Effie studied the woman, brow furrowing. "Yes, I''m Effie. And you are...?"


    "Homewrecker! How dare you seduce my husband?" The woman''s hand shot up, aiming a p at Effie.


    Effie reacted instantly, catching the woman''s wrist in midair, her frown deepening. "Ma''am, I think you''ve got the wrong person."


    The woman red. "Aren''t you the prettiest girl in your office?"


    Effie was confident about her looks, but to say she was the absolute best-looking? That felt like a stretch.


    "Hah! That guilty look says it all!" the woman snapped.


    Suddenly, she shouted, her voice echoing down the hall. "Irving Butler! Get out here! Don''t you dare hide from me like a coward-I''ve found your little mistress!" Irving Butler?


    Effie arched a brow, starting to piece things together.


    "I''m not the one you''re looking for," she told Mrs. Butler calmly. "You''ve got the wrong woman."


    "That''s impossible. I already asked the receptionist, and she said you''re the prettiest one here." Mrs. Butler''s tone was full of certainty.


    Effie had to bite back augh. Sure, thanks for thepliment, she thought, but I really don''t need it right now.


    "Since when does being the prettiest mean you''re the seducer? Are you saying in-looking women can''t be cunning? Look at you-beautiful as you are, you still can''t keep him in line. Maybe your husband just has...unusual tastes." Effie shot back.


    Effie knew perfectly well that the real culprit was Nelly. She''d always expected Nelly''s affair with Irving Butler woulde to light someday, but she never imagined she''d end up as the main suspect.


    Still, her words seemed to hit home for Mrs. Butler; who doesn''t like being told they''re attractive? But Mrs. Butler wasn''t about to let herself be fooled so easily.


    She pressed on. "Where''s Irving Butler? I''m not leaving until I get an exnation!" Shirley, who was standing nearby, didn''t believe for a second that Effie would ever go after someone like Irving Butler. She knew exactly who Effie''s boyfriend was.


    Why would Effie dump a handsome, wealthy guy like Lyman for Irving Butler? What was the appeal-his age, hisck of hygiene, his empty wallet? Please. Shirley marched up to Irving Butler''s office, pounded on the door, and yelled, "Mr. Butler! Your wife''s here to see you. Mr. Butler!"


    Inside, Irving Butler and Nelly were in the middle of their tryst, lost in the heat of the moment. The pounding on the door shattered the mood instantly.


    Nelly shot Irving a look-equal parts frustrated and disgusted.


    He''s too old for this, she thought. Barely any stamina left. If it weren''t for his usefulness, she wouldn''t bother with him at all.


    Shirley''s voice rang out again. "Mr. Butler, your wife is here! She''s looking for you!"


    Panic shed across Irving''s face. He shoved Nelly away in a hurry. "Hide! Now!" he hissed through gritted teeth.


    Nelly straightened her clothes while frantically looking for a ce to hide.


    Irving Butler yanked open the door and stepped out just in time to see Mrs. Butler storming down the hallway toward him. Her eyes narrowed, scanning him from head to toe, searching for any sign of guilt.


    Then she spotted it—a lipstick stain on his cor.


    "Lowlife!" she snapped, pping him hard across the face.


    For a moment, Irving was stunned. Then his eyes darkened with rage.


    This was hispany-how dare she make a scene and humiliate him here?


    "Get out of here, you crazy woman! Go home!" he snapped, voice cold and sharp.


    He looked ready to explode, and Mrs. Butler froze, too startled to move.


    Before things could escte, Effie darted over and pulled Mrs. Butler out of harm''s way.