Yesterday was a disaster.

After he had called me names, I ran out of his office, grabbed my stuff and left, thinking 'fuck him and his great hair'. I retrospect, I really didn't want his company to burn to the ground but a little evil part of me wanted Natalie and Dicky to succeed so he could come crawling for forgiveness.

You wish, inner me said. I couldn't chastise her, she was right. He would never apologise. Even if he found out the truth, he would just ignore till I give in and start talking to him again. But I made a promise to myself. I wasn't gonna cave.

He hurt me. Called me things no woman wanted to hear from the man she had been in love with since she was 15. And no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't erase that. I know he had a right to be mad at me. I left him, branded him a poor excuse of a man who couldn't support me and my lifestyle, but with good reason.

If only he knew.

This morning while he walked around getting ready for work, I layed in bed with my eyes shut tight hoping to make him believe I was sleeping. I wasn't going back to work. Not now, not ever. He seemed to stay a little bit longer. May be he was looking for something. Well he eventually gave up and left.

So here I was, baking every single treat that crossed my mind. I had it covered, from scones to the red velvet cake. I was officially bored.

I eagerly waited for my 5 year old ball of energy to come home. He was my only source of happiness now. At least he didn't call me names.

I heard the door opening which was followed by a loud, "I'm home". I laughed. Benjy always had a flair for the dramatic. He came into the kitchen and as soon as he saw me, squealed loudly.

"Momma!"

"Hi bubba", I replied with equal excitement

"I'm so happy to see you. You're never here when I get back from school", his face took on a sad expression, "Miss Gertie said you were at work"

"I'm so sorry baby but I'm here now and no more work for me"

"Really momma?", his beautiful eyes wide with hope

"Yup", I replied

He seemed to go into deep thought about something and then he gasped loudly, "Did you get fired?!"

I laughed, "No Benjy I didn't get fired. I just...I couldn't work there anymore. It was suffocating"

"Ok momma", then he seemed to notice all the treats on the table and gasped again, "Wow, whose birthday is it?"

"No one"

"Then why all the treats?", he asked while grabbing a chocolate chip cookie.

"I just felt like it. So you go shower and come down, then we can have a snack ok?"

"Yes momma", he scurried away.

The rest if the day was filled with adventures with my adorable 5 year old. We went to Chick-fil-A in the evening and chatted away. Well, he mostly did the talking while I just listened. When I asked about school he just shrugged and said it was fine. I wanted to press further but he swiftly changed the subject, telling me how much he had missed me. I decided to let it go.

For now.

After hysterical laughs, weird stares and Benjy's food baby, we headed home. On the way back I silently prayed he wasn't at home yet. I was willing to do anything to evade him as much as I could. I couldn't look him in the face without remembering what he said.

But we all know life isn't fair. And that's how I drove in to be greeted with the sight of my husband's car. I played it cool, even though I was twisting in knots inside. I didn't want Benjy to think there was anything wrong with me. I squared my shoulders and walked in. As soon as we got past the doors, I ushered Benjy upstairs to have a shower. I walked into the kitchen and spotted Gertie checking on something in the oven.

"Hi Gertie", I said

She gasped, "Oh God ma'am. You scared me", she said planting a hand on her chest

I laughed, "I'm sorry Gertie. What do you have there?"

"Oh it's the dessert. Homemade apple pie", she gushed

"Gertie, you know the way to my heart"

"Oh stop it. Dinner's ready, you should eat. Do want me to get Benjamin down?"

"Oh no. He's had his fill for now and days to come"

It was her turn to laugh, "Ok then. You go on now, I'll fix you a plate. I'll have this out in a bit", she ushered me towards the dining room. That's when I saw him. Tousled hair, loose tie, open shirt and all. I checked to make sure I wasn't drooling. He had already started eating, but stopped as soon as he noticed my presence. I started walking towards the table. It was long. With one chair at end and ten on each side. He was seated at the head chair on one end of the table, so I took the only reasonable one. The chair at the other end. He looked at me and I looked at him. The tension in the air was so thick, it could be cut with a knife. Gertie came in with a plate piled with mashed potatoes, beans, steak and some gravy. I gave her a smile and waited for her to leave. If she noticed the tension, then she didn't say anything about it.

I grabbed my fork and knife and cut into the steak. I put a little piece in my mouth and almost moaned. Juicy and cooked to perfection. Just the way I like it. Gertie was indeed a miracle worker. I could feel his eyes on me as I ate but refused to look up at him.

He cleared his throat, "I was expecting you at the office today. When you didn't leave with me, I assumed you were going to come later", he said with no emotion at all. I didn't answer. Just kept on daintily chewing on my steak. He apparently read that as a sign to continue, "Mr Hammond asked about you. He seems to have taken a certain liking to you". I shoveled some beans in my mouth. "We've signed the deal with Mr Yamazaki", time for some mashed potatoes.

"Are you gonna say anything?", he asked. I gave him the most bored look I could muster and returned to my food. He scoffed, "Really Diana?, the silent treatment?". Still no answer, "Very mature Ms Prichard". I think he wanted to get a rise out of me so I could crack and talk to him.

It's not gonna be that easy bucko. "Fine. Be that way", he sounded mad, and I felt great. I pushed my plate forward, grabbed my napkin and wiped the corners of my mouth. I then pushed the chair back, stood up and walked out. Passing the kitchen, I stopped.

"Gertie, please send a slice of that no doubt delicious apple pie to my room"

She giggled, "Sure thing ma'am"

I muttered a quick thank you and walked up the stairs thinking, I am gonna be that way.

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Alejandro

Fuck!

Just fuck.

I know I may have said some things that weren't so nice but c'mon!. The silent treatment?, does anyone even do that anymore. I was mad she wasn't talking to me. Mad, sad, angry. And equally livid that I felt that way.

This morning while I was getting ready for work, I discovered she was still in bed. I lazed around abit, waiting for her to wake up so we could go to work together. But she didn't. It took every ounce of self control I had to stop myself from waking her up. I went down with clenched fists. All through breakfast, I was waiting for her to come down the stairs, have breakfast and tell me she was ready to go. But no Diana.

I begrudgingly left the house with a scowl on my face, as if daring anyone to talk to me. Paco must have noticed as he was about greet me but quickly shut his mouth. I silently thanked him. I wasn't ready to talk to anyone today and didn't want anyone to talk to me. Well, except it was her.

Don't worry. She's gonna meet you at the office. My subconscious comforted

I hope so.

But she didn't. I can't even count the number of time I checked to she if she was at her desk. Nothing. I unusually called Mr Hammond several times to find out if she was there. But no Diana.

During one such calls, he asked me if there was anything wrong with her to which I replied no. He then asked me to tell her to give him a call that he was worried about her. I frowned at this. Just how close we're they for him to worry about her?. I know Mr Hammond was probably in his late forties but inner me didn't like the thought of any man getting, 'friendly' with our wife.

Hmph. Our wife according to paper. That's all she is.

Keep telling yourself that

I couldn't dwell on it too long as I was staring at the financial report in front of me. There was at least 42 million dollars in assets that weren't accounted for. What the hell?. I tried to convince myself they forgot about it but a little part of me brought up yesterday's conversation with Diana. What if she was right?. Was I so mad at her I was willing to refute the truth just to hurt her?, Did I truly hate her that much?. I promised to look into it on Monday.

I was so eager to get home. To see her. And I didn't like that. But when I got home she wasn't there. I learned from Gertie that she and Benjamin had left for some 'Momma and Benjy time' as she put it. Well it was a Friday and he didn't have school tomorrow so that was fine.

I ate dinner as slowly as I could hoping to have her join me soon. And she did. I expected her to come sit by me and everything going back to normal. She trying to get my attention, me ignoring her. But no. She had to be petty and sit all the way at the other end.

I internally groaned. Was this the movies where the couple stared at each other from across the table with intentions of killing each other?.

I waited for her to say something but she just chewed on the steak. I know it was good but was it that good?, that good that hunky piece of man like me could be forgotten. I told her I waited for her at office but she didn't say anything. I told her Mr Hammond asked about her. Nothing. I told her we got the deal with Mr Yamazaki. Still nothing.

At first I thought she couldn't hear me but when I asked her if she was going to say anything and she answered with a bored look, I figured it out. I was never good at getting the silent treatment, especially from her.

Back when we were younger, if I made her mad and she gave me the silent treatment, I would do anything to get her to talk to me. Considering that I thought her voice was the most beautiful sound in the world, it was pexpected. Now it looked like the old habit I had flushed out was returning. I tried to taunt her into talking to me. Even though she would probably be yelling, it was a certain degree of talking. But nothing. It was like she was made of steel. No fucking reaction.

After trying to get her to talk, she just got up and left. I expected her to yell, throw things at me, hit me but no. It's almost like I wasn't important enough to be mad at.

I went to the room to find her in bed, facing out floor to ceiling windows. I went into the bathroom and took a quick shower. I got back out and found her fast asleep. I got in bed and faced away from her. Trying desperately to silence the part of me that yearned to hold the woman next to me.

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