by Willow Rose
Victor came out a second later. “Sweetie,” he said to Annie. “You’re all pale. Are you all right?”
“I…I…” she stuttered.
“You heard it? Well, don’t worry. She found out about the boy not being mine. She wanted me to divorce you, but I would never do that.”
Annie looked into Victor’s eyes. It was hard to breathe. “But…but does that mean we have to be poor now, Victor?”
Victor laughed. “Yes. For a little while. They own the company; you know that. I was supposed to take over eventually, but we don’t need that. I’ll get another job. I’ll start my own company.”
“But…but the house? I love our house.”
“I do too. But we’ll get another one. I’ll work hard to keep my baby happy. Don’t worry, my love. We have each other and that’s all I need.”
Then he leaned over and kissed her, flashing his crooked teeth. She was repulsed by his breath.
“Our love is all we need,” he said.
She wasn’t so sure it was enough.
Chapter Forty-Three
January 2015
Steven Williams! Steven freaking Williams! Of all people. Her boss. Arianna’s boss. She had worked at an advertising agency after the twins had started preschool. She had enjoyed getting out of the condo and talking to grown up people, she had told me. I thought it had been good for her. I thought it had been a good idea, a way to get over her growing depression and sense of meaninglessness in her life. She needed to work; she had always worked, even before I met her, and needed it, I told myself. Needed a sense of purpose, a reason to get out of bed in the morning, a way to stay busy.
And then it turned out she had just been screwing around behind my back? I couldn’t believe it. Here I had been busy making excuses for her, telling people she couldn’t help herself, defending her, telling them she was sick and needed to get away to overcome this depression.
I couldn’t sleep at all that night, and the following day I called the station and told them I would be late. I had no idea where I was going, but suddenly, I found myself parking the Jeep outside the agency’s office. I sat in the car for maybe an hour, just staring at the building, feeling the anger rise in me, but still restraining myself from going in. I had no idea how I would react if I did.
Suddenly, I spotted Steven Williams in the parking lot. He had just walked out of the building, flanked by two other suit-wearing men with perfect hair. I watched them while they spoke, all carrying briefcases.
“What the heck did you see in this guy, Arianna?” I asked myself. Was it just the fact that he was everything I’m not? Was it because he had a stable life, a desk-job with no danger, good income, wore a tie to work, didn’t have a crumple in his pants, not a spot on his shirt? Was that why? Or was it the excitement? Did she love him? Or was it just sex?
“Goddammit, Arianna. Why would you do this to your family? Didn’t you know how much we loved you?”
I felt tears of anger press behind my eyes, thinking about all the wonderful weekends we spent together on the beach playing in the sand, throwing the Frisbee, flying kites, and picnicking in the sand. All the while, she was seeing this guy behind my back. I knew it was self-torture, but I couldn’t stop wondering. Where had they done it? At his house? No, he probably wasn’t stupid enough to risk that. Had they taken a room at a motel?
While thinking about it, the demon of anger got the better of me. I simply couldn’t just stay in my car. I got out and stormed across the street without even looking for cars. Steven Williams was laughing and chatting with his business partners, playing the big guy, when his smirk suddenly froze as he spotted me coming towards him. I wanted to draw my gun, but knew that would be a reason for suspension, so instead I simply approached him, raised my fist, and planted it in his face.
“You bastard!” I yelled, and stood over him, ready to punch again.
My punch had split his lip and he was bleeding.
“Was it good, huh? Did you enjoy fucking my wife?”
Steven Williams stared at me and at my fist, terrified I would hit him again. But I’d never hit a man who was lying down.
“Just tell me you at least loved her,” I said, and stared into his face to see if I could detect any kind of emotion besides fear.
But there was none. He had never loved Arianna. He had used her.
“Where did you do it, huh? Did you take her to a motel, huh? Some sleazy place where you could pay per the hour?”
Steven Williams shook his head.
“Then, where? Tell me. I want to know.” I lifted the fist higher and more threateningly in the air. Steven Williams whimpered.
“What was that? I didn’t hear you properly.”
“At yyyour place. We met at your apartment!”
End of Exceprt
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