The Seduction

He smells so good, looks so familiar and … sad. More than anything, I want this all to be a bad dream. I want to go back to the kitchen, to sitting on his lap and eating our French toast.

He speaks and shatters the possibility. “However things between us started, they turned very real for me very fast,” Zach says. “If you want to hate me, that’s your right, but do us both a favor and leave now. Let him take you home.” He releases me and pushes me toward Sean.

It’s not nearly enough information. He can’t get rid of me so easily.

“How?” I ask, not satisfied being talked about as if I’m not in the room or being told what to do by two men used to manipulating people for their own benefit. “How did you plan on hurting Sean through me?”

I want to know, and I’m not leaving here until I do. Nausea spikes inside me, similar to when I found out about my ex-boyfriend’s betrayal, but I fight it back.

Zach’s shoulders slump, and I realize it’s bad. And his silence tells me the words aren’t going to come from him. “Sean?” I ask.

“He was going to videotape you,” the man I’ve known nearly forever tells me.

An old conversation with Zach comes back to me. I have my PI license, and I’m good at digging up information.

“Oh my God.” So much becomes clear in an instant. “You knew about the sex tape. All along, you knew and planned to use it against me. You were going to do exactly what Sean did to your sister. Use my biggest weakness against me, break me, and make sure Sean knew it was all his fault.”

“No.” Zach’s voice shakes. “Yes … but no. I mean, that was the plan before I knew you. I fell in love with you, Chloe. I couldn’t—”

“If that’s true, then why did you have the cameras installed in your bedroom anyway? Long after you met her?”

“What?” I barely understand what I’m hearing.

Zach picks up the nearest item, a ceramic bowl, and hurls it against the wall.

I jump as the piece shatters, much like I’m doing inside.

“It was you,” Zach tells Sean. “Every time I changed my mind, you surfaced. You called her. You showed up at the bar, reminding me of the course I had set for myself. For my sister. I owe it to her to make sure you have to live with what you did to her every fucking day.” His face is red, his anger and pain both blinding and blistering.

“I do!” Sean explodes, his rage something I’ve never seen before, and I slink back, away from both furious men.

I’m merely the pawn between them.

“I live with a lot of things I’ve done that make me sick to my stomach, but her?” Sean points to me. “She’s innocent, and she doesn’t deserve the likes of me … or you.”

“Get her out of here,” Zach says, his words gutting me despite his betrayal. “Take her far away from me.”

I’m mute. Stunned. Aching.

Sean nods. “I will, but first tell me one thing. Is there a video?” he asks point-blank.

“No.” I realize I’ve spoken out loud. “No, no, no.” Memories of my naked body on screen flash through my brain. “Not again.”

“Chloe—”

“Hand it over now.” Sean holds out a hand.

Zach pales, which means there is one. “Oh my God.”

“Swear to fuck, I never planned to use it. It was set to tape when we walked into the bedroom, but I forgot. I wasn’t thinking—”

A low-pitched moan sounds throughout the room, and I realize it’s coming from me. Zach, the man I love, betrayed me. On purpose. Knowing what I’d already been through.

“Chloe—” Zach reaches for me, but I dart back and out of his way.

“Hand it over,” Sean says. “I don’t give a shit if you have to give me the whole damned recorder, you hand it the fuck over now.” He vibrates with anger.

To my surprise, Zach turns and heads up the stairs.