[Music: I’m A Sucker For A Liar In a Red Dress By Adam Jensen]
ARES
The camera feed from the shops Catherine entered last week, before the accident, came out clean.
But I kept watching the feed for the past two hours, as if waiting for an error to click. I could feel it in my bones that I’d found something, and it was only after an hour more that I did.
I hit rewind, my eyes following the fast movements, and when I caught it again, I hit pause. It was at a shoe boutique, and Catherine was speaking with a worker, but in the next transition, she was shown going in the opposite direction.
I played that part again. Catherine was on the left, and on the next timeline, she was on the right when Athena was suddenly there.
It’s been tapered.
Someone who doesn’t wanna be found did a clean cut there. I grabbed my phone and dialed Athena’s number, amidst taking a drag from my cigar, allowing the smoke to flee from my nostrils.
She picked.
"I’m sending you a picture to track."
"Whatever it is, it can wait. I’m in the middle of a shoot."
"I thought you were at the hospital?"
"No. This has been pending, and I had to finish up before my manager gets me more vexed. One of these days I’m gonna shoot him."
"This is important," I said, already sending the picture to her.
"Ugh! Why don’t you do it yourself? That’ll be a lot easier."
"Doing this personally will only raise suspicion. This concerns Catherine," I finalized, knowing that’d pull her attention.
"Fine!"
The call ended, and I dropped the iPad at the other seat when a message came through. The corner of my lips twitched. She finally replied after hanging up on me and switching her phone off.
That little trouble of mine.
I got out of my car, and the door closed with a muted click. I dropped the remaining cigar and used my shoe against it as I read the text.
Wife: You deserve it for what you did. ( ｡ •`ᴖ´• ｡)
I typed a reply as I made my way out of the executive parking space.
Me: What did I do?
She typed back, but it took close to an hour. I figured her hand was stressing her out, and I could already picture her cursing while doing it.
I was patient, my eyes glued to the screen, ignoring the nurses who welcomed me. I checked my Rolex. It’s too soon for her to be done with her appointment with Dr. Miller.
Nevertheless, I made my way to the area I knew she would be in. With a final turn towards the corridor, I saw Catherine sitting on the sofa in the lounge, the passing people a blur as I scrutinized her angrily typing and pausing, repeating the action over and over again until she appeared like a cartoon character fuming at her phone.
When my phone dinged, I looked at my screen, a grim mood taking over me like a wave.
Wife: I’m not talking to you anymore. I’m busy. Having fun with Theo...
I peered through my lashes, my dark gaze moving through the area at speed until it settled on Gary and someone else.
Theo Mercer.
No one knew about Catherine’s location except me and a few others. Did Catherine invite him here? I released a sharp breath and dialed her number.
Catching a glimpse of the hesitancy in her face, I prayed for her not to pick because that’d give me yet another excuse to add to the pending number of spanks I was gonna bless her ass with, and so help me God, I was eagerly waiting for the moment that I’ll have her over my lap, and I’ll not stop until she spilled beautiful tears.
She picked.
"Do you want his blood on your hands?"
Her face drained of color, and my cock pulsed painfully in my pants. Her eyes moved as if she felt me, and when they pinned on me, I was itching to finish where we left off last night.
"Don’t joke with things like that." Her voice came off breathy, and a sweet heat flared through me.
A joke. She thinks I’m joking. Cute.
I ended the call and came towards her. She remained still, phone to her ear, and eyes dilated.
"I leave you alone for a few hours, and you’re already having fun with a third party."
Her chest rose and fell heavily. "Yes, you left."
I noted the vexation in her tone.
"Here’s your water... Oh, Mr. King." Theo stretched his hand for me.
I looked at it before I dragged my gaze back to his face. They say he’s a born genius, a prodigy. I wondered what color of brain he’d have when I see for myself.
"My husband just got here, and he’s tired from work." Catherine stepped up when I didn’t move. "I should probably head back to my room. Thank you for visiting."
"Sure, no problem. Don’t forget the flowers." He handed her the bouquet. "You said I made the perfect choice, it’d be a shame that—"
I didn’t let him finish as I placed my hand on the small of Catherine’s back and led her away.
I eyed the flower she held before I snatched it away and dumped it in the nearby trash can.
"Hey!" Catherine hissed, stepping away from me, and I pressed the button on the elevator.
"What did you do that for? That’s rude!"
"..."
"You’re..." She clenched her teeth, as if holding back whatever she had in mind.
She stormed into the elevator, already pressing the button for it to close, but I was already inside.
I backed her to the wall, wrapped my hand around her neck, and smashed my lips against hers.
Catherine’s mouth opened widely in shock, and I seized that moment and turned it into a bruising kiss. My mouth roamed hers hotly, and she melted against me, hand clenching my coat as if her life depended on it.
I forced my tongue into her mouth to taste her, deepening the kiss like I was under dehydration and she was the water I needed to quench the thirst.