The soft hum of the office was punctuated by the clacking of keyboards and the occasional burst of laughter. Kezia sat at her desk, meticulously organizing the paperwork that had piled up during the week. Her colleagues moved in and out of her peripheral vision, some casting glances in her direction, their whispers carrying just enough for her to catch snippets of conversation.
"Have you seen how he looks at her?" a woman murmured, her eyes flicking toward Ethan's office.
"Honestly, I feel bad for Kezia. She seems so… naive," another replied, the words sharp like shards of glass.
Kezia's heart sank as she forced herself to focus on the papers in front of her. She had grown accustomed to the gossip, the judgement that hung in the air like a thick fog. It was always there, swirling around her, feeding on her insecurities. She wished she could rise above it, but each whispered word was a reminder of her vulnerability.
Ethan, her husband, was charming and handsome, effortlessly commanding the attention of everyone around him. He was the kind of man who drew people in with a smile, his laughter infectious. But Kezia had learned the hard way that charm often masked something darker.
As she glanced at him through the glass walls of his office, she saw him leaning back in his chair, a beautiful new intern perched on the edge of his desk, laughing at something he had said. A hollow feeling settled in her chest. She had spent years trying to please him, convincing herself that if she were just a little bit better—a little more beautiful, a little more accommodating—he would see her, love her, choose her over anyone else.
But every time he brought another woman home, it felt like a dagger to her heart.
"Hey, Kezia!" Ethan called, his voice bright and inviting. "Could you come in here for a moment?"
Kezia's stomach twisted. She set down her pen and took a deep breath, plastering a smile on her face before walking into his office. The air was thick with the scent of his cologne, a familiar mix of sandalwood and something more intoxicating that made her head spin.
"Sure, what do you need?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
Ethan leaned forward, an easy grin on his face. "I wanted to go over the reports for next week's meeting. You've been doing an amazing job, as always," he said, his tone syrupy sweet.
She felt a flush of pride at his compliment but quickly reminded herself of the reality of their situation. He would sweet-talk her and then dismiss her feelings like they were nothing.
"Thanks, Ethan. I just want to make sure everything is ready," she replied, her heart racing.
As they discussed the reports, she could feel the tension in the air shift. Ethan's gaze flickered to the intern, who was waiting outside, her bright smile seemingly meant only for him. He turned back to Kezia, and for a brief moment, she thought she saw something genuine in his eyes, but it vanished as quickly as it had come.
"By the way, I was thinking of inviting a few colleagues over for drinks this weekend," he said casually, leaning back in his chair. "You wouldn't mind, would you?"
The question felt like a taunt. "Of course not," she forced out, even as her stomach churned. "That sounds fine."
"Great! You know how much I love hosting," he replied, brushing off her unease with a wave of his hand. "And I could really use your help with the arrangements."
As Kezia nodded, a wave of resignation washed over her. She was always the one arranging, the one making sure everything was perfect, while Ethan floated through life with a carefree attitude, oblivious to the pain he caused her.
After their meeting, Kezia returned to her desk, her heart heavy. She overheard more whispers as she passed by the break room.
"Can you believe she puts up with him? I would never," a voice scoffed.
Kezia clenched her fists, biting her lip to hold back the tears threatening to spill. They didn't know the half of it. They didn't know about the nights she lay awake, staring at the ceiling, wondering where she had gone wrong.
Ethan had changed over the years; the sweet, caring husband she had envisioned in the beginning had morphed into a man who thrived on attention, who flattered women and played with their hearts like toys. He used her people-pleasing nature against her, manipulating her into submission while he chased after anyone who caught his eye.
As the day dragged on, Kezia felt the weight of the office gossip pressing down on her. She pushed through her tasks, ignoring the looks from her colleagues and the laughter that echoed down the hall. The more she tried to be strong, the more the whispers grew louder.
The final straw came when Ethan sauntered into the office with a new woman, a striking blonde with bright blue eyes. He introduced her to the team with a charming grin, and Kezia felt the room shift. Laughter erupted as Ethan pulled the woman close, his hand resting casually on her waist, and Kezia's heart shattered into a million pieces.
"Don't worry, Kezia," he said with a laugh. "You know I'm all yours!" His words dripped with sarcasm, meant only to belittle her.
Kezia turned away, feeling the heat of embarrassment creeping up her neck. She gripped the edge of her desk, trying to steady herself against the storm of emotions swirling inside her. How had it come to this? How could she be so blind to the reality of her situation?
In that moment, she resolved to stop hiding her feelings. She had been too kind, too accommodating, and now she was paying the price. But the thought of confronting Ethan terrified her. What if he turned it around, made her the villain once again?
As she finished her work for the day, the whispers followed her out of the office, a cruel reminder of her shortcomings. She would have to find a way to reclaim her life, but for now, she was lost in the shadows of her own making.
As Kezia walked out of the building, the weight of the world on her shoulders, she knew that change was coming. Whether she was ready for it or not, the time for pretending was over.