How my EX-HUSBAND became my BOSS

Chapter 10: Tom fights his Demons

Tom Stanley stood at the window of his office, looking out over bustling London. His eyes reflected the lights of the evening city, but his thoughts were far away, in a maze of his own feelings and doubts. He knew that his marriage to Sarah had long since ceased to be what he had once imagined. There was no warmth left in their relationship, no closeness, no mutual understanding that should be between spouses.

Every day Tom realized more and more clearly that his heart belonged to Mary. Memories of the past, of the years they'd spent together, of the joys and sorrows they'd shared, kept coming back to him. He remembered their first kiss, their first quarrels, their first steps toward reconciliation - all the things that had formed the fabric of their former lives. And along with these memories, the certainty grew and grew stronger: he had never stopped loving Mary.

But with love came doubt. Tom knew that his feelings for Mary were jeopardizing his marriage, his reputation, perhaps even his career. He fought his demons - his sense of duty to Sarah, the knowledge that his actions might hurt her. But his love for Mary was stronger than his doubts.

Deep down, Tom knew he couldn't live in this fake marriage with no love and no understanding. He felt trapped in a cage with no way out until Mary came back into his life. Her presence in the office, her look, her smile - everything reminded him that life could be different, that he could be truly happy.

Still, Tom couldn't just walk away from his commitment. He was trying to find a balance between his feelings and his duty, between the past and the future, between his love for Mary and his responsibility to Sarah. But with each passing day, this balance became more and more fragile, and Tom found himself thinking that his decision was already made.

He often stayed up late in his office, running through various scenarios of the future in his head. What would happen if he told Sarah about his feelings for Mary? How will she react? Will he be able to live with the consequences of his confession? These questions haunted him, tormented his soul, forced him to return to painful thoughts again and again.

Sometimes Tom thought he could hear whispers from the past that reminded him of happy moments with Sarah, how they'd made their plans, dreamed about the future. But the whisper was quickly drowned out by the memory of Mary, of the spark that flared between them at every glance, of the attraction they couldn't hide.

Tom knew that his life was at a crossroads. He had to make a choice that would determine his future, Mary's and Sarah's. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't find an answer that would suit everyone. His soul was torn between love and duty, between the desire to be happy and responsibility for other people's feelings.

These days, Tom was increasingly looking for Mary, even though he was trying to keep his distance. It was important for him to see her, to talk to her, to feel her closeness. Every time they were close, his heart beat faster and his thoughts became confused. He knew that these meetings only served to strengthen his feelings, to make the choice even more difficult and painful.

Meanwhile, rumors continued to circulate in the office, Richard's intrigues gained momentum, and Sarah was increasingly looking for evidence of his infidelity. Tom felt that time was working against him, that he would soon have to show his cards, whether he was ready for it or not.

But for now, he continued to fight his demons, trying to find a way out of this maze of feelings and responsibilities. He knew that sooner or later he would have to make a move that would change everything. But this step required not only determination, but also readiness for the consequences, for the pain and frustration that would inevitably follow.

Still, Tom couldn't shake the idea that his future lay with Mary. He kept hoping that he would find a way to make everyone happy, that he would be able to overcome all the obstacles to his happiness. But deep down, he knew that the price of this happiness might be too high.

As the days passed, Tom sank deeper into his own thoughts. He felt lonely and lost, even though there were a lot of people around him. His soul was torn between the past and the future, between duty and desire, between love and responsibility.

Still, he knew that one day he would have to make a choice. He knew that this choice would not be easy, that it would require all his willpower and determination. But for now, he continued to fight his demons, continuing to find a way out of this tangled maze of feelings.

Each new day brought new doubts and new hopes. Tom lived in a haze where reality mixed with dreams, and the past with the future. And in this fog, he continued to search for a way out, continuing to hope for a miracle that would help him resolve this internal conflict.

But time passed, and Tom felt that the moment of truth was approaching, when he would have to make a choice. He didn't know what it would be like, but he knew that this choice would determine the rest of his life.

In the meantime, he continued to live in this shaky world of doubt and hope, continuing to search for answers to his questions and trying to sort out his feelings. And every day this task became more difficult, because the heart and mind were engaged in an unequal battle, and no one could predict who would win.

Elizabeth Taylor had long harbored feelings for Tom Stanley. Ever since she'd started working as his secretary, her heart had been beating faster at the sight of him. She admired his determination, intelligence, and charisma. Secretly, she wondered what their future might have been like if Tom had noticed her as something other than an employee. But as time passed, her feelings remained unrequited.

Every day, Elizabeth watched her boss, noting his facial expressions, gestures, and reactions to various events. She saw how he interacts with other people, how he behaves in meetings and in informal settings. And the more she got to know him, the more she fell in love. But at the same time, she understood that Tom had a wife, and he did not show any signs that he wanted to change anything in his family life.

Still, Elizabeth couldn't bear the thought of leaving Tom's life unnoticed. She decided that she should tell him how she felt. Even if the answer was no, at least she would try. The thought of taking her love to the grave without sharing it was unbearable.

Elizabeth had been preparing for this conversation for weeks. She thought through every detail: what he would say, how he would behave, what reaction he might see in Tom's eyes. She imagined different scenarios-from a cold refusal to an unexpected reciprocation. But the closer she got to the date of the conversation, the more doubtful she became.

One morning, when Tom came to the office, Elizabeth felt that this was the day. She waited until he was in his office, then knocked.

"Come in," he said.

Elizabeth opened the door and stepped inside. Her hands were shaking slightly, and her heart was pounding so loudly that Tom thought he should have heard it.

- Is something wrong, Elizabeth?" - What is it? " he asked, looking at her with mild surprise.

"Yes," she began, trying to sound firm, but her voice was treacherously shaky. - I - I wanted to talk to you about something important."

Tom raised his eyebrows to indicate that he was ready to listen. Elizabeth took a deep breath.

- I love you."

There was a heavy silence in the office. Tom was looking at her with a puzzled expression. Elizabeth felt the blood rush to her cheeks, a drop of sweat trickle down her back. She waited with bated breath for an answer.

"Elizabeth," Tom finally said, " I appreciate your work and respect you as an employee. You're one of the most effective secretaries I've ever worked with. But there can't be anything more between us. I'm married, and my feelings belong to Sarah.

Every word he said was like a knife cutting through Elizabeth's heart. But she knew it was to be expected. Nevertheless, the pain of rejection was acute and almost unbearable.

- I ... I understand, " she whispered, fighting back tears. - Thank you for your honest answer.

Elizabeth turned and left the office, feeling the ground give way beneath her. She went back to her desk, but she couldn't concentrate on her business anymore. Her thoughts swirled around the conversation she'd just had.

In the days that followed, Elizabeth tried to behave as usual, but a storm of emotions raged inside her. She realized that her feelings for Tom were hopeless, and she would have to accept it. But how can this be done if the heart refuses to accept a reasonable argument?

Nevertheless, Elizabeth decided that she would not allow her feelings to ruin her career and life. She started looking for new interests, spending more time on her hobbies, and socializing with friends and acquaintances. Gradually, the pain subsided, although the deep wound in his soul still made itself felt.

Elizabeth knew she needed to let go of Tom and focus on her own happiness. But it wasn't easy, because he was still her boss, and she saw him every day. Nevertheless, she was determined to move forward without dwelling on unrequited love.

Soon Elizabeth began to notice that her attitude toward Tom was changing. She still respected him as a manager and appreciated his professional qualities, but her romantic feelings were fading. In their place came a quiet friendship and recognition of his virtues without admixture of love dreams.

So Elizabeth Taylor went through the test of love and came out of it with a new understanding of herself and the world around her. She realized that life is not just about romantic relationships, and that happiness can be found in many different aspects of being. Even though the scar on her soul still lingered, she knew that in time it would heal and she would be able to start all over again.

Tom, for his part, was touched by Elizabeth's sincerity, but his mind was elsewhere. He was becoming increasingly aware that his marriage to Sarah was over, and his heart yearned for Mary. His conversation with Elizabeth had only confirmed that he could not feel such feelings for anyone but Mary, and it had strengthened his resolve to fight for his love.