Many thanks to those who offered comments and constructive criticism on my previous stories. For those who want to say this or that would never happen, remember this is my universe, a place where nearly anything can, and often does, happen. At least on paper...
Please refer to my profile for more on my personal policy regarding comments, feedback, follows, etc. (And yes, I DO moderate comments) And please remember, this is a work of fiction, not a docu-drama...
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It seems that the worse thing a woman can do to the man she claims to love is betray that love by cheating on him. Mark Hurley thought about that as he sat in the dark, alone. Just a few hours ago, he thought he had it all - a great job with a good company that paid well, a nice house and a loving wife. He still had the first two, but the third was another matter.
He thought about his life with Allison, his wife of nearly five years. He met her shortly after she joined the company where he works, The Marcus Financial Group, a company that helps small businesses with their finances.
Like so many others, she started in the Administrative Support section, taking care of all the niggling clerical things that have to be done in their business dealings. From there, she became an Executive Assistant to Jake Marcus, his boss, about seven months ago. It's no coincidence that Jake's last name is Marcus - his grandfather started the company decades ago and handed it off to his son, Allen, the current CEO.
Allen brought his son, Jake, into the business after he finished college a couple years ago, and started him off like everyone else so he could learn the ropes. He did, and was quickly promoted to his current position as the Regional Manager, reporting only to Allen and the Board of Directors. Of course, at some point, Jake would become the CEO, but that was years off.
Mark liked and respected Allen. Allen was something of a father figure to him and helped him transition back into civilian life after being wounded in Iraq. They had met while Mark was undergoing physical therapy. Allen had just finished a meeting with the board of the facility and stopped to watch the Marine veteran as he worked out.
Allen saw something in Mark and bought him lunch that day. They discussed many things during that lunch meeting, and Allen was surprised to learn that Mark had finished his four-year business degree just days before being shipped off to Iraq. Allen was impressed with the young Marine and offered him a job, right on the spot. Surprised, Mark accepted the offer and went to work for Allen the next Monday.
That was almost eight years ago. Mark finished his therapy and focused on his work, taking night classes to get his MBA. Then Allison came along. He was smitten with her the day they first met. After verifying there would be no repercussions from HR, he asked her on a date. They dated for a few months, fell in love and eventually married. Allen surprised Mark by paying for their honeymoon to Hawaii.
Three years after they married, Allen brought Jake on board. Mark had hoped something of the old man had rubbed off on Jake, but he learned early on that wasn't quite the case. Jake liked to drop dimes, letting others around him know who his father was and that one day, he would be the one in the big corner office on the top floor. Jake managed to somehow alienate pretty much everyone around him.
One day, Allen spoke to Mark about his son, and expressed the same concern Mark had heard from others.
"You know, I'm going to have to make him the Regional Manager at some point, Mark," Allen said.
"I know," Mark said.
"I'm counting on you to lead by example, maybe you can help Jake transition into the job a bit," Allen said. "Think you can do that?"
"I think so, Allen," Mark said. "It won't be easy, though."
"What's your honest appraisal of him, Mark?" Allen asked. "Don't bullshit me. Forget he's my son. Tell it to me straight."
"Okay, I will," Mark said. "He's too full of himself to be effective, in my opinion. He refuses to listen to others, spends far too much time flirting with the girls and likes to throw his name around. Allison tells me he's pretty much a sexual harassment lawsuit waiting to happen. He not only likes to chase the women, he likes to brag about it as well." Allen shook his head.
"I was afraid of that," he said. "His mother doted on him from the time he was born. Let him get away with darn near everything. I had hoped bringing him on board might help him mature a bit. I'll have a talk with him."
"So when is Bill going to retire?" I asked. Bill Collins, the current Regional Manager, had been with the company for years and everyone like him. He had been talking retirement for a while and bought a place up in north Idaho so he and his wife could retire in the country while he was still young enough to enjoy himself.
"Sometime in the next six months or so," Allen said. "He's dead set on it. Personally, I don't blame him." Allen left the office with a promise to stay in touch. Mark knew he would make good on that promise. There were other things Mark saw in Jake that he didn't tell the old man. Thinking back on it, he realized he probably should have.
Bill retired a few months after that discussion and Allen moved Jake into his position. It didn't take long for Jake to make changes. Some of them were good, but Mark wasn't so certain about others. He continued to do his job, though, and tried not to let Jake trouble him too much.
Jake did change as he grew into the position, but Mark didn't like what he saw. Jake tended to micromanage things, often times to the irritation of the more experienced members of the team. He also liked to move people around a lot - sometimes into positions that pretty much set them up for failure.
One day, a little more than seven months ago, Jake came into Mark's office. He plopped himself into the chair across from Mark as he was on the phone with a client. When Mark hung up, he looked up to see Jake smirking at him.
"What can I do for you, Jake?" Mark asked.
"I've been thinking about hiring in a new EA," he said. "And I think Allison would fit that role quite nicely."
"My wife?" Mark asked. "That Allison?" Jake nodded his head, the smirk never leaving his face.
"One and the same," Jake said.
"What's wrong with Gretchen?" Mark asked. Gretchen Wilson had served for years as Bill's EA.
"Nothing," Jake said. "It's just that she's looking to retire in a bit and the office could use some new blood." Uh, huh, Mark thought to himself. More like new eye candy for Jake.
"Have you talked to Allison about it?" Mark asked.
"Not yet," he said. "I wanted to get with you, first."
"Oh?" Mark asked. "I appreciate that, but why?"
"I wanted to know what she's like," Jake said. "After all, you live with her. You sleep with her every night. I mean, is she bitchy and demanding, or is she always the happy, bubbly type? Is she playful or serious? I wanna know what I'm in for if I bring her in." Mark didn't like the way this discussion was going - at all.
"Well, Jake," Mark said. "First of all, Allison and I are very happily married and yes, she's always a joy to be around. Second of all, she's married. To me. Third, she's a professional. If you think she's qualified for the job, then offer it to her. Whether she accepts or not is up to her. But the most important thing to remember is this. She's married. To me." Mark deliberately repeated himself to make sure Jake understood his position.
"I get it," Jake said. "You've probably heard the gossip and you're concerned. I would be too if I was married to someone as beautiful as Allison. If she takes the job, it would mean travel, sometimes overnight. Are you okay with that?"
"I trust my wife," Mark said. "If she accepts the job, knowing that's part of it, then she knows the boundaries. And I expect you to respect those boundaries. And my marriage."
"Of course, Mark, old buddy," Jake said, the smirk never leaving his face. "I know you and my old man are tight. He respects you and so do I. Believe me, I'd never do anything to get between you and Allison."
"I hope not," Mark said.
"Who knows," Jake said. "There might even be a promotion in it for you as well." That night, Mark spoke with Allison.
"Did you speak with Jake today?" he asked as she put the finishing touches on their dinner.
"Yeah," she said. "He mentioned something about wanting me to be his new EA."
"And what do you think about that?" Mark asked.
"Well, it would mean some travel and probably some late hours, but it would also mean a nice raise," she said. "We could certainly use the extra money, especially if we're going to have children someday. Why? Are you concerned about something?"
"I just remember you telling me that he was a sexual harassment lawsuit waiting to happen," Mark said. "Do you still feel the same way?"
"I'd be lying to you if I said I wasn't concerned," she said. "I do hear all the rumors, you know. Do you trust me?" He looked at her before answering.
"Of course, I trust you," he said. "But I trust him about as far as I can throw him. He came by my office today and asked how you are at home. I thought it was a bit impertinent, personally."
"That's just the way he is," she said. "What did you tell him?" she asked, her eyebrows raised.
"I told him you're a joy to be around, and I meant it," Mark said. "I also let it be known that you and I are happily married and I would expect him to respect that."
"I would expect nothing less myself," she said.
"Good," Mark said. "So, are you going to take the job?"
"I think so," she responded. We went to bed that night and made love before falling asleep.
She took the job, and as predicted, was gone at least once every two weeks for up to two days at a time. She also ended up working late at least three nights a week. Mark dealt with it as best he could, and did all he could to support Allison in her new role. He kept an eye out, but saw nothing that suggested she was anything but professional in her new job.
Then the unthinkable happened a little more than three months ago. Allen suffered a massive stroke one day in his office. Paramedics were called and he was rushed to the hospital, but he didn't last the night. He passed away, having never regained consciousness. Everyone in the company was devastated by the news and attended his funeral. Mark and Allison were surprised at how many people were there.
