y Husband’s ‘Business Partner’ Showed Up at Our Door and Mistook Me for the Cleaning Lady — I Decided to Play Along
I chose to comply when a charming stranger who thought I was the cleaning lady knocked on my door. However, what started off as a humorous miscommunication swiftly turned into a startling discovery.
As I washed the kitchen counters, the scent of lemon cleaner permeated the air. The peaceful house was filled with the low hum of the dishwasher.
Although I didn’t particularly enjoy cleaning, it kept my hands occupied and my head focused. The doorbell rang just as I was throwing the sponge in the sink.
A tall, well-groomed man with a smile that could have been lifted from a toothpaste ad stood there when I opened the door. He carried a smart phone in one hand and a leather briefcase in the other.
“Hello!” he exclaimed with a smile. “I’m trying to locate Mr. Lambert. You must be the lady who cleans. Is that Liliya? He moved forward and extended his hand. “I’m David, his business partner. Good to meet you.
He looked at his watch and said, “Mrs. Lambert has told me so much about you,” before I could correct him. She showed me your photo.
A beat skipped in my chest. “Mrs. Lambert?” Struggling to maintain a steady voice, I asked.
“Yes! He laughed and remarked, “She and Greg are always such a great team.”
Lambert, Mrs. So, who am I meant to be? The woman who cleans? I was overcome by my curiosity. I would comply if he believed I was someone else.
I bowed slightly and said, “Please, come in, sir,” trying not to chuckle at the ridiculousness. “So, you’ve known Mr. and Mrs. Lambert for a long time?”
David responded, “Oh, years,” as he sat down on the couch. “What a couple they are. They always appear so content together.
I feigned a courteous grin. I needed an excuse to get out of the room for a bit, so I grabbed a glass of water as my heart raced. He is referring to a Mrs. Lambert, but who is she?
David was looking through his phone as I returned to the living room. He raised his head. “I have a photo of them, you know. Allow me to demonstrate.
My stomach fell when he handed me his phone. My sister Allison, arm in arm with Greg, was there, grinning back at me.
“Beautiful, isn’t she?” David stated. “This was taken last year at a corporate event.”
I had a hard time being calm. “When exactly was this photo taken?” With a tense voice, I asked.
David was unaware. “Well, roughly a year ago. It’s funny because Greg never discussed his personal life much. For the longest time, I believed he was unmarried. He introduced her as his wife when I later ran into them on the street.
After taking a deep breath, I handed the phone back to him. David continued to talk even though my ears were ringing.
He remarked, “They’re such a lovely couple,” Oh, and she once showed me a photo of you. “Who’s this beautiful woman?” I questioned her. ‘Oh, that’s our cleaning lady,’ she said.
My palms clenched around the glass in my grasp. Cleaning woman? Could this be a joke?
I smirked and put down the glass. “You must have lots of photos of them together.”
“Certainly! Another one from the same event is this one. My mind whirled. David gave me a worried expression. “Liliya, are you alright?”
I forced a smile onto my face and inhaled deeply. “I’m all right, sir. While you wait for Mr. Lambert, would you like a cup of coffee?
David grinned without realizing the storm that was building inside of me. “That would be fantastic. Thank you.
I returned to the kitchen on foot. Lambert, Mrs. My sister? What is happening here, exactly?
With my face composed and my heart racing, I made my way back to the living room. I gave David some coffee, and he sat clumsily on the couch, stirring it. He glanced up and smiled courteously at me.
“David,” I said in a composed yet forceful tone, “we need to talk.”
His grin wavered. “Yes, of course. What is it about?
I pointed to the picture on the mantel that was framed in silver. “Please do me a favor. Look view that photo more closely.”
After a moment of hesitation, he took up the frame. He inspected it, his brows knitted. “This… this is you,” he continued slowly, his voice beginning to sound confused.
David tightened his hold on the frame and blinked. “Hold on. “What are you saying?”
I leaned forward and folded my hands in my lap. “David, I’m not the cleaning lady. My name is Mrs. Lambert. Mrs. Lambert in real life.
His face turned white. As though it had scorched him, he returned the picture to the mantel. “I’m not sure I understand. I pondered. His lips opened and closed like a fish out of water as he trailed off.
I concluded for him, “You believed my sister, Allison, to be Mrs. Lambert.”
Still having trouble processing, he nodded. “She informed me… Greg identified her as his spouse. Even photos of the two of them together were shown to me by her. I had no idea. “I swear, I had no idea!”
I watched him writhe as I let the stillness linger for a while. “David, why did you come here today?” I finally said.
He paused, then let out a sigh. “I came to persuade Greg to give me his portion of the company. However, it’s not that simple.
“Complicated how?”
“Well, the share isn’t technically in Greg’s name,” David said, giving me a tense look. “Mrs. Lambert is the owner of it. Your name.
“And my sister forged my signature to block the sale?” With a harsh tone, I asked.
David’s gaze expanded. “Yes, she halted the sale, but I was unaware that it was fake. I believed you made the choice.
I concealed my rage with a bitter laugh. “It wasn’t. However, I appreciate you validating my suspicions.
It appeared as if David wanted to scuttle beneath the coffee table. “This makes me feel awful. I didn’t intend to involve you in any way. Had I known—”
“It’s fine,” I cut in, but there was a sharp edge to my voice. “You are not to blame for this. Let’s close the deal, though, since you’re here. What is your offer for Greg’s portion?
Startled by my abrupt change in tone, David blinked. “Uh, the original offer was quite substantial, but I’m willing to go higher if it means resolving this quickly.” My brain spun as he named a figure.
Despite my racing thoughts, I maintained a bland expression. “That’s okay. I will take care of the paperwork. Is it possible for your legal team to submit the paperwork before tomorrow?
David answered, “Yes, absolutely,” and nodded enthusiastically. “I’m grateful, Mrs. Lambert. I mean—”
I answered, “Don’t worry about it,” with a small smile. “Let’s just get this done.”
Greg stormed through the front door the following night, slamming it shut behind him. His jacket was flung over his arm, his tie was loose, and his face was flushed with rage.
He yelled, “What the hell did you do?!”
I was reading a book while seated on the couch. I hardly raised my gaze. “Hi, Greg. “Long day?”
He yelled, “Don’t play games with me!” and threw his jacket on a chair. “My portion of the company was sold by you! Are you even aware of your actions?
I placed the book on the coffee table after closing it. “Greg, I am well aware of what I have done. I’ve resolved your minor issue.”
He yelled, his face growing redder by the moment, “My problem?” “That share was not yours to sell! That’s my business and my future.
I got up and turned to face him. “Wrong. I was the owner of the stake. And I concluded it was time to take charge after learning what I did.
Greg’s bravado wavered. “What… what are you talking about?”
I said, “I’m talking about Allison,” in a chilly tone. “Your little ‘wife.’ Or did you think I wouldn’t find out?”
Greg’s mouth hung open as he froze. “Listen, I can explain—”
“No,” I interrupted him. “I’ve had enough of your excuses. A lawyer has already been consulted. I will be filing for divorce, in case you were wondering.
Greg was stunned. “Divorce? “Are you serious?”
I stated, “As serious as I’ve ever been,” in a composed yet authoritative tone. “I also deserve payment because you and Allison falsified my signature. The transaction has already been completed. By the end of the week, David will move the money into my account.”
Greg stumbled back and fell into a chair. “You’re not capable of doing this. I’m being ruined by you.”
I looked down at him while folding my arms. “No, Greg. You destroyed yourselves.
I left my lawyer’s office two weeks later with a signed divorce decree and a renewed sense of independence. The amount of the settlement was generous.
In addition to obtaining my just portion of Greg’s business sale proceeds, I also got a sizable payout for the fraud that was perpetrated in my name. Justice was done.
I severed my relationship with Allison and Greg. The legal threat was sufficient to destroy their meticulously crafted web of falsehoods, even though my lawyer made sure the fraud never went to court. As far as I knew, Greg’s relationship with Allison did not survive the consequences, and he lost his business.
I felt a mix of loss and rage as I mentally relived the betrayal for days. But as time went on, clarity replaced fury. They had assumed I trusted them, but their dishonesty had given me a power I was unaware I possessed.
I stood in my living room and looked at where Greg’s photo used to be. A plain vase of fresh flowers had taken its place. I grinned.
My narrative did not stop here. It was a fresh start. I would also write it according to my terms this time.
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