The Affair

Chapter 2.1 - A True Assistant

Monday, May 2, 2022, 7:22am

The first Monday of May dawns and William finds himself running later than usual. Scrambling, he throws on his suit jacket, grabs his satchel and keys, and rushes downstairs. In the kitchen are his wife and daughter; his wife, June, is rinsing a few plates and cutlery while his daughter, Zoe, sits at the table playing on her tablet and ignoring the remainder of her bacon on the plate. Shouldering his satchel, he sweeps into the room and approaches his wife from behind. The running water masks his footsteps, and he surprises her with a swift slap to her butt.

"Okay, girls, I'm heading out!" he announces, stealing Zoe's bacon from her plate, "And daddy's commandeering your bacon!"

"Mommy burned 'em..." Zoe says, her eyes not leaving the screen.

"They aren't burnt!" June fires back as she dries her hands. "Hon, are you sure you don't want any breakfast?"

"I do, but I'm running late. It's my own fault for sleeping in. I have an early meeting with an examiner, and I'll be coaching one of the newbies," he explains, clearing his throat after swallowing the bacon. "Wow, crunchy. Today shouldn't be too hectic though, so I'll be home in time for dinner. I love you both."

"Love you, daddy!" Zoe blurts out.

He bends down and plants a kiss on the top of her head. "Have fun at school today, sweetheart," he says before looking over to his smirking wife, "And I'll see you later..."

His hands fall on her waist as their lips connect. They pull away but remain in each other's embrace for a moment longer. June then takes a step back to brush his shoulders and pulls a stray blonde hair from his lapel.

"I love you too," she says with a warm smile.

~

Monday, May 2, 2022, 7:58am

In the heart of downtown, William turns into a parking garage three blocks from his actual work building, the 2 Houston Center. Driving up to the second level, he is pleased to see a vacant parking space adjacent to the skywalk entrance, an elevated pathway to cross between the buildings of downtown. He parks his car and locks it as he walks through the glass doors of the first skywalk. From the parking garage, the first skywalk leads him into a popular three-story shopping mall, aptly called The Shops, which then crosses into the next building, the LyondellBassell Tower via a second skywalk crossing. At his juncture, William breaks left and follows the path into a large open lobby with a wall of windows to his left that separates the inside from an attractive outdoor courtyard fit between the structures.

His steps echo through the halls and clash with the occasional passerby. It is a long walk from the parking garage, but a relaxing one given the warm glow of the morning sun peering through the tall buildings. The early hour adds a special quiet ambiance to the indoor space soon to be crowded with bustling office workers.

Finally, he arrives at the proper elevator lobby, and he takes the elevator up to his office on the 38th floor. A short while later the doors open and he is surprised to see Fallon, bright-eyed and eager to initiate her greeting.

"Good morning, sir! Looking good!" she greets, both hands behind her back and holding sheets of paper that flare out like a fan.

She beams a glowing smile, enchanted further by her unique brand of vivacious energy. Her attire is something to admire: a maroon chiffon blouse tucked into a pleated cream-colored skirt, skinny black heels, and a dainty velvet choker necklace with a tiny silver charm dangling from the middle. In her hair, she wears a black headband, tucking her bangs from her eyes and holding her silky brown hair neatly behind ears embellished with sparkly hoop earrings.