Husband persued but he knew her intentions

[girlish334]

Jay got trapped and put into a situation he never wanted to be in. Jay (27) and his wife Lori (26) were crazy about each other and always have been. They had worked together at several businesses over the years and it was never a problem until Millie was hired. Within two weeks his world was turned upside down. She had her eye on him from day one. After meeting him for the first time she announced to co-workers "Oh my God! He is just so hot". The fact that he was married was a non-issue.

It all started when Lori got sick for a week and went to stay with her mom so that she could get some help with their pre-schooler while Jay worked long hours as Executive Chef in the fanciest restaurant in their small tourist town. He had the best job in the restaurant industry in the county. People respected him. He made good money, drove a nice car and lived in a beautiful house in one of the best neighborhoods in town.

While away Jason went out with a couple co-workers, Milly and Ari. Ari got extremely intoxicated and left Millie (server) and Jay alone. They clicked and had a good time having a couple drinks and talking. Innocent enough.

A few days later while Lori was still out sick, Ari invited them out again and this time he did not show up. Millie and Jay were once again put in an awkward situation. Jay made the mistake of getting a ride home with her and that's when the three week streak of lies and betrayal started. That night she confessed that regardless of the fact that she was engaged and he was married there was definately chemistry there. They would talk about music, their relationships and they had a lot of interests in common. She told him she had feelings for him that were undeniable for her. He should have been straight forward then and there but her encouraged her by not being direct and honest from the get go. He also felt that they clicked but did not feel strongly as she did. She was drunk and he didn't take it seriously. He told her that he could see how she could say that but she shouldn't look into it. He never addressed it and responded very vaguely.

She opened up and explained how she was un-happy in her relationship and was planning to leave her fiance as soon as she found a place. Feeling uncomfortable he named a few minor problems that he struggled with in his marriage. That opened a new door. She had amminition. She planted the seed in his head that his problems were deal-breakers and he should leave his wife. She planted the seed in his head that maybe he was unhappy. Has he been ignoring the truth this whole time? She played the whole "I want you to be happy, this has nothing to do with me" card.

Meanwhile she approached her boss at work and showed true concern that Lori and Jay's problems were affecting everyone and it made her really uncomfortable. She was able to convince them that it had to stop. Being lower level then Jay, Lori had to go. To Millie her problems was solved. Everyone was clueless that there were alternative motives.

The third time they hung out she casually mentioned that she loved him it felt like the right thing to say was me too. Feeling put on the spot and like it was the thing to say back. He knew the moment he said it that he was screwed and there was no going around the fact that what he was doing was wrong. He may not love her, he may not even be romantically interested but he loved her praising him all the time and the attention. It was a drug. It felt good. He didn't have that heart to admit to himself what he was doing. Reality was out of sight.

At this point Jay realized that he was in a situation that he never intended and had no one to blame but himself. He even stayed out all night with her. He lied to his wife... the night consisted of Millie throwing up all over being billigerent and Jay being straned in her car with a drunk driver. What was he to do now? He just wanted to be friends and she backed him into a corner. How was he to end it? Would she tell the owner? Would she tell his wife? He couldn't just ignore her and not give her the chance to corner him again. They worked together everyday. He knew he was weak. Instead of dealing with the problem he went along with it, afraid of conflict. He thought that there had to be away to get out without anyone getting hurt.

The guilt was starting to get to him. Although they had only snuck around a few times and no sex was involved he did all he could to avoid his wife. His shifts of 7:30-2 and 5-9 had changed to 7-10:30 pm. He would pick fights with her or make an excuse to go right to bed. She begged him to hire more help, to deligate and to spend time with her and her son.

After the emotional affair (do you call it that without love... when it's one sided?) had been going on for two weeks Lori had enough. Jay was never there and was plain mean and distant when he was around. She decided to address it. She didn't give him a chance to avoid her any longer. After a lot of thought and soul searching she said to him. "Jay, I have done everything I can think of to make this relationship work. I am at peace with the fact that it is out of my hands and that I put all I have into. I can't live like this anymore. I have begged you to be with the family. I have begged you to be there for me during some dark times these last few weeks. I have stopped doing all your pet peeves, I have worked on my weaknesses, I have addressed and worked on our problems. This is your chance to part with me amicably. I don't care what is going on, I love you but I want us to be happy."

Almost from the get go he knew he loved his wife and didn't want to leave her. He drew her close and said nothing would ever keep them apart. He meant it. Now what to do?

From the get go Millie acted like Lori's friend and would even talk about their relationships. Lori admitted on a couple different occasions that her and Jay were having problems. After that talk though Millie noticed and immediate change. Lindsey came in and was glowing. She said proudly "We sorted it out, our problems are gone." Jay and Lori were affectionate at work and sometimes Millie was watching. Lori would put cute quotes on love on his facebook. He stopped going out with Millie. He would leave work early without saying goodbye. Millie was worried. She started corning Jay more frequently and breaking down all the time. He didn't know how to get rid of her. What would she do? She was a bit unpredictable and in a fairy tale land. Would he lose his job? What would she say?

He didn't spend time with Millie all week. At the end of the week she cornered him yet again. He agreed to go out. Just for one drink. He didn't know how to end it and thought it would bye him some time.

9:00 PM turned to 1:30 AM and Lori was worried. He said he would be home no later then 11:00. She drove down to their work and saw that he had left at 9. When she got home he was there. Admitted that he hung out with her and her friends but was to cowardly to admit the whole truth. Lori caught him on his lies slowly but surely and finally he denied getting her phone calls. She grabbed the phone and saw the texts.

"Love you Jay"

"yea"

And more....

She took her son and left. He sobbed and pleaded with her... he never slept with her. It wasn't an affair. He told her he loved her. He let it go on... He had been so cruel to his wife because of her. Finally he had to wake up and smell the coffee.

He called Millie the next morning and told her it was all out in the open. Lori was calling their boss, Lori knew everything and they couldn't talk again.

Of course Millie lied when their boss confronted her. Lori is paranoid, they only hung out once untill 10:00. She is the victim. But after the boss learned the truth Millie was fired.

Lori is so much pain. Everyday hurts. It is so hard for Jay to see her this was day after day, month after month. It has been 4 months and she breaks down into tears often enough. Sometimes it will be 6 weeks between sometimes days. He feels so helpless. The fact is he never loved her... he felt no loss since ending things but relief. As more time went on he resented and hated Millie more and more. Convinced that Millie went after him to escape her lower class life with an ex-heroin addict fiance. That she wanted to become Lori. She wanted her life. On the bright side she has lost 25 lbs....

 

 

How can Jay convince Lori that he never felt more then a friendship with Millie?

How can he live with himself?

How can Lori ever get over the pain?

Was it really an emotional affair if Jay never wanted Millie and his feelings never went beyond platonic?

Was he lying to himself?

Could he really deal with seeing her anger and pain for the years that it would take her to move on?

 

Outside perspectives are much appreciated

Edited May 26, 2011 by girlish334