Heiress's Secret

05

I kept the hotel key card inside one of Ethan's clothes, taking off the rest to the laundry man.

I strolled along, my heart beating with hope that my suspicion shouldn't be turned into a reality.

Ethan came back from work, got into his room and stayed absolutely silent. It was rather strange that he hadn't thundered his way through, yelling out commands to any who cared to hear.

I walked up to his room and was about to knock on the door when he let out a hysterical laugh.

I placed my ear to the door frame ready to pick up anything he said afterward.

But then he spoke in hushed tones, his voice strained so hard that I couldn't pick any meaningful thing he said. I finally summoned courage to knock on the door.

It took about a minute before Ethan opened up the door with a deep smile across his lips.

“You knocked?” Ethan asked impatiently.

“I'd like us to resolve a lot of things about our marriage,” I said, peering over his shoulders for any clue on what he could be hiding.

“We can talk about this later on, I'm on an important business call,” Ethan said, shutting the door on me. I could hear as he giggled while he collapsed onto his bed.

I returned back to my room knowing that I'd soon have blown evidence against Ethan.

Around 7pm Ethan picked up a few clothes, preparing to travel.

“Another trip?” I asked, leaning on the door frame as he did his thing.

“Yeah, I will be out of town for two days. You pretty much got all you need here,”

He picked up his bag and his car keys hanging on the wall

I waved at him, when he was about to leave the house.

“Please be safe out there,” I called out tenderly.

“This time around do me the favour of being indoors. I don't need you to do any damn job. I'm enough for you. If you can do this, I believe we can even things out when I'm back.” Ethan said before stomping out.

I nodded affirmatively.

I watched as he walked down the lawn, opened up the door of the car and zoomed off almost immediately.

I waited a moment, then got dressed to follow up from behind.

Each turn burned like a journey through hell. My heart drummed hard against my chest as beads of sweat rolled down my cheeks. It was best I returned back home, how could I be leading myself to what could destroy me.

Then all of a sudden, Ethan parked his car at the corner of the road. He got down and immediately opened the passenger's door for a lady.

The lady seemed familiar but I wasn't certain as cars passed by blocking a proper view. The distance between my car and his was quite obvious as well.

One thing was sure, Ethan was definitely not going for a meeting.

I followed up till they got to the hotel. Ethan found a spot to park and in the same order opened up the car for the lady to come down.

The lady walked hand-in-hand with Ethan and that's when it struck me on who the lady was.

It was no other person than Elena.

“Elena,?” I muttered each breath suddenly becoming a chore.

How is that? My best friend?

Goosebumps rose speedily across my skin alongside a deep grueling pit inside my stomach. My vision blurred, my chest burning as Ethan and Elena flaunted their affection publicly.

Two days later I was still inconsolable over what I had seen. My best friend since childhood was comfortable enough to be my pain and joy at the same time.

“What the heck are you saying? I'd cheat on you and with all people your best friend? c'mon!” Ethan defended blindly.

I didn’t wait a single moment to confront him as soon as he came back. The pictures I took were evident enough on my claim but Ethan still remained adamant. I thought myself crazy at some point.

“Oh please don't do that, I know what I saw. You can't tell me my eyes have been playing tricks on me. No way at all. You can't gaslight yourself out of this,” I said, immediately showing him his picture with Elena.

“That's obviously doctored, how stupid can you be exactly. You know this is the same reason, I never wanted you to get a job. You go around places where you're not invited. Because tell me why don't you see how doctored this picture is.”

“Oh please, I took these pictures myself.”

“I'm out, and you had better delete that picture before it gets to the wrong person. I won't have you tarnish my hard earned image.” Ethan said, banging the door at my face as he left the house.

For the rest of the day I couldn't still get the idea of everything off my mind. So I called Alex, a big potential risk as he was now my boss but this time I need him as my friend. A friend that has been nothing but kind to me.

Alex came over the house.

We talked for a moment, then got into his car as he drove us to a hotel nearby.

We got checked into a room. Alex watched me take a seat as I narrated all that happened and how Ethan had played the victim's card on me.

Alex held me in a warm embrace, the embrace I didn't know I needed so badly. I allowed all the pent up emotions flow down in tears as he held me close.

“I'm here with you,” he assured, fitting my head in between his hands as our eyes held on to each other.

At first it was an impulse but later it was a force leading me on, his masculine scent seeking to pull my insides apart.

So I did the unthinkable, I pulled him close and planted a kiss on his lips, he was quick to return the energy no questions asked as the kiss got sensual.