Secret Encounters
After his divorce, Daniel was searching for somethingor so he told his colleagues and friends. Eight years of marriage had ended bitterly, though he hadnt wanted it that way. His ex-wife had an unbearable temper. At least there were no children; she had never wanted any.
At thirty-six, Daniel was in his primefit, broad-shouldered, with striking looks and a mysterious gaze. Hed had flings with women, even younger ones, but marriage was the last thing on his mind. He avoided office romances, considering them cliché, especially since most of his female colleagues were married.
«Ive got more sense than to get tangled up in that mess,» hed say over pints at the pub with his mates.
«Dont count your chickens,» theyd tease. «You know how it goeslove sneaks up when you least expect it.»
Daniel was too confident, and fate had other plans. Hed never forget the summer day a new colleague, Emily, joined the office. The day before, his friend Oliver had mentioned, «Maxs wife is transferring here from the other branch.»
Daniel vaguely knew Maxa dull, unremarkable man, in his opinion.
«His wifes probably just as boring,» hed thought dismissively.
But the next morning, when Emily was introduced, Daniel was speechless. She was stunningand sharp-witted too. Within a week, he was counting the minutes until he saw her each morning, lying awake at night thinking of her.
«Emilys perfect for me,» he mused. «And if shes right for me, I must be right for her. I just need to make her notice me. Sure, shes married, but thats her problem, not mine. Working closely together? Even betterno one will suspect a thing.»
Another week passed. Daniel noticed Emily warming to him. They joked and laughed, but her frequent mentions of her husband irked him.
«Is she hinting shes not interested, or does she actually love that dull man?» he wondered.
Still, he resisted outright flirtinguntil one afternoon, when they were alone reviewing files. Their heads nearly touched, and when he felt her breath warm against his cheek, he kissed her without thinking.
She pulled back, covering her mouth. «Daniel, please dont do that again.»
But she didnt leave. A good sign.
«Sorry, lost my head,» he said with a grin.
Emily acted as if nothing happened, and he joined her, relieved. Days passed without mention of the kissuntil Friday, when he asked, «Can I call you this weekend?»
«No!» she said sharply, then reconsidered. «Ill call you.»
He beamed. «Ill wait.»
But Saturday came and went without a word. By Sunday evening, frustrated, he called her.
«Dont ring me,» she whispered. «Ill call when I can.»
Monday morning, his alarm hadnt even sounded when his phone rangEmily.
«Daniel, are you free? Can I come over?»
He bolted upright. «Now? Youre driving? Of course.»
He scrambled to shower and brew coffee, barely managing either before the doorbell rang. One look at her eyes told him everything. He kissed her before she could speak.
«Good morning,» she murmured when she caught her breath.
He didnt replyhe couldnt.
Later, over coffee in his kitchen, Emily said, «My husband leaves for work much earlier than me.» Daniel clenched his jaw. Why bring him up now?
«Your place is cosy,» she added. «And the coffees lovely.»
They arrived at work separately, just in time. Daniel braced for suspicion, but no one glanced twiceexcept Oliver.
«Running late today?»
«Just one of those mornings,» Daniel shrugged.
Days turned into weeks. Emily visited often before work, stealing an hour or two. One Saturday, she surprised him with a call: «Can I come over?»
«Any time,» he said, thrilled. «Stay forever.»
She arrived within the half hour.
«Howd you manage today?» he asked as they lay in bed.
«Max visits his parents cottage on weekends. I hate the countryside,» she said.
«Stay with me, then. Properly.»
«I cant.»
«Why?»
«Because I cant,» she sighed.
Daniel hid his disappointment. She needed time. But how long could this go on? What if Max grew suspicious?
«Emily, whats the plan? Sneaking around forever?»
«We keep meeting like this. Today, Im all yours.»
«But I want more. Weekends. Always.»
«If you were married, wed be even,» he joked.
She laughed. «If you were married, Id never have looked twice. Forbidden fruit and all.»
«But forbidden fruits the sweetest.»
«Not for me,» she teased.
Months passed. Brief mornings, rare stolen Saturdays. Finally, Daniel had enough.
«Emily, divorce him. Marry me. I cant do this half-life anymore.»
«I cant.»
«Why?»
«Because besides Max, theres my son. Hes elevenindependent. Thats why I can slip away. Did you never wonder?»
Daniel faltered. «II dont care. Id adopt him.»
«Max would never allow it. He adores him.»
After that, their meetings dwindled. Daniel couldnt see a future in secrecy. He wanted marriage; she wouldnt leave. Worse, he was sick of pre-dawn alarms.
«Emily, Ive thought hard about this. Either you divorce him, or we end this.»
«I cant,» she said quietly.
«Then were done.»
«So be it.»
She left for good. Later, Daniel met another womansingle, uncomplicated. But if he was honest, hed never loved her like Emily. Some loves only come once. Between agony and peace, he chose peace. It was easier that way.
