The Affair Novel – It’s true, I sob. Nico’s cheating. He is a prick. He slept with another woman behind my back. I’m not sure whether Nicolas has ever truly loved me or if he was simply playing with me. How long had he been unfaithful? Is it with someone I know? I decided to go after him. I knock once and nothing was heard, no one even came to the door to open it. So, I knock again. I imagined anything, anything at all but not this. At the mere sight of the woman whom my husband was sleeping with, my heart dropped. “Mom?”
Ruby “Another business trip, sweetheart?” I pout, this is the third one in two weeks! Nicolas has never takes this many trips before. In fact, it’s rare if he even gets one trip a month. He’s the boss of his company and being the boss means he can send whoever he wants but lately, he’s been choosing to go on his own behalf. “Forgive me, mon amour.” Nicolas cuffed my face, scrunching his up in an adorable pout that mirrors mine. I release a shriek of joy as an idea came to mind and a smile creeps itself on my face. “I have an idea, why don’t I accompany you? It’ll be fun! Don’t you think, sweetheart?” I could feel a soft vibration of chuckles erupt from his chest as his hands drop to my waist. “You know I can’t do that, Ruby.” His French accent rolling my name around his foreign tongue. I don’t speak french, I’m barely learning by little words he says here and there.
Others, I look up on Google Translate, yeah I know it’s not the same but what else am I to do? “But why not?” I furrow my eyebrows, arms folding across my chest. “I’ve went with you before.” “Mon ange, please understand.” I could see he was starting to get a little annoyed with my persistence. “Last time you accompanied me was because of a faculty ball.” Nicolas tugged on my waist, pulling me closer to him once he sees my saddened expression. I could smell that expensive cologne he uses when he goes on trips without me. “Be a good little wife, I’ll be home before you know it.” I nod as he releases his hold on me, the smell of his cologne barely lingering on the edge of my nose. “Alright,” I mutter, grumpy that he wouldn’t take me.
“I’ll stay here.” Like always, I thought to myself. “Au revoir, mon amour,” Nicolas pecked my forehead before bending down to retrieve his briefcase. “Je t’aime!” …… “Again?” Chloe asks bitterly, giving me the impression that she really doesn’t care about my problems. “Is there a problem, Chloe?” I scowl, if she had a problem with me telling her about my life with Nicolas, then why would she bother to ask how things are going? “None at all, Rubes!” She sipped her tea, pinky out. She has always been the more “wannabe sophisticated one” between the two of us ever since she watched that horrid film about some woman in a small town in Europe at a country club acting like her husband never cheated on her. “Chloe,” I deadpan. She sighs, “All I’m trying to say is, don’t you think there’s something.. fishy going on with his business trips? Now it’s my turn to sip my cup of tea to delay the topic a few seconds. I have thought about that but I always figure that it’s just my insecurity that’s getting in the way.
“He could be doing some hot, french woman while you’re here drinking tea like a cheated fool!” Chloe continues, her comments sinking into my mind. What if she’s right? No! She can’t be, Nicolas would never! Her words were harsh enough to get to me but she somehow does have a point. What if Nicolas was cheating on me with a hot lady who understands his language? Would he be capable of such a disgraceful act? Stop it! He wouldn’t! Nicolas I attempted to lay low for a while and be the perfect husband for Ruby for the past few weeks because I couldn’t find the perfect time to tell her that I have another “business” trip coming up. I know she’d want to tag along and considering I haven’t fully entered her good graces after I rejected her when she set up a candlelit dinner and intimate night. My lover cannot wait so long without having me either so when I told Ruby about the trip, she was thrilled to know she’d be tagging along with me.
I open the door for my beautiful wife as we entered our hotel suite. I let her pass first so she’d get a good look at the place while I hauled the suitcases we had packed up. Once inside, Ruby immediately strut straight to the glass window that shows the beautiful view of the beach just a few blocks away. Seeing as she found something to entertain her while I scurry off, I took advantage of it. “Why don’t you go down for a swim or a tan while I’m at my meeting? I’ll join you for dinner after.” “Oh,” She sighs, a small pout forming on her lips. “I forgot we weren’t on vacation.” Keeping her eyes glued on the view for a second longer as she let out a nervous chuckle. “A swim sounds good anyway, I’ll just grab my swimsuit.” I was with her while she picked her bathing suit out and once she stated she’d be heading out, I sprint toward the woman who has been waiting for me for much to long. While I drove to her apartment, I couldn’t help but feel guilt for what I had done to Ruby. Abandoning her on this short trip we’re on. But all guilt evaporated from my body as soon as I laid my eyes on the gorgeous woman, posing in bed with a black lingerie. Ruby “You’ll never find out if he’s cheating on you if you don’t follow him.” Chloe’s words were going around in circles throughout the entire flight here and through my “swim.”
I didn’t go swimming like Nicolas had suggested. No, I hid down in the hotels lobby until I saw him come out. Being careful to not let him see me following him, I hid myself every time he turns his head. I can’t have him find me spying on him. He’d go berserk on me. If he turns toward a building that appears to be associated with his company then I know he isn’t cheating but if he doesn’t then that means Chloe was right. I follow him a few more blocks until he takes a turn to his right toward some apartment buildings. What could he be doing there? I cautiously proceed as he knocks on a specific door that opens up seconds later. “Bonjour, mon ange.” The soft tone of a woman who spoke in an obviously fake french accent greets him. “Bonjour, mon amour.” He greets back, I can almost here the smile on his face by the sound of his tone.
Mon amour? But I’m his love, why call another woman that? Once the door had shut, I quickly approach it and see the number on the door: 8D. It was clear what was happening through those walls, the sounds of lips clashing together was identifiable. It was a similar sound, when Nico and I used to be that passionate.. I stepped away from the door, I want to surprise him with a heavy-handed slap but now isn’t the time for that. I was an emotional wreck, he wouldn’t take me seriously and his lover would mock me. Was she prettier? Sexier? Thinner? Richer? .. younger? The sounds of moans and cries calling out for Nicolas cause me to slide down on the ground with tears flowing. My knees went up to my body as my arms surrounded them in a self-given hug. It’s true, I sob. Nico’s cheating. I decided to go home a few minutes after I heard those noises, I didn’t want to hear anymore of his deception.
When I got home, I immediately threw myself on the bed that tonight will have to be shared with Nicolas. I didn’t have motivation to do anything so I crawled under the sheets and played around with the diamond ring on my finger. Tears were flowing uncontrollably and I couldn’t help but hate myself. I hate myself for not being a better woman to Nicolas. Maybe then, he wouldn’t have had the nerve to cheat. I somehow managed to fall asleep, I didn’t wake up until I heard the hotel door slam shut. “Ruby,” He whispers, footsteps getting closer to me. “Mon amour, I’m home.” I didn’t want to see him so I shut my eyes, seconds later I feel him peck my forehead. I open my eyes and as soon as his back is facing me, I wipe it off. Who knows where his mouth had been earlier. I definitely did not want to know either. “Did you sleep the entire time I was at the meeting?” He asks while strolling toward the bed in all his shirtless glory. I nod but didn’t speak. “Are you to tired to do anything?” I nod and he continues, “How about a massage?” He doesn’t let me answer before his hands were sliding through every inch of my body.
I push him off and got up fast, ignoring the pounding I felt in my head, “I’m going to shower.” “May I join you?” He asks, smirking like an idiot. “I’m on my period.” I lie, I knew it grossed him out. He wouldn’t touch me for a few days and it was fine with me; he can masturbate if he’s that desire for intercourse. If his mistress didn’t please him, I sure I wasn’t going to. I turned the faucet on and began my shower. When I came out, Nicolas was still waiting for me in the bed. “Did I do something wrong?” Nico asks. Of course you did, you prick. You slept another woman behind my back, who knows for how long. “Cramps.” I lie. “Pardonnez-moi.” He cringes, getting up to grab a glass of beverage, surely. Like he always does. I roll my eyes behind his back. Nicolas “How is Ruby?” She asks, curiosity settling in her mind as I cringe. I’ve told her numerous times to never mention the name of my wife while I’m by her side, it makes the guilt resuscitate within me.
How I manage to keep this facade up behind my beautiful wife is a mystery but it developed into a horrible habit, one I cannot quit even if k tried. “She’s fine, I suppose.” I deadpan as I pull myself off of her. It’s always a turn off when she mentions Ruby, “She’s been silent for no apparent reason and I’m not sure as to why.” “Did you do something to upset her?” She furrows her eyebrows, I get that she questions me about her a lot but I don’t like it. I shake my head, “Not that I am aware of, mon amour.” Every time I try to ponder what I’ve done to her, nothing comes to mind. “She’s probably upset that I haven’t spent any time with her.” She frowns, “As much as I want you with me, I think it’d be best to go with your wife and take out for some sight seeing, mon ange. I bet she hasn’t traveled much since your wedding, right?” I smile, the wedding flashing through my mind in a quick motion. “You of all people should know that, mon amour. You were, after all, the most important guest at our wedding.” She smiles as she wraps her petite arms around herself, “Ruby looked gorgeous in her dress.”
Ma femme, Je t’aime, I internally sigh. “I should go.” I whisper, as if someone could actually hear us. She agrees and hops off the bed in all her undressed glory – my eyes don’t dare to look away. We get ourselves dressed in silence and decide to have a small make out session before I return to my wife’s side. My hands make their way down her waist, her hands threading my hair. We land on the bed once again and she began to undo my pants while I unbuttoned her blouse, refusing to stop smooching her lips. Then, a sudden knock on the door startles us both. Ruby I’m not sure whether Nicolas has ever truly loved me or if he was simply playing with me. How long had he been unfaithful? Is it with someone I know? Who is she that she managed to grasp Nicolas’ affection? I want to know what she has that I do not. Does Nico feel guilty as he shoves his manhood into her? As opposed the last time, I don’t hear any abnoxious moans or cries of pleasure.
No, I heard nothing. Maybe Nicolas didn’t come today. I should have followed him like last time but I didn’t think I had any reason to seeing as I already knew he was sleeping someone else. But then I start to make myself think about everything I’d say to Nicolas once he finds out I know about the affair. I even manage to recall every bad word in his language to use against him. It was about fifteen minutes after he has left that I decided to go after him. I knock once and nothing was heard, no one even came to the door to open it. So, I knock again. This time, I hear a soft response. “Juste un moment!” I wait for what seems like forever before the door handle jiggled for a couple of seconds before the door had opened fully. I imagined anything, anything at all but not this. At the mere sight of the woman whom my husband was sleeping, my heart dropped. “Mom?” Nicolas “Mom?” Ruby’s voice repeats, how did she find us? She couldn’t have followed me here, she wouldn’t! “Sweetheart,” Her mother gulps. “What, um, what are you doing here? I didn’t know you were in town.”
I mentally slap myself, she warned me! Goddamnit! Athena told me to not bring Ruby on a “trip” with me because she could catch us in the betrayal. She didn’t want that, she loves her daughter and she couldn’t dare to cause her this pain. But she did it anyway, right? She did make the first move during Ruby’s birthday celebration: “Nicolas,” Ruby’s mother made her way toward me. I must admit it was bizzare for her to approach me without her beloved, beautiful daughter beside me. Athena had an unknown glint in her eye that told me she was definitely coming to have a word or two with me. “Athena.” I smile respectfully, she is – afterall – my wife’s mother. “You look extravagant,” I glance behind her and notice someone missing. “Where is your husband?” Now, beside me, she sighs. “Could we have a word?” She turns her head for a quick second, “In private?” I furrow my eyebrows together but accept her request so I lead her to one of the guest rooms where the music was muffled by the walls. The second I shut the door behind us, Athena sprints into action.
I don’t know what to do, much less how to react. My wife’s mother has her lips on mine and for an unknown reason, my hand found its way behind her back and I smooch her back. I pull away after a few seconds, once I realize what I was doing. “Athena,” I breathe. “What are you doing? Why did you smooch me?” She lifts a couple of fingers up to her lips, eyeing me lovingly. “Goodness, pardonnez-moi!” Woah, she knows french? “I don’t know what possessed me! I guess this whole divorce this has me going nuts for..” She pauses to take a deep breath. “Please, Nicolas. Don’t tell Ruby about the divorce.. or.. or the smooch for that matter.” I look at Athena, really looked at her. For an older woman, she sure was gorgeous and the smooch?
A beautiful explosion that wraps itself on my lips. I nod, “I won’t. If,” I smirk, a devious idea in mind. “If you smooch me again.” With that said, my arms wrap around her petite body and with full force, I smooch her senseless. “I’m looking for Nicolas, Mother.” Ruby’s tone is harsh, I almost didn’t think it was her until I peek out the bedroom and saw her scowling face. “What would make you think he’d be here? I didn’t even know you were here.” She chooses to lie, good girl. I would have believed it if, well, you know. “Don’t,” Ruby snaps. “Don’t stoop so low and lie to my face, I know he’s here. I know he’s been here more than once, I know you’re his autre femme.”