For a better understanding of the characters and their mindsets please read Chapter 1. For those of you that have and provided comments, after reading Chapter 1 thank you. The rest of the chapters will be submitted daily for review and hopefully for publication. I would suggest reading through at least Chapter 4 before making your final decision on whether to continue to read all 9 chapters.
Prologue -- The story is from the POV of the husband of a 42 year old wife/mother who was very content with her life. Things change when she is assigned to a project out of town. It is the first time she has lived totally independent and she finds the freedom intoxicating, add in a charismatic neighbor and you have recipe for trouble.
Chapter 2
Base on what I could see from the camera outside of Frankie's apartment, Jason and her continued to have a friendly relationship saying hi when they crossed paths at the complex. He did call her on the Tuesday after that weekend. I could hear Frankie's part of the conversation and heard her tell him they couldn't go out. Frankie went on to tell Jason that what they did was a mistake, she was drunk and most importantly she is married and it can't or won't happen again. As far as I knew there were no other inappropriate contacts.
Over the next six weeks nothing appeared to be happening, at least at her apartment. She came home on weekends and when she couldn't I went there. I even attended two of the BBQs and had a great time. I will say the first one I attended Jason kept his distance from me but whenever he had the chance I would observe him talking with Frankie. As soon as he noticed me looking he would walk away but not before rubbing her shoulder or squeezing her arm. During the second BBQ, which was this past weekend, I had a decent conversation with group of the other tenants that included Jason, mainly talking business and sports but as during the first one Jason kept on checking out Frankie and speaking to her every chance he had. What bothered me some was it appeared to me Frankie at times was flirting with him. I just assumed it was the alcohol but was a little bothered by what I observed. I never got around to asking her what they were talking about.
Frankie and I always had a great time and great sex when together so I felt pretty good of how things were going. The seventh weekend after the incident Frankie was to come home to attend a function hosted by my biggest client. During our nightly call on Wednesday before that weekend we talked about her coming home but she informed me she wasn't going to be able to due to some problems at work and she would be working all day on Saturday. I was a little surprised about this since when I was up there the week before she mentioned how well the project was going and her bosses were happy that the project was ahead of schedule.
I was disappointed because Frankie was always a good ambassador for my company at functions like this. I changed the subject and told her, "I really enjoyed talking with all your neighbors last weekend, even Jason."
She said, "I haven't seen any of them since last weekend, but I am sure you made a good impression."
"You haven't seen any of them, not even Jason? Speaking of Jason you two seemed to be having a very spirited conversation at the BBQ. What were you talking about?" I asked.
She said, "He has been trying to get me to go to lunch with him to pitch some financial products to me for us."
"The only thing he wants to pitch is Jason to you and I am not talking about financial products," I responded. "Have you gone to lunch with him?" I asked.
She hesitated and then said, "I was running an errand to the bank this morning and ran into him as he was leaving for lunch and he asked me to join him and I did. I didn't want to be rude."
I asked, "What did the two of you talk about?"
She said, "Just general things."
I then asked, "Did he bring up your time with him at your apartment?"
Frankie sounded a little perturb that I would ask that and said, "No he didn't, he was a gentleman and never has brought up what happened the night after the BBQ."
I went on, "Speaking of the BBQ are planning on attending without me?"
She said, "I'm not sure since I will be working Saturday." She then asked, "Do you think I should attend?"
I asked, "Why shouldn't you?"
She said, "I do not want to put myself in a vulnerable position, after what happened the last time."
I asked her, "Are you concerned about being at the BBQ with Jason without me being there?"
She admitted she was and said, "I am attracted to Jason. He is handsome, very personable and makes me laugh."
I then asked her, "Do you want something to happen".
She just answered, "No, I don't think so, maybe."
I really didn't like the answer so I told her, "If you have doubts about being around him then don't go don't put yourself in that situation." I went on to say, "I don't understand why there would be any doubt about what you would do. We shouldn't even be having this conversation."
Frankie responded, "That is not fair, you said you wanted me to be truthful and I am being truthful, would you rather have me lie about my feelings?"
"I would rather you not have any of those feelings towards Jason, at all. I am done talking about him. I will call tomorrow", and hung up.