My Husband Adored His Mistress, so I Asked Her Out

The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, revealing the pristine marble lobby of Westbrook Corporation.

I stepped out, my heels clicking against the polished floor, and felt the familiar weight of expectation settle on my shoulders.

"Mrs. Westbrook!" The receptionist's voice was bright, almost theatrical in its enthusiasm. "Welcome to your first day. HR is expecting you on the fifteenth floor."

I forced a smile and nodded, pressing the elevator button again. The ride up felt endless, each floor marking another step deeper into Seth's domain. When the doors opened, a woman in her thirties with perfectly styled blonde hair greeted me.

"Quinn! I'm Sarah from HR. We're so excited to have you join our marketing team." Her handshake was firm, professional. "Your mother-in-law spoke very highly of your capabilities."

Of course she did. Eleanor Westbrook never did anything without calculation.

Sarah led me through an open office space filled with sleek desks and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city. Conversations quieted as we passed, and I caught the subtle glances, the whispered exchanges. My stomach tightened.

"Here's your workspace," Sarah announced, gesturing to a corner desk with a view. "You'll be working on the Morrison account initially. It's a significant client, so we're confident you'll do well."

Five hundred thousand a month for marketing work I could do in my sleep. The absurdity wasn't lost on me.

After Sarah left, I settled into my chair and opened my laptop.

The morning passed in a blur of introductory emails and project briefings, but I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched.

During my lunch break, I decided to explore the building, familiarizing myself with my new environment.

The executive floor was quieter, more refined. As I walked past Seth's corner office, I glimpsed him through the glass walls, his dark hair perfectly styled, his attention focused on whatever was displayed on his computer screen.

He didn't notice me, and I didn't announce myself.

I was heading back to the elevator when I heard voices from the break room.

"Did you see her at the charity gala last month?" a woman's voice drifted out. "Lily Matthews. She looked absolutely stunning in that emerald dress."

"The way Seth looked at her..." another voice added with a knowing laugh. "I mean, we all know about his thing for her, but he wasn't even trying to hide it."

I froze, my hand hovering over the elevator button.

"Poor Quinn," the first voice continued. "She's beautiful, but she's not Lily. Everyone knows Seth's been obsessed with her since college."

"Remember when Lily came for that consulting meeting last week? Seth practically rearranged his entire schedule. And the way he walked her to her car..."

"It's so obvious. I heard from Jennifer in accounting that Seth and Lily were seen at the Ritz last Tuesday. Same day Quinn was at that women's leadership conference."

My chest tightened, but I remained perfectly still, hidden by the wall.

"I feel bad for Quinn. She seems sweet, but