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.”

fetch the car and pick you up at the front

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 in

it another go: “Ben, this isn’t right.

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

think you

face me, his face flushing. “I suppose you think it’s okay for my her to make a fool of my brother?” Then he turns to face the traffic again, swerving to avoid

us out of the City and up the mountain. The views are amazing, but I can’t enjoy them, my stomach

hotel, ‘Life and Beauty’.

don’t want them

to the rear and through gardens which are a mixture of well-kept and maintained, and hopelessly

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

pointing, “the

I try to hang back, but he ignores me, walking quietly to the front

Oh, please be locked….

which turns, and

me on the threshold. “Are you coming or

shake my head.

know where you stand, don’t I?” and