Episode 6 - It's Time To End It

Wait! Susie, you must understand. She’s still my wife.” I said as I approached a partially opened office door, closing it again. 

I swallowed deeply. "Look, Susie. I'm not going to cross that line. I know here recently we've had some intimate moments. But that was a mistake on both of our parts. We should have never gotten physical with one another, especially after I had already married someone else, it was wrong, darling, and I apologize for not showing more restraint back then. I think you are a great girl and friend to me, but that's all we've ever been, and I think we should keep it that way.

No movement and quiet filled the office.

 I stood there wondering what would explode next because she refused to look in my direction.

"It's because of Zari!" She said my wife's name with a heavy resentment, and I bristled. I stood, shoving my hands in my front pocket as she continued talking with so much malice.

"What is it with her? How can you be drawn to someone who can’t even light a candle to me in wealth, education, and class? She comes from poorness and lacks sophistication! What do you see in her?! You were supposed to be my husband, not hers! What makes her so special?! One of us got to go! There isn't enough room on the planet for both of us!"

My head snapped up as I looked Susie squarely in the eye. "I don't like your tone. Susie, I'm not your husband. Please don't ask me questions about another female like we're married to one another! Our relationship was wrong from the beginning and is still wrong now! I am legally in a committed relationship! Zari is my wife!”

Then she says, in a soft voice. "I didn't mean anything by it. It's just that I thought after two or three years that you were willing to ask Zari for a divorce. I thought you were ready for us to spend whatever time I had left." Susie softly states.

"Susie, I've been meaning to ask you. When will I be able to see proof of your health condition?"

Susie grabs her coat, putting it over her body. She stood up. "What?! You don't trust me!" She yelled.

"You want me to take your word, and for years I have, but why can't I see proof that you are very ill? When you do things like you did tonight, like make sexual advances toward me as often as you do, even though you say you are very sick. I've always wondered about your health at times like right now. I have never known anyone to be sick as you claim but have energy for as much sex as you do."

"Oh, she's poisoned your mind! Just because I don't want to deprive you of pleasure and make you suffer like she does! You are doubting me when I only want to keep you happy.  I can't stand that she's stealing you away from me!" She said, refusing to address my statements about her illnesses.

"Susie, listen to yourself. You can't have something stolen from you that was never really yours. If Zari hadn't returned home, nothing would have changed, Susie. I like you and tried to be by your side and was willing to keep my promise to Lucas, but I can't do what you requested of me as a married man. Sure, no marriage is perfect. But my parents have been together 35 years through the good and bad, and they are still together. My grandparents have been together for almost twice that amount of time. I guess I inherited their stick-to-it-ness. So let's not do this anymore, Susie; let us remain friends."

Susie stared as she stood there, frozen as the pain sank into the cavity of her heart. She didn't know what to say, but she knew what she needed to do.

"Dev, you always had to get your way. I guess that's my fault. But, no matter how much I've tried, look where it's gotten me." Susie started to cry, saying. "Look at what you've done."

"What have I done? Look, I'm sorry if I hurt you, Susie. That was not my intention, but I never led you on or promised you we would be in a marital relationship. If you got that impression along the way, I sincerely apologize."

It was time for me to move on. The cracks in our perfectly orchestrated situationship were starting to show. We had some great times, some excellent times. But it was getting out of hand. If I didn't end this now, it would degrade further. Zari needed my full attention, and Susie thought she deserved something I couldn’t offer her, especially my time and heart. And I wouldn't entertain anyone trying to come in between Zari and me any longer. I took her purse off the table and handed it to her. Susie stood up, slipping and pressing her supple body against mine. She laid her face against my arm.

"Dev, please don’t let us part this way. I don't think it's fair you won't give us a chance. If it doesn't work out, then we could end it. So please stay with me."

I turned around and put my hands on her shoulders, holding her away at arm's length. "I'll always be here as your friend." She looked up at me as her hope was crumbling. She forced her hands and arms around my waist, hugging me tightly. I extricated myself from her arms.

"Take care of yourself, Susie."

Before she could walk out the door, she said. "I think you underestimate my ability. You will be mined; you wait and see!"

I walked out the door across to the elevators. "I'll be waiting for you to change your mind, Dev. She won't be here forever."

The elevator doors dinged and opened. I stepped inside. Susie stood there fighting back her tears. She clenched her teeth.

'It's not over. I'm not going to give up!’

She shut the door and leaned against it, tears hovering over her eyes. 'I let my guard down too late. But, on the other hand, she thought, 'maybe I was a little too harsh.' But I have to give it my all, and next time I can't afford to make any mistakes."

Later that evening, when I left the office the ride down the elevator felt like a relief. But then I rested against the wall during the ride, and disconcerted thoughts entered my brain. "What did she mean, 'She won't be here forever?' I tried to shake away the negative thoughts but couldn't.

 "Could it be possible that Susie had something to do with Zari’s accident? No, she wouldn't go that far. Or would she? 

What will she try and do next? Devon nervously wondered.