I woke before dawn, my mind already sharp and calculating. Mathias slept peacefully beside me, one arm flung across the space where I should have been. How easily he rested, unburdened by guilt or conscience. I envied him that ignorance, even as I despised him for it.
By six AM, I was in my home office with a steaming cup of coffee and my laptop open. Corporate espionage was a skill every successful CEO mastered, though I'd never imagined using it on my husband's mistress.
Dior Harris. Thirty-two years old, MBA from Northwestern, five years with Mathias's company. Her LinkedIn profile painted the picture of an ambitious climber—strategic partnerships, team leadership, "innovative management approaches." Her company headshot showed sharp cheekbones and calculating eyes, blonde hair styled in a severe bob that screamed authority.
I dug deeper, cross-referencing corporate databases I had access to through my hotel partnerships. Three previous companies in eight years. At each one, she'd been involved with a superior before moving on to bigger opportunities. The pattern was clear to anyone who knew how to look.
Her Instagram revealed more personal details—expensive tastes, frequent business dinners, photos at upscale hotels. My hotels, I realized with cold fury, recognizing the distinctive marble lobby of the Hilton Midtown in one selfie dated two weeks ago.
By eight AM, I had what I needed. I placed a call to Marcus Webb, CEO of Sterling Hospitality.
"Cadence, darling, what a pleasant surprise," his voice boomed through the phone. "How's the acquisition treating you?"
"Beautifully, Marcus. Which is why I'm calling. I'm looking to expand our corporate retreat partnerships, and I heard Dior Harris at Morrison & Associates has been developing some innovative team-building programs. I'd love to discuss a potential collaboration."
"I'll have my assistant set something up immediately. Lunch at Le Bernardin?"
"Perfect. Today, if possible."
Within an hour, the meeting was arranged. I selected my armor carefully—a charcoal Armani suit that commanded respect, my grandmother's pearl earrings for understated elegance, and my signature red lipstick. Not the burgundy shade I'd found on Mathias's collar, but close enough to send a message.
Le Bernardin's dining room hummed with the quiet conversations of Manhattan's power players. I arrived precisely on time, claiming a corner table with clear sightlines to the entrance. Dior Harris walked in five minutes later, and I studied her with the same intensity I'd once reserved for hostile takeover targets.
She was prettier in person than her photos suggested, with the kind of polished beauty that came from expensive salons and personal trainers. Her burgundy dress—the exact shade from Mathias's collar—clung to her curves in a way that was professional yet provocative. She moved with predatory grace, scanning the room before her eyes found mine.
"Ms. Anderson?" She extended a manicured hand. "Dior Harris. It's such an honor to meet you."
"The pleasure is mine." I shook her hand firmly, noting the slight tremor in her fingers. Good. She was nervous. "I've heard wonderful things about your work."
We ordered wine—she chose an expensive Bordeaux without checking the price—and settled into the dance of corporate small talk. I let her lead initially, watching how she gestured with her hands, the way her eyes lit up when discussing her "management philosophy."
"I believe in getting very close to my team," she said, leaning forward conspiratorially. "Understanding what motivates each individual employee. Some people respond to traditional incentives, but others need more... personal attention."
"How fascinating. And do you find your employees receptive to such hands-on management?"
Her smile turned predatory. "Oh yes. Especially the ones who are truly dedicated. I have this one employee—brilliant, really—who's been going above and beyond lately. Working late, weekend meetings, you know how it is."
"Indeed." I sipped my wine, maintaining perfect composure while fury burned in my chest. "And I imagine such dedication deserves special recognition?"
"Absolutely. I believe in rewarding excellence wherever I find it." Her eyes gleamed. "Even if it means bending a few rules."
The audacity was breathtaking. She was practically confessing to the affair, too arrogant to realize she was speaking to the wife of her lover. I filed away every micro-expression, every telling gesture, building my case with methodical precision.
We discussed retreat packages and team-building exercises, but I was really studying my enemy. She was ambitious, ruthless, and dangerously overconfident. She underestimated me completely, seeing only another businesswoman to charm and manipulate.
Perfect.
That evening, I returned home to find Mathias in the kitchen, attempting to cook dinner. He looked up with a guilty smile that might have fooled me a week ago.
"How was your day, babe? You seemed to leave early this morning."
"Productive. I had lunch with someone from your company, actually. Dior Harris? We're exploring a partnership for corporate retreats."
The wine glass slipped from his hand, shattering against the marble floor in an explosion of crystal and Merlot. His face went ashen, and I watched with clinical fascination as he struggled to compose himself.
"Oh... Dior. Yes, she's my... she's my boss." He knelt to clean up the glass, his hands shaking. "What did you think of her?"
"Interesting woman. Very passionate about her work. She mentioned having some particularly dedicated employees who go above and beyond." I kept my voice light, conversational. "She seemed very invested in her team."
Mathias cut himself on a shard of glass, cursing as blood welled on his finger. "She's just... she has a very hands-on management style. Some people find it intense."
"I imagine they do." I handed him a paper towel, watching him dab at the wound. "She strikes me as someone who gets what she wants, regardless of the consequences."
He looked up at me then, and for a moment I saw fear flicker in his eyes. But then he forced another smile, wrapping his finger in the towel.
"You're probably right. I should be more careful around her."
"Yes," I said softly, my voice carrying the weight of a promise he couldn't yet understand. "You really should."
