afternoon, as I walked down the hotel hallway, I noticed Vanessa waiting by the elevator. It seemed we both had the same idea, but whoever was inside the elevator was taking their sweet time. My heart leaped at the sight of her, and before I could think twice, I crossed the space between us and pulled her into a tight hug.
"I won!" I exclaimed, the words tumbling out in a rush. "I won, Vanessa! I'm still the CEO!"
Pulling back, I beamed at her, my heart pounding a victory march against my ribs. "And it's thanks to you," I added, sincerity lacing my voice. "Your advice about bringing Mom on board – it was brilliant."
Vanessa's face lit up with happiness for me, but I could see a flicker of discomfort in her eyes. Her glance darted towards the hallway, then back to me. Slowly, the realization dawned on me – this hallway wasn't exactly a private corner. I realized then how it must look to anyone passing by: me, married to Karen, hugging Vanessa, who was still Richard's girlfriend.
I stepped back, my excitement fading into embarrassment. "I'm sorry for doing that. I can't explain why I did it. I just wanted to hold you close and tell you the good news."
Vanessa smiled softly. "I understand. I'm also partly to blame here. I didn't stop you from hugging me. I kind of let it happen. Anyway, congratulations."
The air crackled with unspoken tension, my gaze lingering on her lips a beat too long. The urge to lean in, to bridge the space between us, was a powerful one. But I wrestled it down, the weight of reality crashing back. Vanessa was Richard's girlfriend, and I was still very much married to Karen.
"Thank you," I breathed, my voice low. The simple word held a multitude of meanings – gratitude, appreciation, a yearning I couldn't quite define.
We stood there in the hallway, an electric tension between us, until I saw Karen approaching. The spell broke, and I snapped back to reality. Karen's expression was unreadable as she neared us.
Awkwardness descended like a shroud. "Vanessa, right?" Karen greeted her, her voice laced with a cool politeness.
"Yes, Karen," Vanessa replied, a hint of apprehension in her tone. "It's nice to finally meet you. But I should really get back to work. Maybe I'll take the stairs instead, I can't wait for this elevator anymore."
With a hasty excuse, Vanessa melted away, leaving Karen and me alone in the hallway.
"So, what were you two doing here?" Karen asked, her eyes searching mine.
"We were waiting to use the elevator," I said, trying to sound casual. "I used the opportunity to ask her how she was doing. She's the lady I rescued from drowning the other day."
"Wow! She was the damsel in distress. Well, good for her," Karen replied, her gaze piercing through me.
I tried to look away, but Karen's intense blue eyes held me captive. "I know you must be happy with yourself right now. You defeated my father at the board meeting."
"Actually, I am happy," I admitted. "I have enough time to execute all my plans for the hotel."
A hint of a smile played on her lips. "Well, you better use this time wisely, Liam. Because if the company isn't turning a profit by next quarter, you can bet Dad will be back for round two. And this time, he won't be so easy to shake off."
It was a veiled threat, but one I intended to meet head-on. Turning a profit was a priority, not just to secure my position, but also to buy out her father's shares. And end this marriage. It wasn't working anymore and it hasn't worked for a long time now.
Just then, the elevator doors pinged open, and a disheveled couple stepped out, their clothes ruffled in a way that made it clear they'd just had sex in the elevator.
"Looks like someone put that elevator to good use," I quipped, a nervous attempt to lighten the mood.
"Going up with me?" I asked pointedly, gesturing towards the elevator.
Karen's lips twitched. "I believe another elevator is calling my name," she said, stepping back. "See you in your office."
With that, she disappeared down the hallway, leaving me alone with the lingering scent of her perfume and the weight of her words.
As the elevator ascended to my office on the top floor, my burner phone buzzed. I picked up, and Coyote's voice came through, tense and urgent.
"I got something, boss," Coyote's voice crackled through the receiver. "Sorry for the delay, but what I dug up on Mr. Mason… well, let's just say it'll be a bombshell."
A smile spread across my face. "Let's meet at our usual location tomorrow afternoon. We'll discuss it there. And come with everything you have," I said, hanging up.
*************
The Next Morning
Vanessa
My key clicked on Richard's apartment door, the familiar scent of his cologne greeting me like a warm hug after a long night shift at the hotel. Fatigue clung to me like a second skin, but the thought of a hot shower and a soft bed was quickly overshadowed by the sight of Richard in the sitting room.
"Welcome back, honey," he grinned, his smile brighter than the sunrise streaming through the window. He crossed the room with a spring in his step, pulling me into a quick kiss on the cheek. Relief washed over me for a fleeting moment.
"Breakfast for my working girl?" he asked, gesturing towards the table where a plate piled high with pancakes sat beside a steaming mug of coffee.
My stomach grumbled in response, but the exhaustion went deeper than just physical. "Thank you, honey," I mumbled, forcing a smile. "But I have to shower and change first. I'm a mess right now."
Richard chuckled, a teasing glint in his eyes. "You look stressed," he admitted, taking my bag and coat. "But hey, that's what I'm here for. Stress melts away like butter on a hot griddle in my capable hands."
He leaned in for another kiss, his lips warm and familiar. For a moment, I surrendered to the comfort of his touch, the familiar rhythm of our relationship. Then, like a splash of cold water, came the image of Liam's face –his broad shoulders and confident smile, the memory of our night together replaying in my head. The image snapped me back to reality, as shame washed over me, an unwelcome companion.
I pulled away from Richard's advances abruptly, the kiss hanging unfinished in the air. "Richard," I stammered, my voice thick with guilt, "I'm exhausted. All I want is to clean up, eat, sleep, and…and go to the gala tonight," I finished, the words falling flat.
Richard's smile faltered. "Gala? What gala?" he echoed, his brow furrowing in confusion.
"Diane's fundraiser gala," I clarified, a defensive edge creeping into my voice. "The one you told her I wasn't interested in, even though you never asked me."
The air crackled with unspoken tension. Richard's expression hardened for a moment, then smoothed over as quickly as it came.
"Oh, right," he said, a touch too casually. "I just thought you wouldn't be up for it after your shift. We could've had a quiet night in, you know, like we used to."
His words felt like a flimsy excuse, a poorly constructed bridge over a growing chasm. "But you didn't ask, did you?" I countered, the hurt bubbling to the surface.
Richard sighed. "Okay, maybe I jumped the gun a bit," he conceded. "Truth is, I was looking forward to some quality time with you. You've been so busy lately with this new job."
It was probably true, but it didn't erase the sting of his assumption. "You should have asked anyway," I said, my voice firm. "Now I can't back out. I guess I'll see you there, then."
A flicker of something I couldn't decipher crossed Richard's face before he plastered on a smile. "See you there, honey," he said, his voice strained. "Right after I get off work."
He leaned in for another kiss, but I turned away, my heart heavy. As he left for work, a million thoughts swirled in my head. The guilt gnawed at me, but so did the attraction I felt towards Liam. I closed the bathroom door behind me, the steam from the hot shower doing little to dispel the cold knot of apprehension twisting in my gut.