Marrying the Man in the Dark

Yolanda’s voice dripped with flirtation in the delicate cocoon of her ear. “Damien, you mentioned you’d come over once Cherise drifts into slumber. When might that be?”

“I’m a bit weary. When do you think Cherise will doze off?”

“Why not utilize the sleeping pills you’ve prepared? Didn’t you prepare them?”

Cherise offered no reply.

She simply listened, her silence a canvas for Yolanda’s monologue, punctuated by soft utterances of “Mm,” “Ah,” “Okay.”

“Excellent. Let’s convene at our usual haunt tomorrow!”

Confronted with Yolanda’s buoyant tone, Cherise sighed inwardly, rubbing her temples. “Ms. Weiss.”

Finally, Yolanda exclaimed through the line, “You are…”

“I am Cherise.”

With the phone nestled in her palm, Cherise sighed again, her brow furrowing.

While she didn’t consider her initial “hello” particularly loud, it wasn’t muted.

If her voice reached Yolanda’s ears, why did Yolanda persist in this charade?

fathomed her softened tone, which could mirror Damien’s

game, which is evident

behind her carefully chosen words was

I presumed your late call was in pursuit of an accord regarding the issue of the

too, wish for an amicable resolution.”

muddies the waters between you and

concur that my husband maintains a distance from

turned icy. “It’s late, Ms. Weiss. Rest well. Perhaps in

for Yolanda’s retort, Cherise

between her and Damien with such crude

No way!

“Finished?”

the chill of

crimson. “You… you heard

“Mhmm.”

car, closing the door. His imposing frame once again enveloped Cherise. “My dear little fool, you’ve grown, defending

told you I’m

my eyes, you’ll always be my dear, my