Infidelity
Sebastian and Mya had known each other for a long time, though not well. They both worked at the same small petroleum company, Mya in the office during the day beginning early morning and Sebastian in the field and popping in and out of the office to fill out reports and sit in meetings. Their paths would cross occasionally, and he liked her immediately; her wit, her smile and her willingness to never back down from a fight. The first time he complimented her about her high heeled shoes, Mya simply smiled a wicked smile and said “Bring it.” Call it what it was. It was flirting and they both enjoyed the game. Had HR ever gotten wind of any of their conversations, there would have been hell to pay.
Months and years passed with the game continuing. They became good friends, kinkily referring to themselves as S&M. People speculated about their relationship, but they were never together outside of the office. Their schedules simply would not allow it. Mya was tied to her desk while Sebastian handled operations. Still, they would see each other when paperwork had to be filled out or requisition forms needed processing. During that time, they would talk and flirt and catch up on each other’s lives.
Then came the day one summer when things changed for them. Sebastian showed up at Mya’s home on company business. He pulled into the driveway in the company truck, hopped out and made his way to the front door and rang the doorbell. He had called ahead to let Mya know he was coming. She opened the door dressed in summer shorts, an oversized blouse, sandals and gardening gloves.
“Are you the postman?” she said a kittenishly.
“Did I ring twice?” he responded.
She gave him a wink and opened the screen door to let Sebastian in. He stepped through into the entryway that featured a small waterfall built into the foyer. Steps led down to a sunken living area lined with artwork, bookcases, an antique hutch, elegant furniture and on one end, a baby grande piano. Sebastian nodded with approval.
“I was working in the garden,” she said, pulling off her garden gloves.
“I like a dirty girl,” he replied.
She giggled. Sebastian had never heard her giggle.
“C’mon. I get you some coffee while I look over the requisition.
She began to lead him to the kitchen just off the living area. He noticed a silver and black free-standing metal lamp that was unique in that even the lampshade was made of metal with matching black enamel stripes that matched the ones that ran the length of the tall stand. The lamp itself could swivel 360 degrees. It was elegant and matched the décor and Sebastian wondered aloud about how Mya had collected all of this stuff.
“You have excellent taste,” Sebastian said.
“Oh, that. That lamp is one of the forgive me gifts from my husband Joey for one of his many infidelities.”
Sebastian knew Joey or at least had met him at company parties. He was loud and bombastic. He might let slip that he had slept with this woman or that from the office and would comment on others he had not seduced, evaluating their sexual allure or what he called “doability.” Sebastian didn’t like the term or Joey.
“Well, my gift pales in comparison to that. I saw a box of these sitting on your desk one day and took a chance.”
Sebastian offered a box of Hilliard’s lips shaped milk chocolates.
“Ooooh. Chocolate kisses. Thank you,” she gushed. “What’s so important that couldn’t wait until tomorrow?”
“We had a generator go out at the southeast site, a generator that I told the company needed replacing a year ago,” he explained. “Well, they delayed and delayed and the thing finally gave out and now they are screaming that they are losing money every day. I rented the largest I could find, but I need to purchase something that can be permanently installed and that costs money and that amount of money requires two signatures. Yours as the comptroller and the GM’s. I caught Bob before he left the office. I’m here for your seal of approval.”
“Buncha dicks,” she opined. “Let’s have some coffee and cake while I look over the paperwork.”
They walked into a rich, fully equipped kitchen with one of those professional stoves that you find in a Michelin three-star restaurant. There was a small breakfast nook just beyond the kitchen that was full of light with a small table and lots of flowers.
“Another one of Joey’s infidelities?” Sebastian asked.
“No. Money from my first husband. I got the house in the divorce and used my alimony to build this nook. You like-y?”
“Yeah, nice. Sunny,”
Sebastian pulled out one of the Shaker chairs and sat down.
“How do you like your coffee?”
“Hot and strong. Just like my women,” Sebastian quipped.
“What a coincidence. That’s the way I like my men,” she shot back.
She turned and disappeared around the corner. He could hear her opening and closing the cabinets, the clink of a couple of coffee cups and the whoosh of the coffee machine as each cup was filled. She returned with both cups in one hand and a plate with a large piece of red, white and blue cake with white buttercream frosting and two forks.
“Wow!” Sebastian exclaimed.
“What’s coffee without cake?” Mya said with a flourish.
She set the cake down on the table between them, handed Sebastian his cup, pulled out another chair and sat down. She picked up one of the forks and carved a medium sized piece from the cake slice. She parted her lips and set it on her tongue and closed her mouth where she let it melt.
“Mmmmmmm,” Mya cooed. “Taste it. I made it myself. I had to add food coloring to the white cake batter and bake each layer individually. I stacked them up, slathered on the icing, which I also made myself and then put the little sprinkles on it. I want to learn how to decorate a cake with one of those little socks for the icing next.”
Sebastian took a bite and smiled broadly. Mya’s eyes shined with approval. For a minute, they sat and picked at little pieces of cake and smiled at each other. Mya put another piece of cake to her lips and a few crumbs drifted off onto her shirt. She leaned forward across the table to retrieve a paper napkin. Sebastian caught the scent of garden soil and sweat as she leaned close to him and he impulsively lifted her chin and kissed her. To his surprise, she did not resist.
“Mmmmmmm,” Mya cooed again and kissed Sebastian even harder.
They undressed each other and wildly made love right there on the table before moving to the bedroom for the next hour.
“You need to get going,” Mya said. “Joey will be home in a little bit and it’s best you not be here even if your visit was legit. Plus, I need time to get rid of the evidence. Wash the plate, forks and coffee cups. Get rid of the cake and make the bed.” Mya wasn’t being dismissive. Just practical. “Oh, and I have to sign those papers.
Sebastian gave her a kiss on her forehead.
“I don’t do this. I mean I never thought I would… do this…. with you. It just happened,” he said half apologetically.
“I don’t do this either,” Mya said. “In fact, I hate this kind of behavior. I’ve had to live with it my whole life, but I do enjoy being with you.
With that, they both got up and got dressed. She went out to the kitchen, flipped open the folder he had brought to her, opened it and signed the requisition form. She tucked the folder under his arm and led him back to the front door. Mya kissed him on the cheek and sent him on his way with a slap to his backside.
“When you leave the driveway, turn right and then take the first left. That will take you back to the main drag and straight to the freeway and downtown. This will keep you from running into Joey.” On the last part, Mya was adamant.
“Yes ma’am,” Sebastian replied. He strode straight to his truck and did exactly as he was told.
She closed the door behind him without saying another word. He did as he was told, taking the route back to the freeway.
The next day, Sebastian made sure that he returned to the office earlier than usual. His intention was to spend a little time with Mya. As he approached her office he could hear the muted but stern voice of Joey addressing her.
“Who was it? I found these in the pantry,” He could see Joey said tossing the box of chocolates onto Mya’s desk through the half open door.
Sebastian wanted to grab Joey by the throat and throttle him, but he knew that would only make things worse. He also knew that Mya could handle him. She glanced quickly toward him with a look that said stay back.
“Was it that slut Amy? You’ve always had a thing for Amy,” Joey continued.
“Amy was your conquest, not mine, remember?” Mya said a bit stifled.
Joey seemed flustered and Sebastian had to stifle a laugh.
“Now get out of my office. I have work to do!” Mya turned her attention to the paperwork on her desk.
Joey turned and headed out of the office nearly walking into Sebastian. Sebastian walked past Mya’s office giving her a wink.
At day’s end, Sebastian pulled into his driveway. He picked up his coffee mug and a package off the seat of the truck and headed into the house. Once inside, he called for his wife.
“Jen? Jen? You home?”
“In here,” she shouted from the kitchen.
Sebastian crossed the living room and entered the kitchen. His wife, Jeniffer, was bent over the dishwasher pulling things out and putting them into their respective cabinets, drawers and cubbies. She never looked sexier, he thought.
“Hiya, sweetcakes. I brought you something.”
Sebastian placed the box on the table.
“Oooooh. Presents,” Jen squealed. Is this for me?
“I thought you might like it,” Sebastian said.
Jen flipped the box over and squealed again.
“Oooooh. I’ve seen one of these on the shopping network. They look so nice on TV.”
Jen pulled a butter knife out of the silverware drawer to pry the staples off the end of the box and pulled the flaps open. She removed the Styrofoam packaging, opened a plastic liner and pulled out a small, elegant black and silver lamp shade wrapped in clear plastic. She held it up with both hands.
“I love it! I love it! I love it!” She cheered.
She held the lampshade up, tipping it and turning it to see it at every angle. She held it over her head like a hat.
“What do you think?” she asked Sebastian. He started to answer, but before he could speak, she asked him coyly, “Wait. What have you done?”
He smiled back at her.
“Nothing I regret.”
Copyright 2026 by Jose Antonio Ponce