A cage is still a cage even if it is filled with diamonds
That's how I feel right now as I watched William furrowed his brows at me this morning
"What the hell was that last night?" William's voice cut through our bedroom like a whip as I finished getting dressed for work. "Do you have any idea how many people were talking about your little stuttering performance?"
I fumbled with my blazer buttons, my fingers suddenly clumsy. "William, please. You know reading out loud is difficult for me. My dyslexia—"
"Don't." He slammed his hand against the dresser, making me flinch. "I'm sick of hearing about your condition. Do you think our competitors care about your excuses? Do you think it matters to our shareholders that poor little Charlotte can't read properly?"
"If you had just stayed instead of leaving me there—"
"I had an important call! God, Charlotte, you're supposed to be my wife, not my burden. Every other CEO's wife can handle basic social responsibilities without turning it into a circus."
The words stung like salt in an open wound. I blinked back tears, determined not to let him see them fall.
"I've been working with specialists and tutors, trying to improve—"
"Save it." He straightened his tie, his reflection in the mirror refusing to look at me. "Just... stay out of my way at the office today."
——————————
The impromptu meeting caught me off guard. I sat rigidly in the conference room, surrounded by executives, while William stood at the head of the table practically glowing with enthusiasm.
"The Stevens account represents a major opportunity for expansion," he announced. "Originally, this project was meant for Charlotte 's department, but given recent events..." His eyes flicked to me dismissively. "I've decided to hand it over to Selena. She has the necessary capabilities to handle something of this magnitude."
My chest tightened. The Stevens account was supposed to be my chance to prove myself after the disastrous Morgan account ordeal.
"William," I started, forgetting protocol in my shock, "my team has already begun the preliminary work—"
"Which brings me to my next point," he cut me off, tossing a thick report in front of me. The thud echoed in the suddenly silent room. "Why don't you summarize the quarterly projections for everyone? Page thirty-seven should be particularly interesting."
Horror crawled up my spine as every eye in the room turned to me. The numbers on the page started their familiar dance, swimming and rearranging themselves like mocking little demons. My throat closed up.
"I... the quarterly projections show..." The words blurred together, my pulse pounding in my ears.
"Oh, allow me," Selena's saccharine voice sliced through my panic. She glided over, plucking the report from my trembling hands. "I've already reviewed these numbers extensively. If you look at the growth trajectory..."
I sat there, burning with shame, as Selena effortlessly commanded the room's attention. The executives nodded approvingly at her analysis, while Thompson from Legal shot me a pitying glance that made me want to disappear into the floor.
"That's why I'm confident the Stevens account will flourish under my direction," Selena concluded with a satisfied smile. "Unlike some approaches that might be more... remedial in nature."
The double meaning wasn't lost on anyone. I could feel my professional reputation crumbling with each sympathetic look and poorly concealed smirk around the table.
Years of hard work, of proving myself despite my challenges, unraveling in minutes.
William beamed at Selena. "Excellent analysis. I believe this settles any questions about the project reassignment."
The injustice of it all burned in my chest like acid. This wasn't just about reading difficulties – this was calculated humiliation.
They'd orchestrated this entire meeting to publicly undermine me, to justify pushing me aside.
The worst part was watching William , my own husband, orchestrate my professional execution with such obvious satisfaction.
As the executives filed out, their whispered conversations barely concealing words like "liability" and "nepotism," I remained frozen in my chair.
Everything I'd built, every barrier I'd overcome, reduced to a cruel spectacle for office entertainment.
Selena lingered behind, gathering her papers with deliberate slowness. "Don't worry, Charlotte," she said, her voice dripping with false sympathy. "Not everyone is cut out for the corporate world. Maybe you should focus on being a good wife instead – though I hear that's not going so well either.”
William came out from the meeting room and our gaze interlocked
“To my office” he demanded as he brushed past me. I quietly followed in a distance until we were alone in his office
He flung his arms around me and gave me a kiss on the lips. His switched persona I'm yet to get used to
“I'm sorry if you felt bad” he started “I just don't want what happened to the Morgan's account happen to you again”
I felt irritated that he had to create this different persona whenever we were alone. At first, I liked it as I thought he was being himself around me, but now, it's felt like an insult
“I'm fine” I replied, trying to push him away but he only tightened his embrace.
“Do you know what, let's go out for dinner after work today. You can order your usual with an extra this time. I won't stop you”
I sighed and reluctantly nodded which compelled him to hug me one more time before letting me go
“I have something I want to give you. It's in the car. Hold on” he rushes out of his office to go grab the gift downstairs and I had no choice than to wait
I took time to pace through his office until I came across a locket, old and slightly rusted, placed on top a book at the edge of the shelf
I picked it up which read W loves V
“I didn't know that William had something like this prepared” I thought as I wondered what he put in it
I found a way to open it by brushing my finger once for it to unlock and to my greatest surprise, it was a faded picture of me with a man that isn't William .
“Who is he?” I wondered
