My business trip was supposed to last until Friday, but after finishing my appointments early, I decided to surprise Daniel.
I’d missed him, and the idea of a relaxing evening together seemed perfect.
I didn’t inform him of my return, but simply took a taxi from the airport, curious to see how surprised he would be to see me.
But in the end, it was me who was surprised.
As I entered the house, a delicious aroma filled the air.
Garlic, rosemary, something rich and spicy.
Daniel didn’t often cook unless it was a special occasion, and the smell made my stomach growl loudly.
With a smile, I entered the house, thinking he had set the table for the two of us.
But instead, I heard laughter.
An unfamiliar laugh.
My heart beat faster as I entered the dining room.
There stood Daniel, pouring wine for a woman I’d never seen before.
She was breathtaking.
Long, dark hair, perfectly manicured nails, a dress that looked expensively designed.
The woman had her back to me, but she turned around first.
Her eyes widened. “Um… Sienna?” she said uncertainly.
Daniel turned around, still holding the bottle.
His face suddenly pale. “Sienna?! What are you doing here?”
I crossed my arms and forced myself to remain calm. “I live here.”
“The better question is: What are you doing here? And who is she?”
The woman nervously put her glass down on the table. “I should probably go.”
“Yes, you should,” I said sharply, not taking my eyes off Daniel.
All my thoughts were on him.
He nervously ran his hand through his hair. “Sienna, please, let me explain.”
“Oh, I’m intrigued,” I replied sharply. “Come on, tell me.”
He hesitated. “It’s not what you think.”
I laughed bitterly. “Really? Because it looks like you’re having a romantic dinner with another woman.”
He took a deep breath. “She’s a colleague. I invited her to talk about work.”
I looked at the candle-decorated table, the bottle of wine, and the gourmet meal he hadn’t even prepared for me. “Work, huh? Interesting. I don’t remember candles and filet mignon being part of your regular work meetings.”
His jaw clenched. “It doesn’t mean anything, I swear.”
I stared at him for a long time.
Then I took the wine bottle and, without taking my eyes off it, poured it directly into the pasta he had so carefully prepared.
“Sienna!” he exclaimed, horrified.
I calmly placed the bottle back on the table. “Oops. Looks like dinner’s ruined.”
“And my trust, too.”
The “colleague” had already grabbed her bag and hurried to the door.
“Oh, good.”
Daniel took a step toward me, but I raised my hand. “Don’t.”
“You’ve had plenty of time to be honest with me, but you chose to lie.”
“Enjoy your dinner, Danielle.”
Suddenly, my appetite vanished.
With those words, I grabbed my suitcase, headed to the door, and headed for the hotel.
Because if he thought I was going to just accept this and be fooled, he was sorely mistaken.