Six Months After “The”

He wasn’t surprised she turned up at his hotel room at two in the afternoon. What he didn’t expect were the tears gathered in her eyes and the change in clothes.

When he tried to pull her close, she slapped his hands away with a cry. She hadn’t spoken to him but instead looked around the room, searching the drawers, cabinets, and under the covers.

“Tell me they’re wrong!” Finally, she spoke, and while he didn’t understand, it was a start.

“Who's ‘them’? I don’t understand. Just slow down,” he took her by the shoulders, looking her square in the eye as he continued, “tell me what’s going on.”

She began with when she had left that morning. Everything seemed normal until she noticed the same silver car following her around the city. When she got lunch at a small deli, the car parked outside and three men stepped out. One was the man from the party.

They sat with her, handing over a file filled with pictures. All containing him with other women. All time-stamped with locations.

The file sat by the door on the floor with cash and credit cards.

“I didn’t want to be tracked, so I got extra clothes, changed, and left my belongings in the car elsewhere. I only brought cash and cards. They gave me a number to call them if I decided I wanted to get even.” She stepped away, her shaky hands raking through her hair.

He picked up the file, looking through photos that were partially incriminating – he wasn’t even sure if some of the photos were of himself. Some of the women he did recognize as being acquainted with, but most he had no idea who they were.

“Baby, listen to me.” Despite trying to keep her calm, she looked at him in disbelief.

“Oh my god!”

“No, listen-“

“You did! You actually did! You manipulate me. You used me! Just like the businessman you are. You lied. You cheated! You-“ She missed the hurt that stole his breath and ignited a dangerous fire inside him.

Unable to stand it, he backed her against the wall, trapping her between his arms. Terror seized her as she saw the fury in his eyes.

She had been told when coming into labs many years ago, of his temperament. No one trifled him and as long as you did your job you wouldn’t end up on the chopping block.

Later, she learned he was a fair man. A man she dreamed of marrying just several hours before.

His lips lingered above her own, barely enticing her. Surprisingly, he didn’t yell or try to kiss her. He sunk to his knees and in a moment of pure defeat, he laid his head to her stomach.

Tender by his actions, she ran her hands through his hair.

“I told you that I’d debunk or explain anything and everything. But I know for a fact that I haven’t cheated on you. I’m a businessman and yes, I manipulate for profit. But, I’d never hurt you, in any way. If I had to burn my empire to keep you, I’d pour the gasoline and throw the burning match myself. Consequences be damned.”

She slid down the wall, cradling his head to her chest.

“Debunk everything they told me. Give it to me honestly and I’ll believe you.”

“Would you believe me?” He sat back, cupping her face.

She wished she could kick her teeth in from the almost sorrowful look he gave her. He was hurting because of her.

“I already believe you. On the way over here, it just sat in my head.” She reached over to the files and pulled out a photo. “I’m not an idiot.”

He didn’t even glance at the photo. Instead, he took it from her grasp and set it aside.

“I disagree. You’re a total idiot. Why on Earth would I love and want to keep such a hard-working, natural beauty, passionate woman by my side? Why on Earth would I want to sleep with this woman,” he held up the photo, “when I’d be using every last drop of energy to place your face on hers, to imagine it's you touching me, laughing in my ear, and snuggled into my side when morning breaks?”

“I’m sorry.” It was all she could say.

“You’ve got nothing to be sorry for. The fault is mine if you really doubt me.” He pulled her into his arms, cupping the back of her head tenderly.

“Yes, I do. I know better than to lose my cool and yell at you and call you a manipulator. That’s unfair and untrue. Nothing here is your fault.”

He shook his head at her words, disagreeing before she even finished.

“You’re not wrong. I’m a manipulator. It’s true. It’s why I’m such a good businessman. But, I never want you mad or hurt because of me.” He kissed the top of her head before he grabbed his laptop, pulling up banking activity and past travel logs.

“You don’t need to.” She rubbed his arm, but he grabbed her wrist and tugged her fully into his lap.

“I told you I’d debunk everything. Pick a photo.” He waited patiently. A calmness washed over him as her sniffles came to an end and her frazzled state of mind passed.

Kissing her temple, he took the first photo, the one she had originally pulled out.

“Business partner. Total bitch.” Looking at the time stamp, he frowned. “I met with her two months ago, not last week. Her lawyer came in just after dinner and we signed off on a new agreement. I left immediately after to fly home to you.”

Each photo she pulled out, he debunked with relative ease. Women he knew. Women he hadn’t ever met. Some actually didn’t contain a clear enough shot to prove it was him. And each date and time was easily disproved by his records.

“I shouldn’t have freaked out on you.”

“I’d be more worried if you hadn’t. I’m sorry they’re targeting you now.” Silence overtook them as they held one another.

Finally, she spoke, “I’d rather be openly attacked than hide our relationship.”

“I’d rather-“ She stopped him with a chaste kiss to the lips. When he remained silent, she laid her head back down on his chest. After a moment, he spoke again, “what did they want?”

“I don’t know. I have their number, I could-“

“Absolutely not. There is no way… over my dead body would I ever endanger you like that.” Sternly, he gripped her chin so she could see the dead seriousness in his eyes as if it wasn’t evident in his tone.

“Just a suggestion.” She took his hand and kissed his knuckles. “What now?”

“We both need to get back to work. Let me just hold you for a few more minutes.”

She gladly obliged him.