WHAT THE VOWS DIDN'T SAY

I walked into Hale & Wolfe headquaters at precisely 7:55 am, just as i did every morning. the towering glass doors parted, swallowing me into a world of polished marblefloors, crisp suits and clipped conversations. My head remained bent as i mioved like a shadow, quiet, efficient and graceful.

As i passed, people slighltly nodded their heads as they greeted me. i smilled back as i made my way through. To everyone i was the calm, perfect assistant.

But behind my composed skin, i held in a lot. I smoothed my blouse as i entered the executive wing, my heels clicking against the the tiled floors. My phone buzzed in my purse and my heart skipped a beat. I didn't need to look to know who it was. My fingers hovered aabove the screen, then slowly, they dropped to my side.

The message can wait, if i read it now, i might not make it through the morning without breaking. Instead, i took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

''Come in''

I pushed open the door. Sebastian Hale sat behind a sleek desk, dark suit, his expression hardened and his gaze sharp as a blade against his system. He didn't look up.

''Schedule?''

i handed over the itinerary, already annotated.

''You've got the investor briefing at ten, the gala tonight at seven.I moved the conference call with Zurich to tomorrow morning.''

He flipped through the pages, then paused.

''You rescheduled something without asking?''

''Yes,'' i replied, unfazed. ''They double-booked you. I took the liberty.''

His eyes finally lifted to mine. HIs sharp, scruntinizing stare shook me up a bit. Something unreadabale flickered across his face. He returned his gaze back to his system.

''Fine.''

I didnt know when i let out a sigh of relief.

Our interaction never passed that, blunt, fast-paced with no room for fluff. He was nutorious for chewing through people that worked for him. I had lasted over a year working for him. I didn't flinch a muscle when he barked, didn't bat an eyelash when he starts throwing tantrums about incompetence, didn't crumble when deadlines loomed. What kept me going was if i could endure whatever i go through back at home, this is just a piece of cake.

-----

At 11:23 a.m, i stepped into the restroom and locked the door to the cubicle.Only then did i check my phone.

'Where the hell are you? I called three times. Don't forget whose money pulled your family out of the gutter. Smile tonight sweetheart. I'll be watching.'

My stomach twisted. I locked my phone and pressed my head against the cold, yet warm feel of the door.

This is my miserable life. Married to a man i didn't love. Trapped by a transaction made years ago. My parents had been drowning in debt and Marcus Langford offered a lifeline, with strings she hadn't seen until it was too late.

He'd never raised a fist in public, not like he needed to anyways. Behind closed doors, words were weapons and sometimes, they were just more than weapons. They were much worse...

-----

The gala glittered like a dream that night, chandeliers glowing, violins playing in the corners, champagne flowing in every direction. I stood by the bar, clipboard in hand, my dress elegant but simple. I moved like i belonged, but i didn't speak unless necessary.

Across the room, Sebastian was deep in conversation with the investors, yet every now and then, i could feel his eyes flicker to my side,.

A man behind me laughed too loudly and i flinched. I instinctively stepped back when someone reached too close. Yet so very often i smiled. I turned to look at Sebastian and found him gazing at me fully, his brow slighly raised. I stared back at him from across the room. Everything that was happening around me suddenly became a blur. I was focused on him.

My phone vibrated and i snapped my gaze back to the clipboard. I slipped my phone out from underneath. I turned sharply and slipped through the terrace doors without a word.

Outside the air was cool. I leaned against a stonewall behind the building, hidden in the shadows. My chest heaved and i dropped my hands, shaking.

Marcus had dropped a voicemail, furious as always.

'You think i don't see you there? Playing the loyal assistant, all dressed for who? When you get home we're going to talk Isla. You don't get to disobey me.''

My phone dropped, but i didnt bother picking, i pushed myself away from the wall and walked forward to stare at the busy night.

I clenched my jaw and wrapped my arms around myself. For the first time all day, the tears came. Footsteps behind me made me spin. I froze. I spun around and was saring face to face with Sebastian. He stood few feets away from me, my phone in his hands.

He must have followed me.

He didn't speak, just held out my phone. The voice note was still playing.

My hearth plummeted. Sebastian listened as Marcus sent another. He didn't say a word, he just listened, staring at me like he was seeing me...really seeing me for the first time.

''I'm sorry,'' i whispered, reaching for my phone.

''It's nothing.''

He didn't hand it over immediately.

''That man... He's your...''

''My husband.'' The word scrapped against my throat. Silence stretched between us. Only the distant hum of the violins playing and my ragged breathing.

Sebastian finally gave me the phone. ''You don't deserve to be spoken to like that.''

I looked away and stared down at my phaone. It's complicated.''

''I'm sure it is.''

He didn't press further, didn't ask questions. I looked up and he just stood there, something unreadable in his eyes, anger maybe, or something gentler, more dangerous.

He didn't touch me, didn't offer comfort, but he didn't look away either.

That somehow comforted me...

By the time we returned inside, my mask was back on. I smilled politely, took notes, blended in. I knew Sebastian didn't see me the same anymore. I could feel it, the shift, the strange quiet tension that settled between us.