When John and Sarah throw themselves into their careers, they have little time for household chores.
So, John hires a cleaner to make their lives easier. But the couple soon learn that they’ve invited drama into their home.
My husband, John, and I have always been very career-oriented.
But recently, our careers have escalated, so we barely have time to ensure the upkeep of our home.
I’m an architect, constantly traveling between sites, and John is a software engineer, who can work from anywhere as long as he’s stuck to his computer.
John and I have a strong relationship. We’ve always enjoyed the “work hard, play harder” kind of life.
We work hard and then have the best holidays when we can.
But recently, against my better judgment, I’ve begun to get suspicious of John.
About six months ago, he took a decisive step by hiring Vanessa, a cleaner recommended by a local agency.
“It’s just to help us around the house, Sarah,” he said, sipping his coffee one morning.
“I think we can manage,” I said, unsure that I wanted a stranger going through our home when we weren’t around.
“We’ve been so behind on laundry,” John said. “We have crazy hours.
At least with the cleaner, we’ll be able to continue as normal, but the added bonus will be a clean house.”
Eventually, I gave in. I had to admit, I was tired of putting in laundry at night only to forget about it.
But then, things took a turn.
I knew that John preferred working from home.
“It’s just easier because I’m in my comfort space. And I can think better without the chatter of the colleagues,” he said.
After Vanessa joined the household as our cleaner, I noticed that John worked from home more. At first, I brushed it off, thinking it was just a coincidence, but I also knew that Vanessa was a stunning woman.
Instead of concentrating at work, I would overthink John’s activities at home, certain that he was cheating on me with Vanessa.
So, I did what I had to do.
I left work early one day — knowing that it was Vanessa’s day at our home and that John had opted to work from home.
I drove back to our house silently, contemplating what to do if I found them in compromising positions.
You’ll leave him, I told myself. You’ll leave and start a new life.
I walked into the house, hoping to find John sitting at his desk, but his home office was abandoned.
I walked into the kitchen, thinking that Vanessa would be there, but it was empty, too.
As I walked up the stairs, I heard giggling in my room and saw clothes scattered on the threshold of my bedroom door.
I stormed into our bedroom, my heart pounding at the sight I was about to see. And while it was a punch to the gut, it wasn’t John lying on the bed with Vanessa, but some man I had never seen before.
Fury coursed through my veins as I struggled to comprehend the betrayal in my home.
“What is going on here?” I demanded, my voice trembling with disbelief and rage. I was relieved that the man wasn’t John. But what made Vanessa think having someone else in our bed was okay?
Vanessa looked shocked, her eyes wide with guilt, while the unknown man fumbled to get dressed.
“We… I didn’t mean for this to happen, ma’am,” she stammered, her voice shaky as she attempted to justify her actions.
But her words fell on deaf ears as I told them to leave my house or face the consequences of their actions.
Threatening to call the police, I stood my ground. Vanessa told her partner to leave the house, and then she lingered behind.
“Let me explain,” she said.
I looked at her, unable to find the words to explain that I didn’t want to look at her a moment longer.
“I just wanted a job,” she said. “And I was so grateful that the agency placed me with you and John. But I developed feelings for this guy when I got to know him.”
“How long has this been going on for?” I asked, despite not wanting to hear more.
“Not long, a few weeks at most,” she said. “But I’ve been seeing Julian for a while now. So, when I knew I would be home alone today, I invited him over.”
“Get out,” I said to her calmly. “Just leave my home.”
I called John, who was at the grocery store.
“I just came to get some stuff for dinner,” he said.
I quickly told him what had happened, and he said he would be home immediately.
When John came home, I insisted he change our soiled bedding after Vanessa and Julian’s afternoon activities.
Apparently, John had been oblivious to Vanessa’s ulterior motives and blindly trusted her.
“She became a companion,” John said. “Just someone to flirt with, but nothing more. And I didn’t know that she was bringing people over.”
“Why have you been working from home on the days she came to work? To flirt?” I demanded.
“Sarah, no. Not at first. I knew you were uncertain about having a stranger in our home, so I wanted to be here while she worked. But then it became something a little more,” he ran his fingers through his hair.
“What now?” he asked.
“We report her,” I said.
The following day, I went down to the agency and reported Vanessa. Thankfully, they took our complaint seriously, realizing the breach of trust and professionalism.
Vanessa was let go from the agency, and her ties to our home were severed.
After the whole episode, John and I scaled back our hours at work. We decided that the only way to fix the cracks in our relationship was to spend time together and build it back up.
Although I told myself that I would leave if I could even smell a trace of infidelity, I realized that I didn’t want to face a world without John by my side.
We’re starting therapy soon, because we are determined to emerge stronger.
