Here And Now

34. Jealousy Jealousy

WESTON

Papers ruffle softly in the breeze from an open window, the only sound echoing in the silent space.

The flickering fluorescent lights above gradually dim.

As I step outside my tiny cubicle, I hear soft murmurs coming from the offices on the left.

A clock on the wall ticks away the remaining minutes.

I tighten my hold on the files that I have to report to him before leaving today.

That sly bastard has run me to the point of death with all the work assignments he's given me. He thinks I don't know what he's doing.

Everyone can see what he's doing. It's unfair and unethical.

But I don't give a flying fuck.

He wants to dump the entire workload of 15 employees on my head? Okay.

He wants me to work the weekends? Sure.

He wants me to stay back a few hours everyday? Why not?

Because I am fucking elated at his sour mood.

He doesn't get my April. I am the fucking endgame, motherfucker.

Played all the tricks he had but my girl could see the ugly monster beneath the surface.

Dumped him.

Ha.

I am about to knock on his door when I hear something fall.

I pause. A grunt passes through the door and to my ears.

I faintly make out the sound of a zipper. Then another.

Even though I heard it through the door, that was definitely the sound of a condom foil.

All guy knows certain sounds.

My heart beat accelerates in excitement.

Is he actually fucking someone in there? That would get him in trouble with HR, and possibly fired. At the least-- demoted.

And to think all the fake moping around he did after April. That conniving son of a bitch.

A few moments later I hear the sound of rattling and soft moans.

April is never going to take him back now.

I have to have some proof though, what if he lies to her?

I take out my phone and start recording.

I stay near the door for just enough time for the moans to be recorded then I move back and effortlessly squeeze between a duct corner that is very conveniently within view of his office.

After a while the door to his office opens.

And I stand frozen in my little corner, the phone having fallen from my hand.

My heart shatters into a million jagged pieces. The sight before me is a cruel dagger twisting in my chest, and the air feels thick with betrayal.

Both of them glance at me.

I look down at their joined hands with glaring intensity, all that does is he tightens his around hers more.

"What the fuck?" Jackson exclaims loudly. His eyes on me.

They start to move to my phone on the marble floor but I quickly fetch and pocket it.

As the scene unfolds, my mind swirls with a toxic blend of jealousy and regret. The image of my wife in the arms of another man sears into memory, although never having witnessed it, igniting a firestorm of envy within me.

How can she move on so quickly? How can she find solace in someone else's embrace while I am left drowning in a sea of my own mistakes?

"Were you spying on me?" April questions softly. The love in her eyes has been replaced with slight disgust.

"I... I don't understand," I stammers, my voice barely a whisper.

April's eyes meet mine with a mix of defiance and sorrow, her expression unapologetic.

"You shouldn't be surprised," she says, her voice steady.

I flinch at the accusation in her words, the weight of my own guilt heavy on my shoulders.

"I... I messed up," I admit, my voice thick with regret. "But that doesn't mean... I thought you, you left him!"

I look at her look at him, her gaze softening.

"I made a mistake and unlike you I realized my mistake and corrected it."

My thoughts get consumed by visions of her laughing, smiling, sharing intimate moments with someone who isn't me. With Jackson.

The thought gnaws at me, festering like a wound that refuses to heal. I can't shake the feeling of inadequacy, the bitter taste of rejection burning in my throat.

With tears burning in my eyes I say, "But I love-"

Jackson cuts me off with a bitter laugh, his gaze cold as ice.

"Save it," he says, his tone cutting through my feeble attempt at explaning my feelings. "And stop being a creep. The next time I catch you stalking us will be the last time you ever see her."

He steps closer to her, a protective arm around her shoulders.

"I think it's time for you to leave," he says, his voice firm and unkind.

My chest tightens with a surge of anger, but it's quickly consumed by the overwhelming sense of loss.

I swallow hard, the reality of the consequences to my actions crashing down on me with brutal force.

"Yeah," I whisper, my voice barely audible. "I'll go." And with that, I turn on my heel, my footsteps heavy with defeat.

As I reach my car, I slump against the door, my chest tight with the weight of my emotions. I want to scream, to lash out at the unfairness of it all.

I want to erase the image of her with another man, to pretend it never happened. But no matter how hard I try, I can't escape the overwhelming sense of jealousy that consumes me.

I enter the car and close the door.

My hands grip the steering wheel with white-knuckled intensity as I punch the steering wheel over and over and over again.

Then with a calmness that I don't feel, I drive through the night, the jealousy festering like a cancer in my soul.

I know I should let go, move on and find my own path forward. But the green-eyed monster within me refuses to be silenced, whispering poison into my ear with every beat of my broken heart.

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Hello fellas.

So so sorry, for leaving you all hanging like that. Truly, incredibly sorry.

Also, thank you for being patient.

I am a little immersed in a love triangle myself, so had to take care of that but then I realized boys are really not worth it, so I got back to writing. (neither of them gave me any flowers on valentines, but 🎶I can by myself flowers🎶...)

Anyway, how did you like this chapter?

□ Could've used a little more angst

□ Perfectly Balanced

□ Too much angst

Next chapter in a new POV.
Any guesses?

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