The Paper Trail of Our Failures Novel Chapter 3

I thought the run-in at the restaurant would be my last time seeing Orlando before I left the country.

But the same day I officially resigned as his assistant, he video-called me that night.

It was so unusual—he never called. Fighting the urge to reject it, I accepted the call, but switched to audio only.

His displeasure was immediate. “Why only audio?”

“I’m not wearing any makeup,” I said perfunctorily.

As soon as the words left my mouth, I regretted them. It sounded like I still cared what he thought.

Sure enough, he chuckled, his mood seeming to lift.

“We’ve been married for so long. I’ve seen you in every state.”

It almost sounded like flirting, which only annoyed me more. “What do you want?” I asked, my tone detached.

He noticed the distance in my voice and sat up a little straighter. “HR told me you resigned.”

I didn’t explain. “Yes.”

Silence hung between us.

Then he spoke again, his tone teasing—but it felt like he was just filling the space. “Maybe it’s for the best. You’re my wife—why were you working as an assistant, anyway? It’s almost like you wanted to make life harder for yourself.

“To be honest, you were one poor performer. You were barely ever at work, and I still had to pay you every month. Everyone knew you got the job through connections. They said I was playing favorites.”

I cut him off impatiently, “Don’t you need to be with Carolina?”

He muttered, almost without thinking, “Why would I? She’s no one to me.”

Then he went quiet. It seemed to hit him—I was just his ex-wife.

He instantly felt a bit guilty.

“I’m sorry about all the divorces. I know it’s not fair to you.

“I just … didn’t want anyone pointing fingers at Cara.”

I said nothing.

He was so worried about Carolina’s reputation, but he never minded making me the laughingstock of our entire social circle.

My voice turned icy. “Is that all? I’m hanging up.”

“Wait!”

Orlando’s tone turned urgent. “The 12th is our wedding anniversary. Adele has a concert that night. I know you’ve always wanted to go. Let’s go together, alright?”

For a second, I almost told him the truth—that I wouldn’t be here.

But before I could speak, Carolina’s voice floated in from the background. “Orly, I forgot my towel. Can you bring it to me?”

Instead of answering right away, Orlando stayed quiet, staring at my name on the screen as if torn.

“Go,” I urged, expressionless.

He stood up slowly but didn’t hang up.

“Wait for me, Gretch. I’ll be right back.”

Then I heard him walk toward the bathroom.

Unsurprisingly, not long after, there were soft sounds of kissing, a muffled groan from him, and then the bathroom door slammed shut.

I hung up with a mocking smile.

Just then, Kristen excitedly asked me to hang out in a pub.

Without a second thought, I put my phone down, stood up, and linked my arm with hers.

What a fool I’d been, losing sleep over someone so worthless, when life offered so much joy. But that was over. I had turned the page, leaving him as nothing but a memory.