Gemotions

The chipped mug felt heavy in Leo’s hands, the lukewarm coffee doing little to thaw the icy feeling in his gut. He’d been so thrilled for Maya when she’d landed the supposed position at the prestigious law firm. Months of dinners, celebratory drinks, and boasts about her high-powered cases had all been a sham. He'd just learned the truth: she'd been working as a paralegal in a much smaller, less impressive office, and only for a short time. He hadn't wanted to believe it, but the evidence was overwhelming.

He stared out the window, the rain mirroring the way his insides felt, a cold, persistent drizzle. He’d practically bragged about Maya’s success to his own family, boasting about how she was going to change the world. He’d genuinely believed her, and the thought that he’d been played, that his faith in her had been so easily manipulated, churned in his stomach like a lead weight.

He'd have to figure out how to face her. How to tell her he knew. The weight in his chest had grown with each passing hour since he found out.