Shirley\u2019s whole world crashed down around her the day she saw her husband, Brody, with another woman \u2014 right in their office. She stood frozen, her hands shaking so badly that the spoons she had been holding fell to the floor with a loud clatter. But Brody and the woman didn\u2019t even notice. They were too busy flirting, laughing like she wasn\u2019t even there.<\/p>\n
Furious, Shirley marched toward them.
\n\u201cBrody, what\u2019s going on here?\u201d she demanded, her voice cutting through the chatter and silence of the office.<\/p>\n
Brody turned to her, pretending like nothing was wrong. \u201cWhat\u2019s your problem, Shirley? We\u2019re just discussing work.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shirley\u2019s eyes flashed with rage. \u201cThis is how you discuss work?!\u201d she shouted. \u201cBy putting your hands up her skirt? In front of everyone?\u201d<\/p>\n
Brody glared at her. \u201cDon\u2019t make a scene,\u201d he growled under his breath.<\/p>\n
But Shirley wasn\u2019t going to back down. \u201cWe need to talk. In private. Now!\u201d<\/p>\n
Brody\u2019s face turned red with anger. \u201cYou don\u2019t get to order me around. In fact, I\u2019m filing for divorce today. And I\u2019ll take the house too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shirley\u2019s mouth dropped open. \u201cYou can\u2019t take my house! It was my parents\u2019 house! You have no right!\u201d she cried.<\/p>\n
Brody only smirked, enjoying her pain. \u201cDon\u2019t forget you\u2019re married to a lawyer. Just watch me. I\u2019ll move Lila in, and we\u2019ll celebrate on every surface of every room.\u201d<\/p>\n
The words hit Shirley like a slap. She stood there, stunned, as Brody grabbed the cake she had lovingly brought for him \u2014 and shoved his wedding ring right into it.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe you can pawn this for a dog house,\u201d he sneered, then strutted off with Lila, laughing without a care in the world.<\/p>\n
Everyone in the office stared, whispering behind their hands. Shirley was left standing alone, heartbroken and humiliated.<\/p>\n
That night, she found herself in a dingy hotel room, sitting on the edge of a creaky bed, crying her eyes out. Her mind replayed every moment of her marriage \u2014 every memory, every broken promise.<\/p>\n
How did we get here? she thought bitterly. Was it my fault? Did I let myself go? Did I push him away somehow?<\/p>\n
Unable to hold it in, Shirley grabbed a pillow and punched it over and over, trying to vent her rage. That\u2019s when a knock came at the door. Wiping her tears quickly, she stumbled over and yanked the door open.<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t hotel staff. It was a man she\u2019d never seen before, standing awkwardly in the hallway.<\/p>\n
\u201cI heard\u2026 I thought I heard someone crying for help,\u201d he said, looking uncomfortable.<\/p>\n
Shirley snapped back, \u201cWell, you heard wrong! Unless you can help me keep my house from the husband who\u2019s divorcing me, go away!\u201d<\/p>\n
The man raised an eyebrow, surprised by her anger. His eyes looked her up and down, and then he said something that made Shirley\u2019s blood boil:
\n\u201cI can\u2019t help with that. But now, I can see why he\u2019s divorcing you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Without another word, he turned and walked toward his room.<\/p>\n
Furious, Shirley chased after him, shoving her foot in his door before he could slam it shut. \u201cWhat did you just say to me?\u201d she barked.<\/p>\n
The man sighed. \u201cI just meant\u2026 I was concerned about the noise.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, don\u2019t play dumb. I heard you loud and clear!\u201d she snapped. \u201cI may not look perfect right now, but you don\u2019t get to judge me!\u201d<\/p>\n
There was a moment where his expression softened. \u201cYou\u2019re right,\u201d he said quietly. \u201cYou don\u2019t deserve that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shirley blinked, caught off guard by the sudden apology. But before she could say anything, he closed the door \u2014 firmly and final.<\/p>\n
\u201cWait! I wasn\u2019t done yelling at you!\u201d she shouted, kicking the door in frustration \u2014 and instantly regretted it when pain shot up her foot.<\/p>\n
The next morning, Shirley hobbled into her office, wincing with every step. Could this week get any worse? she thought. She flopped into her chair and muttered, \u201cGreat, today we get a new boss too. Just what I need.\u201d<\/p>\n
A familiar voice behind her made her heart drop.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, your new boss is already here,\u201d said the man \u2014 the same man from the hotel. \u201cYou must be my kind and helpful secretary, Shirley.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shirley whipped around, mortified. It was him. The rude man she had screamed at the night before was Mr. Williams \u2014 her new boss.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry about last night,\u201d she stammered.<\/p>\n
Mr. Williams cut her off coldly. \u201cYour behavior was unacceptable. I expect better from my employees,\u201d he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. \u201cBring me the Richardson vs. Richardson file. Now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shirley scrambled, digging through piles of papers. But her hands were clumsy, and soon she accidentally knocked a whole stack onto the floor.<\/p>\n
Mr. Williams looked unimpressed. \u201cWhat\u2019s taking so long? I asked you for the file, not a tornado.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI-I have it here,\u201d Shirley stuttered, handing him the file with burning cheeks.<\/p>\n
He took it and glanced around the mess she had made. \u201cIt seems tidiness isn\u2019t your strong suit,\u201d he said dryly before turning on his heel and walking into his office.<\/p>\n
Shirley\u2019s humiliation was complete. And just when she thought things couldn\u2019t get worse, Brody and Lila waltzed into the office, laughing loudly. Lila clung onto Brody\u2019s arm, flashing her diamond bracelet \u2014 a bracelet Shirley recognized. It had been hers.<\/p>\n
Enough was enough.<\/p>\n
Shirley marched into Mr. Williams\u2019s office. \u201cI quit!\u201d she declared. \u201cI\u2019m not your secretary anymore!\u201d<\/p>\n
Without looking up from his papers, he replied, \u201cGet back to work on the Richardson case, Shirley.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI said I\u2019m leaving! Sign my resignation!\u201d she insisted, slamming a letter onto his desk.<\/p>\n
Mr. Williams didn\u2019t even blink. He crumpled the letter and tossed it toward the trash can. \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shirley felt tears sting her eyes. She sat down at his desk and scribbled out another resignation. Her hand shook as she tried to explain, her voice breaking.<\/p>\n
\u201cLook, I just can\u2019t take it anymore\u2026 What is it with men like you thinking you can control my life?\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr. Williams finally looked up, his face no longer stern. He moved from behind the desk and sat beside her.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not refusing to let you go because I want to control you,\u201d he said gently. \u201cI\u2019m refusing because\u2026 I like you, Shirley.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shirley blinked in shock. \u201cBut you don\u2019t even know me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNathan,\u201d he said with a soft smile. \u201cCall me Nathan. And you\u2019re wrong. I know enough to admire your strength.\u201d<\/p>\n
But Brody\u2019s cruel words from the past echoed in her mind: Be grateful I love you, because no one else ever could.<\/p>\n
Overwhelmed, Shirley ran out of his office.<\/p>\n
The next day, she limped to her desk, expecting awkwardness. But Nathan surprised her, handing her a cup of coffee with a warm smile.<\/p>\n
Before she could even thank him, Brody and Lila stormed in, acting like the whole office was their playground. Shirley\u2019s heart twisted painfully.<\/p>\n
\u201cExcuse me,\u201d she mumbled and rushed to the bathroom.<\/p>\n
Nathan, seeing her distress, asked another secretary what was going on.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s her husband,\u201d the woman whispered, glaring at Brody. \u201cHe\u2019s flaunting his affair right in front of her.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nathan\u2019s jaw clenched. He wanted to punch Brody, but he held back.<\/p>\n
Later, when Shirley brought some files to Nathan\u2019s office, he stopped her.<\/p>\n
\u201cStay for a minute?\u201d he asked gently. \u201cHelp me organize the arguments for the case.\u201d<\/p>\n
Working side-by-side, Shirley was surprised at how easy and comfortable it felt. She even learned that Nathan loved jazz.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re into jazz?\u201d she asked, smiling for the first time in days.<\/p>\n
Nathan chuckled. \u201cYeah. There\u2019s a lot about me you don\u2019t know. Jazz is just the beginning.\u201d<\/p>\n
As days went by, Shirley found herself smiling more. Trusting more. Even feeling a little hope again.<\/p>\n
One evening, Nathan showed up at her hotel room. He looked nervous.<\/p>\n
\u201cI need your help,\u201d he said. \u201cI want to express my feelings better\u2026 for the opening speech.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shirley\u2019s heart sank. Of course, she thought bitterly. I\u2019m just here to help him with work.<\/p>\n
Still, she agreed. But as they worked, their hands brushed. Nathan\u2019s eyes locked onto hers. He noticed a smudge of chocolate on her lip and reached out gently.<\/p>\n
\u201cChocolate,\u201d he whispered, wiping it away.<\/p>\n
Trying to stay professional, Shirley pulled back. \u201cYou\u2019re here for the speech, right?\u201d<\/p>\n
But Nathan stepped closer. \u201cNo, Shirley. I\u2019m here for you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before she could even respond, a loud knock interrupted them. It was Brody \u2014 drunk, pathetic, and slurring.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease, Shirley,\u201d he begged. \u201cI need you. I got fired. I miss you so much, baby.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t. Touch. Me,\u201d Shirley said through gritted teeth, pushing him away.<\/p>\n
Nathan appeared instantly. \u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/p>\n
Brody sneered when he saw Nathan. \u201cOh, I see. You\u2019re screwing your boss now? Figures.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGet away from her!\u201d Nathan snapped.<\/p>\n
\u201cI own her heart!\u201d Brody shouted. \u201cShe calls me every day, begging me to come back!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not true!\u201d Shirley cried.<\/p>\n
But Nathan had already turned away, crushed.<\/p>\n
Brody grabbed her again, but Shirley shoved him hard. \u201cTouch me again, and I\u2019ll call the police!\u201d she threatened.<\/p>\n
She ran outside into the falling snow, spotting Nathan about to drive away.<\/p>\n
She banged on his window. \u201cNathan! Please, just talk to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
He shook his head. \u201cI should\u2019ve known this was too good to be true.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow dare you believe his lies?!\u201d Shirley yelled, hurt and furious. \u201cYou can\u2019t expect me to fight for you if you won\u2019t fight for me! Say something, Nathan!\u201d<\/p>\n
For a long moment, he said nothing. Then he opened his door and stood in front of her, his face serious but soft.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wish I\u2019d met you seven years ago,\u201d Nathan said quietly. \u201cI wish I could have protected you from everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then he cupped her face in his warm hands, and Shirley felt herself start to cry.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2026 I want to make you happy,\u201d Nathan whispered.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou already do,\u201d Shirley said, and their lips met in a deep, fiery kiss.<\/p>\n
As snowflakes danced around them, Nathan pulled back and smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd don\u2019t worry,\u201d he said, determination flashing in his eyes. \u201cI\u2019m going to sue Brody. He\u2019s not going to get away with what he did to you.\u201d<\/p>\n
For the first time in a long time, Shirley believed things were finally going to be okay.
\nAnd she knew, deep in her heart, that Nathan was the real love she\u2019d been waiting for all along.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Shirley\u2019s whole world crashed down around her the day she saw her husband, Brody, with another woman \u2014 right in their office. She stood frozen, her hands shaking so badly that the spoons she had been holding fell to the floor with a loud clatter. But Brody and the woman didn\u2019t even notice. They were […]<\/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-27547","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27547","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=27547"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27547\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27548,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27547\/revisions\/27548"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=27547"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=27547"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newzdiscover.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=27547"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}