Maya Johnson stood in front of the bedroom mirror, adjusting her light sea-green summer dress. Sunrays filtered through the sheer curtains, washing the room in golden hues. Today was a special day: her and Elias’s third wedding anniversary. She had decided to surprise her husband by visiting him at work with his favorite cream puffs from the Sugar Mill Bakery. Elias Hayes, her husband, was the director of a large construction firm called Apex Global Construction (AGC). He usually came home late, exhausted, but he always found time to listen to her stories of the day.
Maya worked as a child psychologist at a private development center, and her workday finished earlier. She had decided to use this extra time to cheer up her beloved. Checking the clock, she saw it was 3:30. Maya grabbed her purse and the box of pastries.
The trip to the office usually took about twenty minutes on the bus. She imagined how surprised Elias would be to see her in his office. The AGC corporate office building was located in the city’s downtown business center.
It was a modern, seven-story complex of glass and concrete, surrounded by the greenery of a small plaza. Maya had been there several times for corporate events. She knew the way to the elevators and the number of her husband’s office.
However, a security guard stopped her at the entrance. He was a heavyset man in his fifties with gray streaks in his dark hair. His badge read, «Harrison, Security.»
«Hold up,» he said, raising his hand. «Entry is prohibited to unauthorized personnel. Do you have an access pass or an appointment?»
Maya was surprised. He was probably new. «I’m Elias Hayes’s wife, the director of the firm. I wanted to give my husband a surprise.»
The guard looked at her intently, but no recognition registered in his eyes. «My apologies, ma’am, but I see the director’s wife practically every day, and you are definitely not her. In fact, here she comes now.»
Maya turned and saw a woman walking toward the exit—tall and slender, with dark hair pulled back in an elegant bun. She wore an expensive business suit and carried a designer leather handbag. The woman looked poised and familiar.
Maya’s heart leaped. She recognized her. It was Olivia Price, Elias’s ex-wife, the same woman he had divorced five years ago before meeting Maya.
«Miss Olivia,» the guard called out. «I’ll see you at the usual time tomorrow.»
«Of course, Mr. Harrison,» she replied in a melodious voice. «Tell Mr. Elias V. Hayes that I had to leave for a business matter. I’ll see him tomorrow afternoon.» Olivia passed Maya without paying her any attention and headed toward the parking lot.
Maya almost choked on what she had heard, her thoughts spinning in a whirlwind. What did that mean? «See you at the usual time tomorrow?» Why was his ex-wife at her husband’s office every day? Most importantly, why did the guard know the ex-wife so well? Making a quick decision, Maya decided to play along.
«Excuse me, I must have the wrong building,» she said. «Could you tell me how I can get to Mr. Bermudez in the Human Resources Department? We have an appointment.» The guard, satisfied that he had unmasked an imposter, politely explained the way.
Maya went up to the third floor, but instead of heading to Human Resources, she went to the elevator leading to the fifth floor, where Elias’s office was located. Maya cautiously peeked around the corner. Elias’s office was at the end of the long hallway.
His door was slightly ajar. She could see him sitting at his massive desk, focused on reviewing some documents. His dark hair was slightly tousled, and he looked concentrated and tired.
Just then, the associate director, Mark Dixon, a heavyset man with a kind face and perpetually smiling eyes, entered the office. «Elias, how are things going with the Parkside Boulevard Project? Ms. Olivia submitted all the necessary paperwork.»
Maya’s heart began to beat faster. So Olivia really was involved with work.
«Yes, everything is in order,» Elias replied. «She’ll bring the final calculations tomorrow. We wouldn’t have been able to handle this project without her.»
«It’s a good thing you two were able to maintain a working relationship,» Dixon commented. «It doesn’t work out for everyone, although I understand why you’re keeping this collaboration quiet.»
«Olivia is a professional,» Elias responded briefly, «and as for Maya, I simply don’t want to give her unnecessary reasons to worry. She can be too sensitive about these things sometimes.»
Maya felt everything contract inside her. It turned out that Elias was not only maintaining a relationship with his ex-wife but was working with her and consciously hiding it, considering her «too sensitive.» Dixon left, and Maya decided not to risk exposure any further.
She quickly went down to the first floor and left the building. Olivia was already driving away, but Maya remembered her car: a silver Honda sedan with license plate 547LMA. The entire bus ride home, Maya was lost in thought.
Why was Elias hiding the fact that he was working with his ex-wife? What was the Parkside Boulevard project? And most importantly, could she trust a husband who considered her so immature that he couldn’t share business matters with her?
At home, she mechanically placed the box of pastries on the kitchen counter and settled down to wait for Elias. He usually returned around 7:00 in the evening, but today he was delayed until 9:30.
«Hey, sweetie,» he said, kissing her tiredly on the cheek. «Sorry I’m late. So much work. I was delayed with important negotiations.»
«What negotiations?» she couldn’t help but ask.
«Maya!» Elias looked at her, surprised. «The Parkside Boulevard project. Complex technical matters. What’s going on? You seem a little strange.»
Maya wanted to ask about Olivia, but something stopped her. «I bought your favorite cream puffs,» she said. «I wanted to bring them to the office, but I changed my mind.»
«Thanks,» Elias smiled. «And why to the office? It’s cozier at home. Besides, we’re in such a tense situation with the project right now. Constant meetings.»
This sentence definitively convinced Maya that her husband was hiding something. If everything were honest, he would have been happy about her desire to visit him at work. He wouldn’t have discouraged her.
The next morning, Elias left for work at 8:30 as usual. Maya only had morning classes scheduled with the children on Thursdays, so she was free after lunch. She decided to use this time to find out what was going on between her husband and his ex-wife. Her conscience tormented her, but the desire to know the truth was stronger.
