Three Weeks Later: Richard's POV
I had been a witness to my parents' marriage. They had their ups and downs, moments of bliss and challenges, but my marriage was a whole new level of awkwardness. For three weeks, Nita barely said more than ten words to me at a stretch, all of them strictly professional or random things like "dinner is ready," "I made breakfast," and "I am going to my parents' house."
I'd wake up to the faint smell of her perfume and fresh coffee with breakfast she had prepared before breezing out the door. You would think that as a couple who worked in the same building, she would want to save on fuel expenses. At work, she was sharp and focused. We saw each other during meetings. If she needed something, she would send her assistant to me.
And the reports she submitted? They were nothing short of genius. My father was practically singing her praises to anyone who would listen.
"She's brilliant, Richard. A real asset to the family," he'd say during lunch hour. I would agree muttering one thing or the other pretending I wasn't in marital hell.
The evaluator arrived today. The man was tall, with the a smirk that instantly made peoplelike him or —orbe that was just me. He introduced himself as Victor Franklin, extending a hand as he surveyed the office like he already owned it.
"Pleasure to meet you, Mr Numero," he said, his grip firm. "I'm looking forward to working together over the next two months."
"Likewise," I said, but that was a lie. I hated the idea of having a babysitter. "I've prepared an office for you on the ninth floor. If there's anything else you need, just let me know."
Victor nodded, sizing me up and down. "Thank you. I'll need access to the various departments. When I know your team, I know you."
"Of course. I'll introduce you to the Chief Accountant. Her office is on the same floor as yours." I said, gesturing for him to follow me.
As we approached Nita's office, I continued the conversation, "Our chief accountant just resumed barely a month ago. She has been doing a great job so far. You will be impressed."
"Isn't she your wife? I heard that didn't go over well with the board but I'm sure I will be impressed,"
When we got to her office, I opened the door and stepped aside, letting Victor enter first. Nita was seated at her desk, her eyes glued to the computer screen. She looked up when we walked in, and I saw her expression freeze for a moment when her eyes landed on Victor.
"Victor?!" she said surprised.
"Benita," he replied, his smile broad. "Wow. It's been a while."
"You two know each other?" I asked.
Victor chuckled, his gaze still on her. "You could say that. We... dated, briefly."
The asshole knew all the time who she was when I was talking about her. And I put him on the same floor as my wife, the mutherfucker!
"I see," I said slowly looking between them.
Nita stood, smoothing down her skirt. "That was months ago. Nice to see you again, Victor."
Her tone was polite and professional while Victor wore a charming smile that I assumed was his best but just made him look like a constipated asshole. "It is, isn't it. I hear you're doing big things here. Congratulations on the marriage, by the way."
Nita smiled, casting a glance in my direction for the first time since Victor landed in her line of vision. "Thank you."
I cleared my throat and redirected us back to business, "Victor will be overseeing the department heads for the next two months. You can ask your assistant to drop off whatever he needs from yours,"
"Oh, I'm sure Benita will not mind giving me details herself. We should catch up over coffee one of these days,"
"Of course," Nita said
Victor extended a hand. "Looking forward to working with you."
She took his hand and replied, "Likewise."
As we left her office, Victor turned to me. "You're a lucky man, Richard. She's all beauty and brains!"
I forced a smile. "Yes, she is." Son of a bitch
*****
Nita was standing right in front of me in my office which was unusual since she communicated by email or sending her assistant to me.
"Richard, we need to talk about Sam," she said pointedly.
"Sam?" I repeated, "What about him?"
Nita crossed her arms. "I've been going through the accounts, and there are some things not adding up. I think he's embezzling money."
I laughed, leaning back in my chair. "Nita, come on. Sam's been with us since the moment we graduated school. He is family, he won't do such a thing."
Her lips pressed into a thin line. "Richard, I'm not saying this lightly. I wouldn't make such an accusation if I didn't have concrete reason to. I'm telling you, something's off, I just don't have evidence."
"And I'm telling you, it's impossible," I snapped. Sam was my best friend, he was my cousin. He has always been by my side. "Sam has always been loyal to me, to my family. Maybe you just made a mistake. You've been under a lot of pressure lately, with the evaluator being around."
She looked at me surprised. "A mistake? Really? Have you found errors in my work since I started here? You know what, forget I said anything,"
I leaned forward, meeting her gaze. "Nita, I trust Sam. If something was going on, I'd know about it. If he needed money, he would come to me. There is no justification for embezzlement."
She nodded in false agreement and turned on her heel out of my office.
*****
I decided to go to the cafeteria by myself to get something to eat and stretch my legs. Unfortunately, Victor was also there. He sat opposite me waiting for his lunch.
"You don't mind, do you?" he asked.
"Not at all," I answered.
"So, how's married life treating you?"
"Fine," I said shortly, not really wanting to have a conversation about my wife with him.
"I have gone through her reports, it's impeccable. I see that you haven't been taking her investment ideas seriously,"
"Well, as you know, I am not officially the CEO yet hence the babysitting. I can't make any major financial decisions until then,"
"Understood. Did you try pitching the idea to the current official CEO?"
"Actually, she has already done that. He just doesn't want to make any major decisions also since he is retiring soon. Which your arrival seems to push further," I was getting irritated at him questioning my skills in business.
"I would like to visit the Numero Jewelries tomorrow, I'd like Benita to go with me. I could use her insights in my appraisal although I know she will be biased…."
"I would like to make it clear that whatever relationship you had with my wife in the past is done with and the relationship you have with her now, is strictly professional. Kindly address her with her marital name,"
"I apologize, 'Mrs. Numero'," he corrected albeit sarcastically. "indulge me one last personal question,"
I raised an eyebrow imagining how nice and fulfilling it would be to punch the asshole in the face.
"How did she get over her genophobia?"
"She got a good-looking husband," I got up from the table not in the mood for lunch anymore. I decided to go see my wife.
*******
When I got to her office, she was still busy on the computer. Several printed Excel sheets and invoices are scattered all over the place.
"Hey," I said, settling in the seat opposite her.
"Hi," she said without looking up. "Can I help you?"
"I just want to talk," I said.
"Go ahead,"
"Do you still love him?" Maybe that isn't what I had in mind but I needed to say it.
"Victor?" she finally stopped what she was doing to look at me.
I nodded in response.
"I don't actually feel anything with his presence here. I mean, he broke up with me because he couldn't get to touch me. I think that's a pretty stupid reason to break up with someone you claimed to love,"
"So he told you he loved you while you were seeing each other?"
"Yes… Why are you asking me these questions?" she asked, planting her hands on the desk and looking directly into my eyes.
"I don't know just curious, I guess… and I thought it was about time you stopped being mad at me,"
"I stopped being mad a few weeks ago, now I just want to hold up my end of our contract, do a great job here, and retire from being Mrs. Numero in seven months," she listed checking off her fingers.
I got up and went to her side of the desk, "I do want you, Nita. I just, I am not sure that you really want me. I feel like you're finally trying to explore accepting your desires and that's just not enough for me. I want you to want me the way I want you,"
She held my gaze for a very long time before reaching for my hand. "I have never willingly let any man touch me, Richard. Yes, this is all new to me but it's new to me because you helped me. You were patient with me. You cared about what I was going through, no one else has ever done all that for me. This is not me throwing myself at you because I want to feel good, this is me wanting you to make me feel,"
I held her up to her feet and kissed her, "I missed you," she smiled at me for the first time in three weeks and I felt like my world had lit up once more. I love this woman, fuck I do!