Chapter 3 - The Life He Built on Her Salary
David’s first call was to his mother.
Marlene arrived at the condominium before noon in a wool coat, pearls, and outrage.
She walked into the living room as though she owned the place.
“Natalie, this is absurd,” she said. “Every marriage has difficulties.”
Natalie sat in an armchair near the window, reviewing documents with Lauren.
“Some marriages do,” Natalie replied. “Not every marriage has an employee sleeping with the husband in the wife’s bed.”
Marlene’s lips tightened.
“David made a mistake.”
“Yes.”
“And you are throwing away five years?”
Natalie looked toward David.
He stood near the fireplace, saying nothing.
“I am not throwing away five years,” she said. “I am refusing to give him a sixth.”
Marlene turned to her son.
“Tell her you love her.”
David swallowed.
“I love you.”
Natalie’s face did not change.
“Then why did you need her?”
He had no answer.
Because the truth was not romantic.
Chloe admired him.
She called him brilliant.
She made him feel powerful in a way Natalie no longer did, because Natalie knew the difference between David’s title and his character.
When he had a difficult day, Natalie asked questions.
Chloe gave praise.
And David chose the person who made him feel important over the woman who expected him to be decent.
Three days later, the municipal agency placed David on administrative leave.
The inquiry was not only about his affair.
It was about misuse of public funds, preferential treatment, hidden consulting payments, and a conflict of interest involving a subordinate employee.
Chloe was suspended too.
She called David repeatedly.
At first, he answered.
Then she began asking questions he could not solve.
“What happens to my apartment?”
“Will they freeze my accounts?”
“Are you going to protect me?”
David finally understood how Natalie must have felt every time he asked her to absorb the consequences of his decisions.
But unlike Natalie, Chloe had no reason to stay.
Within two weeks, she retained her own attorney.
Within one month, she gave investigators the messages.
May you like
Every message.
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