I’m backing quietly out the door. Thankfully, I’d stifled an apology, and in the throes of their passion they’re unaware I was even there.
In the outer office I press cold hands to my burning cheeks.
My thoughts are for his wife and their beautiful children. Can it be that the idyll was nothing more than a charade, a carefully crafted illusion for public consumption?
It’s unthinkable he would risk losing his family, reputation, the lifestyle everyone strives for.
But if he would, I ponder, attempting to smother a gnawing, burrowing embryo of resentment…
why had he not chosen me?
Thanks to Rochelle for her continued leadership of Friday Fictioneers, a regular get together of the writing community from all around the world. Click on the frog to join us.
castelsarrasin 
Oooh…brilliant!
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Many thanks, Sue.
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You just nail it with so few words!!!
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I liked the way censure turns to jealousy here
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Human nature hey? Thanks for reading.
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Oh, I like the way embarrassment gives way to censure to jealousy. Would guess that would be a more common reaction than most would admit.
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I think you’re right. Thanks for reading.
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Human nature.
Contemplation, jealousy, cheating…
Some people can take advantage and blackmail.
The ending is quite something! 🙂
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Thanks for reading, Anita.
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Hah! You judge, you criticize, and you then lament you were not the chosen one. So well done, Sandra!
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The human condition at its best. 😉
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No kidding! You nailed it 🙂
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Dear Sandra,
Ouch, that last line goes for the jugular as jealousy rears its ugly head. Masterful writing and twist.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks for reading, Rochelle. 🙂
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Great story. I’m curious how this picture prompted you to make the connection to your story. I guess the title makes the tie-in. Enjoyed it very much and the last line was a great ending. How careful we must be not to point fingers at the sin of others. Our own impurity shows up.
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Yes, the fall of the tree, the fall of the ‘hero’.
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The man sounds like a player. Maybe she will be next?
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I think she may not recover from being the first. 🙂 Thanks for reading.
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I wonder if her jealousy will lead her to have a quiet word with his wife. Nice one Sandra.
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You never know, with human nature. Thanks for reading, Keith.
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What a shrewdly observed and vividly described scenario. “I press cold hands to my burning cheeks,” is such an accurate description.
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Many thanks Penny. 🙂
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I love the illustrative final line. It casts a shadow on the narrator’s judgment. Well done.
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Thanks for reading, Josh.
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And because MC cant have sex he demolished a load of trees, bad-tempered bugger, lol. Nice story!
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Oh, excellent! You had me on pins and needles right up to the last liine!
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Many thanks, Linda.
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Why women fight over bad boys will always be a mystery to me. Expertly told tale with a biting twist.
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Indeed. Thanks for reading.
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You’re welcome.
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Such a common story, but the ending makes it a new and different one. The emotions are palpable in this, Sandra
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You probably won’t be aware of this, but our Health Minister’s career ended two days after I wrote this, in exactly the same way! Now I’m being accused of being psychic!
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I did see! That man is something else
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Wow, the ending was superb!
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Many thanks, Brenda. Lovely photo.
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I can see your writing skills haven’t diminished at all since my last visit (too long ago.) Amazing how you can see the dark side of every situation so clearly. 🙂
janet
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A long life, I guess, Janet. Nice to see you on here.
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varying degrees of emotions emotions expressed in 100 words. well done.
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Thanks for reading.
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Ooh, human nature summed up in 100 words. So bitingly accurate, Sandra. Wonderful.
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Thanks Jenne, glad you liked it.
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Sandra,
And the drama begins, not with simple moral outrage but growing resentment! I think this two-timer better watch out. Nicely set up.
pax,
dora
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Yes, hell hath no fury as they say.
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Haha! Delightful! A very clever study of human nature.
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I think the “player” will regret his choice of “playmate.”
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I think so too. Thanks for reading.
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I am now convinced I will never be able to unravel a woman’s mind. Made me think of Bill Clinton.
I like how you made our character question their own self-worth.
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You were never meant to be able to unravel a woman’s mind, simply to keep on trying. 🙂
Thanks for reading James.
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This is great the way her mood changes. Intially doing what she believes is right then realising, once she has time to asses, her own feelings and wants.
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Inevitable, I guess. 🙂 It’s often not long before people start to evaluate events in terms of how it affects them personally. Or maybe I’m just an old cynic.
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I think I’m with you, but probably an old cynic too
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I worked for a married man that bedded any woman he could. Once, he took the staff out on his sailboat and, after ten drinks too many, one woman said, “Why has he never approached me? What am I? Chopped liver?” pretty creepy. Well done.
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🙂 Well, at least she’s honest. Thanks for reading, Alicia.
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“gnawing, burrowing embryo of resentment”
That line just nails it. Another brilliant story from you Sandra.
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Many thanks, glad you liked it.
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Ooh, I’ve felt that way a couple of times – why not me!
The guy with the family she saw reminds me of a certain politician currently in the news 🙂 Somewhat prophetic.
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You shuffled through a lot of complex emotions in a mere 100 words. Impressive.
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