To the literary purists β This is a short story specifically designed to fit on one page. As such, there is no character development and no witty dialogue. I am not writing the next great novel. To everyone else, I hope you enjoy.
How do you know if your spouse is a cheater? They protest too much, say they could never, would never, but how do you really know? Now my wife has asked (accused) me in the past. I finally began to wonder about her. Then I remembered a story that left me the perfect opportunity to test her faithfulness.
It seems that one time, shortly after I had met her, she was out at a bar and someone in my same profession, with the same first name, had left a business card where she was seated. She claims she initially thought it was mine, not knowing me well at that point. Thus, I launched the plan to use an alias to test her.
I decided to write an email, with a random name, claiming to have seen her in a mall parking lot and asking the people around me if they knew her name. I pretended to have found out not only her name, but where she worked. I then sent the email to her at her workplace and waited for a couple of responses...one at home telling me she had received a random note from an admirer, and then wondering if my alias would receive a response from her. No report of any correspondence was forthcoming, so now it was a waiting game to see if she was interested in replying to the communication.
Well, it took about a week, but one day my alias had a response in the inbox. Now since no one else had the email address, it was apparent where it came from. She was vague in her response, since I had not said I had met her, but she showed an interest in exploring a further chance to get together and know her secret admirer.
Disconcerting. She was willing to stray, and not with someone she had even met. I struggled with the emotions of deceiving her and her apparent potential infidelity. It was now full speed ahead and the need to get to the bottom of the situation. My alias quickly replied, saying I had been on pins and needles awaiting a response. I indicated I would be back in town shortly and suggested we meet in a public place to see if we had a connection and avoid suspicion. She suggested an upscale bar and my alter ego responded with a "meet you there, in a sport coat with a red rose". The plan was in motion.
I had recruited and pre-qualified three gentlemen to play the alter-ego and now had to coordinate schedules to keep this deception moving forward. All were a bit younger, handsome and charming, so there should be no hiccups there. My first choice was available, so we arranged a date and I made room reservations for him.
Then I set about seducing my wife from my phantom email account. I proposed a number of scenarios, from vanilla to spicy. Initially, she was a little aloof, but apparently began to crave the excitement. After a night of numerous communications, she was ready to meet and agreed on the date. Again, no mention of this at home, but she was all of a sudden very jumpy around the house. I wondered what her plan to get out of the house would be and soon found out. She "reminded" me she had a weekend work event that would take her out of town that she claimed she had mentioned to me several weeks ago. Total Bullshit.
As the appointed weekend arrived, she packed and told me she would be leaving about noon Friday to the meeting. I shrugged it off, knowing full well her ultimate destination. I checked in with the appointed surrogate to confirm he understood the terms of our agreement and was pleased when he responded he was excited to be a participant. He was fully aware of all the correspondence as he had been copied on everything. I gave my wife the usual goodbye kiss in the morning, wishing her a successful conference and to enjoy her time away from home.
I spent the day as usual, knowing they hadn't planned to meet until 6PM. Then I got antsy. Would she? Wouldn't she? Had I chosen the right guy? The answer came a little after 9PM in a text from the guy. She had beat him to the bar and had a drink when he arrived, very unlike her to be at the bar alone. He had recognized her from the photos I had provided, but ignored her in keeping with the fact he hadn't met her. He ordered his own drink, glancing around the bar, finally saluting her with his glass. She finished her drink, ordered another, and sashayed over to the stranger with the red rose.
A quick peck on the lips. They sat next to each other, knees touching. He looked in her eyes, put his hand on her thigh and started a romantic banter. As she became consumed in his spiel, he slid his hand higher and higher up her thigh, finally reaching where her panties should be. Except they weren't. His hand slid to her bush and he slipped a finger into her dripping slit. She sighed. He leaned in for a real kiss and was rewarded with a sloppy, wet smack. Their tongues dueled. As the bartender silently said "get a room", he paid for the drinks and escorted her out.