His Black Secret

Chapter 16

I wake up a little late today because there's not enough work for me to do at the office.
I check out my chosen outfit for work in my mirror for the last time before grabbing my jacket and my sunglasses last minute when I notice how sunny it is even at ten in the morning.

I get in my awaiting uber while replying to a text from Alex about our meeting with the painters in a few hours.

I just need to pass by the office for some documents I need from Jan's office before meeting Alex.
I realize it's been a while I spoke with my mum so I quickly call her on WhatsApp to catch up.

I reply Janice's good morning with a quick one and signal her with my unoccupied hand that I can't stop for a chit chat because I'm on call.
She nods her understanding while I head to my office.
Janice and I are not the best of friends at the office but we try to be nice to each other and sometimes stop for a chat a minute a two but nothing too personal.
I stay on call with my mum for 30 more minutes before finally hanging up.
I offer a quick prayer and go to the break room for a cup of latte macchiato before returning to my office to reply my emails and finish up on a little excel work I have been ignoring for a while now.

An incoming FaceTime call from Jan interrupts me and I'm thankful for it because I realize I have less than forty minutes to meet Alex. I accept the call and watch him excuse himself from a table before turning to look at me with a smile and a
"hello beautiful".

We talk for a while until I remind him of the documents I need.

"They are on my office table in a blue file.
You can go into my office so I show you directly".

"Ok but are you sure? I can let Janice get it for me. I don't want to accidentally see any confidential documents that I shouldn't be privy to" I say with hesitation.

" It's fine Noa, besides I trust you. just get inside and I can point out the right file to you ok?"
" ok"
I reply still unsure about the arrangement.

I walk out of mine and head to his office. I still let Janice know and also show her that I'm on phone with Mr Hofer and that I will be quick.
She replies with a "No problem Noa" and goes back to whatever she is doing on her computer while I hesitantly enter Jan's office.

I still can't get over Jan's office view. It is simply breathtaking and I have to always pause for a minute to appreciate it anytime I enter his office.
"Did I tell you I love your view?"
"About a hundred and ten times but who's counting?" He replies with a smirk.
I laugh and turn to his desk to get what I came in for. His chair looks large and intimidating even without him in it. I reminisce about him sitting in it.
He catches me staring and smirks. " I know you want to try it, go on".
I pretend to not know what he's talking about and he laughs. "Go on Noa, take a spin I know you want to!" I don't hesitate and quickly jump in his chair getting comfortable and taking a slow spin with glee, like a small child.
"So this is how it feels like to be the big boss with the rest of us under your thumb" I say cheekily. He laughs loudly.
"I would rather have you under me and not under my thumb"
he flirts cheekily.
I laugh at his lame attempt at flirting while still turning in the chair when his office door opens loudly. I spin around to look at who it is with a small frown on my face.

"Who the hell are you and what makes you comfortable enough to be in my husbands office and in his chair!?Answer me now!.
Janice come here now!"
The woman in front of me is stunning! She is wearing a red Gucci tweed sleeveless mini corporate dress with a white blazer over it.
Yes I know it because it launched this season and I have been dreaming about it for a minute. I want to buy it so bad but my quest to be a smart money woman lately is the only reason stopping me.

Her long honey blonde hair is in a low bun and her clean manicured hands is still making gestures while talking to Janice. I can't see her shoes because Jan's large desk is blocking it and it is this moment I realize how close she had gotten to me.

"What the hell are you doing in my office Iris!"
The aloud baritone voice of Jan snaps me out of my daze and I realize he is still on the phone. I unceremoniously get off the chair ready to apologize when what she said finally registered in my brain.
" I'm sorry, husband?" I say it quietly but apparently Jan hears me and calls out my name but I turn to the wife, Iris if I heard right, and quickly apologize.
" I'm so sorry for my unprofessional behavior I just came in here for a file and got distracted"
I reply while quickly grabbing a random file on the table, excusing myself and hightailing it out of the tensed room.
I check the file and take a deep breath when I realize that I managed to grab the right file even in my haste.

I hear loud shouts and cussing and I realize I am still in front of the closed door, so I speed walk to my office like a coward, still trying to process what the hell is happening.

I enter my office and walk slowly to my chair still in a trance.
"Noa! Noa ! are you there! talk to me"
I jerk in my chair when I hear Jan's voice booming from the phone and I realize he is still on the phone. I quickly press the end call button and grab my purse and jacket. I take the file and put on my sunglasses thanking God for having something to hide my embarrassment behind.
Coward move, I know but I still can not believe I found myself in this situation.
I walk out of my office and don't hear any noise so I hurriedly walk towards the lift needing to get away from this whole atmosphere.
I hear Janice calling me from her desk but I wave her off letting her know I'm fine and that we will talk later.

I am still holding my breath in the lift imagining Iris coming out of nowhere to humiliate me even more. Although she didn't catch me in any compromising situation with her husband, I still feel dirty and humiliated because I know what I have going on with Jan behind closed doors. I have hoped to never be caught in a situation like this and I still can't believe this is actually happening.
I don't take a breather until I am in the uber heading to my flat.
I take my phone to text Alex when I see an incoming call from Jan. I watch it ring until the call go unanswered. I see he had tried reaching me 16 times. I grip my phone so hard willing myself not to cry and breath until I ultimately relax. I shoot Alex a quick text telling him "I didn't feel good, so heading back home and that he should meet with the workers and I will call later for any feedback."

His reply "Its alright, just get some rest and get well soon" quickly comes through and I'm glad for it because turn off my phone immediately and bury it in my purse.
I walk numbly to my flat, slowly open the door and dump my belongings on a table at the corner near the door.
As soon as I hear the click of the door, I turn my back towards the locked door and slid slowly onto the floor.
My hand locks itself over my mouth because I know that if I remove it the
noise from my ugly cry will escape.
Big tear drops stream out of my eyes and roll down my cheeks in a race and I numbly allow it to flow.

I can't believe I fell in love with him. My perfect man. I can't believe I fell in love with another woman's husband, of all men!.
I don't know if I can ever recover from this experience.

***

Poor Noa! Who's gonna tell her?

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