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?

tone,

which is evident in her

behind her carefully chosen words

faint smile. “Ms. Weiss, I presumed your late call was in pursuit of an accord regarding the issue of the shares with

too, wish for

your deliberate choice of words only muddies the waters between you and my husband.”

my husband maintains

tone turned icy. “It’s late, Ms. Weiss. Rest well. Perhaps in your dreams, you’ll succeed in winning

waiting for Yolanda’s retort, Cherise

to sow discord between her and Damien with such

No way!

“Finished?”

the chill of the night air, a smile gracing his lips. “Just like the conduct

“You… you heard everything?”

“Mhmm.”

a smile, Damien entered the car, closing the door. His imposing frame once again

him. “I’ve told you I’m not a fool!”

you’ll always be my dear, my