The Hotel Room

I opened the hotel room door and found my wife sitting on the bed with my boss. There is no calm way to process something like that. Lauren’s blouse was wrinkled. Her hair was a mess. Richard stood beside the bed with one hand on her shoulder. For seven years, Richard had controlled my career. For nine years, Lauren had been the person I trusted most. And somehow, they were together in the same hotel room. My overnight bag slipped from my hand. Richard turned toward me. “Ethan, this isn’t what you think.” I crossed the room before he could finish. Lauren jumped to her feet. “Ethan, stop!” I grabbed Richard by the front of his shirt and shoved him against the wall. “You humiliate me at work,” I said. “And now you’re sleeping with my wife?” Richard didn’t fight back. He only looked past me at Lauren. “Tell him,” Richard said. That made me even angrier. I slapped him across the face. Lauren screamed my name, but I barely heard her. “You were going to fire me tomorrow anyway,” I told Richard. “So what does it matter now?” Richard’s expression changed. The anger disappeared from his face. He looked genuinely confused. Then he turned toward Lauren. “He doesn’t know?” Richard asked quietly. My grip loosened. “Know what?” I demanded. Lauren stood beside the bed with tears running down her face. She had looked frightened when I entered. Now she looked ashamed. “Ethan,” Lauren whispered, “Richard isn’t just your boss.” I stared at her. “Then what is he?” Lauren wiped her face with shaking hands. “He works for me.” I laughed because the alternative was believing her. Lauren took a breath and said the sentence that changed everything. “I own the company.”