THE TRUTH

Katherine tightened her grip on the steering wheel as she made her way to Ray's house. She couldn't believe nor process anything at the moment. She hoped those photos were just a hoax. A ploy to keep them apart. She bit her lips and took shaky breaths. Her heartbeat pounding in her ears, the silence in the car making it more obvious. It was clear that her mind was not there. She slammed the breaks barely missing a stray dog crossing the street. She sighed apologizing to the drivers behind her.

The kind driver behind her signaled that it was ok. She temporarily blocked those thoughts out and continued driving. She reached his mansion and the guard let her in. She parked her car and walked in with her heels clicking. She made sure to wipe off any evidence that she was crying.

She checked the living room, study, kitchen, garden, and bedroom but couldn't find him. She decided to check the theatre room. She slowly made her way there. With her hand on the doorknob, she turned it. The door opened slowly. She felt a sting in her heart. Ray sat in the armchair with a brunette straddling him. She wore a crop top and shorts that left nothing to the imagination.

They were so engaged in their acts that they didn't even notice her presence. She reached for her high heel. With her sight locked on her target, she then launched the shoe at the woman's face with good aim and struck her down. She fell with a shriek. Ray bolted out of his seat. He was visibly shocked, a look of guilt washed over his face. She reached for her other shoe but he managed to catch her hand and seize it from her.

"I can explain." He pleaded. Katherine gripped her purse tightly. "Go ahead." Anger was present in her tone. Beads of sweat formed above his eyebrows. "I-I... I'm sorry I couldn't control myself-" "How long?" She interrupted she wanted him to say it was his first time. That was a mistake. That he loved her and he was sorry. She wanted this to be just a one-time thing and that they still had a chance. "A month...sorry." He replied. Without waiting for him to continue she swung her purse across his face. He did not say a word he just stood there while blood dripped from the cut on his cheek. She noticed the woman standing there with a triumphant smirk. It was none other than Morgan Coleman. Katherine chuckled and muttered the words "Of course." She turned around and left. She got into her car and sped off.

When she got to her apartment building she didn't bother to greet the receptionist which was unusual. She walked straight to her apartment. Locking the door behind her, she sat on the sofa. She had her elbows on her thighs while her hands intertwined. She was simply staring at the wall. She was lost with a heavy heart. Her chest constricted in an uncomfortable way she felt tears looming around her eyelids threatening to flow. A voice whispered ['Told ya.']

She closed her eyes and let them go. Her hands were shaky, her eyes were red, she had a lump in her throat and her heart felt like it was on fire. Six years of a loving relationship only for it to come crashing down just like that. How could she have been so ignorant? Why was she so trusting? Wasn't it obvious enough that Morgan was making advances toward her fiancée? However, she always saw him turn her down harshly but she never stopped. Then it hit her. The way she behaved was a blatant violation of office rules. He never fired her.

She wouldn't blame it all on the fact that "love is blind" or whatever. It was pure stupidity and foolish trust. She continuously tapped her palm on her forehead repeating the word "stupid" ["couldn't agree more."] She got up, resting her hands on her hips, and paced around in frustration. She was angry and she needed something to punch. Tears started flowing down her face again. She took out her phone and started going through the pictures with new eyes. There was even one that showed ray in the nightclub with some blonde chick. It was without a doubt taken from last week right after they went out for dinner.

More tears streamed from her face. She loved Ray a lot and she was looking forward to a happy life with him. Just yesterday she was even thinking out baby names. She went to her notes app and skimmed through all the ridiculous names she came up with and was looking forward to laughing with Ray when he sees them. She went to her contacts and dialed her friend's number without realizing it.

Violet picked up she had a raspy voice it was obvious she was asleep. "Hello" Katherine took a few seconds to respond. She tried to speak in a clear voice to hide the fact that she crying. Her best friend knew Katherine like the back of her hand, she caught on. Her best friend chuckled "Don't tell me you're watching Avengers' Endgame again." Katherine chuckled and sniffled drying her eyes for the umpteenth time.

"No. Did I wake you?" "Yeah. You did. I was about to drink the weird-looking stuff the witch gave me." Katherine burst out laughing. Her best friend always knew how to put a smile on her face. "Glad I saved you." "My Hero. So... what motherf**ker made ma baby cry?" Katherine chuckled at Violet's hood accent.

A smile tugged the corners of her lips her best friend seemed to major in the study of her. She sighed and detailed everything to her friend. "Girrrl." she could hear her best friend applaud through the phone. "Nicely done but you should have broken a vase over his head instead of hitting him with your purse. Trash does not deserve to touch Versace. And go throwing gorgeous Gucci heels at hoes that shit cost more their entire cheap ass beings. A knife would do the job I raised you better than that." She laughed at her best friend's terrible advice. They have been inseparable since high school. "I'm sorry mom, this daughter of yours has been incompetent."

Their first meeting was something she would never forget. On the first day of school, Katherine caught the eye of a typical bad boy who tried forcing himself on her by pinning her to the wall. Katherine had tried all she could to free herself but there was no way. Along came Violet with her short 4'9 frame and fiery temper with her ice tea in hand. She being her will not let this unfold whether it was her business or not. She made her way over there but the bully failed to notice her presence. She pulled his pants open and poured the freezing beverage into his pants. He quickly reacted to the ice in his pants.

Reading each other's minds, they both pounced on him and beat him black and blue. They both winded up in detention for a week and the boy was hospitalized. They were applauded by their colleagues after all Katherine was not his first victim. They had a lot in common aside from their fiery tempers of cause. They talked for a while before hanging up.

She took off her clothes and went to take a bath. She needed to calm down. She stripped and got into the tub for a warm bath. If there was one thing she was happy about, it's that she didn't move into the apartment he bought for her. ["And who do you have to thank."] "Stop reading my thoughts, Beverly." ["Then stop thinking."] She rolled her eyes and took the time to distress herself. Katherine didn't want to feel anything at the moment she just wanted the peace of nothingness + Beverly, not that she had a choice with the latter.

It took a while before Katherine realized she had fallen asleep. It was a ten-minute nap but it was enough to clear her thoughts. She got dressed and stood in the mirror. Katherine caressed the ring on her finger with an expression neither of happiness nor sadness, it wasn't even anger. With all she has ever been through getting over her pain was no hassle. She took off the ring, slowly too slow, as if waiting for him to come. Call her stupid but she still had hope their six years together should have meant something to him.

Unfortunately for her he never came. He didn't come after her to explain, to try and fix his mistake. She chuckled to herself. She took an envelope and placed the ring in it. She then ordered yellow carnations and roses from a nearby flower shop. After receiving them, she placed them in a box but first, she partially burnt the red roses.

She then placed the envelope on the flowers. She shut them and mailed it off to Ray. She knew she would have to face them on Monday since he was her boss and Morgan was her co-worker. She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. She didn't feel like cooking so she went to get takeout. She changed her mind and decided to have the meal in the restaurant because didn't feel like facing the lonely silence of her apartment and since Violet moved out to her husband's house it made things worse.

She went to a nearby restaurant. She got a table and ordered her food. Soon the food arrived, steaming hot.

She was suddenly joined by a charming man with dirty blonde hair and perfectly tanned skin. He gave her a heart-throbbing smile, showing his pearly white teeth and clear pink lips. His winter grey eyes seemed to be drawing her in. His intense gaze and captivating aura made her flustered and confused.

"Umm...wrong table?" She wasn't sure whether her words were a question or a statement. "Pretty sure I'm right where I want to be." His voice was deep and husky. His lips moved in a refined manner. She looked away to hide her expression. Right now she was in a place where she couldn't see herself in a trusting relationship with another man, not friendship and certainly not romance.

"You seem like a puppy that lost its favorite chew toy." She nearly choked her drink at his odd comment. "What an odd way to describe a person with a broken heart." She chuckled before she could catch herself. She didn't even know why she was telling him, a total stranger. An "Oh" escaped his lips. He pursed his lips "Which son of Hitler is that." A small giggle escaped her lips.

"The one who makes you want to put a bullet through his head and dump him into the ocean" She replied while sipping juice from her glass. He let out a small chuckle once again showing that dazzling smile. "Well I don't know him but I thank him." "What?" "If he didn't screw up how could I have the chance with you?" "Smooth." She took another sip.

A comfortable silence took over. Katherine to this time to "discretely" study his features. His golden brown hair was cut short-styled neatly. His slightly plump lips were made wet by the subtle way he glided his tongue across them. Probably subconscious.

Her eyes wander down. He wore a simple black T with a stylish dark red leather jacket complete with black jeans. From his broad shoulder, Katherine could vaguely tell that he is well built. He had a stuble. It added a rough edge to his otherwise prim and proper demeanor. Her eyes wandered back to his eyes. Those grey metallic eyes seem to stare at something in her but she pushes it off. If Ray was anything to go by it's that looks can be pleasing yet so deceiving.

A dark-haired man with a huge scar across his right eye appeared from nowhere and whispered something into the handsome stranger's ear. His aura and black outfit gave made him intimidating. She gulped subconsciously when she glanced in her direction. The handsome stranger simply nodded and turned to her with a polite smile. "It was nice meeting you mi amour." He bent down and gave her a pure kiss on the cheek.

She was stunned but realized he had an accent. This must be a custom in his country so she let it slide. Even though they just met, no alarm bells were ringing in my head. ["Damn he's fine. But don't get involved with him. He wears a mask which is better off left on."] 'Beverly doesn't always warn me but when she does... she's always right.'

Katherine finished her food and called the waiter for the bill. She was told the stranger had already paid for everything. She made it a point to thank him if they get the chance to meet again. Katherine swung her purse over her shoulder and left. She didn't take her car because it was a bother. She decided to take a walk to calm her nerves.

...

Monday came and Kat was ready for work. She had to admit seeing those two will not be pleasant. However, Katherine was a professional at what she did she knows best not to mix business with pleasure. She wore a turquoise blouse with a pair of black sleek pants. She finished the look with a pair of black heels and a black purse. She let her wild kinky hair down and applied a decent amount of makeup. She got into her grey Toyota corolla and made her way to work.

She parked her car in the building's parking lot and got in. In the office, she took her seat as branch director and dived right into work. It wasn't long before she was distracted by a pair of annoyingly loud heels. She tilted her head up to the owner of the distracting heels. "What is it, Miss Coleman?" Katherine didn't even bother to hide her irritation.