Gage (Men of Honor 1)

I lifted the phone and pressed on and off in quick succession, leaving no doubt as to the fact that I had no interest. I hadn’t heard from my Holly but I knew her routine down to the last second so was sure she was on her way home from the club after tennis and lunch with the girls.

I’m trying to give her the space she needs to handle things herself, this way her confidence will grow and she won’t be so easily led in the future, but it was killing me. After the talk we had yesterday I knew that she was finally coming to understand me, was finally beginning to see the light and understand that her husband wasn’t going anywhere and had no interest in the other woman.

But I felt like a protector who was sending his ward out on her own to face the big bad world for the first time. Once she told me though how she felt making Donna jealous I knew she was going to be okay. My baby has a mean streak that she’s been able to keep well hidden until now. Good for her!

The way she’d fucked me after making that little confession was a true testament I believe to the fact that she was no longer willing to put up with the other woman’s bullshit. I’d simply told her that from now on when she runs into the widow, to use that same fire to keep her in her place.

Since it made her feel so empowered to make the other woman jealous, I told her to go with that from now on, but now I’m not so sure. My baby’s not exactly the fighting type and that piranha looks like she’s had lots of experience doing this shit. The fact that Holly hadn’t called is a good sign though; it meant she didn’t need me to come to the rescue.

But why was that damn Donna person calling me? We have no more dealings with each other, not since I’d left the rest of her business with someone else and I was sure it was being handled. After yesterday you’d think she’d have gotten the message. The phone rang again and this time I answered it.

“Yes Melissa?”

“Mrs. …” Before my assistant could finish my office door was flung open and in walked Donna, she was fit to be tied. I didn’t move from my desk, didn’t even let on that I was pissed at her intrusion as my assistant ran into the doorway behind her.

“How dare you discuss my personal business with your wife? You made me a laughing stock in front of her and her friends.”

“I’m pretty sure I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I kept my voice level and uninterested as I waved Melissa off.

“I just had lunch at the country club and when I mentioned having to talk to you about something your wife announced to the whole world that you were no longer in charge of my account. How does she know anything about my business dealings with your company? Isn’t that stuff supposed to be confidential?”

“It is yes, but not from someone who owns half the company.” That one stopped her in the tracks. “Oh you didn’t know? My wife owns half of all my assets, we don’t keep anything from each other.” She looked like a gutted fish, her mouth opening and closing as she searched for something to say.

“Was there anything else?” Before she could answer there was a noise at the door behind her and my face broke out in a smile. “Hello baby, I wasn’t expecting you.” I pushed my chair back and made to get up but Holly reached me first and put her hands on my shoulders and leaned down for a kiss. Well now, that must’ve been one hell of a lunch.

Holly

* * *

I had a sneaky suspicion after the way lunch had gone that Donna would make a beeline for my husband. I was feeling pretty proud of myself after making that crack about trying to get pregnant. The way she’d deflated had gone a long way to getting me some of my own back after weeks of feeling inadequate in the other woman’s presence.

Once she’d regrouped and tried to counter attack Lisa and Tracy had cut her legs out from under her by keeping the conversation going in that direction. I can’t put into words how good it felt to see the look on her face as the afternoon wore on. But with my newfound assertiveness I’ve come to learn the signs of sociopaths like her.

I’ve dealt with others like her before. Of course those other girls weren’t out to snatch my husband from right under my nose but it was the same concept. Always before I’d tuck my tail between my legs and slink away feeling like a shell of myself, but today for the first time I think I got the upper hand.