CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Carrie
I’d never been to Thatcher’s office so late at night. And certainly not in a ball gown. I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but the security guards didn’t even blink when they saw me.
“Mrs. Caldwell, how are you tonight?”
“Just fine,” I answered breathlessly. I’d jogged across the parking lot as fast as I dared in my heels. “I’m looking for Thatcher… er, Mr. Caldwell. Do you have any idea if he’s still here?”
They typed something and stared at their computer screen. “He never signed out, so he’s probably still in his office. Burning the midnight oil, huh?” he laughed, but he sounded nervous. “Let me just call up to let him know you’re here.” He reached for a phone.
“No!” I said it too loudly and it echoed in the cavernous lobby. I’d never seen it so empty. It was normally full of people and bursting with chatter. Not now, though. “Sorry,” I said. “It’s just that I’d like to surprise him.”
The security guard’s smile was strained. “I’m not sure he likes surprises…”
“Oh, we missed our anniversary last week,” I lied. “I’m meeting him here to go out and celebrate.” I indicated my beautiful dress and hoped he wouldn’t ask why we were going out so late.
“Gotcha. Okay, go on up. I won’t ring him to let him know you’re coming.”
I could tell he didn’t believe me, so I gave him an extra bright smile as I got in the elevator.
I nervously tapped my foot on the way to the top floor. I feared what I was going to find.
But I had to know.
It was quiet as a cemetery when I got off on the penthouse floor. It held the executive offices. I tiptoed on the tiles, afraid my heels clicking would alert him to my presence. His assistant’s desk was empty, of course. Lisa worked regular hours even if Thatcher didn’t.
I grasped the handle of his door and turned it slowly, surprised when it opened. I’d half expected it be locked.
I slipped through the opening, then held the door as it closed so it wouldn’t make a sound.
I could already hear faint sounds coming from somewhere in his huge office.
He wasn’t alone in here. But he wasn’t at his desk.
I closed my eyes. I hoped he was in his large sitting area or his private conference room.
Because if not? He was with someone in the bedroom suite his father had used for his many affairs.
A cold sweat started to form on the back of my neck as I checked everywhere in the office and didn’t find him.
Finally, there were no options besides the bedroom. I closed my eyes and clenched my fists. I’d known this hadn’t I? On some level? I’d known I would find him here with Madison.
But knowing in a vague, unproven way was different from seeing your husband with his mistress.
I had really, really hoped I’d been wrong about Thatcher.
But now I knew I wasn’t. I walked towards the bedroom slowly, drawn there by a morbid curiosity.
I knew I couldn’t unsee whatever I was about to witness. But I had to know.
My heart was pounding.
The voices grew louder the closer I came. It was Thatcher and a woman, that much I could tell. I was completely sure it was Madison.
I made it close enough to the door that I could peek inside.
I covered my mouth quickly to hide the sound of the gasp I let out at the sight of them.
He’d had sex with her. I’d caught them after they’d finished up.
She was lying on the bed naked, not bothering to cover her perfect model’s body with a sheet.
He sat on the edge of the bed wearing gray sweatpants and holding his head in his hands.
Did he feel guilty? I sure as hell hoped so, the bastard!
I had the presence of mind to hold up my phone and take pictures of what I was seeing. I knew divorce lawyers wanted proof of infidelity. Maybe I’d caught them in the aftermath, but nobody could doubt what had taken place between them.
And then they started talking. About me.
“So,” Madison started, looking at her nails while Thatcher’s back was to her, “tell me the truth. Did you ever love her as much as you loved me?”
“No.”
It was like a knife through my heart. I started to turn and walk away, but then he continued.
“I mean… it’s hard to compare. I loved you when we were still basically kids.
We hadn’t been through any of the hard things that couples go through after they get married.
Carrie and I went through a lot of that sort of thing.
Family drama. Learning to compromise. Becoming true adults.
The death of my father.” His voice sounded funny.
Upset. It seemed like he was actually feeling bad for what he’d done.
Not that I’d forgive him. “The love I had for you stayed… magical. Like it was locked away in a time capsule.”
Madison beamed, while I just felt sickened. How could he say their love was magical when she’d broken his heart in such a public, selfish way? She’d left him three weeks before their wedding, for goodness’ sake!
Madison slid over in the bed and started rubbing my husband’s bare back. I narrowed my eyes, but I had mixed feelings about it. Part of me wanted to announce that she could have him. The other part wanted to run in there and pull her off him. But I restrained myself from doing either one.
“Tell me the truth. If you had found out I was available and wanted to get back together, would you have ever married her?”
I held my breath. My heart was already broken knowing he’d fucked another woman. But if he told her that he wished he’d never married me… I would be shattered.
“No,” he finally said. “No, I would have called the wedding off and come to find you.”
It took everything in me not to make a sound. I wanted to scream and let him see what he was doing to me. But that wouldn’t be good for the plan I was starting to put together in my mind. A plan to hit him with divorce papers so hard it would hurt.
I turned to leave. I didn’t want to hear anymore, and I didn’t want them to see me.
“Will I always be the love of your life?” I heard her ask.
I hurried out as fast as I could. I didn’t want to hear his answer. Plus, a woman could only hold herself together for so long.
I sobbed all the way home. That’s the length of time I gave myself to fall apart. I told myself I’d have it together by the time I pulled in my driveway.
And I did. I pulled in, dried my face, and stared at the home I wouldn’t be living in much longer.
I packed a quick bag, tossed it in the trunk, and headed the few miles over to my parents’ house.