Song of the Quiet Flame

Maybe she had stared at the girl for just a moment too long.

The girl caught her eye and seemed a bit taken aback, her eyebrows knitting in a frown, her face taking on a look of annoyance. Clearly, she did not appreciate being gawked at.

Elaine Johnson mused that the girl's sweetness seemed to be reserved solely for Jasper Carter.

"Ms. Johnson, your room is ready. It's on the 52nd floor."

Elaine accepted the room key from the front desk clerk, noticing the girl also shot her a quick look.

It turned out that they were both staying on the 52nd floor.

Elaine was about to head off when she spun around and nearly crashed into Jasper, who had just shown up. He looked just as taken aback to see her there.

Elaine had thought about acting like she did not know him. She wanted to keep things less awkward in public.

Jasper stepped in her way and said, "Mrs. Carter, what brings you here?"

Elaine regarded him, weighing her words.

It was not like she could have admitted she was there to have an affair, too.

Jasper asked, "Since when have you dropped by for a surprise visit?"

Elaine laughed, trying to play it cool. "Mr. Carter, don't worry, it's purely coincidental. I'm not here to play detective."

Five years of marriage had taken them from college sweethearts to barely tolerating each other's presence.

She was not about to lose her cool like she did that first time she caught wind of Jasper's not-so-secret fling with his secretary. She wanted no more scenes, no more hysteria.

Whenever Elaine got into a spat with him, he would tell her to take a good look in the mirror. Then, with a dismissive air, he would say, "Elaine, it's a real turn-off when you look like a total harpy. "

However, Jasper was not buying her story. He stood there, hands in his pockets, towering over her with an air of arrogance. "Come on, it's not like you haven't pulled this kind of stunt before. What's the point in denying it?"

"Well, I didn't do it tonight," Elaine said.

She glanced at the girl beside him, swallowing the sharp pain in her chest, and said calmly, "She's pretty, the girl."

Jasper paused, a smirk playing on his lips after a moment. "Yeah, I suppose she's prettier than you."

Elaine had always thought her heart was fortified, untouchable, but Jasper's words still managed to cut deep.

Unable to stay calm, she said, "I'm just curious how long you'll stay entertained this time around."

With his arm casually draped around the waist of the slender girl beside him, Jasper said, "Definitely longer than the time I wasted on you.

"Mrs. Carter, why put yourself through this? It's downright pitiful," he said, his words sharp as needles, his lips curled in a faint, mocking smile, utterly indifferent to her feelings.