My workday was hard. I could not concentrate. My brain was struggling with my infidelity and what I was going to do about it. It was a double-edged sword. My body craved James, and my heart and mind were devoted to Terrance. I knew I could not have it both ways. I had been lucky not to have been discovered so far. I knew I had to end things with James Tonight.
Terrance and the boys are closing a deal today that would put them on the map and financially free us all. The firm was growing, and the money was starting to pour in. After all the years of struggling, we were about to be set for life. And what was I doing, fucking another man, cheating on my husband, who I loved with all my heart? There was not one thing about Terrance that I did not love, and now our time could be devoted entirely to each other. We could have babies and build the family we both want.
I picked up my phone and sent a text.
My text: "Tonight will be short, no sex, just a quick goodbye. I will be there at 7:00 p.m. Meet me in the bar."
A few minutes passed with no response, and then it came.
James's text: "Then don't even come. We are done. No goodbye. It is over. Goodbye!"
Oh my, James was upset.
I considered how to handle this mess that I had allowed to happen. I decided to see James anyway but did not respond to his text or tell him I was coming.
It was almost 3:30 p.m. and time for my monthly training Zoom. I was prepared and ready for the next hour to take over my brain. I logged in, and the team was prepared for my words of wisdom.
We signed off at 4:30 p.m. I wrote and sent the follow-up email, including ten talking points from my notes. By the time I finished the email, I had time to work on some proposals before I left.
I finished at 6:15 p.m., and I was ready to go. My nerves were on edge, my pussy was wet, causing great indecision. As I was about to leave, I received a call from an unfamiliar number. I answered. It was James who was giving me the room number, and then he just hung up.
That messed me up. Here it was, an open invitation. But I had made up my mind that I was going to the Book Club. Now, I was confused and wondered what I needed to do. Did I need to see James? I did know that if I did go to see James, this night was the last time I would ever see him, and there would be no sex. I was being polite and saying goodbye to him in person. I prayed he would accept my decision, as he had said he would. I was concerned, though, after our several texts, ending with a rather nasty tone in his last text.
I packed up my laptop and cleared my desk. I walked out to the red BMW convertible Terry had bought me for my last birthday. It was my baby. I sat inside and took a deep breath. As I thought, I made a snap decision. I was not going to meet James. It was over, and I just needed to let it go.
I pulled out and drove toward home. As I did, I received another text; it was James.
James's text: "Come to me baby, I want you so bad, and I know you want me, like old times."
God, James was not playing fair. He knows he can control me. I pulled over and thought about tonight. No, Damnit, I was going to the Book Club, so I drove home.
When I arrived home, I washed my face and freshened my makeup. I drank a glass of wine, which strengthened my resolve. I got back in my car and headed to Melissa's house for Book Club, but after fifteen minutes, I found myself turning into the Downtown Marriott on Peachtree.
What the fuck was I thinking?
I texted Melissa, telling her I was not coming tonight and that we needed to meet for coffee next week.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I parked in the garage, stepped out of my car, took a deep breath, and put my phone in my bag. I nervously walked through the tunnel into the lobby to the bar. I sat on my usual bar stool, and Bernie, the barman, came to me. "Hi, the usual ma'am. Is your friend coming?
"Yes, thank you for the drink, and no, I am meeting him upstairs after my drink."
As I waited for my martini, my breathing grew short, and my nerves were shot. Bernie slipped the drink before me, and I sipped my martini. I thought I was losing it. I had to get this fling over tonight and go home, so I took out my phone and called James.
It rang several times, then came, "What the fuck do you want?" James barked.
I was taken aback and almost hung up, but the sound of his voice, even as nasty as he was, gripped me.
"James, I want to end this right and see you to say goodbye."
There was a pause. "Where are you?" James snapped.
"In the bar downstairs. Come down here, please."
There was another pause. "No, if you want to see me, come to my room," James demanded gruffly.
"James, don't be like this. You knew we had to end this, and you said you were OK with that, so we have to end it today!"
Silence, then, "Come to my room 625."
"James, if I come up there, we are not doing anything. It is to say goodbye properly, nothing more!"
The phone went dead. Damnit, James hung up on me.
I finished my martini and signed the tab to James' room.
I slipped off the stool and walked to the elevator. I was nervous as a cat. I pressed six and took a deep breath. The ride up was swift, and the door opened. I stepped out and walked down the hall to room 625.
As I stood at the door, I was ready to pee my panties. I was afraid to enter James's room. I knew he could easily seduce me, and I could soon be on my back with his big cock buried in my cunt. That was not all bad, but it would undoubtedly end my marriage if I let that happen tonight. I would never be able to stand up to James again.
I took a deep breath and knocked on the door. I had changed into jeans and a shirt at home, so I was less accessible. I waited. I knocked again. The door opened, and James was standing there naked, without a stitch of clothes on. He was smiling. His cock was hard, pointing straight at me. James was playing dirty. I should have expected something like this.
It angered me, and I stepped back two steps. "I am not coming inside unless you dress. Otherwise, I am leaving, and this is our final goodbye. I turned, making the painful move away from James' incredible body and cock.
I took three steps before James said, "I'm sorry. I was playing with you. Wait a minute, and I will dress." The door closed, and I stood in the hall waiting.
A few minutes passed, and the door opened. James was dressed in jeans and a polo shirt. "Patrice, please come in," James said as he stepped back, opening the door for me.
As I stepped in, I said, "James, no touching, understand!"
The door closed, and he walked over to the loveseat and sat down. I moved the desk chair out across from him and sat. We looked at each other. My heart was pounding in my chest. My mouth was dry, and my hands were trembling.
I knew that if James made one move on me that I would be naked in seconds and well fucked only minutes after that. My body wanted that badly, but my heart and mind did not. I was here to end this mess, which I would do.
"James, hear me out, then you can say whatever you want. I have enjoyed our sex and the nastiness of it, but I am slowly destroying my marriage to the man I love and the father of my future babies. I cannot do that, and you do not want to be the man who gets between Terrance and me. He would find a way to make your life a living hell. Not physically, but using every legal tool in his arsenal, he would destroy you, and I cannot allow that to happen. I would lose the two men to whom I am closest. The man I love and my old lover that I love to fuck. So, this is the end of us forever. James, it would be best if you went back to your wife. Love her as hard as you love me. Yes, I know you love me, which is one of the hard parts. I do not love you and never could. I only lust for you. When I am not with you, I have no feelings. I do not miss you. But once I am in your presence, you have this hold on me that I cannot explain. Even now, I am fighting with every fiber in my body against your animal appeal. So let us end this like mature adults and say goodbye forever."
I stopped and looked at James. He was hurt by my admission that I did not love him and had no real feelings for him other than lust. His face was sad, but some resolve was also showing.
James said nothing for several minutes. I was feeling proud of myself. Then, I suddenly realized that I no longer felt James' pull on me. I was free of James, and it felt so good.
I stood as James spoke, "Please give me a minute."
I sat back down and listened to James tell me that he had always loved me since the first time we were together. He had always hoped that someday we could be together and be married. When we reconnected, he thought destiny brought us back together. I felt sorry for James and understood why he was so nasty today.
James finished, and I stood. There were tears in my eyes. I knew I would never see James again. James stood, and we came together in the middle of the room. I looked up at him, stroking his face. I kissed him lightly on the lips and moved away back toward the door.
As I opened the door, I looked back and said, "James, go home tomorrow and never look back. You have a beautiful life ahead of you. Live it well, as I plan to live mine. Goodbye."
I quickly went out the door, running to the elevator as tears began streaming down my cheeks. I wiped them on my sleeves, soaking them. When I looked back down the hall, James had not followed me. Thank God!
The elevator stopped in the lobby. As the door opened, I stood straight, took a deep breath, and quickly walked out the front and into the parking garage. I stood by my car as my mind cleared. The last two minutes flashed through my head, and a sudden fear gripped me. "Oh God," I gasped.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was just before 7:45 p.m. I was sitting in my chair sipping a glass of McKellan twenty-five-year-old scotch. This was a bottle of scotch that I had purchased with money from the very first paycheck I received from our firm. I planned to keep it until we made it. So today, we accomplished that, and each sip tasted especially good but not as sweet as it would have been if my wife were with me and not with her lover.
Yes, I knew about Patrice's affair, as long or short as it might have been going on. I knew of the man, Mr. James Conley, Nashville, TN. A married gentleman with two tiny babies and a beautiful wife. I knew all this because Trevor, my investigator, is outstanding and gave me a complete dossier on Mr. Conley. There are a few missing pieces to the puzzle that I need to fill in, but I will do that when I talk with Patrice.
Of course, the biggest one is how Patrice knows him. Then there are her feelings for him, and most importantly, does she love him? Then, the final but essential question: WHY? Yes, why in God's name is she having this affair at all? Then, I will have to ask her what she thinks I should do with this information.
If you have not already deduced this, I am very pragmatic. I am a thinker and plodder who always works out a plan. That is why I am a God Damn great attorney.
Now, as for me. I have to think of many things here. What do I know? Well, I love my wife more than anything in the world. She is my partner, but I do not own her. I respect her or did until today, so my feelings going forward are yet to be seen. Secondly, I want to stay married to Patrice and build a family with her if that is what Patrice wants, and she can commit entirely to those feelings. Thirdly, I want to be able to forgive her for her infidelity and be able to trust her in the future. So, she must be able to practically explain what has happened, how it happened when it has happened, and most importantly, WHY it has happened!
As a practical man, I want to know these answers immediately so we can lay this to rest, buried in a deep grave, or flaunted out for all to see. Either way, I can move on with my life.
Tonight, and tomorrow are celebration days. Tonight is for Patrice and me, and tomorrow is for the hard-working firm family. I will not destroy these two days and nights, as everyone deserves these rewards for their hard work, tolerance, and love given and received over the six years that we have trudged through the legal muck to reach where we are today successfully.
So, as I hear the garage door open and close, knowing Patrice has arrived home, I will welcome her with open, loving arms. I will treat her like my queen, wine, dine with her, and then make love to her tonight. I know she has not been in bed with her lover tonight as she had been on many Thursday nights for several months.
I know Patrice. She cannot lie to me, so extracting the truth from her will take a straightforward question. That will all be dealt with in its own time.
The mudroom door to the garage opened. Patrice came in, not calling out as usual. I wonder if she thinks I know anything. Trevor told me Patrice may have seen him in the Marriott lobby, but he wasn't sure.
I sat quietly, sipping my scotch. My silence added an edge to the moment. After a minute or so, I called out to her. "Patti, I'm in here!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I walked in from the garage. The house was quiet. I was unsure what I expected. I had seen Trevor, Terry's investigator, at the Marriott. I don't know why he was there, but he could have been looking for me. That scared me. Did Terrance know about James and my affair? Oh God, please, not!
Finally, as I moved into the kitchen, I heard, "Patti, I am in here."
My heart leaped. "Hi baby, how did it go? Are we rich?" I yelled as I dropped my bags and swiftly moved to the den. I stopped at the door and leaned on the jamb. Terry was sitting in his chair, still dressed in his business suit, looking regal. He smiled at me, and my confidence increased.
I smiled, so maybe he didn't know, and Trevor may not have seen me.
"So, are you going to tell me?" I begged.
"Come sit and have a nice glass of wine. We only have a few minutes, and Uber will be here. We have a reservation at Petite Violette at 8:30 p.m. I was afraid you were going to be too late. I have been waiting. Where have you been?"
I walked in and sat on the loveseat. Terry had poured me a glass of wine.
I thought it was odd that Terry did not get up and kiss me. He seemed a little distant. I hoped it was because I was so late.
Terry pressed me, "So why were you so late?"
"Sorry, I had some time after my Zoom call, so I was working on two big proposals, and the time got away from me." My God, I had just lied to my husband. What was happening to me? I had never lied to him before, ever.
I looked at Terry and saw an odd look on his face. God, he knows that was a lie. Trevor did see me, so what did Terry know? Suddenly, I was overcome with fear and confusion. My face flushed a bright pink, making me hot, and I began to sweat. I had a tough time breathing. Panic almost set in.
Terrance said, "Baby, are you OK? Your face looks flushed all of a sudden. Do you feel OK?"
I snapped back to the moment and looked at him, smiling. "Yes, I am OK. I don't know what it was, like a random hot flash or something. I am fine!"
"So, Terry, how did it go? I saw your text. Good, right?" I played in trying to change the focus.
"Well, let's just say that the last 2,000-plus days of struggling and fighting to build something we could be proud of are over. We have succeeded. We closed the merger and signed the lead counsel agreement for three years, probably for life. We aren't rich yet, but we will surely be."
Terry's voice was all business, not full of joy as it should have been. That concerned me.
"Oh baby, I am so proud of you, all three of you, but you especially for leading the team. I love you so much." I looked in Terry's eyes, and there was no joy. Oh God, I was caught. I was dead, and our marriage was over! 'Dear God, No!!' I screamed in my head. What a stupid fool I was.
It took everything I had inside me not to fall to the floor, groveling at his feet and begging for Terrance's forgiveness. I knew that time would come, but tonight I had to hold it together, be the strong woman I was, and make it through tonight and tomorrow, as cold as Terrance might be. Then I can tell of my betrayal and cheating over the past three months and accept what punishment I am delivered. I pray to God that Terrance will not throw me away. I deserved that, but please, God, do not let that happen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I knew Patrice was confused, and my lack of happiness concerned her. I could see it in her face and actions. A lot was going on in her head. If she had seen Trevor, she would have been trying to figure out why he was there. Was he there about her, and if so, did I know about James and her?
I was going to do nothing to ease her concern or fear. I would treat her as I usually would, and after these early moments, I would put on the charm and play the part of the happy husband through tomorrow. We would see what happened. I am sure I will find ways to place doubt in Patrice's head, so she will inevitably have no choice but to tell me everything and beg my forgiveness.
I know Patrice will be sweating as her mind goes wild with fear. Then when I fuck her tonight, and yes, I will not make love to her, I will fuck her like I am sure that James did. She will then know, I know, and she will have to deal with it. I will say nothing, and Patrice will have no idea what I will do or when I will do it. Fear will consume her, and she will be compelled to tell me all of it!
Uber would be here soon, so I said, "Patti, you should go now and get dressed." I laid out the new dress and things I purchased for you to wear tonight, so hurry off now and change, then return to me even more beautiful. I smiled and stood, pulling her to me. I held her tight and kissed her hard.
Patti looked at me with a curious look on her face. I had confused her even more. Good, my act was starting to work. I stood, reached out, pulled her to me, and kissed her hard. As Patti turned away, I popped her lightly on her sweet ass. She looked back and smiled. I was really working on her.
I poured another splash of Mckellan and sat waiting for my beautiful wife. My phone buzzed with a text from Trevor.
Trevor's text: "It looks like Mr. Conley has checked out, heading back to Nashville. I have a guy there working on a complete workup of James and his family. My further talk with Bernie was quite interesting. James has only started coming to town the nights he sees Patti. That is odd. It makes me wonder if James has business here or if he comes here only to see Patti and lies to her about being here for business. We will check out his job and everything. It will take a day or two, but we should have it all by Tuesday.
My text: "Good job, stay on him. I want to know everything, and I need pictures of him and his family together, his wife and kids, if you can get them, maybe at the park.
It was 8:27 p.m. I called up the stairs, "Patrice, the Uber is going to be here in a minute, so hurry, baby, we need to go."
I heard a muffled answer, then scrambling, as Patrice came to the top of the stairs. I looked up and gasped. My God, she looked incredible. How did I ever catch this beautiful creature? I could see why James wanted her, but she was mine, and he would learn that soon.
Patrice gracefully stepped down each step, one foot in front of the other as if she were modeling for me, showing her long silk-covered legs as they disappeared under the dark blue Satin dress. The dress helm slipped up her thighs, showing the tops of her silk stockings inches from her black lacey thong. The new spiked heels made her legs look even longer. I took a deep breath as Patrice stepped off the bottom step.
Patti smiled, “Trevor, the dress and lingerie are beautiful, thank you.”
I pulled Patrice to me for a kiss. She pushed against my chest, "No, you are not messing up my makeup, mister!" Then her hand cupped the growing bulge in my trousers. "This boy has to wait till later, and he had better be good tonight or else!"
Patrice was feeling it now. Her trepidations had lessened. So, it was game on. I knew we were in for an incredible night.
I picked up the matching black lace shawl I had purchased, wrapped it around her shoulders, opened the front door, and bowed. "Your coach awaits my Queen!"
Patrice looked at me and smiled. I am sure I am confusing her with my changing mood swings. That is on purpose to keep her off base until later tonight, when she has her first opportunity to confess her affair.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I wasn't sure how to take Terrance. He was being nice, but the look in his eyes and some of his words confused me. I was not sure if he knew about James or not. Maybe Trevor was at the hotel for another reason or on a personal matter. I was unsure of everything.
Then Terrance told me he had purchased me new clothes for tonight and that I should change into them. That was sweet, and when I got up to leave, Terry kissed me hard. It was a great kiss, but it confused me even more.
I was overwhelmed when I got to our bedroom and saw the beautiful dress, lingerie, stockings, and Versace stilettos. I welled up tears; how could I have been so selfish and uncaring to cheat on this remarkable man? I choked back the tears and quickly went to wash my face.
I looked at myself in the mirror seriously for the first time as a cheating wife. I had to look away as the person I saw in the mirror was not me but a cheating slut that had betrayed her loving husband. I looked back and swallowed hard. I had to confess what I had done to Terrence, but how could I tell him? How could I expect him to forgive me?
Oh God, I was so screwed. My beautiful life is over. Tears of sadness rolled down my cheeks. I was lost. I had to make the best of tonight. It may be the last one for us.
I cleaned and painted my face, fussed with my hair, putting it up off my neck the way Terry liked it. I hoped his sweet kisses would find the soft skin there and thrill me.
I finished my makeup, dressed, feeling incredibly sexy as I slipped on the almost nothing lingerie. As I rolled the silk stockings up my long legs, a shiver ran through me, and my pussy pulsed as I slicked my hands up and my fingers lightly touched the bare skin above.
I cupped my lace-covered pussy and squeezed. Terrance was in my mind as I felt a slight dampness in my thong. God, I was suddenly so horny for Terry.
I heard him call for me, so I quickly slipped on the dress and new stilettos and hurried to the top of the stairs. Standing at the bottom was Terrance, looking so handsome and hot. I slowly made my way down the stairs, teasing him with each step as my skirt slipped up, revealing my bare thighs and maybe my wet thong. Terry's eyes were riveted on me, following me down.
As I stepped off the bottom step, Terry pulled me to him for a kiss. I repelled him, pressing against his chest and teasing him. Then I cupped the bulge in his trousers, squeezing his cock, and teased him about his performance later tonight.
My face showed an evil smile, and Terry moved away with a hurt look. He opened the door and once again confounded me. He bowed, saying, "Your coach awaits my Queen!"
Oh my, who was this man? I was so confused. He was treating me like a Queen, with new clothes, a beautiful night out, and, I am sure, a fantastic night in bed later. But how could he be this way if he knows? Or maybe this was my guilt coming through, knowing I didn't deserve any of this. I was a cheating slut that had betrayed my husband while he was working so hard, building a fantastic future for us. 'Oh God, have mercy on me. Please help me through this mess I have created. I will be your servant forever.' I prayed as I walked down the walkway to Uber's open door.
We arrived at the best French restaurant in Atlanta and were welcomed in by the elegant hostess. The Maître d escorted us back to a private room with a table set for two. It was so elegant. I was taken aback as we entered. There were a dozen long-stem red roses in a beautiful vase on the table and an iced bottle of Cristol Champagne; both were my favorites. As the Maître d seated me, I saw the small velvet box on the plate before me.
I looked up at Terrance as he sat across the table. My eyes welled up with tears from happiness and sadness, and my heart fluttered and ached at the same time. I quickly became a basket case. I had to pull it together.
I could not speak. I just looked at Terrance as tears rolled down my cheeks.
I looked down away from Terrance's gaze, seeing the box again. I felt sick. I didn't deserve any of this. I should be thrown out on the street, not being lavished with a beautiful night out and receiving a gift.
I sat looking at the box, then back up to Terrance. He had a sweet smile on his face as the first glass of Cristol was poured.
I was so confused, and guilt was wrapped around me like a blanket. I didn't know what to do or say.
Then Terrance lofted his glass as in a toast…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We arrived at the restaurant, and Henri, the Maître d, ushered us to a small private dining room for two. A dozen red roses, her favorites, and a bottle of Cristol Champagne were waiting on the table.
Patrice was impressed. She turned and kissed me, "You are my man!"
Henri seated Patrice, and she saw the velvet box on the plate before her. Suddenly, tears appeared, and she was perplexed. I could see that her guilt and confusion had made her nervous and uncomfortable. That was good. I pressed on.
Once we were seated, the Cristol was poured. I looked at Patrice, and there were tears in her eyes. She was conflicted by all of this, so I wanted to confound her even more. I lifted my glass and smiled. "To you, Patrice, the love of my life. You deserve more than I have given you for all your sacrifices, the late nights, and my absences. That is all over now, and we will be one again. I love you for your complete loyalty to us and me. I know it has been challenging. It will never be like that again."
I used the loyalty reference pretty heavily. Patrice's look was a mix of fear and confusion. I had indeed hit a raw nerve, adding to her discomfort. A few more tears rolled down her cheeks. "Baby, why are you crying? I thought you would be happy." I had Patrice completely off balance now. She didn't know if I was happy and praising her for being a loving, supportive wife or scolding her for being a cheating slut.