I even pulled off the ring right in front of her. The one I'd planned to wear at our wedding.
"Take it back. We're finished."
Adam froze mid-step. He didn't reach for it. The ring hit the floor.
"I say you wanted it, so you wanted it."
Valerie grabbed a fistful of my hair and dragged me into the hotel banquet hall.
"Everyone, come look! Here's a woman who was begging to be someone's mistress!"
Someone asked, "Isn't that Adam Sanchez's girlfriend?"
"Not anymore." Adam's voice was flat. "My girlfriend is Valerie Herring. The new secretary at my company."
"Ah, that explains it." Knowing laughter rippled through the crowd.
A woman stepped forward. "I always said a mistress's daughter would grow up to be a mistress too. And to think, Adam, you used to defend her."
Valerie chimed in. "Oh, she even slapped herself across the face twice, trying to get his sympathy."
"But our Adam is a man of principle. He'd never fall for that kind of cheap seduction."
As she said this, Valerie leaned into Adam's chest.
I saw the way his expression twisted, something deeply uncomfortable passing across his face. But his mouth still moved in agreement. "Whatever you say, babe."