I STILL LOVE YOU, BUT...

CHAPTER 11

IRIS

Something is wrong.

Colin hasn't been the same since he returned from that London trip.

He has barely looked at me.

I feel it in the silence that sits like a wall between us, his behavior suddenly reduced to a stony quiet. I watch him warily and try to understand the source of the chill. Is it Amanda? Had he met up with her in London, rekindled their ties?

I know she is in London. I had overheard it quite by accident; three gossipy employees exchanging idle chatter in the copying room, unaware that I was in the hallway, and listening to every word they were saying.

Mr. Clayton's ex sold their house and moved to London.

Oh, really? The poor thing.

I can't believe he cheated on her with Iris, of all people.

Me, too. I mean, if it were some other girl, I'd understand, but Iris? She's so old ---

It's probably the sex.

Giggles.

I doubt it. Look at her, she's so stiff and frigid ---

The boobs, then. They're huge ---

More giggles.

That age they should be saggy, but they're so perky it's unreal.

Gasps.

You mean they aren't real?

No way those are real.

Oh. My. God.

I hate her. She's an uptight, patronizing bitch.

Yeah, and she struts around like she owns the company, just because she's sleeping with the boss.

It won't last, take my word for it. I mean, look at him --- I've hardly seen him with her, and get this...I was sitting right behind his table the other day in the cafeteria, and he was with that girl --- what's her name? The blonde girl who was interning for him ---

Cora? His assistant?

That's right. Cora. She was all over him --- and he was smiling and chatting with her. Never seen him doing that with Iris...in fact, I've never seen them together at the cafeteria, or in the office, isn't that weird? You'd never know they were together, if not for the divorce and all those stories that came up later about his cheating...

There were rumours even before the divorce. Like he would be shut up in the boardroom for hours for private meetings with her...

Urgh. That's just disgusting...

I doubt it'd last...I've never seen his ex-wife, but I heard she was really pretty and sweet.

Makes you wonder why he cheated, doesn't it?

Iris was married, too.

Urgh. I didn't know that, oh my goodness. I mean, I know that he was married, but her? Wow. That's just disgusting.

Seems she set out to seduce him...

She does love to flaunt her body, doesn't she? That cleavage, all those tight dresses...

Giggles.

She's reliving her youth.

What youth?