Unfaithful: Web Of Betrayal

They sat across from each other in Brian’s office meeting room. Though the room could fit a 20-personnel staff meeting, it was just Brian and Declan that afternoon. This particular meeting had nothing to do with the deal of a lifetime they had finalized in London. This was private.

Brian’s staff had prepared and laid all the papers on the table. He explained the conditions and showed them the clauses and how the contract will bind them in regard to Ludus. They both nodded to acknowledge that they understood. It was also a gesture to indicate that they wanted to be left alone. The staff excused himself politely and shut the door on his way out.

Both men looked at each other in silence. The matter at hand was never discussed, but they both had a look of understanding. They both knew what it was really about.

“So … ” Brian broke the silence and stood up to look outside the window. “I tried to track him down to no avail … it’s been over seven days, and based on my agreement with him, I have the right to take over his gallery without his consent.” He let out a long sigh.

Declan never offered Roman anything. The last time he saw him was when he almost choked him for sleeping with his wife. But his disappearance gave him an idea. A business proposal that will benefit everyone involved except Roman.

“I … don’t know what to say,” Brian continued. He was referring to the elephant in the room.

Declan sat back on his chair, “Just say that it’s a deal … we’ll sign the papers, and I won’t take up any more of your time.”

Brian turned around to look at Declan. He forced a smile, “How’s Olivia?”

The question took him aback. “She’s fine … she will be even better once the gallery is hers … I will put her name in the agreement, and my lawyer will take care of the rest.” He began to go through with the papers in front of him.

Brian nodded, “I admire you, Declan. You are a true businessman.”

Declan smiled sourly without looking up. He started signing the papers on the spaces marked by Brian’s staff. “I do what’s needed to be done … I’m sure you would do the same if you were in my shoes.”

“I hope this doesn’t affect our London agreement,” Brian looked at him.

“Not at all,” he shook his head lightly. He then pushed the papers to Brian, who had sat down across from him.

Declan took his phone and texted his lawyer to transfer the money once Brian had finished signing.

“This is not the first time he’d done something like this,” Brian said. “He left without a word for ten years,” he added.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

The room was silent.

“If he gets in touch with me … I will let him know about the takeover.” Brian put down his pen and looked up at Declan, who was holding up as best as he could.

Declan nodded with his hands clasped in front of him. “Thank you.” He stood up to shake Brian’s hand.

“For what it’s worth … I hope everything works out with Olivia,” Brian said.

“It will,” he replied. He glanced at Brian sharply with a nod and left the room.

—

Olivia knew about the signing. She was having a staff meeting at Urban Aesthetic that same afternoon. She was preparing everyone for changes since her business partner had gone AWOL, and her husband was on a mission to take over the business. She was also preparing them for her departure to London.

The meeting was interrupted by an urgent call from Sandra. Gabby insisted that she needed to take the call.

“Sandra … I’m in a middle of an important meeting … is there something I can do?”

“I’m sorry, Olivia, I think you need to come here …” Sandra’s tone was worrying. “Your husband is here,” she said.

Olivia paused for a moment, “Of course … I’ll be right there.”

When she arrived at Ludus less than ten minutes later, she was greeted by Sandra’s concerned face. The other employees were looking at her from different corners of the gallery and turned the other way when their eyes met with Olivia’s.

“He’s upstairs …” Sandra said, taking Olivia’s coat off. “He asked for the keys to the studio and the private room on the second floor.”

Olivia’s eyes widened. She remembered what was in that room. She hurried up the stairs, and Sandra followed behind her. They could hear noises coming from that room. Olivia’s head felt light. Her heart was pumping.

Declan was stripping everything from the wall when she stepped into that room. Every single picture of her and Roman. He took them off and looked at them with mad eyes. His face was fifty shades of red.

Olivia looked at Sandra, “Do you mind leaving us alone?”

“Not at all,” she said and closed the door before going back downstairs.

He rested his hand on his waist and hung his head down. His breathing was rapid and heavy. He looked like he was going to scream at the top of his lungs because he was holding one picture in his hand. The picture of Olivia’s half-naked body on a bed smiling to the camera … smiling at Roman.

She yanked the picture off his hand and threw it on the floor. Everything she did with Roman was never with the intention of hurting him. But she saw the wake of what she had done on his face, and it was gut-wrenching. She pressed her hand over her mouth to stop her from crying, but it was no use.

“You’re not supposed to be in here,” her voice trembled.

He shot her a look. His jaw clenched, and his lips shivered. “I want them all burned,” his calm voice filled with rage.

She nodded. Her face was wet with tears. She didn’t dare to look around her. Every photograph told the story of what she had with Roman, and Declan was taking them all in like a series of blows to his face.

She hugged him. She needed him to hold her shaking body as the guilt oozed out of her. But he stood numbly.

He stepped away from her, “I want them all … burned …” he said again. “Can you do that for me?”

She nodded. They looked at each other for a brief moment.

“I’ll see you at home,” he said, walking out of that room without looking back.

—

She came home that night to find Declan sitting in the dark, looking out the same window she sat in front of almost every day. A bottle of whiskey in his hand. She turned on the main light. He winced as if it hurt him physically. She switched it back off and turned on the table lamp instead.

In the brief light, she saw it clearly. She had broken him this time. He had been crying and drowned himself in the bottle he was holding to numb the pain. He rubbed his face without saying a word.

She put down her purse on the sofa and her keys on the coffee table. It took her three hours to get rid of every last trace of what was left of her and Roman. And all that time, she could only think of how much she had hurt Declan.

She walked over to him and touched his arm as gently as she could. She didn’t know how he would react. He was still. She didn’t have any words. Not one that can ease his pain. She kissed the top of his head. He closed his eyes.

He took her hand that was holding his arm and pressed his lips against it. He stood up and walked away with his bottle. He disappeared downstairs into his study.