Choosing Her Lover

*****

And I think, that is that….

Until, at six pm, just as I am about finish for the day, Ben marches in again. “Come on,” he says. “I want you to come with me.”

“Come with you? Where?”

“Up to Mike’s place.”

“What? You want me to go there? What for? I barely know them.”

“Mike’s not at home. He’s working late. I want to catch James and Charlotte in the act, and I want a witness, so the bastard, and the bitch can’t deny it when I confront them.”

“Ben, you can’t do this. And haven’t you forgotten something? James Alexanders is my boss. I could lose my job…”

He stands, arms akimbo. “Fuck you, then. I’m going anyway. If you won’t come with me, I’ll go by myself. I’ll take a camera.”

Jeez…. I’d better go with him. See if I can stop him doing anything too stupid….

“Alright. I’ll come with you. Let me get my stuff and clear up my desk.”

I’ll fetch the car and pick you up at the front

is out of sight, I stab buttons on the internal phone, trying to get an answer. First James.… No reply…. Then Charlotte…. No reply…. Francis maybe? Still no reply. It’s too late

Staring into traffic, my mouth dry, I give it another go: “Ben, this isn’t right. You can’t just barge into someone else’s house to check up

We’re discussing a man fucking my brother’s wife. Of course, I’m entitled to check what’s

think you

he twists to face me, his face flushing. “I suppose you think it’s okay for my her to make a fool of

and up the mountain. The views are amazing, but I can’t enjoy them, my stomach churning in anticipation of what’s

a spa hotel, ‘Life and Beauty’. It’s

back,” says Ben. “But I don’t want them to see me arrive. Follow me. It’s this

are a mixture of well-kept and maintained, and hopelessly overgrown. The whole has the look of

house which also looks to be in mid-renovation, a mixture of old and new, dilapidated and restored. Standing over high meadows overlooking a lake, the position is incredible. In any other circumstances, I would just stand and Wow!

Ben, pointing, “the bedroom curtains are

you can’t.” I try to hang back, but he ignores me, walking

Oh, please be locked….

which turns, and

on the threshold. “Are you coming

my head.

“I know where you stand, don’t I?” and he