BETRAY & REGRET

Unexpected Encounters

Since the incident at Danny's work, Keith had been deeply concerned. He could sense the shadows looming over Danny and felt the need to check in on him. Today, he decided to surprise his husband with a visit, bringing along a delicious homemade meal for lunch to brighten the atmosphere.

As Keith arrived at the office building, a mix of excitement and apprehension filled him. The lobby was bustling with employees, but he quickly made his way to the elevator that would take him to Danny’s floor. When the doors opened, he stepped into the open office layout, where employees were busy at their desks.

Approaching Danny’s cubicle, Keith’s heart began to race. He noticed Faith, Danny’s secretary, chatting animatedly with a coworker. Her loud laughter and exaggerated gestures struck him as odd. As he drew closer, he overheard snippets of their conversation.

“Did you see how he handled that?” Faith said with a slightly mocking tone. “Honestly, who does that?”

Keith felt a pang of discomfort. Just as he considered turning away, Danny stepped out of his office, his weary expression lifting into a smile at the sight of Keith. But before he could reach him, Faith intercepted with a glint of mischief in her eyes.

“Hi there! You must be Keith,” she chirped, extending a hand. “Danny talks about you all the time.”

Keith shook her hand, managing a polite smile. “Nice to meet you, Faith. I just wanted to check in on Danny.”

“Oh, he’s managing,” Faith replied with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “You know how it is—some days are just harder than others.” She glanced over at Danny, who was now walking toward them, looking a bit confused.

“Everything okay?” Danny asked, his brow furrowed.

“Just getting acquainted with your secretary,” Keith replied, keeping his tone light.

Faith interjected, “I was just telling Keith how busy you’ve been. But you’ll bounce back soon, I’m sure.”

Danny’s expression darkened slightly, and he turned to Keith. “Can we talk in my office?”

As they moved away from Faith, Keith couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling. He glanced back and saw Faith watching them, her expression unreadable. Once they were inside Danny’s office, the door clicked shut behind them.

“Is everything alright?” Danny asked softly.

“Honestly, I’m not sure. Faith seems… different. I didn’t like how she spoke about you,” Keith admitted.

Danny sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Things have been tense. I didn’t want to burden you with it.”

Keith stepped closer, determined. “You’re not a burden, Danny. If something’s going on with Faith, or if you’re dealing with more than you’re letting on, I need to know.”

Danny looked down, uncertainty flickering across his face. “I’ll handle it. But it means a lot that you’re here.”

Just as the tension between them began to ease, the door swung open. Faith stood there with an unsettling mix of surprise and something else—maybe irritation.

“Sorry to interrupt, but Danny, you have that meeting in ten minutes,” she said, her voice overly sweet.

“Thanks, Faith,” Danny replied, the tension returning as she left.

As Keith left the office, he couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of a larger issue. The surprise visit he’d hoped would lift Danny’s spirits had revealed an unsettling dynamic instead.

Back at home, Keith tried to remain hopeful, hoping things would soon improve. Later, while in the shower, he heard his phone ring and quickly returned the call—it was his mom.

“Hey, sweetheart,” she said. “You missed the family gathering last week. Is everything alright?”

“Hey, Mom. I haven’t been feeling great lately. Things have been difficult,” Keith admitted. “Since our anniversary, Danny’s changed. He’s stopped talking to me, barely comes home, and seems constantly busy. I know he’s had issues at work, but I’ve also… I think something’s going on with his secretary, Faith.”

“An affair?” his mom asked, shocked. “Are you sure?”

“I don’t know for sure,” Keith replied. “But today, I visited him at the office, and Faith was mocking him. She acted so… smug. If nothing was happening between them, I don’t think she’d behave like that. It’s like she’s dismissing me as if I don’t matter. And Danny’s so distant—I feel like I’m losing him.”

“Oh, honey,” his mom said softly. “Have you tried talking to him about it?”

“Yes, Mom, I have. But he shuts down. I feel so helpless. It’s like he’s giving her all his attention, and I’m just… nothing.”

“Listen, sweetheart. Your father and I will talk about this. Be patient, alright? It might not be what it seems.”

Keith sighed, feeling slightly reassured. They shifted the conversation to a lighter topic—his best friend Vicky’s upcoming wedding, which he was helping to organize. Talking about the plans lifted his spirits, and they chatted until they were ready to hang up.