3

I had imagined that moment many times, but I had never thought it would actually happen. 

We had been married for eight years, and he had waited until the day after my birthday to ask for a divorce.

“Maybe we should talk about what you saw last night, Bill.”

 “I have nothing to talk about with a b*tch like you.”

Bill walked toward me so brusquely that I had nothing left to do but back away, frightened.

 He had never been abusive, at least not the typical husband who would come in and beat his wife all the time, but more than once he had slapped me hard.

“Where's Brandon?” I asked, worried that Bill had done something crazy.

“Don't mention his name in here, b*tch!”

“Brandon and I didn't have sex if that's what you're thinking.”

I was more worried about Brandon than my marriage.

“No? Is that why I found him on top of you while you were half naked like you are now, slut?”

It was at that instant that I became aware of a sheer bra and thin panty covering my nakedness. 

A blurred memory reminded me that I had found myself so hot that in the early morning I had decided to take off my clothes.

“Get the fuck out of my house, bitch!”

“Stop calling me that, asshole!” I exploded in fury, suddenly.

“Who are you raising your voice to?” he grabbed me violently by the arm, twisting it. “I'd have you beaten up just like I did him, but you're so weak you'd die, so I choose for you to live to see what you did, so you'll always remember that you wasted the chance to spend the rest of your life with a millionaire.”

“You had him beaten up?” I asked, filled with anger. “You're sick, Brandon was just trying to help me!”

“By fucking you?”

“Think what you want!”

 “You're the nastiest b*tch I've ever met, Vanessa.”

I thought about answering him, but just decided to wipe away my tears and walk over to the table where the divorce papers were.

“Don't even think about it,” Bill said, confusing me.

 “You've called me a slut more times than I can count, you said you hit an innocent man and you haven't allowed me to defend myself, you clearly asked me that you wanted a divorce, but now you want to stop me?”

It was at that moment that I understood.

Bill had not asked me for a divorce with intentions of us actually getting a divorce, but wanting me to plead with him to be with him.

“I think you've forgotten what I said, woman. You are mine forever, there will be no divorce between us.”

 “Now I'm the one who wants a divorce,” I exclaimed, more than angry. Bill was pure poison, a cobra and I would not allow myself to die from his bite.

“There will be no divorce, Vanessa. You will go up there, bathe, then dress to please your man, and that will be the end of it. You will receive your punishment, but we won't talk about that now.”

Those words filled me with uncontrollable rage. He thought I was his doll.

“No, Bill. What will happen is this: I'll sign these papers, we'll be divorced, I'll go live with Mother, and Brandon will continue to hold his position at the company. Don't forget who the real owner of the company is.”

Bill swallowed dryly. I actually owned more stock in the company than he did, but somehow he had cajoled me into becoming president.

“I see you're defending your lover now, how long have you been sneaking around with him?”

“I just want to be divorced.”

But before I could hold the papers, he grabbed them first, tearing them up. 

I looked at him in disgust. I would never understand, never understand Bill, but that had been the last straw. 

I longed for divorce and I would get it.

“I don't care that you tore up those papers, I'll get new ones, but you put the idea of divorce in my head, and now, I want a divorce Bill. Your actions have consequences, and your coldness has frozen my heart enough that I don't want to be with you anymore.”

“Don't say words you'll regret, woman!”.

“I would never regret speaking the truth, but you know what I regret?” I started up the stairs quickly. “That I didn't think about divorce sooner! I regret not messing with Brandon for real!”

I felt a pressure lift off my shoulders. I had never thought I would have the courage to tell him that. 

I locked myself in the room before my husband caught up with me, I knew that after that, he would be angry, angry enough to commit something crazy.

“Take back what you said, woman!”

“I won't! I want a divorce!”

“The only one here who decides divorces is me, and Vanessa, you will be my wife for the rest of your days.” I kept silent, letting a small tear fall. “And forget about ever seeing Brandon at the company again.”

“Don't you dare fire him!” I yelled, “or I won't respond!”

“Are you threatening me?!”

“Take it any way you want, I just know I won't respond if you do anything else to Brandon.”

***

My husband was furious enough with me that he didn't show up at the company.

I told him that if he fired Brandon, I was going to move heaven and earth for a divorce, but that if I allowed him to continue working, the marriage would remain intact, which was a lie, since I would get divorced anyway, but at least that gave me the time and a chance that the righteous wouldn't pay for the sinners.

“I'm so sorry, Brandon” I thought, as I searched through the company's paperwork for the man's contact number.

Once I found it, I didn't hesitate to call Brandon. I needed to know he was okay, but Brandon didn't answer.

I tried calling him three more times, but nothing happened. He didn't answer and he was late for work. I just prayed that my husband Bill hadn't done something crazy.

I left my office and took the elevator. 

My eyes snapped up as my intuition told me to do so, and I ran into none other than Brandon.

I didn't think too much before walking quickly towards him. From a distance I saw that he had injuries and I couldn't help but feel guilty, for it had been me who had insisted that he come and take me to my room at home.

“Brandon!”

“Vanessa!”

“I'm so sorry! It's all my fault!”

Brandon sighed, apparently not wanting to talk about it.

BRANDON:

The last morning, I had woken up at six in the morning, I had realized that I was in my boss's wife's bed, but I had decided to do nothing, on the contrary, I had decided to stay there, so it was all my fault.

Only a few minutes after I had decided to stay there, Vanessa's husband had arrived and the two of us had had a loud argument that had ended in a violent fight between the two of us. 

But it had been worth it, because no blow could overshadow how good those moments with her had felt. 

So close to her lips that I could have kissed them, so close to her body that....

“It's not your fault,” I said to Vanessa, “believe me, it's my fault. Besides, I'd rather not talk about it, anyway, I know your husband is going to end my career.”

“No, he won't, believe me” Vanessa assured me.

What had happened hadn't been something simple like dropping some papers or losing a few documents. My boss had found me in bed with his wife, who was half-naked.

“Vanessa, I don't think there's too much you can do, but it's okay, you don't have to worry, I'll try to find another job.”

“No, you won't look for another job” Vanessa placed her hand on my shoulder, causing my body to shiver; I would be lying if I said I didn't love her touch. “I'll make sure you keep working here, I swear, Brandon.”

Brandon swallowed hard, I didn't want to get my hopes up but she preciated so determined to save my position at the company that her interest seemed beyond professional.

She looked at me, she had all the passion in her eyes that my life seemed to need.

Vanessa decided to say goodbye to me. For a moment I thought she had noticed my thoughts.

I shook my head, not understanding what was going on with me.

 “Wait for me” I said as I watched her go. “I'll take the elevator too.”

She swallowed dryly, nodding. She didn't look very comfortable, after all, not only had I seen her naked body, but I had also been on it.

I knew at that moment I must be having the awkward conversation I had wanted to avoid.

“Vanessa” I said “I think we should talk about some things related to the day we slept together.”

Vanessa's look filled with horrible nerves. 

“I don't think there is anything to talk about Brandon”.

“You're wrong, well we need to talk about what happened, I know I've caused you problems in your marriage, news travels fast.”

“It's not your fault, you shouldn't worry” she said, trying to make the conversation die, but I wouldn't allow it.

“I didn't want to sleep with you, but I was too buzzed” I mumbled, almost with difficulty as I knew I was lying. “Sorry for sleeping with you, Vanessa, sorry for ruining your marriage.”

That was the moment Vanessa laughed.

“I don't know if I can be this honest with you, but my marriage has been this ruined for too long.” 

I always knew, it was too obvious that Bill never appreciated the gem he had in his house. I couldn't help but think that if he had it, I would always appreciate it. 

 “I'm so sorry, Vanessa.”

“Don't apologize.”

 “Who are you staying with now?” I asked, suddenly, that seemed to take her by surprise.

 “At my mother's house, although I'll be staying in a hotel soon.”

 “My house will always be available if you need it, it may not be as luxurious as yours, but you can spend the night there” I told her. “I think I should go” I announced, nervously.

“Brandon, wait” the woman held my arm, “now I'm the one who needed to talk to you” I curbed in my tracks, “how do you know I'm leaving my husband's house?”

I passed saliva, I hadn't thought to tell her that, but I supposed it was her right to know.

“The boss, your husband, has been spreading a rumor.”

“What do you mean?”

“He's told several employees that you...” I sighed deeply.

“Tell me, Brandon!”

“He's told several employees that you have a sexually transmitted disease that you acquired by sleeping with random men, that you wanted to give him that disease, and that's why he kicked you out of the house.”

Vanessa's limbs shook in fury, I could see it.

“I have to go, Brandon,” she announced.

“Don't go and do something crazy, Vanessa” I advised her, “we all know that one is just a rumor, a lie.”

“No, Brandon, you know it's a rumor, but the others don't, that bastard wants to ruin my reputation, can you imagine that reaching my mother's ears?” she shrieked, not understanding how her husband had spread a rumor so quickly and effectively like that. “I must go, I must sign the divorce with that man,” she said, determined, “the next time you see me, I will be a single woman.”

And after saying that, she left, and I couldn't help but think that once single, I would have some chance to be by her side, as I had always longed to be.