A night from the stars

Shattered Trust

Two days had passed since Kendra's world had fallen apart. It had been two days since Mark, the man she had loved and trusted for years, had broken her heart into fragments. The pain remains fresh, persisting like an unhealed wound. Every time she shut her eyes, she visualized Mark at the restaurant, embracing Maya. The picture lingered in her mind, causing persistent internal discomfort.

However, today, she needed to gather her composure. Life continued, and work carried on. Each action Kendra took as she got out of bed seemed slow and heavy, as if her heartache was physically weighing her down. Looking at herself in the mirror, she saw her red eyes from crying. Her typical lively vigor had disappeared, substituted with a vacant void.

She reluctantly prepared herself with a heavy breath. There was no benefit in dwelling endlessly. Having a task at hand could be the only way to temporarily ease the pain, at least for a short period of time.

Wearing a basic blouse and pencil skirt, she picked up her bag and left through the door. The brief stroll to the workplace didn't have the same feeling as before. The whole world appeared less bright and noisy, as if all color had disappeared. She was still feeling disoriented as she arrived at the entrance of the office building and walked in.

The elevator shut behind her, its soft buzz making her racing anxious thoughts even louder. She didn't know how she would tackle the day, much less confront *her*. She tried to avoid thoughts of Maya, yet her mind forced her to revisit that night once more.

Kissing the secretary of her boss in full view of everyone? How was it possible? The agony felt new, coiling like a blade in her chest. Kendra felt her throat constrict. She was able to deal with Mark's betrayal, but Maya? It seemed like the most extreme embarrassment.

As soon as the elevator doors opened to her office floor, she confidently walked out, even though she felt a deep emptiness within her. She refused to show them how much this was tearing her apart.

Later, Kendra unexpectedly ran into *her*, almost as if the universe was taunting her.

Maya's face showed a clear expression of self-satisfaction. With her arms crossed, she gave a smirk. "Oh, you've ultimately made the decision to return to work?"

Kendra's stomach felt queasy, but she stayed silent. She had the urge to yell at Maya with all her being, but she refused to let her have the pleasure. Continuing to stroll, she feigned ignorance, acting as if she hadn't listened at all.

"Sweetheart, escaping doesn't alter anything," Maya remarked, her tone dripping with arrogance. "He belongs to me now."

Kendra's fists tightened, her nails digging into her palms as she attempted to maintain composure. She refused to allow Maya to bother her. Today is not the day. She went directly to the painting room, her safe haven in the workplace. The scent of paint and canvas provided some comfort, although it was limited to calming her nerves.

For the next couple of hours, Kendra immersed herself in her artwork, getting lost in the brush strokes and colors blending together to create beautiful forms. It served as her getaway, her method of dealing with things. In the painting room, she could block out Maya's voice in her mind.

As time went by, Kendra suddenly recalled she had a deadline. She was meant to turn in a painting to her supervisor, Mr. Schnitzel. The painting, which she had been proud of, had been completed for several days, featuring gentle shades of pink and blue merging in a peaceful scenery. She took a deep breath, grabbed it, and headed towards his office, praying that his words of praise would lift her spirits.

However, as she neared the door, something peculiar grabbed her focus. The door was slightly open, and she heard voices coming from inside the office. Not only voices, but also soft groans, quiet murmurs, and something much more personal.

Kendra felt her heart racing in her chest, and she couldn't resist her curiosity. Moving stealthily, she inched nearer, her gaze sneaking a peek through the narrow opening of the door.

She let out a gasp at the sight before her.

Maya. One more time. However, on this occasion, she was accompanied by someone. Maya was in a passionate embrace with Mr. Schnitzel, her *superior*. Their lips were sealed together, hands exploring each other, unaware of anything beyond them.

Kendra experienced a sudden pause in her breathing. She was unable to comprehend the sight before her. The same woman who took Mark away from her is now also seeing their boss? She experienced nausea in her stomach. For how much time had this been happening? What was the number of individuals Maya had influenced?

She stepped back cautiously, ensuring her silence. Her heart raced as she hurried back to her desk, her mind reeling in disbelief. *How could Mark have feelings for someone like her?* Had she been oblivious all along?

Kendra slumped in her seat, her hands trembling as she attempted to comprehend it all. Mark was the first, and now this? What came after that?

Jaden Hyacinth was seated in his stylish, contemporary office, his attractive face displaying a profound frown. His fingers sifted through the photos on his desk, each one more incriminating than the previous one. The woman shown in the images was his partner, Sophie. Who is the man? His sibling, Luca.

Jaden's jaw tightened while he stared intensely at the picture of Sophie, with her broad smile and hand placed on Luca's arm. Sophie and Luca had clearly been having a secret relationship, evident from the way they gazed at each other.

Jaden let out a frustrated growl as he forcefully hit the wall with his fist, feeling a dull pain in his hand from the impact. Mr. Jon Smith, his secretary, stood nearby stiffly, observing the scene with practiced disinterest.

"Sir... are you okay?" Although he was aware of the answer, Jon asked cautiously.

Jaden's eyes narrowed, struggling to keep his rage in check. "I should have anticipated this happening." Sophie had been behaving strangely for weeks. "And Luca..."

He chuckled bitterly while shaking his head in disbelief. I was very foolish, Jon. How was it possible for me to not notice it? I didn't realize they were secretly going behind my back.

Jon remained silent, aware that no words could alleviate the pain of betrayal Jaden was experiencing. The atmosphere in the room was thick with tension, ready to snap at any second.

Jaden walked back and forth in the office, his thoughts moving quickly. The indications were present from the start - Sophie's odd actions, Luca's mysterious explanations - yet he chose to disregard them, attributing them to stress or paranoia. Now, everything has become clear.

Jaden muttered in disbelief with a low and venomous tone, expressing his shock at her actions. "And to think it was *him* of all people."

Jaden didn't say anything, but he quickly took his keys and angrily left the office, with Jon right on his heels. He wasn't going to tolerate this betrayal and allow it to worsen. He had to face Sophie. He required responses.

Jaden's thoughts were filled with anger and pain while he drove through the city, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. He was aware of Sophie's location - her apartment, where they had created numerous memories together. He needed to uncover the truth, no matter the cost to his well-being.

Upon arriving at Sophie's building, he found his suspicions to be true. Luca's car was parked outside, exactly the way he dreaded. Seeing it caused Jaden to feel intense anger.

With his heart racing, he retrieved his phone and called Sophie, eagerly anticipating her answer. Once she eventually responded, he could discern it - the distinct noise of her moans, her gasps without breath.

Jaden felt a sharp twist in his heart as his hand squeezed tighter around the phone in his chest. She kept going without even pausing. She remained silent, didn't end the call. She exposed him to it - the sounds of her disloyalty, the sounds of her being with his brother.

At that instant, his entire world fell apart, and he realized there was no way to fix it.