Chapter 13
Colette's voice trembled with raw emotion as she faced Matt. "She wants you, Matt! And I don't believe you're completely blind to her feelings!" Her eyes bore into his, searching for any sign of remorse or guilt. She saw a faint flush spread across his cheeks—a silent confirmation. "You're too sharp not to have noticed how she feels about you. Yet here you are, fighting with me to keep her by your side. Do you enjoy it, Matt? Do you enjoy having two women fight over you? Does it give you an ego boost?"
Matt's silence was deafening, but Colette pressed on. "Answer me!"
"That's not true!" Matt finally broke his silence, his voice hoarse and strained. He met her fiery gaze, realizing he needed to change his approach if he had any hope of reaching her. "Maybe I was aware of Iris's feelings. I knew she had a little crush on me. She asked me out for coffee twice when she first started working for me." He paused, his eyes pleading with Colette to understand. "But I shot her down both times and made sure she knew there could never be anything between us but a professional relationship. And that was nine years ago! She has never done anything like that since. She works hard for my company—" His words were abruptly cut off by Zoe's sarcastic laughter echoing from the bedroom.
"And I swear, I have never slept with her." Matt's voice softened, almost pleading. Zoe's snort of disbelief from behind the closed door cut through the tension. Colette stood there, torn between wanting to believe him and the nagging doubts that gnawed at her heart. Maybe he hadn't physically cheated, but there were worse kinds of infidelity than sex. Matt was undeniably closer to his secretary emotionally than he was to her, and to Colette, that was a betrayal.
As the realization settled over her, a surge of determination replaced her despair. If Matt couldn't understand the pain of emotional betrayal, then maybe he needed a taste of his own medicine. She straightened her back, her resolve hardening. "Maybe it's time for you to see what it feels like, Matt," she thought, a plan forming in her mind.
Colette’s voice was a mixture of anger and pain. “So, Iris has never been anything but professional to you? Does that mean she has never said anything about me? Never unintentionally hinted at how stupid I am or what an attention-seeking child you married?” She watched as Matt's face turned a deeper shade of red, confirming her worst fears. His guilt was evident. He opened his mouth to defend himself, but Colette cut him off, her patience worn thin. “No, Matt. That’s enough! Come back to me when you’ve gotten rid of your ice-cold bitch secretary, and not a second before.”
The room fell silent, the tension thick and oppressive. They stood facing each other like adversaries about to duel. Colette's heart pounded, each beat echoing the hurt and betrayal she felt.
After a long, tense silence, Matt's eyes turned dark and emotionless, filled with empty aggression. “And what if I refuse to dance to your tune? And don’t give in to your madness of blackmail?” His words were like daggers, each one piercing Colette’s heart. She recoiled internally at the word "blackmail," knowing she wasn’t trying to manipulate him. She was simply at her wits' end.
“You mean, if you keep your secretary?” Colette's voice was steady but filled with sorrow. “Then I wish you a happy life with her. Just send me the divorce papers when you make your decision.” The words were like poison on her tongue, each one painful to utter. But she stood her ground, determined to protect herself from further emotional harm.
Matt's eyes flared with a mix of bitterness and anger. The tension in the room was palpable, an invisible force pressing down on both of them. He turned abruptly, storming out of the flat and slamming the door behind him. The sound echoed through the apartment, a final punctuation to their heated exchange.
As the door closed, Colette felt the weight of the confrontation settle over her. The pain was beyond anything she had imagined. Her legs gave way, and she sank to the floor, broken sobs wracking her body. The enormity of what had just happened crashed down on her like a tidal wave. She had given Matt an ultimatum, and now she had to face the reality of what that might mean.
The week passed in a blur, a haze of dark, depressing clouds that seemed permanently settled over Colette's head. She spent her days toiling away in the city, moving from one place to another in a desperate search for a job. Each evening, she returned to her friend’s flat, and the façade of strength she wore all day crumbled. She cried into her pillow, mourning the man who had made his choice. Matt hadn't called, nor had he tried to see her again. His silence was a loud declaration of his decision. He had chosen Iris.
Every morning, Colette told herself that it didn’t matter, that life must go on. But as night fell, doubts and fears consumed her. She tortured herself with thoughts of Matt, wondering if tonight he had finally taken that other woman to bed. The scenes played out vividly in her mind: Matt’s naked body entwined with the pale, slender form of another woman. She twisted and turned in her narrow single bed, the sheets tangled around her legs, before finally crying herself to sleep.
She tried her best to stay away from her friend’s flat for as long as possible each day. Searching for jobs was a convenient excuse to avoid the place that had become her torture chamber. The bed reminded her of Matt, and she couldn't escape the images of what he might be doing in their bed—whether alone or with someone else.
She didn’t need to wonder for long. Fate intervened in a way she never anticipated. That week, she landed a job as a waitress at Dupree’s, an upscale restaurant in the middle of the city, bustling with rich patrons passing through its revolving door every other minute. The manager was a good friend of Zoe’s and agreed to take her on as staff, despite her lack of experience. Colette had never waited tables before, but she was determined to prove herself.
Monday marked Colette’s first day at Dupree’s, and she was eager to make a good impression. The restaurant buzzed with activity, a symphony of clinking glasses, sizzling pans, and lively chatter. The staff was welcoming and supportive, each person playing a crucial role in the seamless operation of the establishment.
Stacy, a towering figure at six feet with vibrant chewing gum pink hair, was the first to greet Colette. Despite her striking appearance, Stacy had a warm, infectious energy that put Colette at ease. "Welcome to the team," she said with a broad smile, handing Colette an apron. "Stick with me today, and you'll do just fine."
Evie, who worked the till, was a petite woman with a sharp wit and a quick smile. She gave Colette a reassuring nod. "If you need anything, just holler," she said, her fingers flying over the register as she handled a customer's bill.
The morning passed in a blur of activity. Colette shadowed Stacy, learning the ropes of waitressing: balancing trays, taking orders, and navigating the busy dining floor. The afternoon rush had just ended, and the restaurant staff was enjoying a brief lull when a group of black-tie businessmen walked in.
Their polished leather shoes and the expensive scent of their cologne signaled that they were high-end clients. Stacy, ever the professional, approached them first to take their order. She returned to the counter, visibly bristling.
“All okay, Stace?” Evie asked, noticing her friend’s flushed face.
“Yes, just that female blonde viper among those men irritated the hell outta me!” Stacy shrugged, passing the order to the chefs.
“What did she say?” Evie pressed.
“She asked how the manager allows me to have pink hair while working in a place like Dupree’s,” Stacy replied, rolling her eyes.
“What a bitch,” Evie snorted, and Colette, though just listening, silently agreed.
The order was large and extravagant: barbecued lamb, grilled seafood salad, chicken parmigiana, lamingtons, and their best dish, the Barramundi fish. Colette assisted Stacy in taking the food and drinks to the table.
As they approached, Colette’s heart sank. There, in the center of the group, was Matt, smiling and nodding as Iris, seated beside him, made an elaborate display of her business acumen, discussing stock market anecdotes with the men around her.