Legal Affairs

Oliver

She doesn't see me the way I want her to. Noah I mean. I know I have a girlfriend it's wrong. Not that Maggie and I are "official" or anything. That was never the plan. For her at least.

"You're thinking hard." Maggie says, she flashes thoes doe like eyes at me. "You've hardly touched your Lemon Pepper Quiona. It's your favorite."

I hate quiona. The only reason why were

"I'm fine." I snap. That didn't come out the way I wanted it to. I don't know what it is. Maybe the fact that she might be sleeping with another man. The way our sex is dull. , mechanical, like we're just going through the motions. It's not what I want, but it's what we've become. A routine that neither of us seems eager to break, even if we're both silently acknowledging it's over.

"Oliver, babe." She puts her hand on mine. It's not cold. Not hot. Just neutral.

"Is it the case?"

I shake my head. "No." I move my hand. I know it's cold. I know its mean. But she has a lover. It's obvious.

"What is it?" She leans forward, her eyes searching my face.

"Nothing, I'm fine."

"If something's bothering you, you can tell me," she insists. No I can't.

She searches my face. It's Noah...isn't it." She's never liked her. And yet she only met her once at the office party.

"Mags," I begin.

"No," she says. "Don't Mags me. I've been here for three years. Three. And you still can't trust me."

"Of course I can't! Where do you fucking go every other night? Tell me, Mags. What is so important that you can't tell me where you are on Thursdays, and how every other weekends is off-limits."

She stands up. Her chair screeches against the floor.

"Maggie," I say, looking around the restraunt. Everyone is staring. "Sit down, please. I'm sorry."

She picks up her purse and walks out.

I knew our relationship was on the rocks but not like this.

I can't do this.

I get up and follow her.

"Mags, wait," I say.

She stops, turning to face me.

"Just...just tell me," I plead.

"I can't do this anymore. Us."

"Why not?"

"Because, I can't keep pretending. We're not happy. Not really. We're just going through the motions. Our relationship is..."

"What?" The a car streams by and it's LED lights nearly blinding me.

"Stagnant. We're stuck in a rut. It's not working, Oliver. We've grown apart."

"I...I know." I admit. "But...but can't we work it out?"

She folds her ars and turns away from me. I can see her ears growing red, sticking out from under her blonde hair.

"I'm seeing someone else," she says softly.

"Who?" I ask, a pang of jealousy coursing through me.

"You don't know him," she replies, turning to face me. "Oliver, we need a break. Time apart."

"How much time?"

"A long one. A few months maybe."

"What the fuck, Mags." I raise my voice.

"Oliver, you're not angry, you're just hurt. I know you're not angry, and if we're going to do this, we have to be honest."

"Honest? Fuck honesty. You weren't even fucking honest about seeing someone else."

"You never asked."

"Because I assumed we were on the same page."

"Oliver, it's not about being on the same page, it's about...we're just not connecting. We've lost that spark, that chemistry."

"So, you're saying that you're leaving me, for someone else."

She looks up to the sky and sighs, "I'm not saying that what I'm saying is we need a break. A long one. Oliver, I'm sorry."

"Fuck you, Maggie."

"I know."

I can't believe her.

She kisses my cheek and gets into an uber. I didn't know she ordered one.

"I'm sorry," she whispers, as the door closes.

I stand there, frozen, watching the car drive away. I can't move.

I can't breathe.

I fell for a fraud.