\nAs Clara embarks on her work-related journey\u2014poised to elevate her professional life to a whole new tier\u2014she unexpectedly encounters a stranger who delivers devastating news. News that signals the collapse of her marriage. What will Clara do next?\n
Traveling solo was something I typically relished. Particularly when it involved business\u2014there was an undeniable thrill in being an outsider in a foreign environment, even if only temporarily.\n
Business trips usually made it easy to be apart from my husband, Tom\u2014because I knew he would be lounging at home, indulging in television and unhealthy snacks until I returned.\n
\u201cI won\u2019t be doing anything else,\u201d he\u2019d chuckle, waving me off with my suitcase in hand.\n
But this trip was different. Tom had his own work-related travel plans this time.\n
\n
Preparing for this journey stirred a mixture of emotions within me. Firstly, this was a pivotal moment\u2014we were on the verge of expanding our restaurant into a franchise, and securing investor backing was crucial to making that happen.\n
\u201cDon\u2019t stress over anything, Clara,\u201d my business associate, Malcolm, reassured me. \u201cJust go in there and present everything we\u2019ve worked toward over the last half-year. And, most importantly, be yourself!\u201d\n
\u201cYou should come along,\u201d I urged.\n
It was the eve of my departure, yet Malcolm still didn\u2019t believe he needed to accompany me.\n
\u201cI have complete confidence in you. Besides, I can\u2019t afford to leave town. Any moment now, I\u2019ll be a father.\u201d\n
At least his priorities were in the right place.\n
\u201cYou\u2019ll do great,\u201d Tom assured me as he dropped me off at the airport. \u201cYou\u2019ve tackled these presentations solo before.\u201d\n
\u201cYes, but this time there\u2019s a lot more at stake,\u201d I admitted. \u201cWe\u2019re requesting a huge sum from the investors.\u201d\n
\u201cAnd they wouldn\u2019t even consider you if they didn\u2019t believe you were worth it. Relax, love. Just be yourself\u2014they\u2019ll be impressed.\u201d\n
He was right. If our proposal wasn\u2019t promising, they wouldn\u2019t have booked us at such an upscale hotel.\n
\u201cBesides, it\u2019s just a short trip, and soon we\u2019ll both be back home,\u201d he reminded me.\n
\u201cAre you anxious about your trip?\u201d I asked while rummaging through my bag for gum.\n
\u201cNot at all,\u201d he replied. \u201cActually, I\u2019m looking forward to it. I\u2019ve been restless lately, and this is a chance to escape for a while. We really need to plan a vacation.\u201d\n
\u201cWhen we return,\u201d I promised. \u201cWe\u2019ll plan the entire thing.\u201d\n
Tom kissed my forehead and left.\n
As soon as I boarded the plane, a surge of mixed emotions swept over me\u2014excitement, anticipation, but most notably, a lingering sense of unease I couldn\u2019t quite place.\n
\u201cThis isn\u2019t just any ordinary work trip, Clara,\u201d I reminded myself. \u201cYou have to prove your worth.\u201d\n
A flight delay meant I barely had time to rent a car and get to my meeting.\n
\u201cI\u2019ll have to check in later,\u201d I muttered as I pulled out of the airport.\n
\u201cThank you for your time, Clara,\u201d said Grant, the lead investor, shaking my hand. \u201cYou and Malcolm have done an excellent job with the proposal, and your presentation was impressive. We see the potential and would love to help bring it to fruition. Expect an official response in a day or two\u2014my assistant will arrange a follow-up meeting.\u201d\n
The meeting had gone as smoothly as possible, and I felt a wave of relief. The hardest part was over\u2014now, all that was left to do was wait for the final verdict.\n
\u201cEnjoy your stay,\u201d Grant added with a nod before disappearing back into the boardroom.\n
The hotel\u2019s grandeur instantly enveloped me\u2014it was exactly the kind of place I needed to unwind while awaiting the final decision. My plan was simple: check-in, shower, and update Tom and Malcolm on how it all went.\n
As I stood at the reception desk, I waited for my turn. Amidst the hustle and bustle of guests, I spotted a woman I had sat next to on the flight.\n
\u201cHey!\u201d she greeted me cheerfully. \u201cYou\u2019re staying here too?\u201d\n
I returned her smile and nodded. Although we were strangers, there was something reassuring about seeing a familiar face.\n
\u201cHow long are you in town?\u201d I inquired.\n
\u201cJust a few days. I\u2019m here for a little adventure,\u201d she replied. \u201cA getaway from home. With my boyfriend. But it\u2019s a bit complicated.\u201d\n
\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d I asked, sipping my complimentary champagne.\n
\u201cHe\u2019s married,\u201d she revealed. \u201cSo, it\u2019s all hush-hush. But I try not to dwell on it! If anything, she travels a lot, and he suspects she\u2019s cheating with a coworker.\u201d\n
I chuckled.\n
\u201cThat sounds insane!\u201d I blurted out.\n
The whole situation was overwhelming. I couldn\u2019t fathom excusing an affair just because someone frequently traveled for work.\n
Don\u2019t dwell on it, I reminded myself. Other people\u2019s choices are not your responsibility.\n
The woman was next in line, so I stepped aside, making room for her to check in.\n
\u201cHi!\u201d she chirped at the receptionist. \u201cI\u2019m Veronica. The reservation should be under Tom Harrison. He hasn\u2019t arrived yet\u2014he\u2019s flying in tonight.\u201d\n
My heart pounded. Tom Harrison? My husband\u2014Tom Harrison?\n
It couldn\u2019t be a mere coincidence.\n
\u201cCertainly, ma\u2019am,\u201d the receptionist responded. \u201cSince Mr. Harrison made the booking, I\u2019ll need a contact number or email for verification. It\u2019s our security policy.\u201d\n
The woman laughed, acknowledging the necessity of protocols.\n
Then, she recited my husband\u2019s phone number.\n
The realization crashed over me like a tidal wave. This wasn\u2019t a random name\u2014this woman was here with Tom! A storm of emotions surged\u2014shock, fury, betrayal.\n
\u201cEnjoy your stay,\u201d she said to me, flashing a smile as she collected her keycard. \u201cI\u2019m sure we\u2019ll run into each other again.\u201d\n
In a daze, I checked in. I couldn\u2019t recall if I had mentioned my hotel to Tom. Had he even asked?\n
Once inside my room, my thoughts spiraled. The high from my successful meeting was completely overshadowed.\n
I wanted revenge.\n
Later, as Tom\u2019s arrival neared, I made my way downstairs.\n
When I reached reception, I overheard the room number assigned to Tom and his mistress. Tearing a sheet from my notebook, I penned an invitation for her\u2014a complimentary massage at the hotel spa.\n
I lingered at the end of the corridor, waiting for her to leave.\n
Luckily, the shift had changed, and a new receptionist was at the desk.\n
I repeated Veronica\u2019s exact words\u2014explaining that I was meeting my husband, who should have already checked in. When asked for his contact number, I supplied it without hesitation.\n
And just like that, I had a keycard.\n
Entering their room, I made myself comfortable\u2014kicking off my shoes and turning on the television.\n
\u201cHoney, I\u2019m here,\u201d Tom\u2019s voice rang out.\n
\u201cSurprise!\u201d I announced. \u201cI had no idea you were planning to surprise me at my hotel.\u201d\n
His face drained of color. His forehead glistened with nervous sweat.\n
\u201cClara!\u201d he stammered, struggling to regain composure.\n
\u201cNot who you were expecting?\u201d I asked, arms crossed.\n
\u201cHow long?\u201d I demanded. \u201cHow long has this been going on?\u201d\n
\u201cSeven months,\u201d he admitted without hesitation.\n
\u201cI deserve someone who respects and values me, Tom,\u201d I declared. \u201cYou\u2019re not that person.\u201d\n
He remained silent, not even attempting an excuse.\n
I walked away, leaving behind the ruins of our marriage. Bigger things awaited me. But his indifference stung more than the betrayal.\n
I returned to my room and called Malcolm, filling him in on the presentation\u2019s outcome.\n
\u201cNow we wait,\u201d he said.\n
\u201cNow we wait,\u201d I echoed.\n
I showered, ordered room service, and waited for Grant\u2019s email.\n
Things could only improve from here. Right?\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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