Ben and Melissa Ch. 02

Six years earlier:

Ben came home with a huge smile on his face. He walked up behind her while she was doing the dishes and pressed himself against her butt. "I Got good news. Wanna hear?"

She turned, put her arms around his neck, kissed him, and nodded. "Sure. What good news?" she said.

"You, dear heart, have a job!"

"You're kidding right?"

"No, I put out feelers, and three companies are willing to let you start immediately," he said. "You just have to choose which one you want to favor." He hugged her tight and she gasped for air.

"I love you," she finally said.

He handed her the three written job offers, and she sat at the table and leafed through them" A print supply company, and public relations firm, and a supermarket chain—well, she'd had experience with the latter.

"I will choose by tomorrow, she said. And, that had ended the discussion for that night.

******

The next morning, she could still recall, she'd gotten up and put the coffee on. She sat at the kitchen table; Ben was still in bed; it was Saturday. She'd wanted to do public relations for a long time, even before she had met Ben, even though she really didn't have a real grasp on what that the job would actually entail. She and Ben had talked about it. She knew that if she went that way she'd be dealing with people and even companies and her life would be on track once more after having had it messed up pretty good.

But, now six years later, Software Design had bought out her company, and she was working for S&D same as Jerry, and he apparently didn't even know it yet. But, she knew from working with Harold Miller, her companies CEO that the news was still under wraps, which explained his ignorance. Harold still needed to lay it on his employees, some of whom were be laid off.

If she kept the "new" job with Software Design, Jerry would be around all of the time. She wanted to see him but only as a friend, at least so she assured herself now. And yet, if Jerry was never going to pose a threat to her Ben; then, why hadn't she seen fit to tell Ben about him. She suddenly knew why: she was vulnerable. Jerry was the only man on earth capable of seducing her, and she was certain he would try. She would fight him off, but deep in her subconscious mind she was mortally afraid that she would fail.

Ben woke late, almost 10:00AM. He was in an amiable mood when he came down. "How now snookums," he said. "Got any news for me? You gonna stay with the new company?"

She felt giddy as she phrased her response. "Yes," she said.

"Fine," said Ben, "I will call and let Alex know today."

"Whose Alex?" said Melissa.

"Alex Harnett. He owns the company, S&D. We've done some legal work for him in the past, and I became good friends with him and his wife Karen over the years. He called me some months ago and let me know that he was opening a base here. He actually offered me a job. I turned him down of course; I like my current job, in fact I love my current job. It was because of us, Milford and Saxe, that he picked up your firm instead of somebody else."

Melissa looked at him and her mouth hung open for several seconds. "You mean it's because of you," she said getting it.

"Actually, it was because of Dirk Grimes. But, I will take credit for mentioning the idea to him."

"Geezsus!"

"Honey, you're not mad at me are you?" said Ben.

"No, no, I guess not. But, just how much influence do you have, may I ask," she said.

"I don't know. Alex and I are friends. If I give him a good idea he'll consider it, but he's got a company to think of. What's your point," said Ben.

"Ben there are thirty three employees in our company and as many as a third of them are in danger of being laid off. Could you do something about that?"

"Wow," he said without enthusiasm. "I guess I could try. No promises, the bottom line rules in most of these cases."

She nodded. The idea came to her that she might ask Jerry to help her with the situation too. She didn't yet know what he did for S&D, but if he were high enough up, maybe...

"I just feel bad, especially in this stinking job market, for my coworkers," she said. "Please, Ben, do what you can."

He took her in his arms and held her tight. You are a good woman," he said. "I love the heck outta yuh."

"I love you too, big guy," she said.

"Say let's go out tonight, I have something to celebrate, and I want you with me," he said.

They way he sprang it on her made her suspicious, but she nodded her agreement. "Sure. You can't tell me what it is, I take it," she said.

"Hmm, I could, but then I'd have to kill yuh!" he laughed uproariously.

******

Working with Jerry would be so exciting, but so potentially risky to her relationship with Ben. She had grown very fond of her good man. Did she want to risk everything for the sheer thrill of working with her sexy guy? In the end, she could not resist the chance to work with her girlhood squeeze. And then there were the other employees, all her friends, that she would be abandoning. She decided was going to stay with S&D.

Her interview with the S&D firm, went well. They offered her good money, the best she had ever been offered, and the people seemed nice. She was still a little shaky though given the fact that she would undoubtedly run into Jerry and that very soon. It turned out to be sooner than either of them expected.

She was coming out of her interview when he spotted her. "Melissa?"

"Jerry. I guess we will be working together," she said.

"You're working here? Here at S&D?" he managed to say.

"Yes, in public relations."

"My gawd! I love it. I gotta go. I have a meeting in three minutes, but we're doing lunch and you're gonna be doing a lot of explaining," he said, only half in jest.

She stood there sweating. She hadn't even been able to say yes or no. He just assumed she would go to lunch with him. This was not good. It was too soon. Too not within her ability to control. But, why was she worried; it was only lunch. Besides he hadn't said when, where, anything.

Jerry didn't show up for lunch that day, and she relaxed. She had a dinner or celebration or whatever to get ready for. She wondered what Ben was so excited about.

******

They'd arrived at seven. The Maitre 'D seated them in the middle of the room; she had no way of knowing, but Ben had arranged it that way. The restaurant was busy, and Ben wanted it that way too. He stood, walked around the table to her chair and knelt in front of her. He opened his hand and held it forth in front of her. The two carat ring he had purchased a few days before glistened in the light of the chandeliers.

"Will you marry me, Melissa? Will you be my wife?"

The look on her face was a mix of shock and happiness. The emotions she was dealing with completely overwhelmed her. Jerry was forgotten, everything was forgotten.

"My gawd yes!" she said. Half the place applauded.

They danced for hours and kissed endlessly, and swore undying love, and it was wonderful.

The wedding two weeks later was small and nice and in a nearby chapel. Friends from both of their firms were there including Dirk grimes and Alex Harnett. In the middle of the reception, both Dirk Grimes and Alex Harnett got up to make a toast, well, it was more an announcement.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, family, friends: Mr. Harnett and I would like to toast our favorite newlyweds," said Dirk Grimes. "May they live long and prosper and support and love each other every day of their lives." Everyone touched their glasses and sent up the expected chorus of here-here's and yeah-yeah's. Then it was Alex Harnett's turn.

And, I'd like to say a word to the bride, whose big heart has touched my own.

Melissa looked at him and knitted her brow. What was this about, she wondered. She looked at Ben, but he looked innocent.

"I would like you Melissa to pass the word to your coworkers at Hadley and Tudor that all of their jobs are safe. My gift to you on your wedding day."

Melissa jumped up, still in her wedding dress, ran to the front, almost tripping on the way, wrapped her arms around the CEO of the company where she was about to start the second stage of her career with and planted a huge kiss on his shocked lips. Everybody cheered. Ben joined her up front and they all stood for pictures and then settled in for the party.

Everything was hunky-dory. They honeymooned in Cancun at Mr. Grimes' expense. And then, they went home to live the lives of a married couple.

******

It wasn't until about a year after the wedding that chinks began to develop in the Marriage. I had no idea what was causing Melissa to be...something. I was only later that I discovered that Jerry had come home to roost, or more accurately to do rut.

******

Disaster struck on the fifteenth of the month a little over a year after our nuptials. I always had a meeting on the fifteenth; it was clearinghouse day for all of the cases we had completed the research for or had otherwise taken out of our hands—ours meaning the paralegals. Today's meeting had been cancelled.

I got home early. I parked in the driveway and keyed the front door loosening my tie and taking off my sports coat, all in one continuous motion. As I entered the living room and closed the door behind me. I heard laughter. It was coming from Melissa's old room, now the guest room, and the door, as usual was closed. At first I thought she was laughing into the phone. But, then I heard a male voice.

"How long do we have. Can we do it again?" asked the man.

"Yes, I guess so. It's still too early for Ben to be coming home. He always stays till after 4:00 on the fifteenth. You should know that by now," she said.

"Why do you stay with him? Why don't you move in with me?" said the male voice.

"Lover, I am still practically a newlywed, and he is my husband, and I love him?" said Melissa.

"Then why do you fuck me every fifteenth of the month?" he said.

"Because I love you; I love your cock. You do have a nice cock. You're longer than Ben," she said. Then they laughed again.

"Do you feel him inside of you after you've fucked me?" said the man.

"Yes, I guess. He's not that small. He's gentle with me; he's better than you in that way," she said.

They laughed again. "He's a wuss, and you're going to get it for that," he said.

"Promises, promises," she said. "And don't call him names; we've talked about that. Ben's a good guy; don't call him names."

"Okay, okay, but he's still wuss and not nearly enough for you regardless, or you wouldn't be banging me," said the man.

"Yeah, well maybe so, but I still don't want you bringing him up, okay. Now get busy and fuck my ass," I heard her say. That killed me; she had always denied me that particular item, and this really added insult to injury.

"Okay," he said. "And, remember this is for me only, no wusses allowed," and they both laughed.

"Ouch, go slower, big boy, that's my butt not my pussy," she said.

I was sick to my stomach and filled with anger and hurt to an almost unimaginable degree. But, I had been working in a law office far too long to engage in tantrums. I was not going to run in there helter-skelter and ruin my opportunities for revenge by tearing the asshole up and kicking my supposed loving wife out. No, this I had to plan for: I might be a de facto cuckold, but I was not going to be a willing cuckold. Not even. I left in a hurry. I got two blocks down the street and pulled into a taco-tia.

I called Rex, a best friend. Rex Coleman was a PI who worked for Adele Carter, one of our fellow members of the bar. Adele had worked with my Mr. Grimes on several cases and had loaned us Rex on as many occasions. He and I spent a lot of afterhours time hanging one on after a tough case, at least we had in the old days before Melissa and I had gotten ourselves married.

Adele Carter was a specialist. She handled divorce cases only, and only for the offended parties be they the husband or the wife. For my money she got the good guy award when it came to lawyers. The added benefit is that she was very, very good at what she did, and Rex was essentially her hired gun.

"Rex...yeah Ben...can you get over to the taco-tia by my place fast, like an hour ago...yeah it's important. My wife's cheating on me in my own house...yeah I fucking know it's only been a year...okay, I'll be waiting." I hung up. Seven minutes later Rex was there.

We headed over to the condo. I let us in as quietly as I could. We heard them inside still getting it on. He put a stethoscope like item up against the still closed door, and punched the button on the recorder. He handed me the camera and told me to go outside and take pics of all of the cars and their license plate numbers.

Five minutes later he met me behind a dumpster near my garage. "I got what we need for the moment, Ben. You want me to stick around for a while?"

"No. I got it. I want the asshole followed though. I want to know who he is and where he lives, the works."

"You got it. Whaddya you going to do? Nothing stupid I hope."

"No, I'm going to call her and tell her I'll be home in fifteen minutes. That'll breakup their little party and give him a chance to escape."

"Then what?" said Rex.

"Not sure. I'll call you tonight and let you know," I said.

"Okay. I'll be waiting for your call."

We waved our goodbyes and I was on the phone before he was even in his car.

"Hi honey...yes, it's me...I'll be home in fifteen minutes...the meeting got out early...yes, me too." I closed the cell and waited. The house was only two minutes away.

I decided to have a taco. The taco-tia was on the corner and there was a signal light. I was munching down when I spotted the Beemer. It was one of the cars I'd gotten the plate numbers from. The driver was a man, fortyish, not bad looking but no Brad Pitt: had to be her lover.

I finished eating and decided to head on home. I felt strange. I felt in control; not good, I was still sick at my stomach and white hot angry; but I was under control.

I already had some evidence: enough for an annulment probably, but I wanted more. I wasn't sure why I wanted more. Maybe I just wanted overwhelming justification for how I was going to destroy them.

The irony was that I still loved Melissa. Even after hearing his insults and her the laughter at those insults. The breakup was going to be painful when it came. Did I want to crush her? No, she'd had a shitty life, and even though she was shitting on me, I just couldn't bring myself to hate her that much. What a strange and powerful thing love was; it made no sense.

I pulled in to the garage. I had to decide if I wanted sloppy seconds. I was pretty sure she was going to be nice to me. She'd already be showering and cleaning herself up; I was sure of that.

I knew she hadn't had time to clean up the guest room yet. The tableau about to be played out was going to be pretty funny on some level.

I let myself into the house. Sure enough, she was in our room showering. I noticed that the door to the guest room was still closed. I was trepidatious about looking inside; I was afraid of the potential for more hurt, and I was hurting bad already.

Opening the door I was surprised to see the bed made. The room looked about the same as it always did: clean and orderly. That is it did except for one thing: it smelled like sex, and the smell was strong. The window was open, and in a few hours it figured to be less obvious, but I was betting that the bed was made with the cum covered sheets still on it. She'd have to get me out of the way for a couple of hours to do laundry. That was going to be interesting since I really did want those sheets.

I went to the dirty clothes hamper and checked it out. Nothing interesting there, there was no reason for there to be; they'd have been naked to have their little tryst.

I went into the kitchenette and got a beer. I popped the cap and tossed it in the trash can under the sink. Bingo! Ripped panties. Well, she'd done what she could to cover herself. To be fair, I hadn't given her a whole lot of time. The panties were covered with cum; he'd obviously wiped himself clean on them, her maybe too. I got a baggie and put the evidence inside; this was getting good, I thought.

I'd heard her tell him that she loved me, small cock and all. I wondered if she really did. I didn't know if it mattered anymore; she'd betrayed me and us, but I really did want to know. I wanted every fucking answer I could get, and I was going to get them.

"Hi hon," she said, coming out of the bedroom drying her hair."

"A shower in the middle of the day?" I said, smiling like a possum.

"Yes, I was feeling gunky," she said. She noticed that the guest room door was open and her face paled, but she recovered in a hurry. She closed the door. "It's mildewy in there. I will have to change the bedclothes more often, I guess. I'll do laundry later."

Slick I thought, very slick. She'd be doing the laundry right under my nose. I had to think of something.

She went back into the master bedroom. She still had to dress. I had an idea, but I had to figure a way to implement it. Maybe if I could get her out of the house for half an hour or more, I could do the laundry for her and take credit for being a good husband. A good husband too stupid to notice the cum stained sheets? That was very iffy. I just made up my mind that I'd have to sell her on it. Then it came to me.

I wouldn't have to get her out of the house at all. I just had to make sure that she couldn't do the laundry till I was ready to have her do it.

I went to the stacked washer and dryer in the closet and pulled the front panel off of the washer unit. I reached in and yanked the power wire off of its terminal. No laundry would be done today. In fact, no laundry would be done until I could get a friend of Rex in to fix the wire. Oh well, nailing a cheater was not always convenient.

By the time she reemerged from the bedroom, I had the panel back on and was nervously hoping she wouldn't discover the inoperable machine until it was impractical to do the laundry today. I just needed her to go to work the next day with the sheets still on her adulterous bed.

"You look good," I said. "How about you and I going out and having some fun?"

I could see she didn't want to go. "Honey, I..." She stopped. She could see I was going to be disappointed if she turned me down. I guess the realization that she'd fucked me over just an hour earlier made her change her mind. I suppose she thought that throwing a bone to the cuckold wouldn't kill her. "Honey, I would love to. Where should we go?"

"The Round Tree is our special place," I said. "Let's go there for early drinks and stuff, and then dinner and dancing. I really am in the mood," I lied.

******

Dinner was good, it always was at the Round Tree. Everything was normal except the state of my stomach. She noticed that I did not use any Tabasco sauce. I used to brag that I could drink Tabasco with a straw. I used it on everything but ice cream, or so it seemed.

"No Tabasco?" she said.

"No, I felt a little queasy earlier today, and I'm not going to push it," I said.

"Are you okay? You wanna go home. I can think of a couple of ways to make you feel better," she said smirking.

I almost threw up right then. The whore was going to allow her wussy, cuckold husband, to have a nice charity fuck. At that moment wanted nothing so much as to send her straight to the seventh pit of hell. The last vestiges of love that I had felt for her vanished. Only a cold, nascent hatred remained. My revenge was going to be total.

******

I didn't call Rex that night, but at work the next morning I did.

"Rex...yeah...sorry I didn't get back to you last night...not we went out dancing and stuff...yes...I want to destroy them...please get me what I need...don't worry about the cost...I especially want his ass...exactly...see if he has an ex-wife or something that he screwed over...yeah, yeah...who knows. I hung up. The die was cast.