Deceitful Vows (6 page)

She pulled into the parking lot, glad to see that his car was still there in its usual spot. Of course she had to drive around to park a little further back from the front spaces reserved for the CEO, CFO and the few other vice presidents, but she didn’t mind the walk to the office. She strolled in and headed straight to the elevator being a familiar face at the company. Heading up to the 8
th
floor, she pulled out her compact and checked her makeup and her teeth for the spinach that she’d had for lunch. Satisfied with her looks, she put away the mirror and smoothed out her sundress. For some reason, she was nervous. She hadn’t seen him in months, and she wasn’t sure if he’d like the surprise. With the July heat, she’d decided on a very thin dress that she didn’t require a bra. And for the purpose of the visit, her panties were nonexistent as well.

She got off the elevator and was glad she’d decided to wear her flat Michael Kors studded sandals so that her footsteps weren’t loud against the floor. She was relieved to see that the receptionist was not at her desk in front of the office.

Good. One less nosy person to speak to,
she thought as she headed to the office.

Turning the door knob, she was surprised that it was unlocked, but even more surprised by the sight she saw once the door was open.

Quickly pushing Monica away from him and pulling his pants up, he could have kicked himself for not locking the door. Mark was once again getting one of his daily treats from his new assistant, Monica. He stayed true to his word about not seeing “her” again, but that didn’t stop him from getting blowjobs from the woman who scheduled his meetings. At first, Mark would ignore her advances when she would come in wearing short skirts and bare legs. He found it interesting one day, when she came in to review his calendar, that she did not cross her legs when she sat, but gave him a good view of her freshly waxed pearl. That was the day it all started. Not being able to focus on what she was saying from staring so hard, he gave up and told her that they would review the calendar the next day. Obvious that Monica was seducing him, she wasted no time in her attempt to straddle him. Mark was able to ignore that advance, but when she’d tried again, he couldn’t resist. He gave into temptation, and a rock hard penis greeted her. She wasted no time in sucking and slurping him away. After that day, Mark was getting a blowjob two or three times a week. This was the first time he’d ever gotten caught.

Monica felt bad about what had just happened. Never did she think someone would just barge in the office. Of course, this had happened hundreds of time before, but today was the first time anyone had seen. Mark never had to worry about Monica telling their secret. She didn’t do it because she wanted to be with him or ruin his marriage. She gave him blowjobs because he showed his gratitude in her paychecks. There was no way she could afford her daughter's private school tuition on her salary alone. So if sucking Mark down meant a better paycheck and a few “bonuses” here and there, that’s what she was willing to do. By no means was she saying he wasn’t attractive or appealing. He was. But she had seen men like him before. Men like Mark could have the entire world at his feet, and he would still need or want more. Monica knew he would never leave his wife. In fact, she never asked or expected it. As long as she got what she needed from their little arrangement, she was satisfied and would continue to play her role, even if that meant smiling in Kayla’s face when she came to the office. Now she had a feeling she would need a plan B because once “she” saw her and Mark together, she knew it was only a matter of time before the truth came out.

Kayla got home in just enough time to shower and change for dinner. In the beginning, she was doing well with the pregnancy but now, in the third trimester, it was really starting to take a toll on her. She had to go shopping for a whole new wardrobe because even things from her second trimester didn’t fit anymore. Her face was getting fat, and her feet were constantly swelling. She only had three pair of shoes that she could fit, and none of them had a heel. It was also getting hard for her to keep up with her new found sex drive with Mark, but she refused to give up. He loved the new her, and the truth was she did too, but lately she hadn’t felt as attractive and that basketball size belly she was carrying around was making it virtually impossible. Knowing that her marriage was still in a delicate place, she sucked it up and began applying her makeup for tonight’s event. Whether she felt like it or not, she was going to be there for her husband in whatever way he wanted her to.

After finishing up at the office, Mark headed home to get ready for the evening. He kept thinking back to earlier in the day when he got caught with Monica’s face in his crotch. He was glad to know that Monica wasn’t out to destroy his marriage. She assured him that whatever story he wanted to tell about what happened she would confirm it. They knew it was both of their words against “hers.” And since she would have to explain why she was there in the first place, Mark knew she wouldn’t be too quick to open her mouth. He made a mental note to be more discreet about things and definitely make it a habit of locking the door to his office. Ironically, after being caught, cutting the affair off altogether never crossed his mind.

Mark found Kayla sitting at the vanity applying her makeup. He stood for a moment, and took in the sight of his now glowing wife. He could tell that the pregnancy was taking its toll on her. She wasn’t complaining, but he could tell that she was uncomfortable. Truth be told, so was he. They still had sex, but he didn’t feel that it was natural because her growing belly was always in the way. Though he appreciated her efforts, he wasn’t as turned on as he had been in the beginning. And because of his lack of attraction for her, he still would go back to the photo in order to be with her.

Noticing him standing there, Kayla spoke up. “Are you just going to stand there and watch me, or are you going to come say hello?”

Mark couldn’t help but smile, wondering how she knew he was there with her back turned to him.

As if she was reading his mind, she said, “I smell your cologne.”

Her senses were severely heightened. With the pregnancy and, even though, the scent was nine hours old, he knew that it was still as fresh to her as when he’d gotten out of the shower.

Walking over to greet his wife, Mark felt guilty for the first time in months about seeing Monica. Watching Kayla trying so hard to satisfy him while carrying his son, should’ve made him want to do right all along. Instead, it allowed him to selfishly add another conquest to his list of infidelities.

Mark leaned down to hug her and kissed the top of her head. Extending her arms as best she could to return his embrace her heightened senses kicked in again. This time instead of smelling just his Polo Blue cologne, she smelled the feminine scent of Light Blue by Dolce and Gabbana. Immediately, her suspicions and hormones went into overdrive, and the rage was coming on strong. She took slow deep breaths to calm her nerves. Mark mistook her breaths as pain.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

While she wanted to respond, all she could say was, “It hurts,” as she cried a pool full of tears.

Not knowing what was wrong, Mark asked, “Do you want me to call the doctor?”

In between sobs, she managed to say, “No. I just need to lie down.”

He helped her over to the bed and out of her dress so that she could lay down. Initially, she declined water, tea, and food and opted to just lay there in her own tears as thoughts of her husband being back up to his old tricks weighed heavily on her mind. Eventually, she took the offer for water in order to get a moment to herself.

Mark headed downstairs to get the water that she’d asked for. One minute, they were talking and Kayla was doing her makeup. The next, she was crying hysterically saying it hurts but not saying what hurts or why. Kayla knew that Mark’s frantic pace confirmed that he had no idea of what had just happened.

By the time Mark returned with the glass of water, Kayla had cried herself to sleep.

Waking up to a painful headache, Kayla was reminded of the last night’s events. Her already fragile marriage seemed to be on the rocks once again. Kayla knew she wasn’t going crazy. She smelled the perfume, clear as day, on Mark’s chest. Because the fragrance was so common she had no problem pin-pointing exactly which scent it was. The questions in her head was should she question Mark about it or wait to get more evidence? As she wobbled to the shower, she thought about what she would do. Once she was out in the hallway heading to the bathroom, she could tell Mark was still home from the smell of coffee being brewed downstairs. That was a surprise. Usually he’d be gone to the office by then. Instead of inquiring about his late start, she headed to the bathroom to get showered and to plan her next move.

Her
: Is that why I haven’t heard from you? You’re with the cheap slut now!

Her:
You need to meet me at the Marriott at 1, or I’m sending the photos to your wife.

Her:
You know I’m serious, so don’t try to play games with me.

Mark couldn’t help but to shake his head and let out an exasperating sigh after reading the messages. Not only was “she” still trying to be with him, but now she was blackmailing him. Of course, he had to go meet her. He couldn’t let his precious Kayla see those photos. Of course, she knew about the affair, and it was old news, but if Kayla found out who she was he would never get his wife back, and his marriage would officially be over. He didn’t know how, but he had to find a way to make her leave him and Kayla alone for good.

She felt confident after sending the messages. Of course he would come; he didn’t want his precious Kayla to find out who she was. The shock would be if he found out the photos weren’t of them two together, but instead of him with Monica. Her true intentions for meeting him today were to seduce him. They were supposed to talk about the past and how they once felt about each other. She would bring up old places and things they did before he would have her for lunch on his desk. Meanwhile, she would have her phone recording everything from the minute she got off the elevator. She would then have the recording for the future in case she needed it to get him to leave Kayla once and for all. To her surprise and benefit, Monica was already having lunch with him, and her recording cell phone got an eye full. Seeing Mark with another woman hurt her to the core, but in her mind she thought he was lonely since they hadn’t interacted in a few months. Undoubtedly he had been with Monica was before she had to “leave.” Her mom had taken it upon herself, once again, to contact her doctor to find out how she’d being doing. Once she’d found out that “she” was off her meds again, the doctor insisted that she go back to that God awful “resort” to help make her better. When were they going to realize that she didn’t need that resort or those meds? After all, she’d been doing just fine without them. Thanks to her mother and Shady Pine Mental Resort, she had missed the last four months of being with her man, and now he was finding comfort with
another
someone else.

Kayla headed to the office to meet with two patients before her doctor’s appointment later that afternoon. She had forgotten to tell Mark about this one and accepted that she would have to go alone. Going into her office, she thought it would be a good idea to see if maybe he would come with her on his lunch break. Reflecting back on the perfume incident, she’d decided she would play her cards and see what proof she could get before confronting him again. Either way, if he told the truth and confirmed her suspicions, she knew her marriage would really be over this time. So instead of going off on a whim, she decided to get concrete proof before she tore her marriage apart.

Before she could get into the building good, Melissa called. She was calling to talk about the baby shower again. Kayla asked her several times to just call her mom since Vivian would know exactly what Kayla liked and didn’t like, but Melissa insisted on calling her every other day. The shower was in two weeks, and Kayla couldn’t wait for it to be over. The event was now up to one hundred guests and was at a banquet hall more suited for a wedding reception than a baby shower. Melissa even took the liberty of setting up registries at almost every store imaginable. The baby shower was way too much for Kayla’s taste, but no matter what, she knew that Melissa always had an excuse as to why the event had to be so fabulous. Kayla just hoped that when she and Mark had more children, they didn’t have to go through this every time.

With all of her morning patients seen and all notes finalized, Kayla headed out to get to Mark’s office to see if he could go to the doctor with her. She already made up her mind that if he couldn’t, it would be okay since she knew it was a last minute thing. It didn’t take long for her to pull up to the office and head inside. It was twelve-forty, and her appointment was for one-thirty, so she had plenty of time to convince Mark to come and still get over to Dr. Gallant’s office to be on time.

After getting off the elevator and heading to Mark’s office, Kayla got a funny feeling in the pit of her stomach. She thought her mind was playing tricks on her, but it wasn’t long before her nose confirmed that her mind was right. She locked her eyes on Monica and the scent of Light Blue perfume.

“Hey, Monica, how are you today?” Kayla asked with her nose turned up in the air.

Monica had a flash of discomfort before she presented a cool, calm, collected tone. “I’m doing well, Mrs. Barnes. Was Mr. Barnes expecting you? Because he just left for a 1:00 appointment,” Monica stated calmly not missing a beat.

“He wasn’t. I thought I’d surprise my
husband
today,” Kayla said slowly, putting emphasis on the word husband as if Monica didn’t know they were married.

“Oh, well I’m sure you can get him on his cell. He has the rest of the afternoon blocked off,” Monica said. This time Kayla could sense a lingering discomfort in Monica.

“Of course I’ll try his cell. I’m his wife. He’ll always pick up,” Kayla said cockily as she winked at Monica before she waddled away.

She walked to the elevator with so much anger in her steps that one would’ve thought she was a kid stomping to her room. Kayla knew that scent was familiar and couldn’t believe it was right there. The affair that she’d cried herself to sleep over. The one that practically tore her marriage apart was not only right in her face all this time, but also right under her nose, and she had no idea. She never bothered to ask who it was. In her mind, who it was didn’t matter. All that mattered was that it was someone else. She racked her brain on her way to Dr. Gallant’s office, wondering why she never saw it before. She had been in that office in Monica’s presence dozens of times and never once thought she was having an affair with her husband. Now it was all out in the open, and she couldn’t wait to confront Mark about it.