For one absurd second I wondered whether I should put the coffee down somewhere.
Instead, I said:
“I brought lunch.”
Adrian stared.
Vanessa slowly stood.
She removed his jacket.
But not hurriedly.
Almost deliberately.
Adrian said:
“This isn’t what you think.”
I looked at the champagne.
Vanessa’s bare feet.
His jacket.
Then at him.
“What do I think?”
He opened his mouth.
Nothing.
I nodded.
“Exactly.”
Vanessa walked around the desk.
She looked more irritated than embarrassed.
“Claire, perhaps you should leave.”
I stared.
“Excuse me?”
“This is a workplace.”
I almost laughed.
“You’re barefoot behind my husband’s desk wearing his jacket.”
Her mouth tightened.
Adrian said:
“Vanessa.”
She ignored him.
“You showing up unannounced is inappropriate.”
I looked at Adrian.
“Are you going to say something?”
He looked toward the floor.
That silence did more damage than a confession.
I placed the lunch bag on a side table.
“Understood.”
Then I turned.
Vanessa said:
“You should probably stop pretending things between you two are normal.”
I stopped.
Adrian finally reacted.
“Vanessa, enough.”
But there was no outrage in his voice.
Only panic.
