Cheater

27. Chloe

I’m mortified at my behavior. At how I responded to his words, his actions. Despite everything, the man knows how to light my libido on fire. And he’s so unpredictable. I never know if he’ll make me do something, if he’ll let me go without laying a finger on me, if he’ll show up in my bed, drop money in my account, threaten me, or say crazy things that make me feel so…

I shake that wistful thought off before it fully forms.

Because he’s unstable. He’s dangerous. He’s blackmailing me! When will things turn ugly? How ugly will they get? How do I get out of this? If I can’t, will I survive this?

It sounds morbid, but I’m terrified that this is going to be one of those tales where death for one of us is the only way out. Either he decides he’s done, and he ends me or it goes nuclear and ends with him being shot by the cops after he completely loses it. Or a murder/suicide. The guy is unhinged.

When I get outside, my heart drops as I see Alannah by the revolving door to the office building part of this complex. She’s talking to Jeffy, who’s smoking a cigarette.

I glance over my shoulder while on the move and see Derek standing at the glass door. Watching.

And as my eyes bounce back straight ahead, one look at my best friend and our good friend fills me with alarm. Because they’re not hiding anything. They’re both looking at me with concern as their eyes bounce past me, undoubtedly clocking that Derek is still watching.

Jeffy clears his expression immediately but it’s all over Alannah’s face as she shoots Derek stink-eye.

Fuck. Fuck!

Clearing her expression too late tells me everything I need to know. I’m almost certain I’ve just caught the two of them having a conversation about me. I’m just hoping Derek hasn’t read them as well as I have. But unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like much gets past Derek. He might be nuts, but he’s not dumb.

“Hey,” Alannah greets and hugs me. “Why are you here?”

I pull back and look her dead in the eyes. She reads me loud and clear. Flinching, she whispers, “We’re worried about you. I know something’s up. Asked Jeffy about you-know-who and he told me things that would make your blood curdle. That was a fake text that day, wasn’t it?”

“Don’t give it away, he’s watching,” Jeffy says in a singsong voice. “Smile as you pull away, Alannah.”

I let go of her.

“Honey,” Jeffy says with a sweet smile as he opens his arms for me to come in for a hug. When he gets his mouth near my ear, he says low and serious, “He’s very dangerous. I know who that family is, know a lot of details. Facts. Some blood-curdling rumors from credible sources. Please, please be careful, sweets.” He loosens his grip and plasters on a big smile. “Don’t you look pretty today!”

“Thanks,” I say, tucking a loose lock behind my ear. I know my hair looks like I was just fucked, but I didn’t care much about anything other than getting out of there.

Jeffy keeps talking without losing the smile. “His family is very powerful and most of the Steele brothers have a reputation. A severe one. I know someone on their legal team quite well.”

I plaster on a smile as I pull back and look to Alannah. “Totally,” I say.

She picks up on the double meaning.

“Laugh or something, Fisher,” Jeffy urges, then takes a drag of his cigarette, throws his head back and cackles at the same time as Alannah breaks into a fake laugh that doesn’t touch her eyes.

“You really shouldn’t smoke,” I admonish, waving my finger playfully.

My face feels hot, but I do my best to keep up the casual act.

“It’s my Friday cigarette. You know I need my Friday cigarette.”

I fake another little laugh and then I look at my phone. There’s a text message from my boss wishing me well with the meeting and reminding me to reach out to him as soon as I’m done.

“Oh, look at the time. I have to go.” I slip it into my pocket.

“I’ll call you,” Alannah says.

“Maybe I oughta come for an impromptu sleepover tomorrow,” I mutter.

“Sounds good,” she says with emotion on her face.

“My phone and my place have electronic eyes and ears. I’ll swing by tomorrow without announcing it.”

Her eyes flash with understanding.

Jeffy says, “I’ll come by. I’ll bring wine. We’ll talk. I’ll tell you all I know. We’ll brainstorm.”

“Do nothing. I have to manage this all carefully. There’s a lot at stake. Believe me. Do. Nothing.”

I hug Alannah and then I hug Jeffy a second time.

“We’ll figure it out,” he whispers into my hair.

I nod and give him an affectionate squeeze. “It’s not a good idea to get involved. I can’t get into it but please. Don’t. Don’t let Lan go into momma bear mode, okay. She just can’t.”

“I’ve already told her. We need to brainstorm first. This is delicate.”

“Kay. Later,” I say.

My phone rings.

DS - Cavalier calling

I wave at them as I walk away, answering.

“What is it?”

“I don’t want his hands on you like that.”

“He’s my friend,” I state, hitting the button to unlock the door of my Cherokee.

“Next time, pull away faster.”

I cradle the phone with my shoulder so I can use that hand to get the door open and put the bag of food and my leather bag on the passenger seat.

“Don’t let it happen again,” he warns.

I say nothing.

“Chloe?” Derek calls.

“What?”

“They know, don’t they?”

“Know what?”

“Don’t patronize me, baby. They’re not very good actors. And you? I see straight through you.”

“My friends know me. They know I’m not acting like myself because you’re fucking with me. Alannah knows I’ve been weird since that day you sent the fake text. She saw through it; I didn’t say anything. I’m texting my boss now telling him something came up, that you had to cancel our meeting. Because I can’t possibly have a professional conversation with him right now.”

“Your friends know something’s amiss by your behavior. Yet the guy you’re supposed to marry thinks everything is hunky dory. Right, Chloe? What does that tell you about your relationship with him?”

“My relationship with my fiancé is none of your business.”

“I’ve made it my business,” he clips, then warns. “If Jeff or Alannah do anything stupid about you and me, they’ll be sorry. You’ll be sad. I don’t want you sad, so convince them everything is good. Don’t make me feel like I have no choice but to upset you by retaliating.”

“You’ve done nothing but upset me, Derek. And you could choose to stop fucking with my life.”

“Not gonna happen.”

Frustration is practically oozing from my pores. “I’m leaving now. Starting my car.”

“Don’t disappoint me, Chloe.”

“Goodbye, Derek.”

“Next Friday,” he says. “One o’clock. Weekly meeting.”

Does that mean he’s going to leave me alone for a whole week? I sure as heck hope so.

“Unless I can’t wait that long,” he adds, then laughs.

I aggressively stab end with my finger and put my forehead to my steering wheel.

Breathe, Chloe.

I decide to message my boss before leaving the parking lot.

Client had something come up and had to cancel our meeting after I arrived. I waited for quite a while but he said he’ll be in touch to reschedule. I’ve got a migraine so I’m going to be offline this afternoon. I’ll check in with you Monday morning.

My boss immediately replies.

Oh ok. Feel better. Have a good weekend.

I’m relieved he’s not calling me, asking a zillion questions.

When I get home, I call Alannah.

“Hey, breastie,” she answers fake-sunnily. “God, I’m in major need of some best friend time. I miss you.”

“Derek knows you know there’s something not right between him and I. I need to make sure you and Jeff leave it all be. He’s probably got someone listening now or will get a recording of this call or something.”

“Sweetie, what the fuck? I knew something was wonky with that text after he showed up and told you to come over. And you’ve been quiet ever since.”

“Let’s just say he doesn’t want things to end regardless of what I’ve said, and he’s been very… adamant about me doing what he wants me to do.”

“Is he hurting you?” she asks. “I’ll go to jail for you, sister; you know I will.”

“Not hurting me,” I reply. “But that’s probably because I’m cooperating.”

“Cooperating?” she asks.

“Yeah,” I whisper.

“You’re fucking him.”

“Yeah,” I whisper again.

She holds the phone for a minute. She’s shocked. Not surprisingly.

“What’s he holding over your head? Just Adam?”

“He’s got the ability to blow Adam’s life up and I can’t let that happen. I’m just … I’m hoping he gets bored. Finds a new fixation.”

“Right,” she mutters. “I’ll just sit back and let him do whatever, so Adam’s feelings don’t get hurt. Listen Chlo, Adam pushed you to do this. Surely he’ll understand that things got out of control through no fault of yours. And if he doesn’t, fuck him.”

“Lan!”

“No! Something has to be done. Blackmailing you into continuing an affair that you don’t want? Making you lie to your friends to keep it secret? You’re not alone here. We’ll get you out of this.”

Leaving things be is the last thing she intends to do. And I feel sick about it.

“Alannah, let me handle this. Seriously. I might catch shit for the things I’m saying, but for real, you and Jeff need to back off. He has a sex tape, too.”

“A what? A sex tape? Of you?”

“He recorded us.” It’s all I can think to say to settle her down. She won’t want that getting out. It’s not like Derek threatened to use it, but he did admit he was recording me last night and if he didn’t lie about me calling out his name that’d just add more gasoline to the fire.

“Fuck, Chlo. This is my fault. I said all that stuff. Me. I took you there. I opened my big, fat mouth about your situation. God, I’m sorry. I want to help you fix this because you’re you, but also… this is my fault.”

“You got graphic, yeah, but it was me that said all the stuff about my personal situation. The lack of sex life. Don’t take this on. The only person to blame for Derek’s actions is Derek.”

“He’s very dangerous. Most of that family is rumored to be connected with organized crime. Sketchy stuff. Links that go back over a century. I got some information from Jeffy and from Craig, and…”

“Craig? God, Lan. What?”

Craig is Adam’s best friend. And a cop!

“I asked about him, said I wanted to know what he was all about for a girlfriend. Didn’t say who. The shit he told me about the Steele brothers, about their father and some of their uncles… maybe we should get you out of town. Anyone who’s been here longer than we have seems to know who they are, and they’ve got stories. Sketchy and ugly ones. Greasing palms to get what they want. Making problems go away. Cops and politicians in Derek’s father’s pocket and so many rumors. Even the Papalias are terrified of them.”

I’d never heard of the Steele family before all this, but I’ve read stories in the paper and seen things on the news about the notorious local Papalia gang that call themselves The Crew with their drugs, prostitution, and chop shop.

“If he does hear this, he needs to realize he’s not fucking with someone who has nobody. We’ll help you. We have connections, too!”

“He’ll tell Adam everything. It’ll set back his emotional recovery significantly. I can’t let that happen. Can’t risk him using recordings he’s got of me. Can you imagine if he plays the recording of us talking and you calling him a bland baked potato and a boring ever after? Sending a sex video to Adam? To my job? My parents, even? Come on, Alannah. He could leak the sex tape publicly. We both know full well the kind of damage that could cause.”

She had a high school boyfriend leak nude pictures of her senior year. It was ugly. It reared its head again in college, too.

I keep going. “He could do so much damage. Promise me you won’t put things at risk by messing around. This is a man who bugged my house. Who’s tracking my car. Who is paying to have someone tail me whenever I leave my house.”

“Fuck,” she breathes. “All this for sex?”

“I don’t get it either.”

“We can’t let him get away with this.”

“So far, it’s just sex,” I say. And then I add, “It’s assholery what he’s doing but at least it’s good sex.” My face burns hot. “It could be worse.”

I can just imagine Derek sitting there listening to this with a smug look on his face. But I’m not thinking straight. All I’m thinking about is that I need to find the words to make Alannah stand down. Downplay it. Derek terrifies me. Confuses me.

“So far, with me cooperating, nothing terrible has happened beyond being forced to have sex with him.”

The line is silent for a minute, then she finally speaks up again. “This is bullshit. If he’s blackmailing you, I don’t care how good the dick is and you don’t either. This is me you’re talking to, here. I know you. This guy needs to fuck off.”

“Let me handle this. I see a path.”

“Yeah?” she asks.

“I do,” I lie. “We’ll talk later. Tell me you’ll do nothing.”

“Mm hm,” she says.

I grind my teeth. “Seriously. Don’t do anything. I’ll call you later. Gotta finish up some work stuff.”

“Mm,” she mutters. “Yeah.”

“Promise me, Lan. I need to know you won’t put me or yourself in the line of fire here.”

She sighs. “Okay.”

“Promise me.”

“I promise, Chlo. Love you.”

“Good,” I breathe out relief. “Love you, too. Call you tomorrow.”

I end the call and hope she’ll keep her word. Tomorrow night I’ll go over there and talk sense into her.

I’m saying nothing until the last minute about the planned sleepover in order to, hopefully, make sure Derek doesn’t try to find a way to eavesdrop on me there. I’ll conveniently leave my phone behind.

Alannah and I always brainstorm our problems for solutions, but I have no idea what could be a potential solution here other than hoping he gets bored.

Jeff has clout in his law firm and knows a lot of people. He firmly believes Derek is dangerous, so he’ll undoubtedly think long and hard before acting. Alannah is smart, but she’s a protective mama bear type and would break her promise if she thinks she knows better than me here. I can only hope that a) she listens and b) if she doesn’t, Derek’s bark is worse than his bite.

“Hi!” Adam is practically glowing when he comes in with his briefcase on his lap. “There’s more stuff in the van. Do you think you could gimme some help?”

“Sure,” I say, rising from the couch where I’ve been watching the local news while waiting for the food delivery, waiting for him, and wringing my hands over my problems.

I’m nearly past him when he grapples for my hand. “Chloe?”

I stop and look down.

“Don’t I get a welcome home kiss?” he sheepishly asks.

I lean over and press my lips to his. I’m about to pull back when his fingers tangle into my hair that’s now down from the earlier twist. He deepens the kiss, slipping me his tongue, surprising me. “That’s better,” he says. “Missed you.”

I straighten up and feeling discombobulated, I say, “Glad you’re home. I’ll… uh… go get your stuff and then you can tell me all about it. Food will be here soon, too.”

Adam spoke more over that meal than he’s spoken in months.

And throughout, I felt strange about the kiss. Like it was wrong. That it didn’t feel right. And that’s got me completely disjointed. He was so excited about filling me in that I don’t think he’s noticed how off I am.

He said he can see himself doing this, focusing on accessibility advocacy and related issues for now. He still doesn’t want to be typecasted, but he does see big potential for work and to elevate his profile while helping others in his position. He got a jump-start on a couple article ideas he’s already pitched to his editor and says he feels inspired to write, more inspired than in many months.

He excitedly told me he made some great connections including a respected journalist who unfortunately has advancing Huntington’s Disease and is expecting to have to retire due to declining health within six months or less.

Adam interviewed this journalist for an article that his editor is stoked about, and the man invited Adam to have dinner with him, which was why he only briefly texted me last night. He said they talked for over three hours and got along great. Adam says there were more than overt suggestions about this journalist passing the torch to him, recommending him for several publications that have ongoing columns and special assignments. There’s even the potential for him to be on a panel for a call-in health and wellness show.

By the end of the meal, his good mood is contagious, and I find I’m still smiling while putting the food away, excited for his zest for life after such a dark period.

I hear the motor of Adam’s wheelchair coming into the kitchen as I’m wiping down the table.

“Chloe?”

I look over my shoulder. He’d gone to take care of a few work things while I put stuff away with plans to find something to watch on television together in half an hour, but now he’s two feet away with a strange look on his face.

“Why don’t you pour yourself another glass of wine and meet me in the bedroom?” he suggests.

“You wanna watch TV in there instead?” I ask. I can’t even remember the last time he suggested we find something to watch together.

“I… ordered something and I thought we could try it,” Adam says with a little smile on his face. “Shit,” he adds, “I feel like a nervous virgin.”

Frowning at the strange comment, I follow his eyes down to the box on his lap. This is the box that got delivered this morning that I was instructed not to open.

He smiles. “So, what do you think? Maybe instead of watching TV, you can pour another glass of wine and put on something sexy?”

He never suggests I have a second glass of wine. In fact, he was the one who suggested I open a bottle and he had a glass with me for a change. I stare as he opens the box and shows me the contents.

I don’t know for a few breaths what I’m looking at. It’s a tube contraption of some sort.

“It’s a vacuum device,” he explains. ”I pump it over myself until it gets me… ready. Then there’s a ring I’ll put on and … we’ve got thirty minutes or less.”

My eyes bulge.

“Oh,” I breathe.

“I… realized I wasn’t being very fair to you, Chloe. So I thought we could at least … try. When I ordered things to be delivered to the hotel yesterday, there was a catalog. And… I ordered this yesterday from there for rush delivery today.”

Try. Try?

I blink a few times and rub my lips together before I blow out a long exhale as I absorb this shocking development.

My phone rings.

Adam looks over at the dining table, which he’s closer to than I am. “Do you need to get this? DS Cavalier?”

“It’s work. It can go to voicemail,” I say, heart skipping a beat.

My mind is churning at a thousand revolutions per second. Adam wants to have sex. Adam bought a device to be able to have sex with me. In our bed. On the sheets where Derek and I–

“Cavalier. That’s the big client, isn’t it?” he asks.

Derek is phoning me. Derek is probably watching. This makes me angry. This is a very private moment he’s watching and now he’s calling?

“Chloe?” Adam prompts.

I give my head a shake. “It’s Friday night. After eight o’clock. They don’t expect me to answer. They’re probably leaving a message for Monday morning.”

It stops ringing halfway through the third ring.

“What do you think?” he asks. “About this?” He gestures to his lap.

“Well…” I say and shift uncomfortably from one foot to the other.

Adam looks hopeful. And I’m surprised. And thrown.

“Um…”

My phone starts ringing again.

“DS Cavalier,” Adam remarks, lifting my phone and extending his hand in my direction.

My face burns hot.

I move over there and take it, then turn the phone off and set it on the table.

“Two calls in a row. Maybe something urgent.” he says, looking concerned.

“We’re having an important conversation.”

I have a strong work ethic. Always have. Maybe he’d interrupt an important conversation like the one we’re having if his editor was calling in the middle of it, but I don’t think it’s outlandish or out of character for me to give him my undivided attention. Even though I’m not sure he has it because my brain feels absolutely muddled at the moment.

But as for undivided attention, it’s yet another one of the things between us that I’ve noticed.

I’ve put him first. Always. I haven’t always gotten that back. Then again, I’ve never been about equality in a relationship in that way where I kept score. I’ve put my all into it the way I’d want the other person to do. Maybe that’s changing. Maybe that’s changing because of all that’s happened.

“This is sudden,” I say. “And I’m a little unprepared for it. I…”

My head is swimming.

“Let’s just try it. I’m okay if I don’t get anything out of it. I know I won’t feel it, but you will and… I wanna try. Try and do this for you. For… for us. See how it goes, you know?”

I’m about to tell him a fib… that I have my period. Because I need to think. And no way would Adam want period sex. I suggested period sex in the shower once and he got absolutely grossed out at the notion. But before I get a chance to say it, the doorbell rings.

“I’ll… I’ll go see who that is,” I say, rushing to the door. I can make out a tall man standing there with his phone to his ear through the frosted glass.

I open the door just an inch.

“Yes?”

“Chloe Turner? My name is Ken. I’m assigned to keep you safe. Please step out here and take this phone from me. There’s someone who needs to speak with you privately and urgently.”

There’s a running vehicle in the driveway behind my car.

I frown. Keep me safe? That’s a joke. Keep tabs is more like it.

“Now, please,” he urges authoritatively.

“No,” I deny. “Go away.”

I’m about to shut the door when I realize he’s inserted his shoe there. He’s got a stern look on his face.

“Miss Turner, please. Don’t make my job hard tonight, okay?”

I open the door wider and gesture as I move forward. He steps back as I step outside and shut it behind me.

“Listen,” I say, “This is not cool.”

He extends his hand, offering me his phone. “Please take the call or he’ll issue another order. He needs to speak with you urgently.”

I stare at it.

“An order for me to bring you to him,” he says low and in a way that’s chilling.

I take it and shakily put it to my ear.

“Hello?” I snap.

Ken walks down my driveway as Derek starts talking.

“Chloe!” He sounds winded. “He does not fucking touch you. It was bad enough watching him put his mouth on you. Come to me. Now.”

“What the fuck?” I snap. “How about you stop watching?”

“Now, Chloe. I mean it. Make up a reason. Come here now or I’m coming there.”

“Fuck you,” I spit.

Ken flinches, looking over his shoulder at me briefly as if he’s concerned I’m putting myself in peril.

“You will not fuck him, Chloe. Do you hear me?” Derek is yelling now. “You come here to me right now or else you’ll force my hand.”

“One more time, fuck you,” I snap, then hold the phone out. “Here!” I call. “Take this and go away.”

“Sweetie?” I hear from behind me.

Damn it! Adam has opened the door. His eyes are on me with concern.