The Intern's Latin Dance

On the day of Sandra Kinsey's ovulation, I went to wait for her at the dance studio, just as we'd agreed.

The corridor behind the office stretched out long and silent, as always. But this time, faint music drifted from the far end—music in a place that should've been still and undisturbed.

Under the studio lights, two shadows danced on the frosted glass, intertwined.

A bad feeling bloomed in my chest.

The dance studio was Sandra's private sanctuary. Since our marriage, it had become something more—our secret playground, a space reserved for small adventures, a place we returned to again and again when the ordinary grew stale.

And now, someone else was in it.

Through the narrow crack of the half-open door, I saw Brian, the new intern.

He jumped when he heard me push open the door, quickly letting go and standing upright. His voice was nervous, eager to explain.

"Mr. Laurent, please don't misunderstand. I saw Ms. Kinsey making a few mistakes in her steps… I couldn't help correcting her."

He paused a while, then added, "If you're uncomfortable with it, I won't do it again."

I said nothing. I simply looked at him. His little performance didn't deserve a response.

With someone as sharp and capable as Sandra, it was impossible she hadn't seen through his intentions.

And yet, her reaction surprised me.

"It's just a small thing, Randy. Don't make a fuss over it," she said, brushing it off like dust from a sleeve. "Look how you've frightened Brian."

A small thing?

An intern stepping into our private space, pressing up against my wife, dancing as if there were no lines left to cross—

And that was small?

Perhaps even she hadn't noticed how the scales in her heart had already tipped.

Brian curled his lips into a soft smile, though his voice remained humble. "Mr. Laurent, it's all my fault. If this incident causes any tension between you and Ms. Kinsey, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself."

An apology in form, but a wedge in essence.

I didn't know where he had learned such polished falseness. But unfortunately, it was exactly the kind of act Sandra always fell for.

Before I could speak, she stepped between us, her brow tightly knit. "Randy, he's just a kid. Is this really necessary?"

A kid? He was in his twenties.

I scoffed silently. Out loud, I kept my voice level. "Do you even remember what this place is?"

This place was our secret. Our retreat. A space meant for two. Not three.

Something shifted in Sandra's expression. Perhaps she, too, recalled what we'd done here—the quiet intimacy, the shared laughter.

Embarrassment flickered in her eyes. She turned to Brian and said gently, "You can go. Don't think too much about today."

Brian gave a soft "yes," but left with reluctance in his eyes.

I looked at Sandra, her gaze still lingering on the closed door. In that moment, all the warmth I thought we'd built—years of being husband and wife—felt strangely one-sided.

I held down the weight in my chest and turned away.

No accusations. No arguments.

But Sandra called after me. "Randy, I didn't know Brian would come here. He studied Latin dance and couldn't resist dancing with me for just a moment."

She turned around, gesturing for me to unzip her dress.

"It was nothing. Don't be so petty," she said.

I stepped back, dodging her hand.

Her surprised eyes met mine.

"It's not the dance that matters," I said calmly. "It's the boundaries. The lines we draw. This place was meant for us—to try for a child, to be alone together. I don't want anyone else here. Do you understand that?"

Some things had to be made clear before they fractured beyond repair.

Her expression darkened as she looked at me. She stayed silent for a long time before muttering, "It won't happen again."

It sounded like a compromise, but the unwillingness in her tone chilled me.

I looked closely at her face. "I hope you mean that. Really—let there be no next time."

With that, I turned to leave.

But she reached out, catching my hand.

"Randy," she said softly. "Today, we haven't… You know… You're not staying?"

Ours had begun as a business arrangement. A merger of names and benefits. But in three years, we had gotten along.

She brought me into her hidden world, shared her dreams, her passions.

I saw how the fierce, decisive businesswoman still harbored quiet griefs she showed no one else.

All of that made me believe—maybe we could have something more than profit.

When she said she wanted a child, I thought it meant she'd finally fallen in love.

So I agreed.

But what I saw today made something very clear. What isn't truly yours can't be kept.

I gently pried her fingers from mine.

"We'll put the baby plans on hold," I said calmly.

After all, parents who don't love each other can't bring a happy child into this world.