Mila’s life as an estate agent wasn’t bad. Her job was better than ever, and she was making enough money to afford the life she had always dreamed of. But she felt like her husband was growing distant from her, becoming distant and cold. Everything came crashing down when his mistress called Mila to rent a flat.
Mila sat at the kitchen table and carefully prepared breakfast for herself and her husband Richard.
The smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the cosy kitchen and the sizzle of eggs cooking in the pan added warmth to the morning.
She placed the omelette on a plate and added some toast, hoping the familiar routine would spark a bond between them.
Placing the plate in front of Richard, she tried to make light conversation.
‘Any thoughts on our plans for the weekend? We could visit the new art gallery downtown or go to the cinema. What do you say?’ Her voice was soft; she was trying to bridge the growing distance between them.
Richard barely lifted his head from the phone and absent-mindedly hummed in response. ‘We’ll see,’ he muttered, not taking his eyes off the screen.
Mila felt disappointment, but hid it behind a patient smile. It had become a regular thing for them lately: she was trying to mend their relationship, and he was always going somewhere else.
As she poured herself another cup of coffee, Richard’s phone buzzed again. Mila’s eyes, attracted by the movement, caught a glimpse of the name ‘Carol’ and a picture of an unfamiliar woman on the screen.
Her heart twinged, but she quickly pulled herself together.
‘Who is Carol?’ – She asked in a casual tone, but her stomach clenched with suspicion.
Richard didn’t look concerned. He didn’t even look up as he replied, ‘Oh, she’s a business colleague. We’re having a meeting out of town this weekend. I’ll be gone until Monday.’
His voice was flat, indifferent, as if the conversation was no more important than discussing the weather.
Mila forced herself to smile, though her chest tightened.
‘Ah, I see. Well, have a safe trip,’ she said and kissed him lightly on the cheek as he picked up his keys and headed for the door. ‘See you Monday then.’
As the door slammed behind him, Mila stood still in the quiet kitchen for a moment: the warmth of breakfast seemed to have gone.
She stared out the window, watching Richard’s car pull out of the driveway. A growing uneasiness settled in her chest, gnawing at her from the inside out.
This business trip was something different-something about it didn’t suit her, something more than just another weekend away.
Shaking off the anxiety, Mila turned her attention to her schedule for the day. She had a meeting with a potential client, a woman who wanted to rent a luxury flat for the weekend.
Mila had always been dedicated to her job as an estate agent, and today would be no exception. No matter how heavy on her mind, she needed to focus.
Yet as she prepared to leave the house, the image of the name ‘Carol’ on Richard’s phone kept popping up in her mind.
Something was wrong, but for now all she could do was push those thoughts aside and head to the meeting. She hadn’t realised that the day ahead would reveal more than she could have imagined.
Later that afternoon Mila entered the flat, her thoughts still preoccupied with the morning’s events. She tried to focus on the upcoming meeting, reminding herself that work was the best way to keep her thoughts in check.
A new client had made an appointment to view a luxury flat for the weekend, and Mila had everything ready. However, as soon as the client walked in, Mila’s stomach churned.
It was her. The same woman from Richard’s phone – Carol.
Mila’s heart raced, but she forced herself to remain calm and professional. She took a deep breath, hiding the storm of emotions building up inside her.
Carol introduced herself with a bright smile, completely unaware of the commotion her presence was causing.
Mila extended her hand and shook it firmly, feeling as if the ground had just shifted beneath her.
‘Nice to meet you, Carol,’ Mila said with a calmness she didn’t feel. ‘Let’s take a look around the flat, shall we?’
As they toured the luxurious space, Mila struggled to keep her emotions under control. Her mind was screaming at her, the pieces of the puzzle falling into place with nauseating clarity.
This woman, her husband’s ‘business colleague’, was going to spend the weekend in this very flat with Richard.
Trying to gather information without giving away her inner confusion, Mila asked carelessly: ‘So, what brings you here? A special occasion, perhaps?’
Carol’s face lit up with a smirk.
‘Yes, actually. I’m spending the weekend with the special man in my life. We can finally have some alone time.’
Those words hit Mila like a punch to the gut. All her doubts turned into a painful reality.