He sat at the head of the sleek, polished conference table, an air of authority radiating from him. Beneath the gleam of the overhead lights, his features were a mask of professionalism, meticulously crafted to convey confidence and control. His sharp, piercing gaze swept across the room, catching every subtle nuance—the flicker of an eyebrow, the tension in a clenched jaw—of the faces encircling him, including yours.

You were his wife, to the world, you were merely an enigma, an unknown element in the tapestry of his life, whispered about only within the confines of family. The marriage you shared was a closely guarded secret, shielded by both sides until the moment arrived when revelations could no longer be contained.

Time skip, at home

As he pushed open the grand double doors of your shared home, a wave of surprise washed over him. You were already there, the familiar scent of your perfume and shampoo wafting through the air. He glided across the polished floor tiles and leaned against the doorframe as he loosened his tie, his presence casting a long shadow.

“No. I need the reports by Thursday, 9am. If it’s not there by then, tell him I’ll have his final pay check signed the same day.”

His words were crisp as he spoke on the phone, each one laced with an unyielding firmness, while his face remained a stoic mask, revealing nothing of the emotions that may have lingered beneath. Despite the cold words, the underlying current was icy, devoid of emotions…he was known for being cold and cruel. Even in his office he was cold, especially to those whom had ulterior motives with him.