![\"\"](\"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/9c8484e816fbcc06c5ab31c50d1e7b4501e8f625416e2ec00696ab08a6c8a490.webp\")
\nA smiling couple | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n
When Emma\u2019s husband\u2019s coworker goes out of her way to make Alex feel seen by her, Emma starts to question Lisa\u2019s intentions. Things get strange when gifts start popping up, and even worse when Lisa makes Alex homemade meals. But the final straw is when Lisa taunts Emma, hinting at an affair between her and Alex.<\/p>\n
My husband, Alex, and I have been married for ten years, and during this time, we\u2019ve built a strong, loving relationship.<\/p>\n
Alex works as a project manager at a large tech company, and it comes with long hours.<\/p>\n
\nA smiling couple | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d he said one evening when we were having dinner well after 10 PM. \u201cI know that my hours are getting insane. But we\u2019re just working on the launch of something new, Emma. We\u2019ll be done soon and I\u2019ll be back to normal hours.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s fine,\u201d I replied. \u201cJust eat before we have to reheat dinner once again.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/30d30da43a6fad9a28529c96b1a57eb16c156c1192af19b2b767ddce004b3e92.webp\")
\nA dinner table for two | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n
Despite the long hours, I always trusted my husband completely. Although, recently, that trust has been tested by one of Alex\u2019s coworkers, Lisa.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you threatened in any way by this woman?\u201d my mother asked when I told her that I wasn\u2019t comfortable with Lisa.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/9a313fb3bbcd569e44c7d04f3e2d8faae2da4321a22d095680c3a52e09ea724f.webp\")
\nA smiling woman | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n
\u201cYes. No. I don\u2019t know,\u201d I said. \u201cShe\u2019s just too much. She does a lot of questionable things. And I don\u2019t know what her intentions are.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat has she been doing?\u201d my mother asked.<\/p>\n
What hadn\u2019t Lisa done?<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/c7f6fdb7f09d863bd94a1a5a4abbfe51f9d8b55aff792926098a9b3cdb788b8e.webp\")
\nA smiling older woman | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n
Firstly, she was young and attractive and worked closely on many projects with Alex.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course, Alex has mentioned her before, but I didn\u2019t think anything of it,\u201d I said. \u201cBut things are getting a bit much now. And I\u2019m uncomfortable, Mom.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat things, Emma?\u201d my mother asked. \u201cTell me more!\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/ed0475b76a86e26fd7d1af7a6093fd74975ce0cc75057c924ad21f0e3121d7d1.webp\")
\nA close-up of a woman | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n
\u201cGifts, Mom. She\u2019s been giving him lots of gifts. Personalized and all.\u201d<\/p>\n
And it was true. My husband began bringing home gifts. At first, it wasn\u2019t anything extravagant. But then they began to get personal.<\/p>\n
\u201cCustom mugs, Mom. With his name on it and everything,\u201d I replied. \u201cAnd then, a tie with little rockets on it, because you know how much he loves space.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/99848df82248fb2c32b537eca76c84d3c0a579097a870fa8c9a53e45c750bd49.webp\")
\nA mug on a desk | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you know for a fact that they\u2019re gifts from Lisa?\u201d my mother asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes! Alex said so. Loud and clear,\u201d I replied.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust keep an eye on the situation, Emma,\u201d my mother said.<\/p>\n
And, of course, I was going to do just that.<\/p>\n
But one evening, as Alex walked in the door, I didn\u2019t know what came over me. And I found myself addressing him with a snide comment.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnother gift from Lisa?\u201d I asked, as he carried a little pot plant into the house.<\/p>\n
My husband turned to me, looking surprised.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, just a little something she said she picked up at the Farmer\u2019s Market,\u201d he replied, heading to the kitchen.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy does she keep giving you things?\u201d I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s just friendly, Emma. It\u2019s no big deal, honey.\u201d<\/p>\n
I tried to brush it off as nothing important. But then there were the homemade meals.<\/p>\n
I knew that my husband loved my cooking. He always said that my food was so much better than his mother\u2019s.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t let her hear that,\u201d Alex said when we sat down for dinner early in our relationship. I had invited him over for a home-cooked dinner and it had solidified my role in his life.<\/p>\n
One evening, we sat down to lasagna as Alex got home from work. He tossed the salad as I cut into the lasagna.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou really have to try Lisa\u2019s lasagna, honey, it\u2019s amazing!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy is she feeding you, Alex?\u201d I asked, putting my fork down.<\/p>\n
I had never wanted to be the insecure wife. It was something that I hated. I couldn\u2019t stand the frustration over my husband working his long hours, or constantly wondering who he was talking to. Or where he was going.<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t want to question if his work meetings were actually meetings or whether they were dates with other women.<\/p>\n
And yet, there was something about Lisa that turned me into that exact person.<\/p>\n
\u201cLook, Emma, she said that she made extra and she brought some for me to have for lunch. I didn\u2019t want to be rude, so I ate it,\u201d he said, looking at me with confusion.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d I said, the look on his face sobering me up. \u201cIt\u2019s just a little much for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alex smiled and poured wine into our glasses.<\/p>\n
I knew that he would leave the conversation where it was. That he wouldn\u2019t want to get into it and entertain my insecurities. He knew that deep down, I still trusted him.<\/p>\n
But the final straw came at the company\u2019s annual corporate event. It was Alex\u2019s big work event for the year, and all spouses were invited.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s going to be at one of the fancy hotels downtown,\u201d Alex said. \u201cSo, get all dressed up, love. This is the time for us to be all formal and fancy.\u201d<\/p>\n
If I was being honest, I was quite excited about it. It was usually in a grand ballroom with incredible food. And usually live music.<\/p>\n
On the day, I wore my favorite dress, and put on my wedding earrings. I was actually looking forward to the evening, and for a moment, I forgot about Lisa.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou look stunning, honey,\u201d Alex said as we walked into the ballroom. There was a live band playing in the corner and the ambiance was perfect.<\/p>\n
As we mingled with some of Alex\u2019s colleagues, Lisa made her grand entrance.<\/p>\n
She was glamorous in a sleek red dress, turning heads as she walked in. And even though everyone turned to look at her, she made a beeline for my husband, completely ignoring me.<\/p>\n
\u201cHere\u2019s my work husband!\u201d she exclaimed loudly, throwing her arms around him.<\/p>\n
My stomach turned, the nausea taking over. Alex, to his benefit, looked embarrassed, but before he could say a word, Lisa turned to me with a patronizing smile.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou must be Emma,\u201d Lisa said. \u201cI\u2019ve heard so much about you. Alex is such a good guy, isn\u2019t he? The best! I don\u2019t know what I\u2019d do without him!\u201d<\/p>\n
I forced a smile.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, he is wonderful.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lisa continued, oblivious to my discomfort.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe just loves my cooking! And I\u2019ve had to make so many things that he enjoys because he says that you\u2019re too busy to cook sometimes. Right, Al?\u201d<\/p>\n
I felt humiliated, but I maintained my composure. I couldn\u2019t let myself go.<\/p>\n
I watched as Lisa clung to Alex\u2019s arm, laughing and whispering in his ear. He looked uncomfortable and excused himself, and Lisa turned her full attention to me.<\/p>\n
\u201cEmma, let\u2019s cut to the chase,\u201d she said, holding her glass of champagne. \u201cYou might be his wife, but he\u2019s given me something special tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n
She pulled a note from her clutch and showed it to me. There was a hotel room number scribbled on it.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s planning a surprise. He\u2019s going to see me. Let\u2019s see what excuse he gives you when you get home for why he needs to leave,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know, Lisa,\u201d I said. \u201cPeople who think that they can take what isn\u2019t theirs, often end up disappointed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lisa laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sure we will, Emma,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
We returned home later that night, and as soon as we walked in, Alex made an excuse to leave.<\/p>\n
\u201cEmma, I need to help a friend with something. His car isn\u2019t starting and he needs a ride home. It\u2019s urgent. I\u2019ll be back soon.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhich friend?\u201d I asked, feigning casual curiosity.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou remember John? From work? I think you saw him tonight, too.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course,\u201d I said, pretending to accept his explanation. \u201cJust be careful.\u201d<\/p>\n
As soon as he left, I grabbed my keys and followed him to the hotel. I parked discreetly and saw him head into the lobby.<\/p>\n
I waited a few minutes, then followed, making my way to the floor that I saw on the note earlier.<\/p>\n
When I reached the room, I took a deep breath and knocked. The door opened, and there was Alex, looking surprised and worried.<\/p>\n
\u201cEm? What are you doing here?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cI could ask you the same thing,\u201d I said, pushing past him into the room.<\/p>\n
But here\u2019s the kicker, to my surprise, John was there, looking sheepish in a hotel bathrobe.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d I demanded.<\/p>\n
John stepped forward, looking embarrassed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI asked Alex for Lisa\u2019s number because I wanted to ask her out. We had dessert together after the work event, but she spilled a drink on me and I needed a change of clothes. I asked Alex to bring me some clothes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, you\u2019re the one who wanted to see Lisa?\u201d I asked, blinking slowly.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d John said. \u201cI really liked her, but I guess she wasn\u2019t interested. She left a few minutes ago, saying she wasn\u2019t feeling well.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy did you follow me, Emma?\u201d Alex asked.<\/p>\n
I took a deep breath, steadying myself.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlex, Lisa told me something at the event tonight. She showed me the note with this room number on it. She said that you\u2019d make up some excuse to leave the house and come to her. I needed to see it for myself.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEmma, I had no idea,\u201d he replied. \u201cI\u2019m so sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLook,\u201d John said. \u201cWhy don\u2019t you guys keep the room and talk this out. I\u2019m not going to use it, and neither is Lisa.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the end, that\u2019s exactly what we did. And Alex promised to take up Lisa\u2019s behavior with the company.<\/p>\n
\u201cI finally see it for what you do,\u201d Alex said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
When Emma\u2019s husband\u2019s coworker goes out of her way to make Alex feel seen by her, Emma starts to question Lisa\u2019s intentions. Things get strange when gifts start popping up, and even worse when Lisa makes Alex homemade meals. But the final straw is when Lisa taunts Emma, hinting at an affair between her and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10354","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10354","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10354"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10354\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10361,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10354\/revisions\/10361"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10354"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10354"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10354"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}