"I wouldn't say she's exactly short on cash." Latham looked caught off guard by Octavia's question. "Fallon's basically a pro. She's not just a schoolteacher, you know. She's been doing translation work for different companies over the years. Since we already know her, it just made sense. Finding someone with her skills isn't easy."
It almost sounded reasonable. Maybe too reasonable. Octavia frowned, not convinced. “But that's a problem. Our company can't get by without a real translator on staff. Are you seriously telling me we're just going to let Fallon handle it part- time? Can she actually keep up?"
"We do have other translators,” Latham said, like he was trying to smooth things over. "Fallon only steps in for urgent stuff. Or for files that really need a top-level translator. That's all."
He sounded so certain, so completely sure of Fallon's talent, Octavia could actually feel her annoyance rising. In Latham's eyes, Fallon was untouchable, brilliant beyond question. Was she, Octavia, just some woman who cooked, cleaned and kept the house running? Did he see her as anything else?
"Fallon's impressive," Latham said, oblivious to the shift in Octavia's mood. "She didn't even major in English, remember?"
That was the last straw. Octavia couldn't believe how blind he was. He was sitting here, praising another woman, and he didn't even notice what he sounded like. Right then, it finally hit Latham that Octavia was angry.
He rushed to fix it. "Of course you're even more incredible, Octavia. You've held this family together for years, never once letting me down. I wouldn't be anything without you. Really. And whatever happened with Fallon before, it's all in the past. We barely speak unless it's about work."
He watched her, worried. "You're not actually worried I'm getting back together with her, are you?"
"Getting back together? So you admit you had something?" Octavia raised an eyebrow, staring at him with a tight smile. “Latham, do I really need to remind you what you two were? Or do you just pretend your wife doesn't exist now?"
Latham didn't look shaken. He tried again. "Fallon isn't like other women. I honestly just value her skills. That's it. There's nothing else going on."
"Oh please." Octavia's voice shook. "You've always had your little affairs, but only Fallon dares to forget her place and try to crawl her way up to you. Onmaybe you forgot she carried your child? Latham, it's been more than ten years, and you drag her back into your life. What's that supposed to mean? You just can't move on from your 'old flame?""
She wanted to curse at them, both Fallon and Latham. She couldn't keep it in anymore. “You parade her around the company like a trophy. What do you think that makes me?"
Latham finally realized he'd pushed things too far. He'd never completely sworn off other women. He was a businessman, always entertaining clients and playing the social game. Octavia had always looked the other way, as long as he treated her well. She never made a scene until now.
But her reaction to Fallon was different. It shook him. He started to wonder if, this
time, he'd really crossed the line.
“Octavia, please just let me explain.” Latham reached out, desperate.
"I don't want to hear it, Latham!" She
tohe
cut him off, voice trembling. "I'm
done. I gave you everything-a
e2
family, my whole career, my life. And what do I get? A husband who treats
mistresses like collectibles? Don't
think haven't no
it's not just
her You've got women stashed away all over!"
Octavia's words hung in the air. Latham looked away, his eyes guilty. He did have someone else, but to him, they were just passing distractions. None of them could ever hold a candle to Octavia. And now, for the first time, he started to wonder if he'd already lost her for good.