The Marriage I Outgrew

Gossip

When I arrive on the office, clusters of female employees leaned toward one another, voices low, eyes flickering with curiosity and something sharper beneath it. The air felt different, as if a quiet storm had already passed through and left its residue behind. When I stepped into the lobby with Sir Boris, the murmurs did not disappear at once, but they softened, bending into uneasy silence. A few heads turned. Then quickly lowered.

The receptionist, who had been busy gossiping just moments before, straightened and bowed her head in respect. Yet even that gesture felt strange, almost forced, as if it were meant to cover something that could not quite be hidden. And then there were the cameras. A line of paparazzi stood neatly arranged outside, like hunters waiting at the edge of a clearing. The moment I appeared, they surged forward. Microphones rose toward my face, questions spilling out in a chaotic rush, each one more confusing than the last.

I frowned slightly, the unease beginning to take shape inside me. “Sir Boris, do you know what happened while I was away?”

He swallowed, visibly tense. His hesitation spoke louder than any answer. He knew something. That much was clear. But for reasons of his own, he did not want to say it here.

Earlier, I had stopped by the textile factory to inspect the quality of materials myself. Sir Boris had not accompanied me this time. He only came to pick me up when I called. And now here we were, surrounded by whispers that followed me like shadows all the way to my office, after forcing our way through the swarm of reporters.

“Just tell me.”

He glanced around, cautious, as though the walls themselves might be listening. Understanding his unease, I gestured for him to follow me inside my office. The door closed behind us, sealing away the noise outside.

Even then, he remained silent. I took a seat by the guest table and motioned for him to sit as well. He obeyed, though his posture remained stiff. “So, what do you know?”

Again, that look. Sympathy, heavy and unspoken. It only made my curiosity sharpen into something colder. “It is about Mr. George.”

Ah. My husband. But what did that have to do with me?

“Yes?”

“Last night, when you were working late and told me to go home… I did not go home immediately.”

I waited. “Then?”

“Mr. George instructed me to pick up a woman and take her to his private residence. She was unconscious… and covered in blood. That is why I took your car with me.”

So that was why my car had not been where I expected it to be.

“I see.”

“And that woman stayed the night at your husband’s house.”

The words struck harder than I expected. For a brief moment, my breath faltered.

Sir Boris seemed to notice the shift in my expression. Guilt flickered across his face. “I am sorry. I should have refused his request. Or at least asked for your permission first.”

“It is all right. My husband’s orders carry more weight than mine.”

The answer came easily. Too easily and yet, something about this did not sit right. No matter how critical her condition had been, should he not have taken her to a hospital? Why bring her to his private residence instead? The logic unraveled the more I followed it. A strange sensation began to creep through me, unfamiliar and difficult to name. It settled somewhere deep in my chest, neither sharp nor dull, but unsettling in a way I could not quite understand.

We owned three houses. Two were private residences, one shared between us. Last night, I had returned to our shared home. George had not been there. If what Sir Boris said was true, then he must have gone to his private residence instead and he had not been alone.

The thought made my head spin, a sudden dizziness clouding my vision. Perhaps I was simply too tired.

Sir Boris looked at me again, concern deepening in his eyes. Without another word, he excused himself and left, saying he would call Zora. Perhaps he was right. I needed Zora.

“Are you all right, Director?” Zora rushed toward me the moment she arrived. Her expression tightened with worry as she took in my pale face. She was already reaching for her phone, ready to call an ambulance, but I stopped her.

“This is not an illness.”

“So you are saying that woman stayed at your husband’s house?” Zora clicked her tongue sharply. The moment I finished explaining, her anger ignited, fierce and immediate, as though she had taken my place in feeling it.

“How shameless can she be? She knows he is married. And yet she stays the night? Is she openly trying to seduce your husband? This is absurd. Completely absurd.” Her outrage echoed what I could not bring myself to say.

The truth was, I wanted to feel the same anger. I wanted to give voice to it, to let it burn. But the shock had sunk too deep. It left me weak. There was only so much strength one could pretend to have.

“Should I confront her for you, Lera? I swear, if I knew what she looked like…”

I was grateful for her presence. Truly. Yet I shook my head. Acting on impulse would only make things worse. And that was not something I could afford. Zora’s shoulders slumped slightly, though she understood. She only wanted to protect me. I knew that.

“I will ask him about it later. For now, we deal with this unpleasant rumor. After that, we return to work.”

She nodded, gathering herself, slipping back into the sharp composure of her professional role. But the world around me still felt unsteady, as if it were quietly tilting beneath my feet. A faint nausea lingered. How could George be so careless?

***

That night, George and I sat side by side. Once a week, we made time for each other in the midst of our busy lives. Usually, he would chatter at length, but this time his mood seemed off. I tried to find the right moment to ask about him and the woman he had brought. Our conversation kept circling around business. Occasionally, I responded, but my curiosity wouldn’t let me stay silent.

“I heard you brought another woman to your private house.”

I deliberately used the words another woman. Not only was I testing his honesty, I also wanted to see what kind of reaction he would show me. And as I had expected, his face turned tense. He even stopped chewing for a moment. His brows drew together. It was an expression I had never seen from him before.

“Where did you hear that?” This time, he seemed to be trying to intimidate me. But I merely shrugged, maintaining my usual calm demeanor.

“Everyone at the company is talking about it. I couldn’t avoid hearing it.” At least it hadn’t become the whole world’s business because I had already taken care of that.

“So you trust them more than your own husband?”

Did he not realize the foolishness of what he had done?

“I’m just trying to uncover the truth in my own way. Whether I trust them or not is my right, isn’t it?”

“But you sound like you’re accusing me of something. Am I wrong?”

“I’m only asking whether it’s true that you brought a woman to your private house. I’m not accusing you.” Of course this is not accusing because I already had solid proof.

“We only see each other once a week. Can’t we talk about something else?”

“Alright. I think I already have my answer.”

“What do you mean, what answer?”

“You don’t want to say it. That’s all.”

“You didn’t even ask how I’ve been.”

I could still hear his voice, soft and faint. But I chose to walk away, protecting my dignity.