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

answer. First James.… No reply…. Then Charlotte…. No reply…. Francis maybe? Still no

the front and I get in. Staring into traffic, my mouth dry, I give it another go: “Ben, this isn’t

a man

don’t think

think it’s okay for my her to make a

up the mountain. The views are amazing, but I can’t enjoy them, my stomach

pull up by a spa hotel, ‘Life and Beauty’. It’s rather beautiful and very expensive

the back,” says Ben. “But I don’t want them

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

and there is a beautiful old 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! the place, but

hisses Ben, pointing, “the

can’t.” I try to hang back, but he ignores me, walking quietly to the front door

Oh, please be locked….

turns, and the door

the threshold. “Are you coming

my

know where you stand, don’t I?” and