From Scorned Wife to Empowered CEO

"Please, a floral arrangement for Mr. Carson's office," a sweet voice requested over the phone.

"Of course, Mrs Carson," replied the person on the other line, well used to receiving such orders. "Any message do you like to add?"

"Yes," Adeline smiled. "I'd like to enclose the following: 'It's been ten years since you gave me the greatest gift in the world: the honor of sharing my life with you. Happy anniversary!'"

"Perfect, ma'am. Your order will be ready in one hour."

"Thank you."

Adeline hung up the call and brought the phone to her chest, hugging it, while she continued to smile like a young woman in love. Her husband left very early that morning and, knowing his busy schedule, he could have apparently forgotten their anniversary. But that did not matter to her. He would surely return later with a gift or an invitation to an elegant dinner. Humberto could sometimes be very absent-minded.

"Come on, kids, you'll be late for school," she said as she returned to the dining room, where her three sons were sharing breakfast.

Elsewhere, a man in his forties entered a large office, closely followed by his secretary, a lush blonde with amber eyes.

"Good morning, sir. Would you like to catch up on your schedule?" the woman asked in a flirtatious tone, as she closed the door behind her.

"Let's catch up on something else," the man replied, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her against his chest.

"Oh, sir," she moaned. "It's a bit early for that, isn't it?"

"It's the right time to get our day off to a good start."

After that, he laid her down on the desk, not caring in the least about the objects he threw in their path. His objective was clear: to get between that woman's legs. However, a knock on the door interrupted their heated labors.

"Damn," Humberto said, reluctantly moving away from his secretary and adjusting his pants. "Who is it?" he asked. His voice clearly showed annoyance.

"Sir, there’s something for you," a secretary from another department announced.

"Very well, go ahead," Humberto conceded, once they had both taken care to leave the scene intact. It did not even look like they were about to have sex.

The man's eyes flashed with the image of a huge floral arrangement adorned with heart-shaped balloons.

"Thank you, Marta," Humberto said to the woman in charge of placing the flowers on the desk.

Once she left and closed the door, the man sighed and sank into a chair. Eloisa, his secretary, approached the floral arrangement and stroked a few petals.

"Your wife becomes more adorable with each passing year," she said, unable to hide a malicious smile.

"She's a torment," he replied, with a weary expression, while running his hands over his obviously exasperated face.

"Oh, no. Of course not." She took the card in her hands. "You should read this, Humberto. It's really sweet," She said, handing him the paper.

"Let me see."

A few seconds later, the man rolled his eyes and dropped the note.

"I can't wait to get a divorce."

"Don't say that, Humberto. She's very nice." The sarcasm was palpable in her voice.

"She's worse than a pain in the ass," he blurted out sulkily. "Every day I feel more suffocated. 'How was your day today, love?' "Did you think about me?" "I missed you all day." I don't even know how I resist the urge to strangle her. If I became a widower, everything would be easier now that I think about it. I wouldn't have to endure this insipid marriage, and I could continue running the company as I pleased. After all, I'd inherit it. I'm her husband."

"But you wouldn't be capable of doing that, would you?" Eloisa was scared for a moment.

"Well, if I do it right, it shouldn't be a problem, but... there's her damn brother. He'd probably investigate the cause of her death to the point of exhaustion." "Fuck, I'm doomed!" he exclaimed the last bit in a dramatic tone.

“Come on, Humberto. It's not that bad”.

"It really is. But let's forget about her, what were we doing?" he said, pulling the woman onto his lap while he went back to caressing her.

[…]

It was nighttime when Adeline looked in the mirror and contemplated the red dress she had just put on. It was a form-fitting dress that made her a little insecure, but her husband once told her it looked very pretty on her.

"He probably lied," Adeline murmured as she looked more closely. She could not ignore the rolls forming on her abdomen, which were a clear sign of how fat she was.

But before Adeline could make another outfit choice, Humberto burst into the room.

"My dearest," the man said, looking her up and down with a grimace.

"Was that disgust I saw in my husband's eyes?" was the first thought that came to her, but she quickly dismissed it.

"Love, I was waiting for you," she replied with a wide smile.

"Don't tell me you're going with that?" His words were dry.

"Oh, no," she shook her head, feeling a blush spread across her cheeks. "I was just about to change it."

"Choose something else, woman." His annoyance was evident. "Or at least that you want to go make a fool of yourself at the restaurant."

Adeline gasped at his words. Had he just insulted her?

"Love, but you once told me that..."

"For God's sake, I must have been drunk if I told you that looked good on you!" he cut her off harshly. "You look like a pig, Adeline!"

"Humberto!"

Instantly, Adeline felt something burning in her heart, just like a fire consuming and scorching her purest feelings.

"What?" he defended himself. "I'm just being realistic."

"Do you think it's realistic to call your wife a 'pig'?" Tears were in her eyes. "Don't you think that was a cruel choice of words?"

"Please, woman, don't make a big deal out of this!" He downplayed her outburst from a moment ago. "Change your clothes, I don't have all night."

"No, Humberto, the truth is, I don't feel like going out anymore."

"Fine, whatever." He turned around. "Don't wait up for me."

"What do you mean?" She raised her voice at his impudence.

"Don't wait up for me, Adeline," he repeated slowly, as if she were a mentally handicapped person. "Or are you deaf now too?”.

"Humberto!" she shouted, before he could completely close the door.

"What?" he replied indifferently.

"If you leave, then I'll assume you don't want to continue this marriage." She threatened, clenching her fists at her sides. She could not bear such humiliation.

A snort was all she received in response, accompanied by the sound of the door closing and the creaking of her heart breaking.