Snap

You feel the anger rise fast and sharp.

“Pressure?” you say, voice harder than you intended. “You have been applying pressure all day. The numbers, the bonus, the constant reminder that you can take the presentation if I slip. I am already carrying a full load and a home life that gives me nothing. My wife has not touched me in months. She treats the fact that I still want her like an inconvenience. So yes, I took twenty minutes to blow off steam. The work is still getting done.”

You lean forward, the words coming quicker now.

“And do not stand there lecturing me about being married when the real problem is that you cannot stand the fact that it was Ruby instead of you. You walked in, saw exactly what was happening, and the outrage about timelines and wedding rings is just the polite cover. You are jealous.”

The last word hangs in the quiet conference room. Cheryl stares at you, the folder forgotten under her hand, and for a moment she says nothing at all.