Chapter 1: The Anniversary Night
I stood up straight and cleaned the sweat that had perspired on my forehead from all the work that I had been doing. I looked around the house and smiled at myself. I was finally done after three whole hours of cleaning. The house looked spotless and the preparations I had carried out for our four-year anniversary. The room smelled of lavender just how Frank liked it. The red petals I had peppered on the ground and around the house gave a nice touch to the already set table where we would have dinner and, if I was lucky enough, make love. I looked at the clock on my phone and sighed. 7:05 pm. He would be back at 7:30 pm sharp like he always did. I had to have a bath and change before he arrived.
Some minutes passed and soon enough I was bathed and dressed in all the scents and clothes that I knew would get a rise out of Frank on our special night. I didn’t wear any makeup since Frank wasn’t a big fan of non-natural women. The black lingerie that complimented my striking red hair and emerald eyes stuck to my body perfectly, showing off all my curves and the silk robe I wore covered up just enough to give a peek and elicit a response. I looked sexy and I loved it.
I checked my phone again at 7:29 pm. I turned to the door as I sat out dining in our open-floor planned house and waited excitedly for the door to open up and my husband to walk in. I took a seat on the dining table facing the door and opened a slit in my robe for a sensual effect and waited, preparing myself that he would walk through those doors any moment. Unfortunately for me, about thirty minutes went by before I figured out that he wouldn’t be coming home early or maybe not at all. I picked up my phone nervously hoping that nothing had happened to him and dialed his number. After two rings, he answered the call, and I breathed a sigh of relief.
“Shit. I’m sorry I didn’t call earlier, Alexia. I’m swamped with work, and I forgot to tell you that I might not be coming home tonight.” His voice filled my ears before I could even say a word.
I frowned. I knew he was always busy and sometimes traveling weeks at a time for work, but it was a special day. He should have known this.
“It’s the third time, Frank. I thought we were going to spend the night together,” I pointed out.
“I know, I know, and I’m sorry. Work has just been hectic, and my boss gave me overtime tonight. I promise that I will make it up to you, my love. I just need to do this if I want the promotion we talked about.”
“So, where will you sleep? At the office?” I asked, resigning to the fact that I would not sleep next to my husband that night.
“No, I’ll book a hotel room close to the office for the night. I might not get enough sleep, but it’s better than nothing since I’ll have to be there early anyway.”
“What if I bring you some food tonight?” I offered, understanding but a bit desperate at that point.
“Don’t stress yourself. I’ll just order room service. I’ll see you tomorrow when I get back. Night.”
He ended the call without a word about our anniversary. I dropped my phone on the table. Did he forget again? No. He couldn’t have. Maybe the work was too much for him and it slipped his mind. I shook my head in confusion. I had to check up on him, even if he didn’t want me to. I eyed my phone tugging with the idea of finding out where he was and, in the end, my curiosity and wifely needs won. I grabbed my phone and scrolled through it, using the ‘find my family’ app to find out where Frank was. It was a plan I opted to have. I didn’t think I would need it, but I was glad that I got it. In about two minutes, the app blinked green, and the location appeared on my phone.
I got up from the table and went into the bedroom. I took my purse and wore a large coat to cover up what I was wearing. I also went into the kitchen and packed some food for him, just in case he wanted my cooking afterward, since he was a picky man. With everything I needed in my hands, I left our home and wandered into the starry night.
It took twenty minutes for me to pull up in front of the hotel where he was staying for the night. The Maryland Hotel and Suites. A somewhat tacky name, but at least it looked nice from the outside. I parked my car myself and walked into the building with my coat still on me and the food in my hands. I approached the receptionist’s desk and smiled at her.
“Good evening, ma’am. What can I do for you?” The receptionist said in a kind tone.
“My name is Alexia Finch, and I’m here to see my husband, Frank Finch.” I replied, cutting straight to the point.
“Can I see an ID please? It’s for security purposes,” She asked.
“Of course. I understand. Here.” I said after I pulled out my ID from my purse and handed it over to her.
With one look at my credentials, she handed my card back to me and then passed me a black key card with a golden number on it. 111 and a lone 4 below it.
“Mr. Frank is in room 111, on the fourth floor, as the card shows. I hope you have a wonderful night, Mrs. Finch.” She said to me with a smile.
I returned her smile, turned from the desk and walked straight to the elevator, pressing the button for the third floor immediately I got in. The elevator slowly ascended, causing tremors to go up my spine and butterflies to swarm in my stomach. I was so close. The elevator doors opened, allowing me to get on to the floor. I looked around, and my eyes landed on a brown wooden door with Frank’s room number on it. I got to it and took a deep breath before swiping the card and entering the now opened room. My heels clacked on the tiles as I glanced around the room.
“Frank?” I called out to my husband, but I heard no response back.
The living room was dark and as I heard shuffling inside, I assumed that Frank was still working in the main bedroom. I set the purse and keys in my hands on the living room table and shrugged off my coat, ready to surprise my husband.
In the end, it was me who was surprised because while I went into the bedroom to see my husband hunched over some papers with his reading glasses on, I would never have guessed that he would be on top of someone, grunting, grinding and saying how much he loved them. His moans reached my ears. Moans I had never heard when he and I were together. The container of food dropped from my hands and clattered to the floor, spilling its contents everywhere as I stood frozen in shock at what I was witnessing.
Frank stopped plowing whoever was below him and turned to look at what had caused the noise. His eyes widened when they landed on me, who was in nothing but lingerie. My lip quivered and my heart sank. Frank got up from the person, used one of the bed sheets to cover himself up and then turned to face me. He put his hands up in a pleading manner.
“Alexia, it’s not what you think it is.” He said as he watched on like a deer caught in headlights.
My heart shattered into a million pieces at the sight of the man I loved trying to gaslight me on what I had seen with my own eyes. It was too much to bear. At that point, I felt my blood warm up, and I stepped forward, my anger beginning to materialize.
“Then what is it? Huh. What the hell is it then, Frank Finch?”
