I Kissed My Husband Goodbye Before His Business Trip — Just Hours Later, I Saw Him with Another Woman in a Restaurant

Marina carefully folded the last shirt and placed it in Alexey’s suitcase. After years of marriage, packing for his business trips had become a quiet ritual — something she did with care and love.

“Don’t forget your laptop charger,” she reminded him while zipping the bag shut.

Alexey checked his watch, clearly nervous.

“Thanks, honey. I’ve got to go. The taxi’s already here.”

He kissed her quickly on the cheek, grabbed his suitcase, and rushed to the door.

“Call me when you get there!” Marina called out.

“I will!” he shouted just as the door slammed shut.

Marina went to the window and watched the car drive away. His rushed goodbye felt odd — he was usually warmer and more affectionate when leaving. She tried to shake off the unease: maybe he was just anxious about an upcoming meeting.

The apartment felt instantly cold and empty. To distract herself, Marina decided to visit the Meridian Mall and finally pick up some things she had been meaning to buy.

A few hours later, with shopping bags in hand, she walked around the mall. She had planned to have lunch at her favorite café on the third floor, but her phone rang — a coworker suggested they meet at the Almond restaurant on the second floor to try the new menu.

Marina agreed. The restaurant was nearby, and she liked the atmosphere, even though she didn’t go often.

As she reached the second floor and glanced through the large glass windows of the restaurant, she froze.

There, seated by the window, was Alexey.

And across from him sat a young woman Marina had never seen before. They were talking animatedly, leaning close to each other. The woman smiled and lightly touched his hand. In Alexey’s eyes, Marina saw an expression she hadn’t seen in years.

Time stopped.

Her heart raced, her vision blurred.

Her husband — the man who was supposed to be on a plane to Novosibirsk — was casually having lunch with another woman.

Her first instinct was to storm in and confront him. But something held her back — pride, maybe fear. Taking a deep breath, she slowly turned and walked away.

With trembling fingers, she canceled her lunch plans and called her best friend.

“Lena, can you meet me? Right now,” she said, her voice shaking.

“What’s going on?” Lena asked, alarmed.

“I just saw Alexey with another woman. He was supposed to be on the plane.”

“Where are you?”

“At Meridian Mall.”

“Wait for me at Aquarelle Café on the first floor. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”

Marina sat in a corner, stirring her iced tea without thinking. Her mind raced with questions: Who was that woman? How long had this been going on? Had Alexey ever really gone on those trips? The late-night calls, the overtime, the new phone password…

“Marina!” Lena’s voice pulled her out of her thoughts.

Lena sat down across from her and squeezed her hand.

“Tell me everything.”

Marina recounted what had happened, trying to stay calm.

“I don’t know what to do, Lena. Part of me doesn’t even want to know the truth.”

“What if it’s not what it looks like? Maybe there’s an explanation.”

Marina gave a bitter smile.

“What kind of explanation fits a man who lies about a business trip and has lunch with another woman?”

“I don’t know,” Lena admitted. “But before you jump to conclusions, maybe you should find out more.”

“And how do I do that? Just ask him?”

Lena paused.

“What if we follow him? See where he goes.”

The idea of following her own husband was humiliating, but the uncertainty was worse. Marina nodded.

They hid in a bookstore across from the restaurant, watching. About forty minutes later, Alexey and the woman emerged. She was a graceful brunette in her thirties with a flawless figure.

“They’re leaving,” Lena whispered.

Keeping a safe distance, they followed. Outside, the woman got into a taxi. Alexey helped her in, shook her hand briefly, and the taxi drove off. He stayed in the parking lot, made a call, and then took another cab.

“Let’s follow him,” Marina said.

They trailed his taxi all the way to Aquamarine Mall, where his company’s office was located. Inside, he spoke briefly with the receptionist, looking tense, and disappeared into the director’s office.

“Maybe the trip was canceled last minute,” Lena suggested.

“Then who was that woman? And why didn’t he call me?”

They waited. Thirty minutes later, Alexey walked out with a folder and exited the building. Marina and Lena ducked behind a pillar, then hurried to get their own taxi.

“Take us home,” Marina told the driver. And the driver guessed correctly: Alexey’s taxi had just dropped him off at their building.

Marina let Lena go and went inside.

She found Alexey in the kitchen, staring at his laptop.

“Darling! You’re home already?” he said, surprised.

“As you can see,” she replied coldly. “Aren’t you supposed to be on a plane?”

He stiffened.

“The trip was canceled last minute. I was going to call, but things got crazy.”

“Too crazy to send even a text?”

“I’m sorry,” he said, lowering his eyes.

Marina sat across from him.

“Who was the woman, Alexey?”

“Who?”

“The one you had lunch with at Almond.”

He paled.

“Were you following me?”

“No. I just happened to see you.”

The silence grew heavy. Then finally he spoke.

“It’s not what you think.”

“What am I supposed to think? You said you were flying, and you were having lunch with another woman.”

“Her name is Anna Viktorovna. She represents German investors.”

“And that’s why you lied?”

“I didn’t lie. The trip was canceled while I was at the airport. My boss called — an investor was in town, and I had to meet her.”

“Why didn’t you just tell me?”

He hesitated.

“Because… it wasn’t a typical meeting.”

“I knew it.”

“No, it’s not like that! My boss said if I could get her to agree to special conditions, I’d be promoted to Commercial Director.”

“And still, you couldn’t send a message?”

“I wanted to surprise you if it worked. If it didn’t, why get you worried?”

“Did it work?” Marina asked.

Alexey nodded, annoyed.

“Yes. She signed a preliminary deal. The main delegation is coming next month.”

She still didn’t look convinced. He opened the folder: inside was the agreement signed by Anna Viktoria Müller. Then he pulled out a velvet box. Inside was the sapphire necklace Marina had admired recently.

“I bought it last week. I was going to give it to you tonight — along with the news.”

Her anger softened, but one question remained.

“Why did you look so happy with her?”

“She agreed to our terms. That was relief. Nothing else.”

He squeezed her hand.

“You’re the only woman in my life. My business trips are real.”

She wanted to believe him.

“Can I ask a few more questions?”

“Of course.”

“What did you eat?”

“She had house salad and steak with truffle sauce. I had fish.”

“What did you talk about?”

“Russian culture. She loves ballet.”

His answers were natural. The tension eased. They ordered pizza, poured wine, and slowly, the evening began to feel normal again.

While Alexey showered, Marina checked his phone. The password was still their wedding date. Nothing suspicious. She even saw the call from his boss that morning.

Hearing Alexey humming his favorite tune in the shower, she realized the real issue might be routine — they had stopped surprising each other.

The next morning, she got up early, made breakfast, and kissed him awake.

“I have a surprise,” she whispered. “I took the day off — and you should too.”

“What for?” he mumbled, half-asleep.

“A little business trip. Just the two of us. No phones.”

She handed him two train tickets to the countryside resort where they’d spent their first anniversary.

He beamed.

“I love you, you know?”

“I love you too. And I don’t want to check your phone anymore.”

“So you did spy on me!” he laughed.

She tossed a pillow at him, laughing too.

Sometimes, she thought, you just have to trust — and sometimes, you have to take the first step to bring the spark back.

A week later, Marina found a postcard in the mailbox from Cologne:

Dear Marina,

Your husband spoke of you with such warmth during our meeting. The chocolate he chose is a specialty from our family’s factory. I hope you enjoy it.

Sincerely,
Anna Müller

Next to it was an elegant box of chocolates. Marina smiled and set it aside. Alexey would be home soon. She had to pack his suitcase again — tomorrow’s trip was real. And once again, she would help him.