Chapter 5

Elena did not really stand back to listen to what Tiffani  had to say the previous night. She just walked away from them.

The following morning, Elena arrived at the office earlier than most employees, as she always did.

She greeted the security guards with a small smile before making her way to her desk. The building was still quiet. 

The only sounds came from the cleaners finishing their work and the hum of the air conditioners.

She was supposed to come with Aaron with that money, but they did not wake up on the good side and that was how they did everything separately.

She sighed and quickly placed her bag down and immediately started organizing the day’s files.

Some contracts needed reviewing, client emails were waiting for replies, and Aaron needed several reports before noon.

So many things to do and then she doesn’t even get acknowledgement for all the good things that she does for the company. 

Everything to see is the bad side about her and it wasn’t like she was really that bad. 

As always, she planned to finish everything before anyone had to remind her.

Work had become the only place where she could forget, even for a few moments, how lonely her marriage had become.

Even though she is not really appreciated for what she does, she just uses the extra time she spends at work to forget about the troubles that could be waiting for her in the mansion.

An hour later, employees slowly filled the office. 

The quiet atmosphere disappeared, replaced by greetings, footsteps, ringing phones, and the clicking of keyboards.

Most of them were surprised to see her and some of them were not really surprised because they knew that she was always early. 

Just as Elena finished printing an important contract, she heard cheerful laughter coming from the hallway.

She didn’t need to look up.

She already knew who it was.

Tiffani.

She always finds a way to make some noise when she is coming. 

Tiffani walked confidently through the office wearing another expensive designer outfit. Her heels clicked loudly against the floor as though she wanted everyone to notice her arrival.

And they did.

“Good morning, Miss Tiffani!”

“You look beautiful today.”

“Mr. Calvalli is already waiting for you.”

Tiffani smiled sweetly at everyone before thanking them.

Nobody actually said that to her because they didn’t even look at her like someone who was so important to them and they didn’t even see her as Aaron’s wife

Without knocking, Tiffani pushed open Aaron’s office door and walked inside.

The door closed behind her. Elena quietly lowered her eyes back to the papers in front of her.

She told herself it was none of her business. She was only an employee here and not Aaron’s wife. That was how his family wanted it to be, and she was going to keep it like that, even though she was not really comfortable.

Five minutes passed.

Then ten. Then thirty.

The office door never opened. Elena looked at the file in her hands.

It needed Aaron’s signature before it could be sent to an important client.

She stood and walked toward his office. Before she could knock, Aaron’s secretary looked up.

“I’m sorry, Mrs…” The secretary quickly corrected herself. “Miss Elena.”

Elena forced a smile. “Yes?”

“Mr. Calvalli said not to disturb him.”

“I only need his signature.”

“They’re discussing something important.”

Elena looked at the closed door. “It will only take a minute.”

The secretary shook her head apologetically. “I’m sorry.”

Elena nodded. “I understand.”

She returned to her desk carrying the unsigned file.

An hour later, she tried again. This time another employee stopped her.

“Mr. Calvalli is still busy with Miss Tiffani.”

Again.

She quietly turned around. Around her, whispers floated through the office.

“They’ve been together all morning.”

“They make such a good team.”

“I’ve never seen the boss trust anyone the way he trusts Miss Tiffani.”

“They’re always together.”

Elena pretended not to hear. Instead, she focused on typing another report. But every word she heard slipped into her heart like tiny needles.

Near lunchtime, Aaron finally stepped out of his office.

Elena quickly stood. “Aaron…” She caught herself. “Mr. Calvalli.”

He barely looked at her. “What is it?”

“I need your signature.”

“I’m busy.”

“It will only take a minute.” 

He sighed impatiently. “I said I’m busy.”

Before she could reply, Tiffani stepped out behind him carrying a tablet.

“Oh, Aaron,” she said with a bright smile. “The investors are waiting for your feedback.”

Aaron’s cold expression immediately softened. “Let’s go.”

He walked away beside Tiffani without giving Elena another glance.

The contract remained in Elena’s hands.

Unsigned.

One of the junior employees looked at Elena with pity. “I’m sorry.”

Elena simply smiled. “It’s alright.”

But it wasn’t.

The rest of the afternoon continued the same way.

Whenever Aaron returned to his office, Tiffani entered with him. Whenever Elena needed to speak to him, someone stopped her.

“Please wait.”

“They’re discussing business.”

“Mr. Calvalli doesn’t want interruptions.”

There was always one excuse to cover up for the nonsense that he was doing with his mistress. 

How much business could two people possibly have?

He had never spent this much time in private meetings.

Not even with senior executives. Yet somehow, Tiffani was always beside him.

Laughing and Talking.

Sometimes Elena caught glimpses through the glass walls of his office. Tiffani would lean over his desk while showing him something on her tablet.

Aaron would smile. She couldn’t remember the last time Aaron had laughed with her.

Late in the afternoon, Elena finally received an urgent document that absolutely required Aaron’s approval before five o’clock.

There was no choice.

She had to see him. She walked toward his office once more.

The secretary looked uncomfortable. “I’m really sorry.”

“It’s urgent.”

“I know.”

“Please.”

The secretary hesitated before softly knocking. A moment later, Aaron’s voice came from inside. “What is it?”

“The finance report needs your approval.”

 Aaron hesitated for a while, but then he finally answered. “Tell Elena to wait.”

The secretary looked apologetically at Elena. “I’m sorry.”

Elena nodded. “I’ll wait.”

She stood outside the office holding the file tightly against her chest.

One of the major issues was that she wasn’t even working for herself, but she was working for the same person who was turning her down. 

At some point, she began to think whether it was actually worth it. 

She felt like an outsider standing outside her own husband’s office.

After nearly twenty minutes, the door suddenly opened.

Tiffani walked out first, adjusting her dress and she was laughing.

Aaron followed behind her.

He wasn’t laughing loudly, but there was a smile on his face.

“Oh,” Tiffani said as if surprised to see Elena standing there.

“Were you waiting?”

Elena nodded quietly. “I needed a signature.”

Aaron took the file without looking at her. He signed it in seconds before handing it back.

“There.”

“Thank you.”

He had already turned back toward Tiffani. “Let’s continue.”

Tiffani smiled brightly. “Of course.”

They disappeared into the office once again and immediately the door closed without hesitation.

Elena stood frozen for several seconds before walking away.

She returned to her desk and tried to continue working, but her fingers refused to cooperate.