"Great, hopefully we won't be too far behind you."
About then I pull over and drop the driver's possessions on the verge plainly visible and take photographs for evidence. Getting back in the car, I turn towards Olivia and say, "Do you realise all of the damage you have done? It's not just about sex it's about the rest of your life." At that I turn back and drive away.
My next call finds Rachel and I waste no time, "Rachel, tell Scott to go and get a lock and fix it to the smallest bedroom door immediately."
She senses my tone and replies, "Yes David."
"And tell him to put a small table and chair in the same bedroom. Now tell me, how far on is Olivia with the Farm project? do you have enough work to be getting on with until our new Architect arrives?"
"I think I have enough to go on with." she said.
"But overall?"
"I don't want to guess David, I've barely got started."
A voice behind me says, "I will finish them." I ignore her.
"Ok I understand. I should be home soon, it looks like I might have to help out if we are to get the work done in time, move everything Olivia will need into that bedroom including the drawing board from the office; you'll find it folded up."
"Before you go David, Aleesha has been on, it sounded urgent."
Closing the call, I next call Aleesha.
"Ohh David" she says, I'm so glad you called, I've got quite a lot on that Mark scumbag but I'm very worried, I've just seen him and Monica headed into a small hotel."
I swear under my breath. "Have you got anything you can throw at him?"
"Yes but I don't think I should do it in front of Monica, we are friends."
"OK how about one of your colleagues. Have you anyone with a nasty streak?"
"Ohh yes, do we ever."
"Ok let him take the photos to their hotel. Ask him to try and deliver when Monica isn't around if that's possible; I imagine that they've done the deed by now. But let's throw pictures of him and his floozies at him.
Be prepared to give pictures of the wife to Monica, especially ones of the two of them together but only as a last resort; I won't have you do it unless I have to. Mean time take photographs to his wife and have a chat with her, don't put yourself at risk but if she needs our help just call and I'll ask someone to collect her, probably better if it's one of the ladies who will know how she feels.
"Don't worry David, I have already seen the wife and know exactly how she feels, you can leave that part to me."
He sighs with relief, "Of course I was forgetting, and thank you so much for what you are doing, keep me posted yes?"
"Of course David, I'll call as soon as I have anything," then, "Can I add that this was not the way I hoped this would end."
"I know Aleesha but I am not in the mood to be nice right now. Monica's a tough woman but we need to get this over with and then she will need friends to be there to help pick up the pieces. You never know she might have already guessed he's married and decide to continue an affair anyway but knowing Monica I doubt it, in fact I think she will be very angry."
Then I suddenly softened, "Am I doing the wrong thing? I'm angry right now and I don't want to over react."
"Maybe a little, can I suggest this, instead of creating a scene why not leave them for now, after all as you say, Monica is a strong woman and she's probably having the best time she's had for a long while, that side of it is not for us to interfere. In fact, if Monica finds out we interfered she might never forgive any of us."
"You are completely right, I am sorry."
"That's fine; I am guessing you're having a hard day"
"You could say that. Right, look, you seem to know what needs to be done, can I leave it to you for now, if it's some kind of authorisation you need get in touch but otherwise you have my full trust and authority, is that okay?
"That's what I was hoping you would say, but I needed to check with you first; thank you David, leave it with me."
"Thanks Aleesha I owe you."
"No you don't, you're a good hearted man, and I am delighted to help you in any way I can."
Next, I rang Michael. "Hi buddy," he answered.
"Hiya pal, how's things going at your end?"
"Getting there finally. It's been a bit of a cliff-hanger but Sarah's being co-operative at last, so co-operative that I am beginning to worry."
David laughed.
"Did you call for anything special?" Michael asked.
"It's just that things are piling up the closer we get to our holiday and I wanted to make sure you were still on board, I am half expecting something to go wrong but fingers crossed that nothing does.
"Anything particularly worrying you?"
"Yes the farm project, we have a new qualified trainee Rachel, who we are pretty sure is going to be good but she's only just started. She's trying to assist Olivia but the holiday is coming on us fast."
"I can't wait to see the project, sounds exciting."
"It is, I'm going to throw in my lot to help, although I wanted it to be Olivia's baby. Hopefully we'll get it to a stage where we can hand over to you. We are going to ask you to liaise with our joint funders and if they are happy submit the proposal to the authorities, that's where we are hoping that Rachel will be most helpful because she specialised in Building Control and Planning. It can't hurt to have her tagging along with you as she is a local. Anyway, we are happy to leave it in your hands; you have been in this game as long as we have. Perhaps Rachel can take you to see the farm first thing Friday."
Their call went on as they firmed up on plans.
As I stopped at lights close to home I felt movement behind me, Olivia reached over and around and unexpectedly kissed me. She said, "I'm sorry David I don't deserve you, you're such a good man, I love you" and she dropped back to her seat letting out a screech of pain as she landed. Now that I had calmed somewhat I was starting to worry about the damage to Olivia but not for long, I hadn't yet thought of a reason why I shouldn't just divorce her. How can someone do what she had and then claim to love.
I rang my father to update him on Michael and Rachel. Disconnecting I still felt tainted but relieved that at least Olivia sounded 'normal' if there was such a thing anymore. I had this weird sensation that she might have forgotten a lot of what just happened but wasn't sure how I could approach it.
I rang Angela's office as I was drawing close to home then changed my mind. I ought first to find out from Jane what happened with Angela last night.
*******************************************************************************
Aftermath - David
From then on, the time flew by and before I knew it, Friday arrived. There was not much of note beyond usual misbehaving but I made sure Olivia had no further distractions, she was locked away in the bedroom working and Jane, or Bree, took her out for walks from time to time. Angela had told me that it was possible that Olivia's brain might conceal parts of her experience that were particularly horrific. She said it was ok to ask her what she remembered but not to push for anything that was being tucked away, she would deal with the issue at her appointment on Thursday. Soon after the event, I happened to overhear a conversation where Olivia was describing my action against the truck drivers and extolling how she found it so exciting "I nearly cum on the spot."
During a break in work on Thursday, I went to talk to Olivia in her bedroom/office. I asked her what she remembered but she just gave me one of her secretive smirks and said, "You were very manly," patting her chest and a little colour coming to her face. I suspected that she might have wanted more from me but she was off my radar and in any event, there were injuries that needed time to heal.
I never did hear what happened with Angela, the ladies seemed to close ranks which made me even more determined to find out. I resolved to save the question to reopen at a suitable moment, perhaps while we are away.
So Friday came and I heaved a huge sigh of relief as Michael settled straight into taking on our Farm project and a happy working relationship with Monica, Dee, and Rachel, all of whom found he was someone to respect. Nobody knew how Monica was after her tryst with Mark, but Aleesha reported that his wife at first seemed not to believe what she was being shown. However, it soon became apparent that she had been suspicious for some time but didn't want to believe it, so figuratively 'hid her head in the sand'. Aleesha had left her their new private number for contact if she needed support in the weeks ahead but suspected that she was vulnerable to the smooth talking Mark. It seemed likely that nothing would change so they were all left with a bad feeling of an unfinished job and the fear that Monica might develop feelings for the man
The night all the guys came, I decided to make himself scarce early on, saying I had work to finish in the office. Even from there, I could hear a lot of giggling suggesting a good time was being had by all. Jane came to me after dinner and did a very good job of distraction, it was rare for us to enjoy time together so we made the best of it, both talking over the week's events and making love.
"I miss you in our bed" she said.
"I know but I need some time alone, I have some healing to do, I promise it's not personal."
