Jacie and Mie

Please read the series intro before continuing. You may see where I am coming from, and it may help you enjoy the story more. These are just supposed to be little fun, entertaining stories not to be taken too seriously.

I used Google Docs and an immersive reader to sort out the simple stuff. All mistakes are mine. I did have help from a couple of people who sorted out flow and plot. Thank you, you know who you are.

Now on to my usual warnings.

Oxford's English dictionaries define fiction as "Something that is invented or untrue."

So please do not tell me 'It would not happen like that'. Because you are right. It probably would not. This is fiction, so do not complain it is not real or it would not happen like that, you are probably correct. If you want realism, go watch a documentary or the news.

Humans are fallible, they make mistakes. Please enjoy the story.

This could be classed as an intervention story, but it's 'from the cheater's point of view' series. Maybe a little harsher than some that are waiting in the wings.

Humans are fallible, they make mistakes. Please enjoy the story.

It happened again and I could tell Mike was not happy. Another handsome, debonair man had tried to occupy me throughout the evening at my company's annual Christmas party. It was a party for my company so Mike drove and I could have a few drinks. I drove when it was his company party.

It was a regular thing when we went out together with people who did not know us and this was the new Deputy Head of admin at the Engineering Company where I was Deputy Chief accountant.

Sitting at traffic lights on the way home Mike just said to me. "Be careful around that Gerald."

I leaned across and kissed him. "Don't worry so much sweetheart."

As we pulled away from the lights he said. "You were taken by him, and not just the dancing, just be careful. Remember Anthony Villiers?"

Where did that come from? I did. That was years ago before we had children. Tony came on to me. He was attractive, smart and funny. Much like Gerald, but younger. And then he came into work one day and asked for a transfer, there were none available, so he left the company and moved away, he did not even serve his months' notice. I will have to have a chat with my friend Claire, she is Head of HR. She was here when that happened, she may be able to shed some light on what went on, she may not depends on how sensitive it is.

I thought some more as we drove on. Mike stopped the car on the road outside our house, he always reversed into our drive and I said to him. "Did you have anything to do with Tony leaving?"

After he finished backing up, he switched off the engine. I said to him gently. "Well?"

He looked at me with his cheeky grin and winked. He said nothing. The bugger.

I suppose a bit of background might help. My name is Jacqueline, known as Jackie. Mike and I have been married for 12 years. We have two children, Zoe eight and Ben seven. We met in University, Mike was doing Chemistry and maths, I was doing Business studies, Accounting and basic maths. I have never been good at arithmetic and an accountant who can't do sums is not good. Someone pointed me to Mike to help me out.

In those early days we were both gawky teenagers. I had nice blonde hair but that was all I had going for me. I was thin, no boobs, no bum and no confidence. Mike was also thin, but wiry. His long dark hair was always a mess and he seemed to be constantly bumping into things and nearly falling over as if his feet did not belong to him, unless he was running. But he had confidence, a subtle sense of humour, he could take the mickey out of someone, and they would feel good about it. He was very intelligent and had some athletic skills, he could run long distances. He was also good at Snooker and Pool, he said it was the maths with the angles that worked for him.

We became very good friends. But we never got intimate. Then things changed, about halfway through my second year I found I was getting more attention from the boys. I told Mike that I did not understand why until he pointed out that I was filling out and I now had boobs and a bum and was becoming quite 'A looker' as he put it. I started going out with boys and when I thought I had found the right one lost my virginity. The first time was uncomfortable, the second was better. We stayed together for four months. We worked out we liked each other, but not for a full commitment. As soon as we split, I was inundated with suitors. Most I turned down, I did go all the way a few times with selected boys after we had gone steady for a while, but I found them humourless and shallow, some very selfish in the bed playing department. Mike and I talked all the time. I know he had a few dalliances too.

Then one day I was slagging off my latest disaster that I had dumped when Mike told me off for aiming too low. I asked where I should aim? With my intelligence, he named a few of his geeky friends. He mentioned my intelligence, not my looks. I had come to realise by now that I was not the ugly duckling that I used to be.

Then it hit me. "Why would I go with them when I have you right in front of me?" I kissed him on the lips for the first time in the two and a half years I had known him. He was a very good kisser. We were intimate a week later, he was and still is a very good lover, attentive, caring, considerate, inventive, adventurous, and I found out a bit later a little kinky, that suited me. He was the best I ever had, and I tried to be the best for him.

Mike managed to get a job in his hometown with a chemical company, I got one in the same town as an accountant across town from his work. We moved in together and on the following Valentine's Day he proposed, I could see it coming. He was rubbish at hiding his feelings. So much so I had a reciprocal ring for him when he asked me, and I was going to ask him if he got cold feet. He did not.

We found that I liked dancing, proper dancing, not throwing yourself around like a lunatic. Ballroom, Mike bless him, tried. He was good if it was quick, but anything with elegance, his feet let him down again. He took lessons. Eventually he only had one left foot, we are not sure where the other one was half the time. It was the elegant ones I enjoyed the most.

We both moved up in our respective companies. Children slowed the dancing down, we still did it on a night out and at company parties we were often seen doing the waltz.

The Tony Villiers incident happened about a year before Zoe was born. We were at my company's summer function when the new guy Tony made a beeline for me. By now most people knew Mike well enough and liked him. I had in the past overheard somebody call us. "The beauty and the beast" then they carried on. "Although he's not a beast, he's a real sweetie but he's certainly punching above his weight." I thought that was about right. I was 5 foot 10 and I had filled out nicely, 36-24-36, everything fitted perfectly. My hair was blonde and wavy and sometimes when I smiled, I felt the corner of my eyes crinkle. Mike loved that. I often went running with Mike to keep looking as good as I did. Mike, well, he was just older, still gangly and awkward, his face still wasn't very pretty, not ugly, just not handsome. It didn't matter, I knew the man inside. Beauty is only skin deep. At least his hair was much tidier these days.

Tony had been flirting with me at work, it seemed harmless. He was an attractive man and quite funny at times, but I think what tipped the boat was when he walked up and asked me to dance. He completely ignored Mike and when I stopped and introduced Mike as my husband, you could see a look of shock on his face. I think Mike took an instant dislike to him which was a pity as I worked well with Tony. We had got a new project off to a good start with Tony as a project manager and I was doing the accounting.

"Just one dance darling and I'll be back." I remember saying that, but it wasn't, it was three. And when Tony escorted me back to where Mike had been standing with a few of my work friends, he wasn't there, and nobody could tell me where he was. Tony asked me if I would like a drink. I said I did. He put his arm around my waist and walked me towards the bar. I thought I should shake it off, but I was listening to Tony. Mike was standing at the bar. He had just picked up some drinks and turned round and saw me walking towards him with another man's arm around my waist, and I was looking up at Tony laughing at a little quip he had made about one of our colleagues' funny habits.

Mike was not happy. I saw that and ignored Tony all night after that.

Mike and I had a discussion on the way home in the car, it was not good. He warned me again about Villers. I didn't take it seriously at the time. I thought it was Mike just being jealous.

The following week I told Mike that Tony and I had to go to see the customer and it will be an overnight stay. I did this occasionally; it wasn't unusual but this time he looked at me and said. "You be careful around Villers, I know that sort, I've seen them around. Do not become a notch on his bedpost and a divorced statistic." He left it at that.

I was aware of what Tony was like, and it was never going to happen. The following day when I got to work there was a small posy of flowers on my desk and a little note 'looking forward to next week TV'.

I went immediately to Tony's desk, threw them onto it and said. "That was inappropriate and do not do it again."

He looked up at me, smiled and said. "With your beauty you can't blame a man for trying, I think I might just have to carry on trying to see where we end up."

"I wouldn't try it, you won't like Mike when he gets angry and if you do continue, I shall have a word with my friend Claire." Tony knew who Claire was, she had interviewed him a couple of months ago for the job.

He just smiled at me, as I walked away I heard him say. "Well, we will just have to see what happens next week in the hotel, you know, good food, good wine, good company, anything is possible."

When I got home, I told Mike all about it. Then to show I loved him. I rocked his world. For a change it was him handcuffed to the bed. I must have teased him three or four times before letting him come. Thinking back, I was wondering if that was the night we made Zoe.

Tony never did make that trip with me. Two days later Tony came in and resigned, his Deputy, Brian and I went to the meeting, we got the business done and after Brian's performance and as Tony had left, Brian got his job. That was good because he and his wife had a new baby to look after, the pay rise would help.

Now it was all coming together, Mike must have had something to do with Tony leaving so suddenly.

It had been a few years since anybody new had joined my company. Then Gerald arrived. It was the Christmas party and I was standing with Mike talking to some work colleagues. Mike and I had just left the dance floor. Gerald walked up, ignoring everyone else and said to me. "Would the lady like to dance? I've seen that she is very good, so I have asked for a waltz to be next."

I thought that was so thoughtful. I didn't do like I normally do when I was approached like that and introduce Mike as my husband. I took his hand and he led me to the dance floor. He was good, very good. We glided around that dance floor like we were on wings. He was out of my league and definitely Mike's. We had two dances and then he led me back to where I had been standing. On the way back I asked where he learned to dance like that? He told me his parents were professionals and ran a dance school and at one time he was one of their instructors.

When we got back Mike said loudly. "Are you not going to introduce your dance partner to me?" By the way he phrased his question I could tell Mike was upset and that was when I realised what I had done. Blast.

"Gerald, this is my husband, Mike." I purposely put the word 'husband' before his name. If Gerald picked up on it, it would tell him how important that Mike was to me. Gerald looked at Mike and offered his hand.

I had seen the look on Gerald's face on other men when they met Mike. It said, 'You are married to that!' Gerald tried to hide it, failed and if I had seen it, so had Mike.

They shook hands, Gerald said to Mike. "Would you mind if I asked the lady to dance again?"

"The lady chooses her own dance partners." Mike was really pissed off.

Gerald looked at me and said. "Maybe a Rumba next?" That was not subtle, and Mike would have picked up on it. The Rumba is known as the dance of love and passion.

I was not going to let that happen. "No, I am not comfortable doing the Rumba, I might accept the occasional waltz after I have danced with my husband."

"You just need a good teacher for the Rumba." Gerald said, he nodded to me and walked away ignoring Mike. The disrespect, insult and offer was not lost on Mike. I decided to limit my dancing with Gerald. But he was good. Mike and I had a few drinks, chatted with friends and had a dance, the throwing yourself about sort. Then a Waltz, as soon as we left the floor Gerald was there and asked me to dance. I accepted, giving Mike a kiss on the cheek. That was how it carried on, every time Mike and I left the floor Gerald was there. I did not accept every offer.

It was getting towards the end of the evening and the music was for slow dances. I had had one with Mike and he popped off to the toilet before we went home. Gerald asked me to dance. I accepted. He was the perfect gentleman holding me just away from him. When the dance finished, he escorted me back to Mike. When we got there Gerald said to Mike. "I return your wife to you for the last dance, I apologise for taking up so much of her time and for how I treated you earlier, I was out of order, but I was taken with her dancing skills. I have not had a partner that good for a while. Again, I am sorry." He put his hand out, Mike took it, they shook hands and Gerald left. We managed the last dance together. I held Mike very close.

Dancing with Gerald was fantastic, but he would have to be controlled. I know what he was after.

Mike gave me his warning on the way home. He added just as we parked the car on our drive. "I do not trust his change of attitude. It's like he realises he will get nowhere with you if I am his enemy."

"Sorry darling, I don't agree. I think he realised he was being a knob. He is not like that at work."

"We will see." That was all he said.

Things settled down, Gerald was not mentioned, I rarely saw him at work, mainly in passing, when I did, I told Mike. Then one day Gerald turned up in my office. "Jackie, my parents have had a cancellation for their lessons tomorrow, the lessons are paid for because of the short notice cancellation. Would you and Mike like to take the opportunity for lessons? I have arranged for Beth from my office to babysit, you will have to pay her something."

"We will see what we can do with Mike's one and a half-left feet. If Mike can't make it, I can always use a partner." That was not going to happen. "I'm afraid I need an answer straight away."

How did he know about Mike's half left foot? That was a personal joke between us, how did he know about that?

I knew Beth, she was a nice girl. We would not mind her babysitting.

"I will phone Mike and ask him now."

Mike was up for it, but wanted to use Sharla, his secretary's daughter if she was available. She was our usual babysitter. Sharla was still struggling a bit after her father passed on, even though it was a few years ago.

We met Gerald's parents; they were nice people and excellent teachers and the lessons were good. Over a few weeks Mike improved a lot. I did notice that Gerald would use me as a partner to demonstrate steps to Mike and then to other class members, cutting in to take me away from Mike to demonstrate something, until the time Mike refused to let go of me and stared Gerald down. Gerald walked away and used his Mother. The drive home after that lesson was quiet. Mike stopped a short distance away from our house, turned, looked at me and said. "He is still chasing you."

What did he mean 'still' chasing me? He never was as far as I was concerned.

"If his chase succeeds it will be very painful for the both of you. Him physically, you mentally." Mike drove on without a word. Mike ran Sharla home, it was only a few minutes away. As he was doing that, I thought about what he said in the quiet of the house and I could see it. Gerald had given something to Mike by improving his dancing but then he kept coming between us separating us. But I enjoyed dancing with him, so I never noticed it.

When Mike got back, I had a beer waiting for him. "I'm sorry sweetheart you are correct. I just didn't see it. He is slowly trying to separate us on the dance floor."

Mike's reply surprised me. "And not just on the dance floor. He is playing the long game."

I thought Mike just put up with the dancing because I liked it then he said something which startled me. "I love dancing with you, I love holding you, caressing you, guiding you and learning with you. I know I'm not very good, but you don't know how much pleasure it gives me when I get half a dozen steps right and you look at me and smile. You may not realise it, but that smile shows me you've recognised my efforts, and my heart goes out to you. Again, you have more of my heart than I do."

Michael's a watcher, a planner, a data gatherer, an analyser and from what he finds out, he works out alternative approaches and solutions to problems. That was his job, I just did arithmetic with money. He was correct, I was warned.

Dancing around the floor with Gerald was like skipping across the waves gently touching the top of each one. I would have to be careful. That evening Mike made love to me, starting slowly and gently building up the speed gradually and pausing at just the right moment. He had to put his hand over my mouth when he slammed into me. Bloody hell that man knows what I like.

After that I often refused Gerald's request to demonstrate with him and he would pick somebody else, usually his Mother. Except it was heavenly, the man could certainly move.

The course was coming to an end. Mike had improved drastically; he only had one left foot and we always knew where the right one was, if he wasn't always fully in control of it. Gerald asked for us to wait behind on the penultimate lesson. He took us to one side, sat us down and he said to us. "Mike I'm sorry, you may not like this, but I have been invited to dance in a Competition in Gravesend." That was the next town over about 20 miles away. "And I would like Jackie to be my partner. The only other person which is close to her skill level is my mother and that would not seem right. So please may I borrow your wife for a night to enter this competition. I will tell you now, I don't expect to win but the experience of dancing under pressure would be good for both of us. It will mean more practising."

I knew about the competition, but this was the first I knew of Gerald being invited to enter and him wanting me to be his partner. Being invited to enter was, I thought, a little strange, maybe something to do with the dance school. I would love to dance in a competition and Mike knew it. I could see he was conflicted; I tried to keep my face neutral. "As I said before, my wife chooses her own partners." I noticed previously he said 'dance partners'. He looked at me, giving me the choice. I thought about it for a bit. I would love to do it.

"When is it?" I asked.

"In two weeks, we'll have to dance the Paso Doble, Rumba and Waltz."

Mike is quite good at Paso Doble because it is fast.

I looked at Mike. "You know I would love to do this; do you mind?"