He said hed only taken me as his wife out of pity thats what Victor told me, and I gave him an hour to pack his stuff.
A courier gig for someone at my level No, thank you. At my old job people valued me, respected me. And now? Running around with parcels like a schoolboy?
Vic, you said yesterday you were ready to start from any position, I said calmly.
Thats because you forced me to say it!
Victor snapped to his feet and marched across the room.
Always nagging, nagging, nagging! Vic, find a job, Vic, go to the interview, Vic, you promised Yeah, I promised! But I also promised to be your husband, not your puppet!
I looked at the coffee stain spreading over the white tablecloth and suddenly remembered our first night out. A restaurant in central London, candles flickering, Victors confident voice that I wanted to believe:
Emma, with me youll forget all troubles. Ill make your life a fairytale. Ive got plans, Ive got opportunities
Back then Victor seemed so solid. A sharp suit (now I know it was a hire), a fake watch, the mannerisms of a successful bloke (hed bingewatched business seminars). The biggest thing was his certainty that he was exceptional which I mistook for strength. All of that was just smoke.
So Im stepping out for some fresh air, Victor said, not even glancing at the stain. And you, think about how you act. Sometimes I feel the problems entirely you. If you earned less, maybe Id feel more secure.
You know how a man needs to be a provider. And when his wife is a director at an ad agency it just drains my masculine energy, he added, slamming the door behind him. I sank into a chair, staring at the halfeaten scrambled eggs.
Masculine energy? Good grief. In the years weve been married hes never done a proper job, not even hammered a nail. He says his hands arent meant for manual work. What energy is that?
I drifted back through memories, trying to pinpoint when he changed. The more I recalled, the more I realised it was my own fault for ignoring the early red flags about who he really was.
The first warning sounded during our honeymoon, when Victor forgot his wallet at the hotel. Then his card got blocked. Later he claimed his accounts were temporarily frozen for a check. I paid everything, convincing myself it was just a hiccup everyone has a bad day.
Then the odd calls started.
Hello, is this Victor Thompson? You promised to repay a loan last month
He brushed it off as old business, a misunderstanding, everything would sort itself out. I believed him. I wanted to.
I run my own consultancy, built from scratch. Im good at reading people clients, partners, staff they all say Im sharp. But with Victor my vision went foggy.
My friend Lily, my business partner, tried to help.
Emma, youre a smart woman, Lily twirled her pen, avoiding my gaze. Dont you see hes just what?
What? Just what? I asked, still defending him.
Hes a freeloader, Emma. Hes latched onto a successful woman and is riding her coattails. How many job searches has he claimed?
Hes in the process! Hes got a few promising options I snapped back.
Lily shook her head sadly. Honestly, Emma, what have you gotten yourself into?
In the second week of us dating he started moaning about his former bosses, all of whom failed to recognise his brilliance. It turned out his previous venture went bust because of conflicts with business partners essentially, debts.
Even his mum, sweet Valentina, sighed at our introduction:
Maybe with you, dear, hell finally settle down
I got up, cleared the table, tried to blot the coffee stain pointless. I loaded the dishwasher; the mechanical routine helped me think.
The phone rang. Victor had left his phone at work. A woman named Marina, a HR recruiter, called.
We were expecting him for an interview today, but he didnt show. Is he still interested in the role? Maybe something happened?
Nothings wrong. He just decided a courier job isnt up to his standards, I said.
Actually it was a Logistics Manager position. We were looking for someone with the experience he listed on his CV ten years in logistics, senior roles at big firms. The salary is solid, full benefits Your husbands résumé impressed us.
A Logistics Manager, huh? And Victor told me hed be a courier. Was he hoping Id feel sorry for him? What experience did he claim?
Ten years in logistics, senior posts at large companies He sounded very confident on the phone.
Thanks, Marina. He wont be bothering you again.
After the call I sat at my computer and finally did what Id meant to do six months ago: I ran a background check on Victor. My contacts made it easy.
The picture that emerged was bleak. His last official role was junior sales assistant at a windowfitting firm, dismissed for absenteeism. He owed money to several banks, was under a court order from an expartner for child support a child he never mentioned to me.
I stared at the screen, feeling not anger, but a strange calm. It was as if a murky filter had lifted, and the world snapped into sharp focus.
Victor returned that evening, grinning, holding a bouquet of discountstore flowers hed grabbed on a sale, price tag still attached.
Emma, Im sorry! Im right just had a moment, you know? Ive thought it through. Guess what? Im starting my own business!
I listened in silence as he spun another fairytale. He needed startup capital which, of course, Id have to provide.
And in six months, at most a year, Ill pay you back tenfold! Well buy a house out of town, you can keep your consultancy, do whatever you like yoga, art, whatever maybe even have kids!
Vic, I cut him off, pack your things.
What? he froze, bouquet trembling. What do you mean?
I mean youre moving out. Today. You can go back to your mum or wherever, but theres no room for you here any longer.
You cant! his face flushed. Im your husband! Were married! You have no right to
What marriage, Vic? You never wanted kids, just invented them to sound nice. Yesterday you called children a burden that would ruin your grand plans.
Its all because of your money! he hurled the flowers onto the floor. You crushed me with your success! Any man next to you feels worthless!
No, Vic. Only someone who believes they are worthless feels that way. Successful men next to successful women feel like partners.
Who needs you at my age! he shouted, voice cracking. I married you out of pity, you know? Out of pity!
Strangely, his words didnt sting. They fell into place, and I finally let go of the illusion.
Im giving you an hour to gather your things, Victor, I said. Then Im calling the police.
