BEING MRS VANDERBILTS

Isabella grips the steering wheel, the weight of her discovery pressed down on her like a heavy fog, images of her husband laughing and being all lovey-dovey with his secretary flooded her mind, their shared glances and whispered conversations replaying like a haunting melody. “That bastard! How could he?” She mutters under her breath, her heart pounding with a mix of anger and utter betrayal. Yes, she and Jack haven’t had the best of marital bliss in recent times, but that wasn’t enough reason to break their vows, and of all the women in the world it had to be Yolanda! As she navigates into their avenue, heading home, flashbacks of when she and Jack met play into her mind. She had just started getting into New York design, as an interior designer, and being orphaned there wasn’t much on the table for her. Jack was one of the chaperones at an event she had attended, and their paths crossed in a way that felt almost coincidental. He was smitten by her beauty, her hard work, and her resilience. It was as if she embodied the very essence of the city—strong, vibrant, and full of potential. Although she didn’t bother to be sure if she loved him or not, he was a billionaire, young and famous too, what more could she want? Jack was her ultimate way out of hardship for the rest of her life, With him, she knew she could achieve all her dreams effortlessly. The more reason she readily agreed to marry him when he popped the question. Years into the marriage, she's now living her dream while also keeping up the appearance of a happy marriage for the world. These days, she and Jack could hardly manage a normal conversation like any couple should, much less anything intimate. A Part of her couldn’t fault her husband; he had spent years trying in vain to make their marriage work before he took a mistress. The fact that it was Yolanda only deepened her hurt and bruised her pride. She couldn’t believe she was now sharing her husband with someone who fell short in every way, someone below her in every standard. She bemoaned silently. Those memories clashed violently with the reality she now faced, the betrayal that threatened to shatter everything they had built together. With each turn in the road feeling like a turn in her heart, Now driving into their luxurious mansion, her heart races in anticipation of the confrontation with Jack, the outcome vague in her head, unsure if this was the right thing to do or not, determined and furious she hurries from the garage to the house, her heart racing with each step. Inside the mansion, the lights were glowing warmly, but she wasn’t feeling any of the warmth. As she reaches the front door, she pauses for a brief moment, gathering her resolve. Taking a deep breath, she pushes the door open, and Courtney the head staff appears, “Good evening Ma’am” Courtney greets. “Where’s my husband?” Isabella asks immediately, ignoring Courtney’s greeting. “He’s in his study ma’am” Courtney replies, reaching out for Isabella’s handbag. Isabella heads straight for the study, yet again ignoring Courtney’s gesture. Now reaching the front door of Jack’s study, she again pauses for a moment, taking a deep breath to steady herself. Knowing very well that this isn’t going to be one of their usual arguments, it would be a reckoning. With her heart in her throat, she pushes the door. “Hey,” Jack calls out, raising his head from what he was reading. “What’s going on?” He sets the book down and seeing her countenance, he gives Isabella his full attention, sensing the tension in the air. “How could you Jack?” Isabella asks, her voice raising, a clueless Jack stares at her In confusion. “I know about your affair with Yolanda your secretary,” Isabella says fuming. “I can explain, it isn’t what you think,” Jack says now feeling a tinge of shame slowly overwhelming him. “What the hell do you wanna explain, Jack? Isabella asks, How could you do this to us? She continues, her voice rising. “After everything we’ve built together all these years, you throw it all away for a moment of weakness? And of all the women in the world, it has to be that b***h Yolanda! Your secretary…..” “Enough!” Jack snaps at her, “This is all your fault, Isabella, what would you have me do? Yolanda has been good to me, she’s been there when u couldn’t, all we do is fight and argue always, when was the last time we were intimate as a couple?” “Oh, so you justify your silly act and betrayal based on s*x?” Isabella’s voice drips with sarcasm, her eyes narrowing as she confronts him. “Is that all it was to you? You cheat on me with your secretary just because of s*x?!” “I am sorry, I know I do not have any justification whatsoever. I shouldn’t have broken our vows,” Jack replies, his voice barely above a whisper, guilt etches across his face. “I messed up, and I can’t take it back. Yolanda was there at every step, it was almost impossible to not have anything with her.” Isabella now pacing angrily across the room, says “This is a huge insult, Jack! What if word about this gets out? The husband to Isabella Vanderbilts is in an affair with his staff!” She paces the room, her frustration boiling over. “Do you even realize the damage this could cause? To me, To my career!” “You, your career, that’s what’s most important to you, Issy. Do you even think about this marriage, about you and me?” Jack replies passionately, his voice tinged with desperation. “You should have thought about this marriage before you went ahead and slept with that stupid b***h!” Isabella snaps back. “Okay, okay, I know I was wrong, and I’ll fix things. I’ll end things with her,” Jack says in a low tone, trying to convey sincerity. “I just need you to trust me again.” “Well, I want her sacked! This instant!” Isabella replies with determination, her eyes flashing with anger. "I won't be risking a repetition of this betrayal.” “I’m sorry Issy but I can’t let her go, she’s been with the company since forever, and has been excellent in carrying out her duties, which you are quite aware of. Jack explains hoping Isabella will understand. “Well, I don’t care, you could find a replacement, I want her gone Immediately!” Isabella snapped. “Yolanda is going nowhere, Issy. Whatever I have going on with her is over, but she isn’t leaving the company. Deal with it," Jack asserts firmly, standing his ground on the matter. Isabella watches as he walks away, still in shock as to how much hold Yolanda has on her husband, “what do I do now?” She asks herself in desperation, “Oh Issy, think” Suddenly, her phone buzzes with a text message.