I always suspected my husband had a mistress. And yesdont laughI decided to hire her myself. Everyone thought Id lost the plot.
See, when I stumbled across the texts between my husband and the other woman, I didnt shed a single tear. No shouting, no drama. Instead, I smiled. Because as the CEO of a major consultancy in London, I knew there were far better options than making a scene.
Two weeks later, I put out an advert for a new executive assistant. She applied, of course. Her CV was bang average, but the photo matched the woman from the endless selfies on my husbands phone perfectly.
On the day of the interview, I walked into the boardroom in my sharpest suit.
You’re the applicant, yes? Please, take a seat.
She looked at me without a flicker of recognition. Not surprising. My husband had never shown her a picture of me. No doubt hed painted me as some dreadful or dowdy wife.
So, tell me why do you want to work here? I asked, all calm and collected.
Your firm has an excellent reputation and
Just call me boss, I cut in, smiling. Were like family around here.
She got the job right away.
The first few months were pure performance art. Credit where due: she was a decent worker. But the real joy came each morning when I sipped coffee with my husbands lovertwo hours after waving him off as he left for work, completely clueless.
So, are you married? she asked once as we went over contracts.
Yes, very happily, I replied, deadpan. What about you? Any boyfriend?
She went a bit pink.
Its complicated. Hes in a difficult situation.
Hes married, I said, as if commenting on the weather. Classic.
No, its not like that! He loves me, its just
No judgment. The heart wants what it wants, right?
At dinner, my husband would ask how my day went. I’d share little stories from work, casually mentioning my hard-working new assistant. He never twigged. Cheating men can be oddly naive.
Six months in, I promoted her.
You’ve done excellent work. I want you to oversee our new branch in Singapore. Fantastic chance. Eighty percent pay raise, flat provided, three-year contract.
Her eyes widened.
Abroad? But I I have someone here.
Long distance works if its meant to, I told her, squeezing her shoulder. If it doesnt, well, you know the answer. Trust meId know.
My husband was absolutely unbearable those weeks. They argued over the phone in the evenings while I pretended to be asleep. In the end, she left, crying at Heathrowaccording to my driver who just happened to be there.
Her overseas operation was a raging success for months. She sent flawless reports. Meanwhile, my husband was suddenly the perfect partner again: romantic dinners, flowers, whispers about renewing our vows.
All so touching.
Exactly a year after I hired her, I rang her on video call.
We need to talk.
She immediately tensed up.
We have to end your contract. Company restructure, you know how it goes.
What? I gave everything up! My whole life!
I know. Pity, leaving that complicated man for this gig. By the way I paused, do say hello to him for me when youre back. Although I doubt he’ll be waitingthese days hes awfully busy planning my vow renewal.
Silence. That moment where her face turned from shock to horror as she realised who I was? Absolutely priceless.
You You knew
From the start. Your severance is already sorted. Id recommend spending it on therapy. And next time a married man claims his wife doesnt understand him, ask if she manages a multi-million-pound budget. Chances are, she understands far more than hell ever know.
Hung up.
That same evening, my husband came home clutching a bottle of champagne.
Come on, lets celebrate! Its exactly a year since things between us got so much better.
I raised my glass and savoured every sip.
I never told him, you know. Why ruin his sense of peace? I got exactly what I wanted. And hell never guess my revenge was actually aimed squarely at him.
What do you reckoncold, careful payback, or straightforward confrontation? Do you keep the truth to yourself, or let it explode straight away?
