Readers, please note that this is a multi-volume and multi-chapter story. It is best when read from the beginning "The Lady Executive, Chapter 1".
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When we pulled in the driveway, I noticed the clock in my car. It was 11:45. I turned the ignition off and got out of the car. It was a cloudy night and very dark out. The dark night made me thankful for the exterior lighting I had installed. As I walked to the door, Reggie was behind me with his hand on the small of my back as if he were pushing me forward into the house ahead of him.
When I entered the house, Lance jumped up from the couch. "Oh Honey, there you are." he said excitedly. I returned his excitement with an ice cold stare.
"You have some explaining to do mister mysterious and I mean now! Start talking. Who is Caroline? What is it with your collection of women? Why do you get bored with them and they just vanish?" I asked quickly.
Lance's excitement turned into anger and a yelling match began. "What the fuck have you guys been filling her head with? Especially you Reggie! I know you want her to yourself but to go to the extent of making her scared of me by telling her about the women I saw that vanished is just a low blow and a subject you know nothing about!"
I had heard all the bullshit and scare tactics I was going to put up with. "Enough Lance! I'm asking the questions here. You have some explaining to do and can't even answer a simple question. Who is Caroline?"
Lance went to the bar without saying a word and poured himself a shot of bourbon and downed it, poured another and then said the words I knew were true after he slammed down the second shot.
"Caroline is my fiancΓ©. We have been engaged for two years. She has done private investigative work for my firm for 5 years. We became involved after the first year." He poured himself another shot of bourbon, downed it and continued. "Yes, I have a 'fancy ass wedding' in a few weeks and I know I am walking down the aisle with the wrong woman. It should be you Joanie."
"Stop right there Lance. I wouldn't walk down any aisle with you. You have been involved with this woman for four years and two of which you have been engaged. What in the hell are you doing messing around in chat rooms with other women, namely me and fucking up my whole world? Riddle me that one, Batman."
His head hung low as he took another shot and continued. "I have a weakness for women. I know it and Caroline knows it. Hell, she's a private investigator. We got started getting close when I asked her to look into the disappearance of a woman I was seeing. Caroline is very good at what she does. She has to be or the mafia wouldn't keep her on their payroll. But she could never find Heather. Whoever got her was a professional. She said all the tracks were covered and there were no leads for her to follow. Soon after, I began dating Sharon and after a month, she vanished as well. I had Caroline keeping a close eye on her in case one of my clients, a guy that I couldn't get cleared of a murder charge, was seeking revenge on me by getting to the women I dated. Caroline kept daily reports on my desk and one day Sharon went to catch her flight to visit her family and that was the last time she was seen. She never made it to her flight even though she passed security."
It was my turn for the bar and I poured myself a shot of bourbon as well. The house was quiet. No one said a word or moved. This disturbed me. Bailey sat right next to Cory quietly taking it all in. I know Cory and Reggie wanted these answers as well. I downed my shot and asked the question I knew everyone wanted to know. "Do you think Caroline had a thing for you and was just taking them all out so she could have you to herself? Am I next on her list? Tell me now Lance! Damn it man, she works for the fucking mafia!" I yelled as I poured myself another shot.
"No Babe. Heather disappeared long before I even knew Caroline, and I quit dating for a while. That's when I got hooked on the chat rooms." he answered.
"Oh, for crying out loud! Now you expect me to believe you got hooked on chat rooms?" I interrupted angrily.
Reggie chimed in and finally broke the silence in the room. "Joanie, we all got hooked on the chat rooms. We feared having relationships. There were too many people who wanted to cause us harm and anyone we were involved with."
I took another shot of bourbon and pondered what Reggie said. I trusted him more than I did Lance at this point and felt tears well up in my eyes as I couldn't imagine what I had done. I was perfectly content with my life until I decided to go on my sex tour with my online men. Lance came to my side as he saw I was obviously getting ready to have a meltdown.
"Get away from me! You are getting married, you asshole!" I said venomously as I pushed him away and poured yet another shot and tossed it back.
Reggie approached me and took me aside and whispered in my ear. "Caroline's biggest clients are some of the dirtiest mafia members. What do you think would happen to Lance if he called off the wedding?"
I looked up at Reggie, then at Lance and back at Reggie. Reggie had a point. He was handsome and smart and from the look in his eyes and the tone of his voice when he whispered to me, I think for the first time he realized the truth of the vanishing women. Reggie had a look on his face as if he had all the answers he needed but seemed disturbed at the same time.
Reggie motioned to Cory and Bailey "Come on guys. I know all I need to know. I'm sorry for not figuring this all out on my own Lance. I should know you better than that man. Joanie, please forgive me. Cory, Bailey, let's go have some fun and leave them alone."
As they gathered at the door, I downed another shot, lit a cigarette and walked to Reggie placing my hand on his chest and looked up at him. Without saying a word, Reggie gently removed my hand and eased me towards Lance and said, "Goodnight Joanie."
I stood there for a few moments just looking at Lance, who seemed to be staring off into space. When we heard Cory's car start, I went back to the bar and poured two shots of Cuervo Gold and took them to Lance. Handing him one, I lifted mine in a toast.
"Here's to hoping we survive this fucking mess." I said, smiling hopefully.
"Cheers." Lance answered, clinking his glass on mine. We downed our shots together.