Dinner at the Hotel
The divorce papers, still warm from the printer, carefully folded with copies, went deep into my bag. Then, I texted Emily: "Count me in for Friday." Night fell. City lights glittered. Pushing open the heavy door to the hotel's rooftop barEmily waved excitedly from the bar, drink in hand, flanked by two others. "Kate! Over here!" She thrust a vibrant cocktail at me. "'Sunset Boulevard'! The signature!" I took the cold glass. Scanned the room. Alluring dresses, sharp suits, laughter hanging thick in the air. My gaze swept the crowd, lingering briefly on dark suits before moving on. Then, deep in a secluded booth. My heart stopped.
Mark. Lounging in a plush velvet booth. A woman sat opposite, facing away.Light catching her elegant profile, lips curved. Leaning in, listening intently as Mark murmured something, expression rapt and amused. Mark wore a smile—relaxed, familiar, yet absent between us for so long. He lifted a bottle, topping up her glass, movements effortless. Elegant place settings, barely touched food. With clients? Important meeting? This was the "client." My stomach twisted violently.
The Scent of Perfume
The cold glass threatened to shatter in my grip. Mark leaned subtly toward the woman. Said something. She laughed, covering her mouth, shoulders shaking. Playfully swatted his arm—an intimate, flirtatious gesture. Mark chuckled, reaching out naturally to tuck a loose curl behind her ear. His fingertips grazed her earlobe, her cheekbone. That gesture. Effortlessly intimate.
It seared my retinas, branding my brain. The world muted to white noise. Blood roared in my ears. *That was it!* The scent ghosting Mark’s collar—identical! The cloying core of that cheap perfume from the convenience store! I stumbled back, crashing into a waiter. Glasses shattered. Ice, liquid cascaded over me, crashing loudly to the floor. Heads snapped towards the commotion. Including theirs. Mark’s smile vanished. He saw me. His eyes widened—shock, disbelief, panic frozen on his familiar face. His hand, mid-touch near her ear, hung suspended, then jerked away. The woman turned fully. A young, strikingly beautiful face, etched with shock.
The Name "Leah"
Chilled liquid soaked through my coat. All eyes locked onto me. Emily rushed over, flustered. "Kate! Oh my god! Are you okay? Hurt?" She dabbed frantically with napkins. Mark shot up, jostling the table. Glasses clattered. Color drained from his face, shock turning to stone. The woman rose too, beautiful face a mask of shock and annoyance, eyeing Mark and me nervously. Stifling silence.
Then my own voice cut through the lingering music, sharp and clear: "Leah?" The woman flinched. "Who… who are you?" Mark jolted as if electrocuted. "Kate! This isn’t—! This is Leah! New investment advisor!" Desperation laced his voice. I looked at his panic-stricken face, then at "Leah"—young, polished, radiating shock. The firm’s new investment advisor Leah? *This* was the Leah who, just yesterday afternoon, in tones dripping with gossip and sympathy, told me Mark had ghosted the crucial summit. How fitting. Leah. Yesterday, she’d complained about Mark’s absence, worried for Pete. Now here she was.
