Chapter 2 - The House of Cards
Jack stared at his phone, his perfectly styled hair suddenly looking disheveled as a slight tremor took over his hands. Down at the ticketing counter, the dominoes began to fall in rapid, brutal succession.
First, the airline agent handed Carol back her platinum credit card, shaking her head. Carol frowned, digging into her designer purse for another.
Then, the blonde mistress’s phone chimed. She looked at the screen, and the smug, relaxed smile instantly vanished from her face. She let out a sharp gasp.
"Jack!" she cried, pulling on his sleeve. "Jack, the hospital administration just emailed me. I’ve been terminated. Effective immediately. They’re citing gross misconduct!"
Jack didn't answer her. He couldn't. He was too busy staring up at the glass walkway, locking eyes with the wife he thought was sitting at home waiting for his shift to end.
I didn't wave. I didn't cry. I simply tilted my head and watched as the illusion of his perfect life shattered.
"Megan!" Jack yelled, completely abandoning his mistress and his confused mother at the counter. He sprinted toward the nearest escalator, shoving past a group of startled travelers, his face twisted into a mask of pure, unhinged panic.
He rode the escalator up to the mezzanine, practically sprinting toward me.
"What did you do?!" Jack demanded, his voice cracking as he closed the distance between us. "My bank app just locked me out! My medical license portal says suspended pending federal review! What did you tell them?!"
"I didn't tell them anything, Jack," I said, my voice eerily calm, devoid of the warmth I had freely given him for ten years. "I just told them to stop lying for you."
"Lying?" Jack snarled, stepping into my personal space, his hands balled into fists. "I built my practice from nothing! I bought that house! I pay for your entire life! You're a housewife, Megan! Undo whatever glitch you just caused right now, or I swear to God—"
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Jack raised his hand, the anger overriding his common sense.
But his hand never reached me.
