The ARRANGEMENT

It had taken Lisa many months to see his true colours and now all she wanted was vengeance

- Kit McWalter

They say you know when it’s over…

I’d let myself fall for Marc before

I had even discovered that he was married.

And once I knew, I told myself that the strength of our love made up for it, that it didn’t bother me.

I guess I’d got good at lying by this point.

Whenever the matter of him leaving was broached, he’d always have some excuse for why the time wasn’t right – ‘You understand why I can’t leave her now, Lisa? It would destroy her.’

Oh, I understood, all right. Melissa was the one with the money. They lived largely separate lives, Marc often away for work, Melissa larging it at luxury spas. It wasn’t an arrangement I’d ever understand. They had once been in love, I supposed, and now it was a marriage of mutual convenience, Marc with a rich wife, Melissa a handsome husband on her arm.

Several months later, I finally came to accept the future we’d planned together was never going to happen.

The assumption he could have his cake and eat it hurt. Love had made me bitter.

So, I’d waited for the next time he was away on a business trip – until the time was right – to sneak over to their elegant house and reveal everything to Melissa.

Only… it hadn’t worked out quite as expected.

Now, sitting at my desk back at the office, I see again in my mind’s eye a hastily scrubbed red stain still visible on deep-pile blush-pink carpet.