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.”

and pick you up at the front

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

in. Staring into traffic, my mouth dry, I give it another go: “Ben, this isn’t right. You can’t just barge into

“What are you talking about? We’re discussing a man fucking my brother’s

don’t think

driving, he twists to 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 another

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

spa hotel, ‘Life and Beauty’. It’s rather

I don’t want them to see me arrive. Follow me. It’s

a mixture of well-kept and maintained,

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

Ben, pointing, “the bedroom

hang back, but he ignores me, walking quietly to

Oh, please be locked….

turns, and the door

the threshold. “Are you coming or

my head.

you stand, don’t I?” and