Cameron Brown sat down quietly in the chair next to the desk, looking at the artwork in front of him, but he was not registering. He had been chatting with Isabel, his wife Carla's boss' twenty-year-old daughter. It was Isabel's birthday today, Monday. Her father, Dennis had invited them for the birthday because Isabel liked Cameron and Carla, but she preferred Cameron's company because she was an artist at heart. Cameron was an architect, just starting up whereas Isabel was studying to be a graphic artist. Their shared love of art made it easy to find common ground, and Cameron also helped her with the technical side of art. Cameron might be an architect, but he loved the almost random process of design, drawing out his ideas using pastels and pencil.
Dennis owned a successful advertising company, and Carla was one of the managers. She did well for herself, earning a good salary, and had no problem being the breadwinner whilst Cameron's career was starting up. Cameron was twenty-six, Carla was twenty-eight.
Isabel looked at Cameron, who was doing his best to hide what he just saw. She knew Cameron was highly sensitive, one of the few gentle souls she had known. Most men make the mistake of thinking of him a submissive. Isabel had seen his passion, and knew under that exterior resided a man who had no fear of his deepest emotions.
Carla was in the home office with Dennis, talking about their business trip. They were leaving the next morning for four days. Neither knew that Cameron had just seen them in an embrace with a passionate kiss. Cameron was devastated, but he forced it down, buried it under a thin veneer.
"Are you okay, Cameron?" Isabel asked as she studied his face after he returned.
"Sure, Izzy."
He could see she did not believe him, but she did not push. She flashed him a sympathetic smile.
"Let's just chat then. Any new ideas?" Isabel asked.
"I have some fragments, I will show you. Most of the ideas are half sketches, but I might be able to combine them," he answered, trying his best to sound normal.
Cameron barely held it together. He was not an aggressive man, but he was now struggling with intense pain and anger. Carla and Dennis joined them, and Carla looked at Isabel's art. Isabel jumped up and put it away, hiding it from Carla.
Cameron understood, some of it was very personal and Isabel had never warmed to Carla in a way that would allow her to show Carla her art.
"Sorry, Isabel," Carla said, half annoyed.
"It is just personal. I did not mean to be rude," Isabel said and Cameron was sure Isabel was not apologetic by any stretch of the imagination. Carla turned to Cameron and scowled as he was sure she could see his change in emotional disposition.
"Ready to go, babe? I still have to pack," Carla asked, she seemed perturbed.
"Sure, Carla," he answered, "Please come around to the house, Isabel, I will show you my ideas."
"Thanks, Cameron, I go back to Boston on Wednesday, so I will probably come tomorrow," Isabel got up with him and kissed his cheek,
"Perhaps we can have lunch?" she asked expectantly.
"I would like that, Izzy," Cameron answered. It was out of character for him to go to lunch with someone other than Carla, but part of him had concluded that he needed someone else in his sphere of friendship.
Cameron saw Carla look at him, she was puzzled at his decision, which showed something was bothering him. She felt the sudden chill at the thought that he might have seen Dennis and her. Cameron and Carla greeted and left, Cameron was consumed by his thoughts. Infidelity was a dealbreaker so he will not back down.
"Is there anything bothering you, Cameron?" Carla asked as she put her hand on his thigh on the drive home. She might be fucking Dennis, but she loved Cameron deeply. She knew what his face looks like when he is hurting, and something had hurt him.
"Nothing Carla. Isabel just had some disturbing sketches, so I am worried."
"Bad sketches?"
"I cannot talk about it, she trusted me, Carla. But I will work it out."
"Okay. We will be back on Friday. Dennis will pick me up in the morning," Carla moved on, not interested anymore, and she was satisfied with the answer. She was never any good with his emotional issues. She loved the way Cameron would make love to her, never rushing to the culmination of sex. Cameron loved her in his arms and Carla delighted in his ability to create intimacy, he found the whole process stimulating. But the fluffy emotional stuff sometimes irritated her.
But Dennis's pure lust for her, and the debauched way he came after her pussy was overwhelming. Dennis normally slammed her into an almost catatonic state of orgasm when they fucked, something Carla could not get enough off.
"Carla? Maybe I will go camping," Cameron said, and Carla's concern was triggered again.
"Now I know something is wrong, Cameron. You only go camping if something serious is going on."
Carla considered that maybe it wasn't Isabel.
"I will work it out, Carla. Please don't push it."
Carla decided to let it go again. Cameron was a philosopher, living inside his head. Despite this Cameron never failed to spot her needs, unless he is troubled, which he is now. She knew that if she pushed it there will be a fight because his emotional process has not concluded yet.
"I won't for now, but Friday I want to know. Please, Cameron."
"You will know on Friday, Carla. I will make sure of it."
Carla sighed softly, relieved. It was not about her, so she knew she would have to be prepared for him to drone on about his feelings. She completely missed the veiled threat from Cameron as it is completely out of character for him. Carla could easily be classified as an alpha female. She was oblivious to the fact that she sometimes bullied Cameron emotionally. She often lost patience with his gentle nature, though she did love his ability to make her the center of attention. Cameron worshipped her, and she basked in it.
They arrive home and Cameron poured them wine, then went to the den where he started to touch up his existing designs. He struggled to focus on his work, but his mind worked on his plan. The first part was non-negotiable. Carla will return to a house bereft of any evidence Cameron lived there. He just had no idea where he would vanish to.
Carla called him for bed just after eleven, but he declined, shuddering at the thought of sleeping next to her. She gave it up, knowing these moods need to be dealt with internally for him. Part of her still had the gnawing feeling that he might know of her and Dennis. Carla knew she needed to put a pin in her relationship with Dennis, for her marriage, but she was not ready yet.
She pulled out her burner phone and started to text Dennis. She also sent him a picture of her wet pussy. Then she started to play with her clit as her other hand texted. She started to orgasm as she manipulated her clit, making a video of it for Dennis. She knew it was risky, but she loved the thrill of getting off for another man with her husband a few feet away in another room. She did not hold any substantial love for Dennis, but the absolute thrill of the affair had her hooked.
Cameron heard her orgasm, but this time he did not get hard, knowing she was not masturbating for his benefit. He felt the rage again and started another drawing, and this time he regained complete focus. He worked through the night, and in the morning Carla made him coffee. Cameron hid the new drawing carefully, it will be revealed later.
Dennis arrived just after eight and was taken back by the unfiltered rage on Cameron's face, plus his almost blatant disregard for Dennis's presence. Cameron watched them leave, then turned into the house. He gave it an hour, then started to pack up, his old pickup in the garage so he could easily load his stuff. He remembered the lunch date with Isabel, and felt irritable that he would have to wait a few hours longer. Cameron wanted to leave this life behind.
***
Carla and Dennis spoke as they drove, a two-hour drive.
"Cameron seemed strange this morning Carla, angry," Dennis said.
"At you?"
"Seemed that way, does he know?"
"No, he said nothing. But there was something last night. He refused to talk, which is normal if he has something on his mind."
"Will you leave him for us?" Dennis asked.
"No Dennis, I will not, unless something drastic changes."
