Days passed and I began to feel more like myself. Stephen came home. Life was business as usual. Things were fine. Dylan had not reached out to me. My rings were still missing. "I sent them to be cleaned" I told Stephen when he eventually asked. "Should get them back in a few days" I told him. I was hopeful that it was true. If not I would have to tell him the jeweler had misplaced them or something like that. I often fingered my ring finger. It was odd not having something there, but not uncomfortable.
It was Friday morning. There was an early call. I heard Stephen answer in a hushed voice. "Bad news," He told me when he returned to bed. "The entire east coast network went down. They want me to fly out to Atlanta immediately". I grunted my acknowledgment and went back to sleep. I woke up again much later to get ready for work. Stephen was gone. I expected a boring day. I made myself a cup of coffee and headed out the door.
It was a perfectly normal and boring morning. I spent the morning chatting and filing paperwork. I set up some appointments and took an early lunch. I text Alex to meet me. She was the only person I felt like I could confide in. We went to a soup place around the corner from my office. I listened to the details of her most recent adventure. She had gone out the night before and met a man of her own. It was no surprise. From the way she had been talking I figured it was only a matter of time before she cheated on her husband. Eventually she asked me about Dylan. I was happy to report that nothing else had happened. I was beginning to think I might be able to get out of this situation.
I headed back to the office about 1 pm. The receptionist told me there was a man in my office waiting for me. My heart sunk. I knew who it was.
I found Dylan sitting behind my desk. "Good afternoon" he said.
"Hello," I responded in a small voice. My insides were flipping. I didn't realize until that moment how bad I had wanted to hear from him. But at the same time, I was apprehensive. I could not let this go any farther. I was going to be okay. I could be strong.
"I was wondering if you might like to go to dinner with me sometime. I am free tonight night if you can make it." his voice was even and confident.
"Are you asking me on a date?" I asked him, genuinely shocked. I had expected him to try to see me again but I figured he would have another "business dinner" or something to use as an excuse. I hadn't expected this.
"Yes," He replied simply.
"No," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'm married." I said. My heart skipped a beat. I had done it. I couldn't believe it. I had finally told him no. I was so proud of myself. Then I remembered.
"Can I have my rings back please?" I asked him.
"Sorry, they are at my house. You will have to get them back some other time. I can bring them to you tonight night if you can meet me for dinner."
"I need those," I told him. "My husband asked about them. He is going to notice."
"I'm sorry," he said. "I don't have them. If you want your rings, I can bring them to dinner."
I glared at him. "Fine," I said.
"Good, Ill pick you up at your place at 7. Wear something nice. " Dylan walked out of my office without another word.
I immediately text Alex.
"What an asshole!" she said. "You know you love it though, LOL."
I tried to tell her that she was wrong but she wouldn't have it.
I left the office early. It was hard for me to focus on work with my impending date. "Date" I thought about the word seriously. Why had he decided to ask me out. On a real date. Not a business dinner, not a corporate obligation, a real date.
The house was empty. I checked my phone. There was a message from Stephen.
"Hey babe, probably won't be home until tomorrow" Good I thought. I text him back.
"Okay sweetie, Im not feeling well. Headed to bed early. See you tomorrow," I quickly turned off my phone. This way I wouldn't have any distractions tonight. I wasn't sure what was going to happen but I knew I wouldn't be able to text Stephen and I didn't want to be suspicious.
I started to make a plan. The rational side of me said "Jackie, get yourself together. This is wrong. You need to put an end to this before you do something really stupid. Get the rings back and get out" But then there was the less rational side of me that was urging me forward. "Think of his body," It told me. "Think of his hands against your skin and his dark eyes. Think of how you felt when you were with him."
My life moved in slow motion as I waited for my date with Dylan. I felt like I should be productive but I was so flustered and scattered that I couldn't accomplish anything. I circled my house a dozen times trying to focus on something but I couldn't. I decided to start getting ready. I spent a lot of time grooming myself, mostly just to take up time, but it had the added effect of making me feel good about myself. I showered, shaved, and plucked. I did my makeup and hair. Then I started laying out clothes for the night.
"Something nice," He had told me. I picked out a red dress. It didn't show a lot of cleavage and was thigh length. The back was open. Modest but sexy. It had some gold fletching that bordered the collar and ran down the back. I choose a pair of black heels to match the dress. I slipped into a pair of red lace panites and choose a bra to match.
I was starting to get really excited. It was hard not to, I spent so much time getting ready. I began to imagine how he would act when he saw me. I pictured a change on his stoic face. I wanted some indication that he wanted me. I felt like a teenager getting ready for a first date. "No," I told myself "just get the rings".
At 7 o'clock on the dot, there was a knock on the door. I slipped my heels on and ran to the door. Dylan was dressed in a casual suit. He wore a collared shirt with no tie. It was a light pink color. I watched his eyes and got the acknowledgement I had wanted. I watched as his eyes swept up and down my body.
"You look beautiful," he told me. I blushed and allowed him to lead me to his car. Again I found myself sitting beside him, his hand on my thigh. Dylan took me to a secluded restaurant on the lake that I had never heard of. I gasped when I opened the menu.
"I can't afford any of this," I whispered to him, embarrassed.
"It's my treat," He told me reassuringly. It made me feel small again. Powerless. I shook my head.