The Affair

Chapter 4

The interior was beautiful. The sleek black walls were lined with warm fairy lights. The corners and lines where office furniture met wall were lined with pastel colored balloons and gold confetti. 'Happy 25th anniversary' was suspended in the air by the help of string and tape. Drinks and finger foods were being served by young men and women dressed sharply in black, with an embroidering of the catering company they worked for in golden cursive writing. Co-workers and their plus-ones spoke in little circles around tall circular, chairless tables that sat along the sides, ensuring that there was room for those who wanted to mingle with others in the middle.

Seungmin had his arm around
y/n's waist as he led her to meet his friends. He brought her to a group of two males and a female sipping their sparkling champagne conversing in hushed tones. They looked up as they approached, "Look who decided to show up," one male said as he patted Seungmin's shoulder. "I thought you would sit this one out," male number two muttered. The female remained quiet but offered a kind smile instead. Seungmin dropped the arm that was around y/n's waist in order to shake the male's hand, patting his shoulder as they parted. "I wouldn't miss this for the world." Seungmin responded with a charming smile.

"And who might this fine lady be?" Male number one inquired, his Australian accent pushing through, as a smirk grazed his plush lips.

"My wife, Felix, now back off," Seungmin said with no heat. He turned to y/n, gaze lingering on her cheek for a moment before clearing his throat, "Y/n, these are my friends, Felix, Changbin and Sofie. Guys, and girls," he winked at Sofie in what seemed like a friendly manner before continuing, "this is my wife, y/n."

"Nice to meet you." Y/n muttered softly. Felix held out his hand for
y/n to take and brushed his lips over her knuckles, "It is lovely to meet the woman who has captured my friend's heart." He smiled showing his pearly whites before letting go of her hand and taking a sip of his drink. "Though it has been long since you have been married, yes?"

"Yes, been married for 5 years."
Y/n replied. "I see." Felix glanced at Seungmin who was observing the two of them with an expressionless look.

"Well, it is lovely to meet you, y/n." Changbin spoke. "I hope to see you more often. All this time I thought Seungmin had you on house arrest." The group chuckled. Y/n tried to imitate them but it sounded force. No mirth present at all. Sofie remained quiet though.

They shortly got engrossed in conversation regarding work. Seungmin joined in, offering comments and even leading the conversation at times while sipping on wine he got from one of the waiters. Y/n offered smiles when one of the three's gazes landed on her briefly before snapping back to the person who was speaking.

Shortly after, Seungmin moved to another group, bringing y/n along, introducing her to more co-workers and getting engrossed in yet another discussion. After going to the third circle of people Seungmin knew, y/n excused herself. She didn't really need to say anything since she was pretty sure Seungmin couldn't hear her.

She walked around for a bit, passing tipsy adults and busy waiters before finding a dark empty office that overlooked the city through the floor-to-ceiling windows. In the dead of night, the city seemed so alive, with lights illuminating from every building and every vehicle down below looked like moving stars. She felt like she was in her own wonderland where she could just be. Her own haven.

Y/n felt out of her depth here. She knew nothing about her husband's work. She couldn't socialize like her husband either. It brought memories from early in the morning back to the forefront of her mind. Though she spent the entire day with a book to her nose, seeking escape, right now, in front of all these impressive people, she felt like an outcast. No wonder Seungmin would rather spend the evening talking about concepts
y/n knew nothing about. As if he were speaking about how inadequate she was in a foreign language. Maybe she did deserve that slap. The bruises seemed to ache now that she was alone, thinking about them.