“Oh yeah. So, tell me, what did you do?”
I can’t say exactly how Monroe would react in this moment. But I have a feeling she probably would have punched Ariel in the face and slapped Jasen. She would have caused a whole scene. I don’t feel right doing any of that. Why? Because one, I’m not her. And two, because Jasen is being honest. And that’s more than what I can say about Monroe. If this were Monroe sitting here instead of me, there wouldn’t be shit she could say to Jasen, after what she’s done. He shifts in his seat uncomfortably before he responds. “You really want to know?”
“Do you want us to be able to move past this?”
“Yes.”
“Then I need to know.”
He stares at me for a minute before he leans back in his seat. “Okay, then. I asked her to join me because I needed her at the client meeting. When we arrived at the hotel, I found out that she booked one room for the both of us. I wasn’t happy, but there was nothing I could do at the time because all the nearby hotels were booked due to the Cowboys game.”
“There is something you could have done. You could have called me to let me know.”
“You’re right.” He pauses for a moment. “When we got upstairs to the room, I yelled at her. I told her that what she did was unprofessional, and I reminded her that I’m married. She didn’t care. She took off her clothes and made it clear that she wanted to fuck me. For a moment, I got weak. I kissed her.”
There’s that feeling of jealousy again.
“But then I snapped out of it and realized what I was doing,” he continues. “I swear that’s all that happened.”
“And what happened after that?”
“I pushed her away. I told her it was a mistake. My client has connections at the Marriott. One phone call, and he was able to get me a room there. Ariel and I slept in two different hotels. We met at the airport that morning, and I came straight home.”
I don’t know how to respond to him. On one hand, I think it speaks volumes that he came clean about it. But on the other hand, would he have done so if I hadn’t walked in just now? Was Monroe right? Is he just as much to blame for their marriage problems as she is?
“Baby. Please say something.”
“Why?”
The damage is done. But I need an explanation. I need to know why he did it. “Why?”
“Yeah. Why did you kiss her? Are you attracted to her? Do you want to sleep with her?”
He shakes his head. “You don’t want the answer to that.”
“Yes, I do.”
“She’s been coming on to me since she started. I’ve always turned her down. I’ve always reminded her that I’m married. That we need to keep it professional.” He stops talking and looks me in the eyes. “It had been months since you let me touch you. You made me feel unwanted. In that moment with her, she made me feel wanted. And against my better judgment, I almost did something I know for sure I would have regretted.”
His answer doesn’t make me feel any better. He had no right being alone in a hotel room with Ariel in the first place. Especially knowing how Monroe would feel about it. He had no right to touch her, knowing he had a wife back at home. But I understand his reasoning.
“I made a mistake. I’m sorry. And it’ll never happen again.”
“I want her fired.”
The words blurt out naturally. I’m not comfortable with him working with a woman he kissed. I mean, Monroe wouldn’t be comfortable. She wouldn’t like this. And I’m sure she would agree that firing Ariel is the best course of action right now. He looks surprised. “That’s a bit extreme, don’t you think?”
“No. I want you to fire her… today.”
“Monroe, do you have any idea how hard it was to find good help after Gertrude retired? Ariel is good at what she does. I made it clear that what happened was wrong and nothing like that will happen again.”
“What she does is seduce married men. I’m supposed to be okay with you working with her after this?”
He rubs his face in frustration. Clearly, he’s not happy about my suggestion. “No. You’re right. I shouldn’t have put you in this position, and now I’ll do whatever I have to do to fix it.”
“Good. Let’s eat.”
He raises an eyebrow. “That’s it?”
“What?”
“I thought by now you would have set the place on fire.”
Monroe would have.
“I’m working on my temper. And if we’re going to work this out, we need to be able to admit our faults, come to a resolution, and move past it.”
He grabs his hoagie. “Okay.”
I take a bite of my hoagie. As we eat in silence, my mind drifts to Monroe. Should I tell her about this? That seems to be a recurring question lately.
“This is nice,” Jasen says, interrupting my thoughts.
“What?”
“You surprising me with lunch. It means a lot. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Do you like the sandwich?”
“I love it. We should do lunch together more often.”
“I agree.”
He reaches over and grabs my hand. “I’m glad you came today.”
His eyes show adoration. His touch makes my insides warm and fuzzy. I’ve never had a man look at me the way he does. Care for me. Want me.
Careful, Morgan. He doesn’t belong to you.
“I’m glad I came too.”
“And I promise. No more secrets.”
But I’ll have one.
“No secrets.”
He stands to his feet and walks around to my side of the table. He takes my hand and pulls me up in an embrace. “I love you.”
He kisses me. His lips are twangy from the pickles in the hoagie. But I don’t care. My knees become weak, and my legs clench together as he kisses me deeper. I want him. Here in his office. I shouldn’t want to do it. But I do. I’ve spent less than a week with Jasen, but I find myself comfortable around him. I can be myself. There’s a sense of calm and peace when he’s near me. And the attraction… every time I look at him, I want him to undress me. I don’t know what has come over me. I don’t know who I’ve become. But I don’t take the time to think about it right now. I start to unbutton his shirt, but he stops me. “Wait, let me lock the door.”
Jasen
After I lock my office door, I walk over to my desk and press the button located under it that automatically closes the drapes. I don’t need all of Los Angeles seeing what I’m about to do to my wife, and I certainly don’t want anyone else seeing her naked except for me.
“Come here,” I order, eager to have her close to me.
She walks towards me nervously, as if she’s unsure about what we’re about to do. What I’m about to do to her shouldn’t be a surprise. I used to make love to her in my office all the time. When she reaches me, I slide my hands to her back and unzip the denim jean dress she’s wearing. She slides it down her body, shimmying out of it. When she steps out of her dress, I almost come on the spot. She’s wearing a white strapless bra and the tiniest white G-string I’ve ever seen. Typical of my wife. I take a step back and unbutton my shirt. I nod towards her G-string. “Spin around so I can see. Slowly.”