"Give me an explanation." Even though I knew the truth was laid bare before me, I still stubbornly held on to a shred of hope that he might offer me an explanation that could make sense of it all.
Caleb's face was immediately filled with guilt. He stood in silence for a moment, as though carefully considering his words, before finally speaking. "It's not what you think, Nora. She and I were just high school classmates. She came to me for help finding a job. I needed a secretary at the time, so I let her take the position."
"Is that so? But my high school classmates and I don't kiss in cars," I said, my voice dripping with icy sarcasm.
"It was an accident. She said her seatbelt was stuck, so I helped her and then she kissed me out of nowhere. I pushed her away right after, I swear! My dear, please, you have to believe me!"
It was obvious that Caleb was flustered. His hands grabbed both my arms, his grip firm, his eyes desperate, as if he thought he could convince me through sheer force of will.
"You're panicking, Caleb. Why didn't you ever tell me you were in love with her back in high school?" I shook off his grip away and took a step back.
"I… I was afraid you would mind and be mad at me," he confessed, stepping closer to me, pulling me into his arms again, holding me tightly as if that could erase the doubt and pain between us.
Rationally, I knew I should have pushed him away, accused him, demanded more answers, but I did not. After all, this was the man I loved and he had given me an explanation.
"Nora, if you're still upset, then you can hit me until you're feeling better," Caleb said suddenly, grabbing my hand and pressing it against his own face.
"Fire her tomorrow," I said. "Find her another job, anywhere, anything. I don't care as long as she's not working with you anymore."
"But… she's a woman and she doesn't have any family around to help her. As an old classmate, I feel responsible for her." I could see a flicker of hesitation crossed Caleb's face.
"You can help her. Who said you can't?" I replied, my patience wearing thin. "I'm not telling you to abandon her. Just find her another jobsomewhere else, but not in your company."
"Okay, I'll find a suitable position for her," he promised, but there was a clear avoidance in his tone as though he were sidestepping the urgency of my request.