As we checked out of the hotel, the manager gave me a knowing glance and a wink, the kind that confirms there were definitely CCTV cameras up on the roof. I don’t care though; I’m just so happy right now.
The trip home was loads of fun, with Danny keeping me amused for the entire journey. He insisted I get some sleep while he drove, but I didn’t want to just abandon him. Plus, as much as I trust him, I still like to keep one eye on him.
As fun as the trip was, after four hours in the car I am ready to get a bath, put some comfortable clothes on and get in my own bed. Danny and I can’t get enough of each other though, so the plan is to both head home, freshen up and then meet up later for a threesome with Netflix. House of Cards is on the agenda, and Danny is determined to catch me up before the new season starts.
Danny pulls up in the taxi bay outside my flat and insists on carrying my bags up for me, much to the annoyance of the actual taxi drivers parked outside. We share a quick kiss before he leaves, but I don’t even have a chance to get my shoes off before my phone rings.
‘Candice, are you back?’ Sweet Caroline asks, without so much as a hello.
‘Caroline – just,’ I reply. ‘What’s up?’
‘We need you to come in,’ she tells me.
I glance at the time. It’s nearly the end of the working day and it’s Friday.
‘Erm, OK,’ I reply. ‘Right now?’
‘Right now,’ she replies, hanging up.
I quickly use the bathroom, glancing in the mirror, fluffing up my hair and touching up my make-up before heading back out. In my ripped skinny jeans and my awkwardly low top, I’m not exactly dressed for the office, but I’m not technically supposed to be there, so they’ll have to take me as I am.
I grab my handbag, hop into one of the taxis outside and soon enough I’m at Starr Haul HQ, making my way up the banana, heading for the office I share with Caroline.
As I walk through the door I notice her sitting at her desk, but then I glance over at my desk and see that Stephanie – Will’s wife – is sitting there.
‘Caroline, can you go get us some tea, give us a moment?’ Stephanie asks her.
Caroline nods and shuffles towards the door. As she passes me she looks me up and down, uttering something only loud enough for me to hear.
‘You look like a prostitute,’ she says.
‘You’re not the first person to say that,’ I call after her, giving no shits what she thinks, but Stephanie’s presence here has me worried sick. She never really visits the office.
‘Sit,’ she insists, nodding towards a chair that has been placed in front of my desk that isn’t usually there.
As I sit down, I notice the pram in the corner of the room, with their new baby boy fast asleep in there. I’m assuming it’s a boy because of all the blue crap surrounding him.
‘I’m just going to blurt it out,’ she starts anxiously, taking a deep breath, composing herself. ‘I found out Will was cheating on me this morning. Pictures on his phone, so there’s no lying his way out of this one.’
I stare at her, paralysed by fear, terrified by what she’s going to do. Suddenly, I don’t feel safe being in a room with her. I imagine trying to explain myself, only for her not to believe me and pour scalding hot tea over me while Caroline holds me down… I give myself a mental pinch and tell myself to calm down. I just need to explain, and maybe – hopefully – she’ll believe me.
‘Mrs Starr, I am so sorry,’ I start, unsure how on earth to make it sound as heartfelt as I mean it.
‘It’s not your fault,’ she says, wiping her tears away with the backs of her hands. ‘But obviously there’s a lot of fallout for the business, so we’re in crisis mode here. Will has gone AWOL, the chicken,’ she snaps. ‘So it’s all hands on deck, if you don’t mind.’
‘I…I didn’t think you’d want me to help,’ I stutter.
‘Of course I do,’ she insists. ‘I know it must be hard; I know that Will looked out for you – almost like a dad to you – this must surprise you.’
I stare at her for a moment, confused. As I wrack my brains for any possible reason she could be so cool with me after I have wrecked her marriage, I realise something: I never had my photo taken with Will. Not even once.
‘You said you found photos,’ I push, inconsiderately.
‘Oh, yes,’ she says angrily. ‘Him and the slag in bed. She’s some young thing, cleans his office.’
‘Julie?’ I ask.
‘That’s the one,’ she replies. ‘Needless to say, I sacked her. I’ve stepped in while Will is off having his pathetic little meltdown – he’s probably with her. I’m on the board of directors and this company is my kids’ future. I’m not going to let it go to shit because he can’t keep his dick in his pants – again.’
I had never imagined Stephanie to be the kind of lady who swears, but she’s only human, I suppose. All this time I was feeling like shit over how Will betrayed me, and here’s this poor woman with three kids to him who has been repeatedly cheated on and lied to by him. And not only has he done it before, but he’s been cheating on both of us with a third person as well. Julie the fucking cleaner, the one he would always complain about, the one he needed to keep having words with about the poor job she was doing… He’s a piece of shit. All this time I was worried about being the other woman and I wasn’t even that, I was the other other woman.
‘I am so so sorry,’ I tell her. ‘If there’s anything I can do…’
‘Thank you,’ she replies, her eyes filling up with tears again. She seems to be alternating between tears and fits of anger, and I don’t blame her at all. ‘No doubt he’ll surface tonight, in time for his fucking party.’
‘Party?’ I ask.
‘Yes, the big company party to celebrate the anniversary of him taking over, the egotistical twat.’
‘Oh,’ I reply. I’d forgotten about that. All employees are expected to attend. Well, all but Julie, I’d imagine.
‘So, Caroline will be back in a moment. She’s putting a damage-control plan in place – everyone is talking; it’s horrible.’
‘I can’t even begin to imagine,’ I tell her honestly.
‘I won’t be at the party tonight, but… I doubt she will, but if that slag turns up, will you call me, please?’
‘Sure,’ I reply.
‘I don’t see why I should let some opportunistic tart steal my husband – take my happy family away from me. I sure as hell don’t want him now, but she’s not having him. No way.’
I nod my head as I grab my phone to text Danny, to remind him about the work party tonight.
Danny: See you there. Wear the red dress. Xx
Me: Will do. Lots to tell you… xx
I stare at Stephanie for a moment and the hurt look on her face makes me feel sick – sick with myself. I may not have been knowingly sleeping with her husband, but I was sleeping with him, and I can’t help but feel bad. So technically it wasn’t me who ended their marriage, but what does it matter? Their marriage is ruined.
As Stephanie rummages around, shuffling the paperwork in front of her, I notice the ring I found in Will’s pocket on her finger, confirming that the ring was never intended for me, and proving what a piece of shit Will really is. I feel like I’ve had a lucky escape, to make it out of such a horrible situation without having my heart broken or my reputation damaged.
I don’t know if Julie, his other other woman, knew the real deal or if he lied to her too, but that girl’s reputation is trashed. She’s the girl who slept with her married boss and ended his marriage, just days after his wife gave birth. I can’t even imagine how things would be playing out for me right now if I had been her. I’m just glad I got out when I did. I never wanted to hurt anyone; I just wanted to be happy. Now I realise that I wasn’t happy at all, I can move on with my life. One thing I do know for sure is that I can’t wait to hang out with Danny tonight.