I walk in to see a beautiful woman sitting behind a large mahogany desk, typing away on a computer. I can feel this sense of power and independence just radiating off of her. It isn’t until I attempt to walk past her, that she notices me. “I’m sorry but you need an appointment to meet with Lincoln. Walk-ins aren’t welcome.” I stand there like a deer in headlights, not knowing what to do or say at the moment. I felt instantly inferior to her.Thankfully, Lincoln shows up just in time - saving me from humiliation and the weight of his secretary’s intimidating nature.“That’s alright, Diana. Jessie doesn’t need an appointment to see me. But do try to remember her appearance so that you’re able to notify me of her arrival more promptly, next time.” Lincoln says before making his way towards me.“Yes sir. My apologies.” I hear from his seemingly intimidating secretary who instantly seems to have shrunken.“Sorry about that, Jessie. Why don’t we step into my office.” Lincoln says as he mot
After closing the door behind me and listening closely to see if Alan had followed me, I sit down on the bed, finally take a deep breath, and pull out my phone. Although I told Alan I’d contact and try to spend some time with grace, I had no intention of actually doing so. I just couldn’t after thinking of that text message. Grace was the only person I reached out to after receiving that message outside out of the hotel yesterday. With everything that’s been going on and my husband giving her a generous loan, it was very much possible that she deleted the text message from my phone while we were at the speakeasy.At this very moment, there wasn’t a soul around me that I could genuinely trust.Instead, I ponder for a moment and decide to call a long-time friend that I haven’t spoken to for quite a while – Lincoln. “This is Lincoln Law.” I feel his same formal phone answer. I remember when he first created his firm and began answering his phone calls with that same phrase. Lincoln
I turn to face my husband, preparing for the inevitable. There was no point in avoiding him. He’d already seen me, and I had already acknowledged his presence, so I turn to face Alan and prepare myself for what he was about to say.“What about?” I ask as though oblivious. I knew this has something to do with last night. I just didn’t know what directions he was heading with this.“Well, I’ve noticed that you’ve been taking sleep medication recently. And to be honest, I’m a bit concerned.”“I don’t see why it’s concerning. They were prescribed by my physician.”I notice how oblivious Alan is acting. He knows that his recent behavior and changes have played a large role in my need for this medication in the first place.“Do you think that maybe you’re a hypochondriac? Maybe you should go see a doctor and confirm whether or not this medication is even necessary. Maybe they can prescribe you something for your anxiety.” He suggests euphemistically. “What kind of doctor?” I decide to
After waking up in bed alone, I find myself with a growing migraine as I try to run through the events of last night in my head. It almost felt like a bad dream. I run by every detail in my memory and couldn’t believe it. Alan waiting up for me to gaslight me was beyond comprehension and worst of all, the evidence was gone. As if it had disappeared into thin air? It just didn’t make any sense. Did Alan have something to do with this? How could he have known about the packages? I get up quickly and decide to look once more for the packages that had been sent to me from my husband’s mysterious mistress. Maybe my mind was playing tricks on me? Maybe I did drink too much and simply forgot where I put them.I checked my hiding place where I had originally placed them and found nothing. I began searching desperately and absolutely everywhere – leaving no space unturned, but they were nowhere to be found. I pull out my phone once again and thoroughly scan through my text messages. That, too
I look over to my husband who sat there silently, watching me and for some reason, I feel a fire burn in me.“I hope you’re not here to lecture me.” I couldn’t contain the disdain I felt towards him in this moment.‘You’ve been acting strange, Jessie. I think your anxiety is getting the best of you.” How dare he be so condescending to me? I know what I saw, and I know what he’s been up too. His mistress has had no issue in sharing every dirty secret with me – much to my dismay.“Alan, I know you’ve been cheating on me. I saw you hugging that woman and taking her with you to the hotel.” I say sardonically as I sway. I feel my head pound as my feelings are amplified. I feel betrayed and I’m furious right now. Suddenly, my vision flashes black and I’m on the ground.I must have collapse because next thing I know, Alan was helping me stand from the floor. “Jessie, you’re drunk. I’m not cheating on you and there is no mistress. There wasn’t anyone in my room, was there?” I feel my an
After my unhappy departure from my husband, I begin the walk of utter shame to my car alone. After turning on the car, I’m just turning onto the road when I hear my phone ding with a text message notification. I decide to pull over and see if it’s Alan. Surely, he had a few words for me after my surprise appearance. I pull out my phone and immediately noticed that the number was unsaved and unfamiliar to me, and I feel my heart skip a beat as I open the message with trembling fingers. ‘You were just seconds too late. You had just missed me.’ I read the words over again and my cheeks and ears start to burn red. Judging by the tone in this message, this must be Alan’s mysterious mistress and it was obvious that this, my suffering, was comical to her. She was getting a rise out of watching me fail. Was she aware that I was following them? She must’ve been if she was able to elude me so quickly. How was she able to escape and cover her tracks so quickly? And why evade me if she was go