Unfaithful: Web Of Betrayal

His life was about to change. He hoped that it would be for the better, if not the best because he finally get to that place he’d worked so hard for. There’s just a tiny problem. Someone is trying to taunt him by sending pictures of his ex-lover and illegitimate child.

After Gil denied it, he didn’t wholly cross his name from the list of people that has the potential to blackmail him. It was quite a long list. He didn’t get to where he is without stepping on other people’s toes, even if he had done it smoothly. Most people envy success rather than embrace it when it happens to others.

He couldn’t trust anyone, not even his mother. Mimi and his brothers were all on his list. He had at least five business rivals who pitched on the same deal he made with Brian Murphy. They were considered on his list too. Even Brian Murphy was not free from suspicion because he, too, would have something to gain from holding on to Declan’s deepest darkest secret.

They know his home address. The last envelope he received was sent to his house. He was lucky Olivia wasn’t the one who accepted it. They’re getting closer to home. Soon the threat will escalate. He had to be prepared. So Declan bought a gun. He kept it locked in his drawer in the study where Olivia couldn’t see it. She would freak out if she knew a gun was in the house.

Declan was used to minor setbacks. He had it all the time at work. But this involves his personal life. His marriage was at stake. And that is the one thing he wasn’t willing to sacrifice because Olivia was the love of his life. Even though he realized it too late, he is sure now she’s the woman he should hold on to for the rest of his life.

“I’m meeting Gregory in Chestnut … he said he needed my opinion on something he’s working on for his company,” Declan wasn’t entirely lying. He was going to do all that in Chestnut, but he made that plan after he decided he needed to see Sienna there. To have another activity in the place where he’s going was the safest way to lie to his wife and not lie at the same time.

“I’ll be back in a few days, just in time for that party at Brian’s … are you buying a new dress?” he smiled and looked at her.

“Should I?” Olivia was reading on the couch.

“It won’t hurt to dazzle everyone like you always do … it’s a big thing to celebrate, go treat yourself with a nice dress … something blue, something sexy, or elegant and sexy,” he laughed lightly. “Oh … and easy to slip out of … not with too many hooks and laces … they’re so hard to undo,” he requested since he was the one who’d be taking it off of her.

She smiled, “Sure … I’ll look for something … where will you be staying?”

“The Four Season, as usual … you know where to call me, my phone will probably be off most of the time … it’s a big meeting with Gregory’s board of Directors.”

She stared at him suspiciously but shrugged it off, “Okay.”

“What will you be doing while I’m gone?”

“Work … new clients, survey, sketching, designing, and looking for that dress,” that wasn’t entirely a lie either. She will do all that, have dinner with Roman every night at his place, and have sex. They’ve made plans.

“Did you ask Alma to come to stay here with you for a few days?” he asked Olivia because he was starting to worry about the anonymous sender.

“No … I don’t want to bother her. She has a family … I can manage on my own.”

He walked over to her and kneeled beside the couch, “That’s not what I’m worried about … I just don’t want you to be alone … at least ask her, maybe she’s available … or I can ask her.”

“No,” she touched his hand before he pulled out his phone to call Alma. “I’m okay … really … I’m used to it.”

They looked into each other’s eyes. Somehow her answer made him feel guilty for leaving her alone too frequently.

“Can I tell you something? But promise me you won’t freak out,” Declan asked.

She raised her brows, “Okay …”

“I kept a gun in my study … it’s locked in my drawer.”

Her eyes widened, “What? Why?”

“Just in case … you never know when you need it, and you’re home alone most of the time so I thought … just to be safe.”

She was silent for a moment, “We’ve never had any security problems before … do you think it’s not safe here anymore?”

He looked down and sighed, “Yeah … I think it’s not so safe here anymore,” he lied. “Just so you know that we have protection just in case we need it … it’s locked and safe, you know where the keys are, right?”

She tried to remember where it was, and wondered if Declan hadn’t moved it since the last time she used it to spy on him. “Is it in the …”

“It’s still there … I didn’t move it,” he curved his lips, he wanted her to know he didn’t have anything to hide from her anymore. Although he did, he kept the envelopes in his safe where no one knows the combination except himself.

“Okay … I don’t know, Declan, do we really need to have a gun in the house?”

He touched her cheek and smiled, “It’s just for protection, sweetie, we want to be safe … do you know how to use it? The bullets are in that drawer too.”

“See … how can it protect me when I don’t even know how to use it?”Material © of NôvelDrama.Org.

“I can teach you when I get back, we probably won’t need it ever … hopefully, don’t worry about it … okay?” he kissed her temple.

She hesitated, “Sure.”

“I’ll call you when I get there,” he brushed her hair with his hand and waited for the kiss she usually give him before he leaves, but she was reading. “Don’t I get a kiss?”

She looked up at him almost like she’d forgotten then she smiled and kissed him. He lingered, he didn’t want it to be just a casual peck on the lips, he wanted to taste her in his mouth.

He put his hands on the sides of her face and held her in, he could feel her pulling away but he kept going and she complied. He misses her. Sometimes it happens, even when they’ve been married for so long, even when they see each other every day, he misses her.

He misses holding and kissing her passionately. He misses being so close to her that he could feel her breath, the smell of her hair, and he wanted her to know that with his kiss. He wanted her to know that whatever he had going on behind her back, it has nothing to do with her, because he loves her with all his heart and soul.

“Okay … I’m gonna let you go now,” he softly said with a smile.

She blushed, if he didn’t have to leave, that kiss would’ve led them to the bedroom. “Safe trip.”

“Thanks, I’ll call you,” he kissed her forehead, “Love you.” He walked away with his hand still holding on to hers like he wouldn’t let go … not until the very last second.