When Emma’s husband’s coworker goes out of her way to get Alex to notice her, Emma begins to question Lisa’s intentions. Things get weird when gifts start showing up, and even worse when Lisa makes home-cooked meals for Alex. But the final straw comes when Lisa mocks Emma by hinting at an affair between her and Alex.
My husband, Alex, and I have been married for ten years, and during that time we have built a strong and loving relationship.
He works as a project manager at a large tech company, and that comes with long hours.
A smiling couple | Source: Midjourney
A smiling couple | Source: Midjourney
“I’m sorry,” he said to me one night as we were eating dinner well after 10 p.m. “I know my hours are getting crazy. But we’re working on launching something new, Emma. We’ll be done soon, and I’ll be back to normal hours.”
“That’s fine,” I replied. “Just eat before we have to reheat dinner again.”
A dining table for two | Source: Midjourney
A dining table for two | Source: Midjourney
Despite the long hours at work, I have always had complete trust in my husband. Although, recently, that trust was tested by one of his colleagues, Lisa.
“Are you threatened in any way by this woman?” my mother asked when I told her I wasn’t comfortable with Lisa.
A smiling woman | Source: Midjourney
A smiling woman | Source: Midjourney
“Yeah, no, I don’t know,” I replied. “She’s just a little too much. She does a lot of questionable things. And I don’t know what her intentions are.”
“What did she do?” my mother asks.
What didn’t Lisa do?
A smiling elderly woman | Source: Midjourney
A smiling elderly woman | Source: Midjourney
First, she was young and attractive and worked closely with Alex on many projects.
“Sure, Alex has already talked about her,” I replied. “But things are getting a little too intense now. And I’m uncomfortable, Mom.”
“What things, Emma?” my mother asks. “Tell me more!”
Close-up of a woman | Source: Midjourney
Close-up of a woman | Source: Midjourney
“Gifts, Mom. She gave him a lot of gifts. Personalized and everything.”
And it was true. My husband started bringing home gifts. At first, they weren’t anything extravagant. But then they started to get personal.
“Personalized mugs, Mom. With his name on them and everything,” I replied. “And then, a tie with little rockets on it, because you know how much he loves space.”
A cup on a desk | Source: Midjourney
A cup on a desk | Source: Midjourney
“And you know these are gifts from Lisa?” my mother asks.
“Yes! Alex said it. He said it loud and clear,” I replied.
“Just keep an eye out, Emma,” my mother said.
And, of course, that’s what I did.
A worried woman | Source: Midjourney
A worried woman | Source: Midjourney
But one night, as Alex walked through the door, I didn’t know what had come over me. And I found myself making a snide comment at him.
“Another gift from Lisa?” I asked, as he carried a small potted plant into the house.
My husband turned to me, looking surprised.
A potted plant | Source: Midjourney
A potted plant | Source: Midjourney
“Yeah, just a little something she said she picked up at the farmers market,” he replied, heading into the kitchen.
“Why does she always give you things?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
“She’s just being friendly, Emma. It’s okay, darling.”
I tried to act like nothing was wrong. But then there were the home-cooked meals.
Food packaged in a container | Source: Midjourney
Food packaged in a container | Source: Midjourney
I knew my husband loved my cooking. He always said my cooking was so much better than his mother’s.
“Don’t let him hear that,” Alex said when we sat down for dinner early in our relationship. I had invited him over for a home-cooked dinner, and it solidified my role in his life.
One evening, we sat down at the table as Alex came home from work. He tossed the salad while I cut the lasagna.
A plate of salad | Source: Midjourney
A plate of salad | Source: Midjourney
“You really have to try Lisa’s lasagna, honey, it’s amazing!”
“Why is she feeding you, Alex?” I asked, putting down my fork.
Lasagna on a plate | Source: Midjourney
Lasagna on a plate | Source: Midjourney
I never wanted to be an insecure wife. It was something I hated. I couldn’t stand being frustrated by my husband’s long work hours, or constantly wondering who he was talking to. Or where he was going.
I didn’t want to wonder if his work meetings were really meetings or if they were dates with other women.
A woman holding her head | Source: Midjourney
A woman holding her head | Source: Midjourney
And yet, there was something about Lisa that transformed me into exactly that person.
“Listen, Emma, she said she made extra and brought me some for lunch. I didn’t want to be rude, so I ate it,” he said, looking at me in confusion.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “It’s just a little too much for me.”
Alex smiled and poured wine into our glasses.
A person pouring wine into a glass | Source: Midjourney
A person pouring wine into a glass | Source: Midjourney
I knew he’d leave the conversation where it was. He wouldn’t want to get into it and feed on my insecurities. He knew that deep down, I still trusted him.
But the final straw came at the company’s annual party. It was Alex’s big professional event of the year, and all the spouses were invited.
“It’ll be at one of the fancy hotels downtown,” Alex said. “So dress up, my love. This is the time for us to be very formal and elegant.”
A hotel lobby | Source: Midjourney
A hotel lobby | Source: Midjourney
To be honest, I was pretty excited about this party. It was usually in a grand ballroom, with amazing food. And usually live music.
On the big day, I wore my favorite dress and my wedding earrings. I was actually looking forward to the party and, for a moment, I forgot about Lisa.
“You look beautiful, darling,” Alex said as we entered the ballroom. A band was playing in the corner, and the atmosphere was perfect.
The back of a dressed woman | Source: Midjourney
The back of a dressed woman | Source: Midjourney
As we mingled with some of Alex’s colleagues, Lisa made her grand entrance.
She looked glamorous in an elegant red dress, turning heads as she walked in. And even though everyone turned to look at her, she walked right over to my husband, completely ignoring me.
“Here’s my husband at work!” she exclaimed loudly, throwing her arms around him.
A woman in a red dress | Source: Midjourney
A woman in a red dress | Source: Midjourney
Alex, to his advantage, looked embarrassed, but before he could say a word, Lisa turned to me with a condescending smile.
“You must be Emma,” Lisa said. “I’ve heard so much about you. Alex is a really good guy, isn’t he? The best! I don’t know what I’d do without him!”
I forced a smile.
Close-up of a young woman | Source: Midjourney
Close-up of a young woman | Source: Midjourney
“Yes, he is wonderful.”
Lisa continues, oblivious to my discomfort.
“He loves my cooking! And I’ve had to make so many things that he enjoys because he says you’re too busy to cook sometimes.”
I felt humiliated, but I kept my cool. I couldn’t let myself go.
A shocked woman | Source: Midjourney
A shocked woman | Source: Midjourney
I watched Lisa cling to Alex’s arm, laughing and whispering in his ear. He looked uncomfortable and apologized, and Lisa turned her full attention back to me.
“Emma, let’s get straight to the point,” she said, holding her glass of champagne. “You may be his wife, but he gave me something special tonight.”
She took a bill out of her wallet and showed it to me. There was a hotel room number scribbled on it.
A woman holding a glass | Source: Midjourney
A woman holding a glass | Source: Midjourney
“He’s got a surprise for me. He’s coming to see me. Let’s see what excuse he gives you when you get home to explain why he has to leave,” she said.
“You know, Lisa,” I said. “People who think they can take what isn’t theirs often end up disappointed.”
Lisa laughed.
A smiling woman in a red dress | Source: Midjourney
A smiling woman in a red dress | Source: Midjourney
We got home later that evening, and as soon as we walked in, Alex made an excuse to leave.
“Emma, I need to help a friend with something. His car won’t start and he needs a ride home. It’s urgent. I’ll be back soon.”
“Which friend?” I asked, feigning casual curiosity.
“Remember John? From work? I think you saw him tonight too.”
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