Morning came, bringing clarity. I packed a small bag, ready to leave. I felt lighter already. The decision to go home ignited a spark within me. I was tired of being the one left behind. I wanted to go back to a place where I could start anew, where I could find out what Tamara wanted, apart from the shadows of Samuel and the baby I could've had.
I walked into Samuel's office to tell him that I was leaving. But as I stepped through the glass doors, I felt the air shift. People were whispering. Their eyes darted toward me like I was a puzzle they couldn’t figure out. I tried to shake it off.
As I walked further to Samuel's office, I bumped into Ashley, Samuel’s secretary. She was usually a beacon of support for me. But today, her face was tight, her smile forced. It seemed as if she didn't want me to be here.
"Hey, Tamara," she said, her voice low and shaky. I could sense there was something more beneath her words. "What brings you here?"
I took a deep breath, wondering what the hell was going on. "I need to talk to Samuel. It's urgent."
I glanced around the office, noticing the way others stiffened, their conversations halting immediately when I approached. "What’s going on, Ash? You look worried, and why is everyone staring at me?"
Ashley hesitated, looking back toward Samuel's office. "I don’t know how to say this."
She bit her lip and looked as if she wanted to run away, but couldn't. She then pulled me aside and leaned closer. "There have been strange things happening here. Samuel’s been acting… different. People say he’s been having an affair with someone here in the office."
"And that's not all. Everyone thinks you guys broke up, so we're surprised to see you here," Ashley admitted.
"An affair huh? With who?” I pressed, even though I already knew who it could possibly be.
"I can't tell you, but you shouldn't go inside his office," she warned.
"Why?" I asked.
When Ashley didn't speak, I decided I had to confront him. I pushed past Ashley, heading toward his office. I needed to see for myself why I was being asked not to disturb him now. I didn't care if he was in a meeting or doing something important. I barged right in without knocking, the door creaking open with a loud bang as it hit the wall.
I stepped into the room, my heart racing. It was like walking into a scene from a story I never wanted to read. Samuel stood there, caught in a moment he clearly didn’t expect me to walk in on. Samantha was perched on his desk while Samuel stood closely in front of her.
The moment their eyes landed on me, Samantha's expression was a mix of surprise and annoyance, realizing who I was, she immediately pushed Samuel away, like a child shoving a toy back into the box.
I crossed my arms and stared daggers at both of them. It wasn't surprising to see them this way anymore, but what I was upset about was the fact that he didn't have to cheat on me. He could've just said he wanted to get out of the relationship instead of embarrassing me like this. Samantha slowly slid off the desk, her demeanor shifting from playful to serious.
"Tamara, wait. It’s not what it looks like," Samuel stammered, his voice rising in pitch when he saw the look on my face.
But I didn’t need him to explain. I had seen enough. I didn’t care about their antics anymore. The tension hung thick in the air, and I raised my hand to silence them. He immediately shot his mouth and didn't say another word. Just like that. I could see the confusion in Samuel’s eyes and the irritation in Samantha's. But I wasn’t here for their drama. I had come to discuss something crucial; my freedom.
"Samuel, I don't need to hear what your excuse is for getting caught in a compromising position. I'm here because we need to talk," I said firmly. The words hung there, waiting for a response.
