Chapter 7

As I sat at my desk, trying to process everything I had learned about Kaye, I couldn't help but wonder if my husband Gael knew about her past. Did he know about her history of manipulation and deception? Did he know about her troubled childhood and her tendency to use men for her own gain?

I thought about Gael's character, about the kind of man he was. He was a successful businessman, confident and charming. He was the kind of man who always got what he wanted, and he wasn't afraid to use his wealth and influence to get it.

But Gael was also a man with a strong sense of pride and class. He came from a wealthy family, and he had always been surrounded by the finer things in life. He was a man who valued elegance and sophistication, and he wouldn't hesitate to dismiss anyone who didn't meet his high standards.

As I thought about Gael's character, I wondered if he would even be interested in someone like Kaye. Kaye was a woman from a lower class, a woman who had struggled to make ends meet. She was a woman who had been forced to use her charm and beauty to get by, a woman who had a reputation for being manipulative and deceitful.

I couldn't imagine Gael being attracted to someone like Kaye. He was a man who valued class and sophistication, and Kaye was the exact opposite. She was a woman who was rough around the edges, a woman who didn't fit into Gael's high-society world.

Maybe, I thought, Gael didn't know about Kaye's past. Maybe he had been blinded by her charm and beauty, maybe he had seen only what he wanted to see. Maybe he had no idea about her history of manipulation and deception, maybe he had no idea about her troubled childhood and her tendency to use men for her own gain.

And maybe, I thought, Gael would forget all about Kaye once he learned the truth. Maybe he would be disgusted by her past, maybe he would be appalled by her behavior. Maybe he would realize that he had made a mistake, maybe he would realize that Kaye was not the kind of woman he wanted to be with.

As I sat at my desk, thinking about Gael and Kaye, I couldn't help but feel a sense of hope. Maybe, just maybe, Gael would come to his senses and realize that Kaye was not the kind of woman he wanted to be with. Maybe he would forget all about her and come back to me, maybe he would realize that I was the one he truly loved.

But as I sat there, thinking about Gael and Kaye, I also couldn't help but feel a sense of doubt. Maybe Gael was already too far gone, maybe he was already too invested in Kaye to turn back now. Maybe he would never forget about her, maybe he would never come back to me.

As I sat at my desk, thinking about Gael and Kaye, I couldn't help but feel a sense of uncertainty. I didn't know what the future held, I didn't know what Gael would do. All I could do was wait and see, all I could do was hope for the best.

As I sat at my desk, I couldn't shake off the feeling that I had to do something. I couldn't just sit back and watch Gael continue to flirt with Kaye, not knowing the truth about her. I had to tell him, I had to show him the evidence I had gathered.

I carefully placed the papers and documents I had found into my bag, making sure they were secure and wouldn't get damaged. I then stood up, smoothing out my dress and taking a deep breath. I was ready to confront Gael, to show him the truth about Kaye.

As I walked out of my office, I couldn't help but feel a sense of determination. I was going to make sure Gael knew the truth, no matter what it took. I was going to make sure he understood that Kaye was not the woman he thought she was.

I made my way to Gael's office, my heart pounding in my chest. I could feel my palms sweating, but I didn't care. I was on a mission, and I wasn't going to let anything get in my way.

As I arrived at Gael's office, I took a deep breath and knocked on the door. I heard his voice, inviting me in, and I pushed open the door.

Gael looked up at me, a smile on his face. "Hey, what's up?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. "I need to talk to you about something," I said, my voice firm but controlled.

Gael's smile faltered, and he looked at me with a hint of concern. "What is it?" he asked, his voice softer now.

I reached into my bag and pulled out the papers, holding them out to Gael. "I want you to see this," I said, my voice steady. "I want you to know the truth about Kaye."

Gael's eyes widened as he took the papers from me, his face pale. He began to read, his eyes scanning the pages, and I could see the shock and disgust written all over his face.

As he read, I could feel a sense of satisfaction wash over me. I had done it, I had shown Gael the truth about Kaye. And now, he would finally understand why I had been so opposed to their relationship.

But as I looked at Gael, I saw something that made my heart sink. I saw a look of uncertainty, a look of doubt. And I realized, with a sinking feeling, that Gael might not be as convinced as I thought he would be.

"What does this mean?" Gael asked, his voice hesitant. "Is this really true?"

I nodded, feeling a sense of frustration. "Yes, it's true," I said. "Kaye is not the woman you think she is. She's manipulative and deceitful, and she's only using you for her own gain."

Gael looked at me, his eyes searching. "I don't know, Cynthia," he said. "I need to think about this."

I felt a sense of anger and frustration wash over me. Think about it? How could he possibly doubt me? Didn't he trust me?

But as I looked at Gael, I saw something that made my heart ache. I saw a man who was torn, a man who was struggling to reconcile his feelings with the truth.

And I realized, with a heavy heart, that I might have been too late. Gael might already be too invested in Kaye, too far gone to turn back now.

As I watched Gael's face, I couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. I had finally shown him the truth about Kaye, and he was clearly shocked. His eyes were wide, and his face was pale. He looked like he had been punched in the gut.

I knew Gael, and I knew that he would never want to be with someone like Kaye. He was a man who valued class and sophistication, and Kaye was the exact opposite. She was a woman with a low-class record, someone who had been involved in all sorts of shady dealings.

Gael was a man who liked to associate with people who were successful and respected. He liked to be seen with people who were classy and elegant. And Kaye was not that kind of person.

As I looked at Gael, I could see the wheels turning in his head. He was trying to process what he had just learned, trying to reconcile his feelings with the truth. And I knew that it wouldn't take him long to come to his senses.

Gael was a smart man, and he would quickly realize that Kaye was not the kind of woman he wanted to be with. He would see that she was not worthy of him, that she was beneath him.

And when he did, I would be there, waiting for him. I would be the one he turned to, the one he confided in. And I would be the one who helped him pick up the pieces of his broken heart.

As I watched Gael, I couldn't help but feel a sense of triumph. I had won, and Kaye had lost. Gael would never look at Kaye the same way again, and I would be the one who benefited from it.

But as I turned to leave, I caught a glimpse of Gael's face. And what I saw made my heart skip a beat. Gael was looking at me, but his eyes were not filled with gratitude or admiration. Instead, they were filled with anger and resentment.

And in that moment, I realized that I might have made a mistake. Gael might not be as grateful as I thought he would be. He might be angry, and he might lash out at me.

I felt a sense of unease wash over me, and I knew that I had to be careful. I had to tread carefully, or I might find myself on the receiving end of Gael's wrath.

As the days went by, I couldn't help but notice a change in Gael's behavior. He was no longer the outgoing, social person he used to be. Instead, he seemed withdrawn and isolated, content to spend his evenings watching television alone.

At first, I thought this was a good sign. Maybe Gael had finally come to his senses and realized that Kaye was not the right woman for him. Maybe he was taking time to reflect on his mistakes and figure out what he really wanted.

But as the days turned into weeks, I began to worry. Gael seemed to be withdrawing from the world, and I wasn't sure why. He would spend hours on the couch, staring blankly at the TV, and never even bother to answer Kaye's phone calls.

I would see Kaye's name pop up on his phone, and I would watch as Gael ignored the call, letting it go straight to voicemail. It was like he was avoiding her, like he didn't want to have anything to do with her.

I couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction whenever I saw this. It was like Gael was finally seeing Kaye for who she really was, and he was distancing himself from her.

But at the same time, I was worried about Gael. He seemed so withdrawn and isolated, and I wasn't sure what was going on inside his head. Was he okay? Was he struggling with something?

I tried to talk to him, to ask him what was wrong, but he just shrugged me off. "I'm fine," he would say, his voice flat and emotionless. "Just tired, that's all."

I didn't believe him, of course. I knew that something was bothering him, something that he wasn't willing to talk about. And I couldn't help but wonder if it had something to do with Kaye.

Had Gael finally realized that Kaye was not the right woman for him? Was he struggling to come to terms with his mistakes, and to figure out what he really wanted?

I didn't know, and I couldn't ask him. All I could do was watch and wait, hoping that Gael would eventually come out of his shell and start living again.

As the days turned into weeks, I continued to watch Gael, trying to understand what was going on inside his head. And I couldn't help but feel a sense of hope, hope that he would eventually come to his senses and realize that Kaye was not the right woman for him.

***

As I walked into my office, I couldn't help but feel a sense of optimism. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and I had a spring in my step. I had just had a great morning, and I was feeling confident and ready to take on the day.

As I settled into my chair, my secretary knocked on the door. "You have a visitor," she said, her voice neutral.

I looked up, expecting to see a client or a colleague. But instead, I was shocked to see Kaye standing in the doorway, a innocent-looking smile plastered on her face.

My eyes widened in surprise, and I felt a surge of anger and indignation. How dare she show up here, in my office, after everything she had done?

Kaye was dressed in a modest outfit, her hair pulled back in a neat bun. She looked like the epitome of innocence, and I couldn't believe how brazen she was. Did she really think she could just waltz in here and pretend like nothing had happened?

I felt a smirk spreading across my face as I looked at Kaye. I couldn't believe how bold she was, how willing she was to confront me after everything she had done.

"Come in," I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "Please, do tell. What brings you to my office today?"

Kaye's smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered. "I just wanted to talk to you about Gael," she said, her voice sweet and innocent.

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite myself. What could Kaye possibly have to say about Gael?

"Oh?" I said, leaning back in my chair. "Do tell. What about Gael?"

Kaye took a deep breath, her eyes locked on mine. "I just wanted to let you know that Gael and I are...close," she said, her voice dripping with implication.

I felt a surge of anger and jealousy, but I pushed it aside. I wasn't going to let Kaye get to me, not today.

"Is that so?" I said, my voice cool and detached. "Well, I'm not sure what that has to do with me."

Kaye's smile faltered again, and for a moment, I saw a glimmer of uncertainty in her eyes. But then, her mask slipped back into place, and she was once again the confident, self-assured woman she had always been.

As I sat behind my desk, I looked up at Kaye with a mixture of surprise and annoyance. "What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice firm but controlled.

Kaye's smile faltered for a moment, but then she took a step forward, her eyes locked on mine. "I came to talk to you," she said, her voice soft and gentle.

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite myself. "About what?" I asked, my voice skeptical.

But before Kaye could answer, she suddenly dropped to her knees in front of me, her eyes pleading. "I love Gael," she said, her voice trembling with emotion. "I know you're his wife, but I couldn't help the way I feel. I love him, and I want to be with him."

I felt a surge of laughter rise up in my throat, but it was quickly replaced by a sense of offense. How dare she come into my office and declare her love for my husband? How dare she think that she could just waltz in here and steal him away from me?

I looked at Kaye, my eyes cold and hard. "You're brave, I'll give you that," I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "But you're also incredibly foolish. Gael is my husband, and he's not going anywhere."

Kaye's face fell, but she didn't get up. She just knelt there, her eyes pleading with me to understand. But I didn't understand. I didn't understand how she could be so brazen, so confident that she could just steal my husband away from me.

I leaned forward, my eyes locked on Kaye's. "Let me make one thing clear," I said, my voice firm and commanding. "Gael is mine, and I'm not going to let you take him away from me. You need to leave him alone, and you need to leave me alone. Do you understand?"

Kaye nodded, her eyes still pleading, but I just turned my back on her. "Get out," I said, my voice cold and hard. "Get out of my office, and get out of our lives."

As I turned my back on Kaye, I expected her to leave. But instead, she remained kneeling in front of me, her eyes pleading with me to listen.

"Please," she said, her voice trembling with emotion. "Just talk to Gael. Ask him to answer my phone calls. I need to speak with him, to tell him how I feel."

I was shocked. How dare she ask me to do such a thing? Didn't she know that I was Gael's wife, and that I wouldn't just betray him like that?

I stood up, my anger and outrage boiling over. I took a step forward, my hand raised as if to slap her. But Kaye didn't flinch. Instead, she slowly stood up, her eyes locked on mine.

"Don't," she said, her voice firm and commanding. "Don't try to hurt me. I'm not afraid of you."

I was taken aback. How dare she stand up to me like that? Didn't she know who I was?

But Kaye just smiled, a brave and defiant smile. "You may be Gael's wife in name," she said, "but you're not the one he loves. I am. And I know that he adores me, that he can't live without me."

I was speechless with anger. How dare she say such a thing? Didn't she know that I was Gael's wife, and that I had every right to be angry?

But Kaye just turned and walked away, leaving me standing there, seething with rage. I was furious, but I was also helpless. I didn't know what to do, or how to react.

As I stood there, trying to process what had just happened, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. Kaye was a formidable opponent, and I knew that I had underestimated her.

She was brave, and she was determined. And I knew that she would stop at nothing to get what she wanted.

As I watched Kaye walk out of my office, I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread. What would she do next? And how would I be able to stop her?

As I stood there, watching Kaye walk out of my office, I felt a wave of anger wash over me. I was furious, not just at Kaye, but at the entire situation. How dare she come into my office and declare her love for my husband? How dare she think that she could just waltz in here and steal him away from me?

I felt a surge of adrenaline coursing through my veins, and before I knew it, I was storming over to my desk, my hands flying across the surface, sending papers and pens flying. I was like a tornado, tearing through everything in my path, leaving a trail of destruction in my wake.

I threw my chair back, and it crashed to the floor, the sound echoing through the office. I didn't care. I was beyond reason, beyond rational thought. I was consumed by anger, by rage, by a sense of betrayal and hurt.

I swept my arm across my desk, sending everything crashing to the floor. Papers, files, pens, pencils - everything went flying. I didn't care. I just wanted to destroy something, to vent my anger and frustration.

I kicked my trash can, sending it rolling across the floor, spilling its contents everywhere. I didn't care. I just wanted to keep destroying, to keep venting my anger.

I stormed over to my bookshelf, pulling books off the shelf, sending them crashing to the floor. I didn't care. I just wanted to keep destroying, to keep venting my anger.

I was a force of nature, unstoppable and unrelenting. I was a storm, a hurricane, a tornado. I was destruction incarnate.

And when I finally stopped, when I finally exhausted myself, I stood there, panting, surveying the destruction I had wrought. My office was a mess, a disaster zone. Papers and books and pens and pencils were scattered everywhere. My chair was overturned, my trash can was spilled, and my bookshelf was empty.

I stood there, looking at the mess, feeling a sense of satisfaction, of release. I had vented my anger, I had destroyed something, and I had made myself feel better.

But as I stood there, surveying the destruction, I knew that I couldn't stay there. I had to get out, I had to get away from the mess, from the anger, from the hurt.

I took a deep breath, and I turned and walked out of my office, leaving the destruction behind.

As I walked out of my office building, I couldn't shake off the feeling of anger and frustration that still lingered inside me. I needed to get out of there, to clear my head and calm down. I decided to go for a drive, hoping that the fresh air and the motion of the car would help to soothe my frazzled nerves.

I walked to the parking lot, got into my car, and started the engine. As I pulled out of the parking lot, I noticed a taxi driving away from the curb. And then I saw her - Kaye, sitting in the backseat of the taxi, looking smug and self-satisfied.

My anger flared up again, and I felt a sudden urge to follow her. I didn't know where she was going, but I was determined to find out. I pulled out of the parking lot and followed the taxi, keeping a safe distance so as not to be seen.

As we drove through the city, I couldn't help but wonder where Kaye was going. Was she meeting Gael somewhere? Was she going to try and convince him to leave me for her?

The taxi turned off the main road and onto a smaller side street. I followed, my heart pounding in my chest. Where was she going?

The taxi pulled up in front of a seedy-looking motel on the outskirts of town. Kaye got out of the taxi and looked around, as if she was checking to make sure no one was watching. And then she walked into the motel, disappearing from view.

I pulled over to the side of the road, my mind racing with questions. What was Kaye doing at a motel? Was she meeting someone there? And who was it?

I sat there for a few moments, trying to process what I had just seen. And then I made a decision. I was going to find out what Kaye was up to, and I was going to stop her before she could do any more harm.

I put the car in gear and pulled back out onto the road, my heart pounding with anticipation. I was going to get to the bottom of this, no matter what it took.