Decisions Decisions

Estelle, Stell for short, sat in the parking lot of the hotel and checked her makeup in the mirror on the visor of her car. She wasn’t driving some expensive luxury sedan or exotic roadster. The 10-year-old Ford Escape SUV was her everyday driver. Once she was satisfied that her makeup and hair would pass inspection, she started the car to head home. The clock on the dashboard told her it was a little after 11PM. The trip home was about 15 minutes, so she would be ahead of the time she told her husband, Derrick, she would arrive.

As she drove home, Stell squirmed slightly in the leather seat of the SUV, thinking about the last 4 hours spent with her paramour in the hotel room. Austin was 6 years her junior, tall, broad shouldered, and still had the body of an athlete. A chance meeting at a Chamber of Commerce meeting 8 months ago led to a series of lunches and then dinners, culminating in a steamy evening at a downtown hotel. That casual tryst became a regular set of evenings and the occasional couple of days when the opportunity presented itself.

Pulling into the driveway, Stell could see that the dim light of the television through the curtains on the window in the den. Derrick was probably watching one of his Netflix shows, waiting for her to get in. As she stepped from her car, Stell took a deep breath to steady herself. Derrick would be expecting her to give up some information about where she and her workmates had been and what they had done. Practice, over the course of the last few months, had honed Stell’s skills. Inside the house, Stell put her purse on the table in the entryway and went directly to the den. As she expected, Derrick was there watching TV.

“Have a good time?”

“Yeah.”

“Where did you go?”

“Roscoe’s for dinner and then to Club Bell for drinks.”

“Who was there?”

“Me, Erica, Teresa, and Julie.”

Derrick turned off the TV and stood up, stretching as he rose from the recliner.

“Let’s go to bed. It was a rough day today. I had to fire Robert and Angie.”

Stell was shocked.

“What happened?”

“Robert’s wife got wind that he and Angie were doing the nasty. A private investigator got the goods on them. She filed on Robert, changed the locks, and tossed him out of the house. Robert was, technically, Angie’s supervisor and that invoked our non-fraternization policy. It was tough, but the job fell to me since I run that department.”

“Holy crap. That seems a little severe if they weren’t doing it on company time.”

“Doesn’t matter. It gives the whole thing’s a sense of impropriety. And my boss was adamant. His wife was cheating on him. Even though she cheated, he got screwed in the divorce and has a real hard-on for cheaters of any kind.”

In the bedroom, Derrick began to strip to his boxers, his usual nighttime attire. Stell chose a modest nightgown from her drawer and went to the bathroom to change. She was careful to make sure her panties were wrapped in a towel and put in the bottom of the dirty clothes hamper. As she rolled the panties in the towel, she thought again of Austin, his 8-inch cock, and his robust and athletic style of loving.

Coming back into the bedroom, she found Derrick already under the covers. She slid into her side of the bed, doused the lamp on the bedside table, and shuffled closer to Derrick. Nestling against his back, she put an arm over his waist as she spooned against his back. In an incredibly short time, both of them were snoring softly.

At work the next day, Stell was having a great day. The contracts on two houses were nearing finalization, she had a closing that would net her more than $12,000, and she had three showings that afternoon. Life was good. Since she had achieved her broker’s license and gone out on her own, her income had more than trebled, putting her on par with Derrick’s earnings as an attorney.

The closing went well, and the title company promised that her commission check would be deposited in her company account by the end of business that day. After a fine lunch at her favorite downtown restaurant, Stell headed back to the office. She had a spring in her step and a smile on her face as she walked in the front door. Looking at her darling little receptionist, Stell was surprised to see the beautiful young woman’s eye’s showing a hint of fear. Before Stell could approach the desk to find out what was wrong, a man stood from a chair in the reception area and spoke her name.

“Estelle Mathison?”

Stell turned. It was highly unusual for anyone to call her by her given name.

“Yes. May I help you.”

“May I see some identification please?”

“Why?”

“It’s a matter of legality and requirements.”

“What legality?”

The man sighed.

“Ma’am. I am required to verify your identification before I can continue with our business.”

There was a flash of frustration in Stell’s face, but she found her driver’s license in her purse and showed it to the man. He compared it to a note card clipped to a Manila envelope in his hands. Stell instantly realized that he was a process server. It wasn’t unusual to have service performed at her real estate agency. Stell relaxed a bit as the man handed her license back with the Manila envelope. Being served legal papers was a regular occurrence in her real estate business.

“Ms. Mathison, you have been served.”

“Thank you. I guess one of our clients isn’t happy with our service.”

The man looked at her almost apologetically.

“I guess.”

He turned and left hastily. Stell watched him leave and then turned back to walk to her office. Putting her purse on top of a bookshelf, she sat down and tossed the envelope on the desk. There were several message slips to deal with, and she wanted to check her email before anything else. One of her showings this afternoon had canceled, which was a disappointment. Once she dealt with her email, she turned her attention to the Manila envelope. Wondering what kind of nuisance lawsuit she was facing, she ripped open the envelope and pulled the packet of papers onto her desk.

As the papers hit the desk, the slight smile on her face evaporated. Her eyes locked on the heading of the first page, Dissolution of Marriage. Grabbing the packet of papers, she looked closer and saw her name and Derrick’s name A sob escaped from her throat as her mind went to work.

What the hell. Derrick had filed for divorce.

Reading further, Stell found suddenly realized that the filing was for adultery. A shiver coursed through her body.

There was no way Derrick knew. She was too careful. He was oblivious.

Tossing the bundle of paper aside, she looked at the stack of 8x10 color photos. Nausea swept over her as she thumbed through the pictures of her and Austin engaging in every sex act imaginable, including photos of her on her hands and knees with Austin’s cock entering her ass. The look of ecstasy on her face caused the nausea to bubble over. Turning away from her desk, the remains of the expensive lunch spewed into the trashcan. Grabbing a tissue, she wiped her mouth. Her eyes were watering as she turned back to the desk.

Oh, God. Derrick knows about Austin. I have to let him know.

Grabbing her cell phone, Stell pushed the number on her speed dial and waited for Austin to answer. She was surprised when a pleasant female voice came on the line to announce that the number called was no longer in service. Austin’s company cell phone could not be out of service.

Stopping the call, she immediately looked through her contact list and found the number for the accounting firm for which Austin worked. Dialing the number, she waited until the receptionist answered.

“Higgins, Clarke, and Propper CPA’s. May I help you?”

“Austin Dickerson please.”

“I’m sorry. He is no longer employed here.”

Stell was stunned into silence. The voice on the phone continued.

“May I direct your call to someone else?”

Stell’s mind was frozen. She heard the receptionist ask again. Stell pushed the button on her phone and disconnected the call. Grabbing her purse, she stuffed the papers and photos back into the envelope and crammed it inside. As she rushed by the reception desk she nearly screamed at the surprised young woman.

“Crystal. Cancel all of my appointments. I won’t be back today.”

&&&&&

Across town, Stell screeched to a halt in front of the townhouse. Rushing toward the door, she pushed repeatedly on the doorbell and, without waiting, pounded on the door, repeatedly calling out.

“Austin. AUSTIN! Answer the damn door.”

Finally, after pounding on the door and ringing the doorbell for 10 minutes, she heard the deadbolt open and the door swing inward. Austin stood inside, looking like death warmed over. His frame sagged, and his face was bland and emotionless. There was a dullness about his eyes. Stell gasped when she saw him.

“What happened?”

Without moving or stepping aside to invite her in, Austin spoke slowly and without emotion.

“I got canned this morning as soon as I walked in the door. Something about conduct bringing disrepute to the firm. No warning, no severance, and a promise that I wouldn’t get any references. I’ll have to move and start over.”

“What? I don’t understand. What did you do?”

“Me. I guess I fucked the wrong married woman. According to Jeff Parsons, the senior partner, who I now know plays golf with your husband almost every Saturday, having an affair with a married woman is a no-no, especially when her husband is best buds with your boss.”

Stell sagged against the door frame. The nausea was back. She heard Austin’s voice again and focused enough attention to hear him.

“Go away Stell. Don’t come back. My life is shit right now.”

The door swung closed. Stell leaned against it and began to wail.

“Austin. Don’t toss me away. Please. I need you. Derrick has filed for divorce. I don’t have anywhere else to go.”

“I don’t care Stell. You can’t stay here.”

Stell heard nothing else. Returning to her car, she sat numbly in the driver’s seat and tried to plan her next move. Starting the car took a conscious effort. With no definite direction, Stell began to drive. When she finally realized where she was, she shuddered. It seemed that her unconscious had led her home. Derricks car wasn’t in its usual place so she pulled in, opened the garage door, and parked. The garage got dim as the door came down.

Inside the house, it was still and quiet. Stell dropped her purse on the kitchen table and looked around forlornly. A suddenly thought seized her mind and she rushed to the master bedroom. A wave of relief swept over her as she saw that Derricks suits and other clothes still in the closet and his toiletries in the bathroom. At least he hadn’t moved out. Yet.

Much later, Stell heard the front door lock click and the heavy door swing open. She could see the door from where she sat in the kitchen. Derrick, sat his briefcase in the entryway and came into the kitchen. Without a word, he went to the refrigerator, filled a glass with ice and then headed for the sideboard in the den. The glass was soon filled with single malt scotch. Taking a long drink before he turned to look at her, he didn’t say a thing.

Overcome, Stell stood.

“Derrick. I can explain. It’s nothing.”

Derrick sipped at the scotch as he listened. Walking slowly toward the kitchen, he pointed to the small breakfast table sitting in the bay window push out to one side of the kitchen. He waited for her to sit. His voice was calm and even. Stell recognized it as the voice she had heard him use in the courtroom.

“Nothing? I suppose so. Compared to the year and half you spent seeing Vincent, or the two years you strayed with Cary, or the year you played around with Peter, the last two months probably is nothing.”

Gasping, Stell felt like he had hit here with a brick. He knew it all, not just about Austin. Seeing her reaction, Derrick, in full attorney mode, continued.

“Was it more than your association with Jackson when you decided to start your own agency?

Stella’s head began to move from side to side in denial. She tried to speak but could only moan deeply between sobs. Derrick waited until she regained some semblance of control.

“You will gather your things and leave this house tonight. If you can’t take all that you want, I will have my attorney make arrangements for you to get the rest later. Stell, you have ripped my heart out. You were once a beautiful, considerate, loving wife. You turned into a greedy, conniving, slut. I don’t know you anymore. I don’t want to be around you. I’m leaving for a few hours, don’t be here when I get back.”

“Derrick. PLEASE! I don’t have anywhere to go.”

“Go to Austin. Or have you already been there. I’m not so sure if he will take you in either. He is having a bit of a bad day himself.”

The door closed and Stell heard his car leaving. Sitting in the dark house alone, she realized that her entire world had just collapsed. Taking a deep breath, she stood to go upstairs to change and gather what she would need for a few more days. As she packed, her mind was working, rationalizing, in an attempt to put some order to the chaos that had been unleashed on her.

By the time she had two suitcases filled, her toiletries packed and a few keepsakes together, she was past being distraught and was mad. Taking the luggage downstairs, she sat it at the door into the garage. Turning toward the den, she grabbed a glass, filled it with ice, and poured it full of Derrick’s scotch. Returning to the kitchen table, she pulled the packet from her purse and began to read it in detail. By the time she was done, she was seething. She voiced her emotions loudly in the empty house.

“That son of a bitch.”

She looked at the divorce document again. She couldn’t believe what she was reading. The asshole had set her up. It had taken years, but he had played the long game. Everything he had done for the past 6 years had a purpose. She remembered when she had decided to start her own agency. He had been so supportive and helpful. He offered to do all the legal work to set up her agency. She never realized that the LLC was held by a trust and that he was the sole trustee. Everything she had worked for and built for the last 6 years was out of her control.

Everything she thought they owned was in reality, held by the law partnership. The house, their cars, even the retirement beach house was out of her reach. His retirement was almost nothing. He had funded trusts for the grandchildren with the bulk of it, putting it out of her reach. He had been working for the partnership for a pittance the last two years. Anything that he had earned other than the meager salary was being held in trust by the partnership, pending its distribution. She had some personal cash accounts and several personal credit cards. It was clear in the divorce documents that his intention was to take everything from her and leave her as destitute as possible. Derrick couldn’t even face her about the situation. He just dropped the divorce bomb unexpectedly.

Her seething anger turned into a red-hot hatred. Everyone that she thought she could count on, had turned their backs on her. Austin had tossed her aside without hesitation. Her beloved husband Derrick had manipulated her and conspired against her for years to set this up. The more of the scotch that she drank and the longer she stewed over the situation, the more livid she became. As she emptied the bottle of scotch, her rage turned cold and calculating. She decided that if Derrick wanted war, she would deliver it. In her mind, her life was over. He had taken everything that was dear to her and everything she had worked so hard to gain.

It only took Stell a few minutes to put her plan together. If Derrick could drop bombs, she would escalate to the nuclear option. In her mind, she had nothing left to lose. With no marriage left, ho husband, no lover, no business and no future, she felt backed into a corner. Grim determination braced her as she set out to put her quickly devised plan into action. Two quick phone calls and things were in motion. Gathering the rest of what she needed, she sat down at the kitchen table to wait.

Derrick pulled up two hours later. He had taken her call and was surprised that all she wanted to do was talk to him before she left the house. As he had listened to her plead, he realized he still had feelings for her, so he acquiesced and agreed to meet. Entering the house, he was surprised to see it still dark and quiet. He could barely make our her profile sitting at the kitchen table. Her voice came to him remarkably gentle and soft with some slurring of her words.

“Come in darling. Sit down. I’m afraid I drank all of your scotch. You will need to find something else.”

“That’s ok. I am good right now.”

“Then have a seat. We will get started in just a minute.”

Nodding, he pulled out a chair and sat. He could see the Manila envelope and it’s contents on the table. The empty scotch bottle and glass sat nearby. Stell seemed relaxed and at ease. They sat without speaking for almost 10 minutes. Stell watched Derrick intently the whole time. Derrick looked around confused when the doorbell rang. Stell didn’t get up but yelled.

“Come in Austin.”

Derrick was astounded when Stell’s latest paramour came through the door. The look on his face when he saw Derrick was nothing short of comical. Stell brought him back to reality.

“Austin. Come in and have a seat.”

Numbly, Austin crossed and took a seat at the table. Stell smiled softly.

“Well. Here we are. A fine group. I just want both of you to know that I appreciate finally learning just what you both are. One of you is a sniveling little predatory prick and the other one is a sneaking cowardly bastard. You can decide among yourselves who is who.

As for me. It seems I don’t have any prospects. My business is no longer my business. My lover is no longer my lover, and my husband has declared he is no longer my husband. As of right now, I am alone, destitute, and devoid of any feelings for either of you.

Derrick. I can’t believe that you have spent all this time and energy setting this up. Why didn’t you just confront me when you found out about Jackson? We could have worked it out. It didn’t have to come to this.”

“Estelle, There was and is no coming back from this. You know my stand on fidelity. When you let Jackson fuck you in his office, that was it. We were done. I just had to protect myself.”

Derrick didn’t see the fire behind Stell’s eyes.

“You Austin. I thought we had something.”

“We did. We had some great sex that cost me more than it should have.”

The smile on Stell’s face should have been a giveaway. Austin took it as acceptance. Derrick thought it was a signal of her determination to try and reconcile. Neither was prepared when Stell pulled Derrick’s 9mm SIG Sauer from her lap and pointed it toward Austin. There was no hesitation. The gun barked loudly in the confines of the kitchen and Austin tumbled over backward. With a slight movement, Stell turned the gun toward Derrick. Again, no words were spoken.

Derrick reacted to the first gunshot and began to scramble out of the chair toward the front door. He barely got one leg around the side of the chair when the 9mm hollow point bullet struck him just under his armpit. Tumbling sideways, he sprawled onto the floor and never moved again. Stell looked at the two bodies on her kitchen floor and at the two suitcases near the door.

She considered her choices. She could sit patiently after calling 911and then endure a trial and her incarceration. She could take the 9mm, put it in her mouth and join the two bodies on the floor. Or. She could take the suitcases, the 100,000 dollars that was in the safe, her passport, Derricks Beamer and head for places unknown. She might get away and she might not. Tipping up the glass, she drained the last few drops of the scotch and set the glass on the table. She had a decision to make.