Tuesday
“Rachel, there’s someone to see you.” The tall brunette peered down at the desk cluttered with files. A monitor showed a screen full of unread emails. The brunette gave her a smile. “You need a break from this.” She pointed at the front counter. “He said his name was Ryan Morgan.”
Rachel stopped breathing and her heart pounded in her chest. She wanted to stay in her cubicle, wanted to ignore the front counter and work on the schedule.
“Are you alright?”
Rachel stood, her hand pushing at the desk. “I’m fine. Just a headache.” She made her way to the counter and the grim face of Ryan. His smile looked forced at her approach. She stopped at the counter, took a deep a breath and tried to look at his eyes.
“We need to talk. Now.”
Her gaze dropped to his chest. “Please go. Leave me alone.”
“No, you’re not in any position to walk away from me. We can talk right here, or we can go for a coffee. But we will have a conversation. Now.”
Rachel turned to the watching faces at the desks near the counter. “I’ll be back soon.” She stepped around the counter, crossing her arms. When she reached the glass doors, she pushed one open and let it swing back at his approach. She jabbed at the elevator button.
“Don’t think for a minute this attitude is going to help you.” He hissed at her ear. “There’ll be consequences.”
The elevator doors opened, and she stepped inside, fighting back tears. “I know there’ll be consequences. But maybe not just for me. Maybe you’ll face some consequences too.”
He pressed a hand against her chest, pushing her to the corner of the car. “Don’t threaten me. I hold all the cards. Or in this case, the pictures.” He released her when the doors opened, and they walked to the cafeteria, sitting at a table near the corner of the pedestrian looking interior.
“You seem to forget that I’ve control over you. So far, I’ve only called you when you’re free of obligations to meet me. But that can change in a hurry.”
“This isn’t just about us. I owe it to Joseph to be faithful. I feel guilty about what I’ve done. Please, please, please. Forget about me and delete those pictures.”
He shook his head. “Not happening. This Saturday, you will learn a few lessons on obedience. Understood?”
She meekly nodded. “I hear exactly what you’re saying.” She met his gaze, not flinching this time.
Rachel returned to her workstation. She was glad the padded cubicle walls gave her some privacy. This time her headache was real, and she took out two pills from a bottle in her desk drawer. The brunette approached her again. “Can I help?”
Rachel’s hand shook as she tried to rest it on the keyboard. “No, but I’ll be okay.”
“You look awful. You shouldn’t be at work.” She rested a hand on her shoulder, causing her to jump.
A tear ran down as she tried to compose herself. Her lips parted, but words refused to form.
“Come with me. I’ll sign you out sick for the rest of the day. Can you drive? I can call you a cab if you like.”
“I, I can drive.”
Rachel tried to keep her composure as she reached the elevator, frowning when she saw others in the car. When she reached the lower parking level, she rushed to her Camry, locking herself in the vehicle, sobbing.
An hour passed before she felt strong enough to drive home. The empty house was comforting to her, and she poured herself a straight rum, staring at the walls in the living room. A second drink soon followed.
* * *
She jumped when she heard a door open and close. Joseph entered the room. He greeted her, “You beat me home.” He noticed the frozen expression on her face and the drink in her hand. “Is something wrong?”
She nodded. “Please sit down. I have something awful to tell you.”
He went to his easy chair, sitting stiffly, and watched as she put her drink on a corner table. Instead of sitting in another chair, she kneeled in front of him.
Tears rolled down her cheeks. “Please forgive me. I’ve been stupid, selfish, unfaithful and now have put us in an embarrassing situation.” She took a deep, shuddering breath. “I had an affair. I’m so sorry.” She looked up at him. His jaw was quivering, and his face was turning pale. “Please, can we work through this? I promise I’ll never cheat on you again.”
He stared at her with his breathing rapid. Rachel became alarmed he was going to have a heart attack. “Joseph?”
He finally nodded. “You want to stay with me?”
“Yes. I’ll do anything. Please forgive me.”
He leaned back his head and slowly exhaled. “Thank God.” He focused on her. “Of course, I forgive you. I don’t want to lose you. Just tell me the affair is over.”
“It is, but he has photos of me, and is threatening to show them. I don’t know what to do.”
“Who is he?”
Rachel looked at the floor. “Ryan.”
“That son-of-a-bitch. That fucking son-of-a-bitch.”
She looked up in surprise. She couldn’t remember the last time she had heard him swear. “Please don’t do anything. I just wanted you to be prepared if the photos show up.”
“You were naked in them?”
“Worse. He also had me tied up.”
His hands became fists. “I see. Does he want money for them?”
“No. He just wants me to continue to see him.”
“Okay. I’ll deal with him later. Right now, I think I’ll join you in a drink.”
She quickly got up. “I’ll get you one. Scotch?”
“Please.” He watched her hurry to the dining room, where they kept a small liquor cabinet. He wondered why she had an affair and with Ryan, of all people. He was curious if he forced her to be tied up, or if she liked it. I need to do more to please her. I won’t risk losing her again. As for Ryan, he is going to learn the hard way I’m no pushover when it comes to protecting my wife.