Without wasting anymore time Mabel slammed her laptop shut, her hands still trembling. Then she grabbed her car key and bag without thinking twice. Her heart was pounding so fast it almost drowned out her thoughts.
Fred's betrayal wasn't new, she had suspected his cheating for months. But sacking her from the company they had built together? That cut deeper than any affair.
"This… this is the last straw," she muttered, storming out of her office.
She drove out of her company's garage like a woman on a mission, her knuckles was turning white against the steering wheel. Memories and questions swirled in her head, his late nights, the sudden arguments, the way he looked at her differently these past few weeks.
How could I have been so blind? she thought, biting her lip until it hurt. All these years, and I didn't see the coward in him.
When she neared their mansion, her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen and yes,
Fred and his mistress were still Naked. Entwined on their matrimonial bed.
Her breath caught in her throat. "Bastard!" she hissed, gripping the steering wheel tighter.
She parked just outside the mansion's gate, far enough so the car's engine wouldn't alert them. Her pulse roared in her ears as she slipped out and tiptoed toward the house.
The moment she stepped in, silence greeted her, except for the rhythmic moans and gasps drifting from upstairs.
"He must have sent the workers away," she whispered to herself, her palms were slick with sweat. "So he could have his perfect afternoon."
With each step up the stairs, the sounds grew louder, heavier, almost mocking her. She stopped outside the bedroom door, pressing herself against the wall, forcing her breath to steady.
Then she heard it.
A woman's voice, sultry yet curious: "Is this how you manhandle your wife? I mean, the lady in that photo?"
Mabel's eyes flicked to the wall through the slightly open door. Her wedding photo. Smiling, happy, ignorant.
The mistress gave a breathy laugh. "She must be enjoying so much goodness… no wonder she's so fresh."
Fred's voice came next, ragged and smug. "Yeah, you can say that again! She's a beast in bed. Better than any other woman." He paused, groaning in pleasure. "But lately… she's lost her savory."
Hearing what Fred was saying Mabel's stomach twisted. It felt like each word was a knife dragging slowly through her chest.
Her hand balled into a fist. She wanted to burst in, to scream, to tear that smugness from his face. But for a moment, she froze, her heart breaking faster than her anger could rise.
Then something inside her snapped.
Without wasting anymore time she pushed the door open with a force that slammed it against the wall. Immediately the door sound made the lovers jerked in shock, scrambling to cover themselves.
Fred's eyes widened. "Mabel—"
"Don't you dare say my name!" she roared, her voice shaking.
The mistress clutched the bedsheet, her face pale. "I...uh."
Mabel's glare silenced her. "Get. Out."
The woman hesitated, glancing at Fred for help, but one look from Mabel sent her grabbing her clothes and fleeing.
Fred started, "Listen, it's not what."
"Not what it looks like?" Mabel laughed bitterly. "Do you think I'm blind? Or stupid? You take my company, my years of work, and then you bring her into our bed?"
He looked away. "Mabel, you've changed. You're not the same."
"You're right," she cut in, her voice icy. "I have changed. I'm finally seeing you for who you really are."
"Who I really am?" Fred's voice rang with arrogance as he let out a dry chuckle. "Wait a second! How dare you barge into the bedroom like that?"
Mabel blinked in disbelief. "Are you so shameless and stupid at the same time?" she asked, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "You're asking why I walked into a mansion we built together?"
Fred's jaw tightened. "You speak like I didn't work my ass off just as you did! Why must everything be about you?" he yelled, his face flushed with anger.
"Oh, really?" Mabel stepped forward, her eyes narrowing. "What ass are you referring to, Fred? The last time I checked, I've been the one keeping sleepless nights, chasing down international clients, and making sure we stayed afloat. Even the Global Investment deal the biggest deal that was supposed to happen in our company's history, was my effort alone!" Her voice cracked with a mix of pride and rage.
Fred clapped mockingly. "That's nice of you, Mrs. Great Success." His tone was laced with venom. "But let me give you some advice next time you burst into my privacy like this, I might not be so easy on you."
Mabel stared at him, her heart pounding, yet her face remained calm. Somehow, seeing him barefaced and unrepentant made her glad, at least now there was no illusion left.
"I didn't come here to exchange insults," she said firmly. "I came here to set the record straight. I got an email from the board this morning your signature was on it. I know you have no idea about this Fred, currently I'm the biggest shareholder in the company, I command Seventy percent of the shares, and you have just 30 percent shares, so that doesn't make us equal." Then She crossed her arms, her voice was cold but steady. "I guess your little extracurricular activities have clouded your judgment, Mr. Fred Rodriguez. You can't get rid of me as easily as you think, but instead I can easily kick your ass of your position as the biggest shares holder."
Upon hearing what Mabel had just said Fred tilted his head, his lips curling into a bitter smile, then all of a sudden he started clapping.
"It's the way you overhype your importance and fail to understand the game, but let me tell you something, I actually knows all your little game, even before you started planning them."