Ann's pov
The silence after Lydia walked in was loud enough to hurt.
No one moved,not Andre, Lydia,nor me,well I adjusted my ruffled gown a bit.
For a second, I wondered if this was how disasters always happened,not with screaming or shattered glass, but with stillness so thick it stole the air from one's lungs.
Lydia's gaze shifted slowly,from Andre's face to mine,it was as if she was waiting for someone to make the wrong move so she would smash their head on the wall.
Something flickered in her eyes,she was not hurt,or surprised,she looked quite calm for someone who just walked in on her husband and a 'supposed mistress'.
"I was looking for you,"she said again,her voice calm,almost conversational,"Everyone is waiting for you two to resume the meeting ."
Andre swallowed. "Lydia_"
She immediately shunned him by raising a hand.
At this point I needed no soothsayer to tell me everything I needed to know about the power dynamic between them.
"I didn't realize this office was occupied," she continued, stepping fully inside, she closed the door behind her,unlocked,intentionally so.
My stomach twisted.
"I was just leaving," I said quickly, already moving to my desk, picked up my bag and made my way out of the office,anything that put space between us.
Andre turned to me. "Ann, wait_"
"No," Lydia said softly.
The word wasn't loud, it didn't need to be.
Andre stood still, his eyes moving from Lydia to me.
Lydia looked at me now, her eyes piercing into my soul at me, and for the first time since I'd met her, I didn't feel the warmth in her voice, something has changed.
"I think," she said, "we should all sit."
We didn't.
"I don't think that's necessary Lydia,you said we're being waited for, let's get to the boardroom and finish the meeting quickly,I don't want to keep you guys here for too long," I replied, my voice tighter than I wanted. "This was a misunderstanding and there is no meaning to whatever you saw."
Andre's head snapped toward me. "It wasn't a mistake_"
"Enough," Lydia said.
I felt like a teenager , like a young adolescent who sneaked out with her boyfriend just to end up caught,exposed and furious at myself most of all.
Lydia exhaled slowly, then turned to Andre. "You followed her."
He didn't deny it.
"You locked the door."
Still nothing.
She nodded, absorbing it,she asked me the most unexpected question.
"Ann," she said gently. "Did he touch you?"
The question hit me square in the chest,it was as if she saw me as a victim and Andre as some kind of predator to be afraid of.
"No," I answered immediately. "He didn't."
Andre looked relieved, I could swear a smile almost appeared on her face but it immediately disappeared.
"But he tried," Lydia said, not asking.
Andre finally spoke. "Lydia, this isn't what you think."
She laughed quietly. Once. "Men always say that and I have come to learn that it usually means it's worse."
I straightened. "I didn't know he'd be here with you today and I didn't invite him into my office."
Her eyes met mine, sharp and assessing.
"I believe you," she said.
Andre stared at her, "You do?"
"Yes," she replied coolly,"Because I know my husband and this isn't the first time of you being a slut Andre ,so stop acting surprised."
That word again, husband,it made me feel suddenly exhausted.
"I think it's best if we return to the meeting we have spent so much time here already," I said, trying so hard to escape the awkwardness. "This shouldn't go any further."
Lydia nodded. "Agreed."
Andre opened his mouth to mouth to speak but Lydia cut him off with a look.
We walked out together,side by side, two women bound by a man neither of us had truly chosen.
The meeting ended early,no one said why but I'm grateful it did.
By the time I got back to my office, my hands were shaking,I shut the door and leaned against it, sliding down until I was sitting on the floor like the woman I swore I wasn't anymore.
I had resolved not to act on my desire and I did,I fell for Andre's theatrics.
But desire didn't need permission to exist.
A knock came at the door.
"Ms. Carter?" Naomi's voice"You have a call."
I wiped my face. "Send it to voicemail."
Another knock came on the door,firmer this time.
"Ann."Andre called from the door
"I don't want to speak to you Andre, please leave,go away."
"I'm sorry Ann,I need to speak with you, just open the door," he replied. "please Ann."
My chest tightened. "Go home ,to your wife."
There was a stiffening silence,then, quieter: "She already knows,she has always known."
I opened the door.
Andre looked wrecked. His tie loosened. His confidence stripped bare.
"She's known for a while," he admitted. "About you. About us before anything happened."
My breath caught. "Then why bring her here?"
"Because I thought," he said bitterly, "if you saw her_I don't know Ann,I don't know why I thought it was a good idea."
"But I love you Ann,I can't bear not being with you."
"That's not love," I said. "That's selfishness."
"Maybe," he admitted, "But it's real."
I shook my head. "You don't get to break two women just to feel whole."
"She doesn't love me," he said. "She married me for stability,for position,I already told you that."
"And you married her for convenience," I shot back, "Congratulations,you deserve each other."
He flinched.
"I won't be your escape," I continued, "And I won't be your reason to implode your marriage."
Andre stepped closer. "Then what are you to me?"
I met his eyes. "The reminder of who you could've been with and what we could have become if only you were man enough.
"Ann"He said my name like a plea.
I opened the door wider. "Leave."
"Ahhhhhhh" I yelled in pain as he left,not again,I have to find Lydia,I have to apologize.