Chapter 1 start - Trish Excitement to be on Inner Circle (This is where Dan and Tricia would first work together months prior to when I believe affair started)
It was almost the end of the work day and filled with the excitement of a mother about to watch her twins play soccer, Tricia was wrapping up a legal draft focused on a strategy that could be employed on an acquisition that her corporation was analyzing. Nearly 4 pm and with the game starting in a hour Tricia knew she would make the game.
Within a few minutes, her office telephone's private number rang indicating an internal number she did not recognize was attempting to speak with her. She picked up the phone with a simple, "Hello, Tricia here."
She was met with a distinguished male voice on the other end, "Tricia Jones, this is Dan Smith."
'WTH' her mouth mimicked with words. "Yes, Sir." she said.
"It's just Dan, Tricia." Followed by, "Can I stop down and see you real quick?"
Her mother-instinct forgotten for a moment, "Of course Sir."
"I'll be there in a few minutes." Then in a tone fitting one of the top individuals on the corporate pyramid, "I said, it is just Dan." As the phone went to a dial tone.
Tricia's first thought, 'I'm going to be fired!', then 'what am I going to do?'
A knock at her door and she said "yes" in unison with the door opening and Dan Smith appearing in a thousand dollar business suit, the most striking neck tie, chiseled jaw, smile and simply a very handsome athletic man at 53 years old.
"Tricia, I believe we have an opportunity to utilize your talents with a small work-group that we are going to put together to tackle an important merger acquisition that we feel is imperative to our success." Dan softly says he he takes a seat in the 1 of 2 leather backed high chairs next to an office table in Tricia office.
After matching Dan's same movements, Tricia has taken a seat in the second leather seat and is affixed to every word he is saying.
"Count me in." She asserts herself in the confident matter that has brought attention to her excellent work product and organizational recognition.
Dan not taken aback, in fact proud of her confidence, ask, "Do you want to hear more about the opportunity or simply say yes?"
"It isn't everyday that the corporate VP of international operations ask me to join a work group. I need to hear no more." Tricia smiles.
Dan takes in the outline of her jawline and such perfect cheek bones structure, 'Jesus, why haven't I noticed this woman before he thinks?'. Having the eyes of a man, they inadvertently dart for a quick glance at her breast again, 'where has she been', then the eyes return to hers.
Tricia is looking at his eyes lower themselves, she feels a bit uneasy at first, 'my land so obvious big guy' she thinks, but as Dan's eyes raise, she diverts hers to the side to avoid an uneasy moment.
"Then we have a deal.", Dan says. "My assistant Deb will be in touch.
Jack (Tricia's head of her department) already knows you will be with this work group for the next 12 - 18 months and Deb will have details of a new compensation plan and authority.
Dan's final comments as he stands up, "We will have a team get together at my house next week, on Wednesday night if it works. Spouses or significant others included." 'A test to see if she is attached', Dan Thinks.
"We hope to see you and...?" a slight pause,
"My husband Eric." Tricia takes the bait.
Half of Dan's smile evaporates hearing the words "husband Eric". He is an artist at his craft his own mind congratulates himself, as he answers, "We look forward to seeing you both."
He extends his right arm again and they shake hand, then Dan turns to begin to walk out of the office. Tricia watches him walk with the grace and confidence of a former athlete, she knows this stride well.
Tricia can't wait until she tells her husband, Eric, after the girls soccer game tonight.
Having spent a long day leading and managing a large team, Eric returns home at nearly 7:30 pm due to an unexpected late conference call with counter parts throughout the Country. Wearing a business suit with somewhat wrinkled pants and carrying my suit jacket in the same hand that holds my leather briefcase, he enters the house through our 3 car garage into the large entryway where various Spring coats, shoes and sporting items are piled up from the activities their twin daughters and son participate in throughout the year.
Eric knew that he was already in the dog house as he had missed the twin's soccer game, albeit a rarity, Tricia is never pleased when this occurs. The table cleared of any dinner that once occupied it and noise immolating from the finished basement where the nightly book reading takes place. Eric takes a deep breath, drops the suit coat and brief case on the counter, and undoes the tie as he approaches the stairs. The tie is tossed to the back of a chair as he begins to descend downward with what will assuredly be a cold stare and the silent treatment from his wife.
Upon landing at the bottom of the stairs, all 3 kids look up and immediately sprint to their father, embracing Eric as he announces, "let the games begin."
'Fuck reading' Eric thinks to himself as he steals a glance at Tricia who is not even looking at the smiles, nor probably hearing the laughter that the 3 kids are engaged in with their father. As Eric is rolling on the floor, playfully tossing each kid into the couch, Tricia goes past them and begins to climb the stairs.
Eric's playtime with the kids ends abruptly at 8 pm as it is time for them to head to bed. All 4 of of them walk up the stairs slowly. Even at their ages, they know mom is not happy with dad. As silently as they can tip toe towards the stairs, seeing the light from the work den on, indicating 'mom' is working on something for her employer, they all go up stairs without being noticed. By 8:45 pm kids have changed into sleeping attire, read a short story, been tucked in, kissed on the forehead, told by their father he loves them and well on the way to falling asleep.
Eric might-as-well take his lumps and see if he can escape the outhouse he thinks. As he walks slowly down the steps Eric reflects on how great the day was for him, how his desire was to make love to his wife (after all it had been nearly 3 weeks) and now, there was no chance of that occurring. The only goal was to be in a position to have sex this weekend if he played this correctly.
Eric stands in the doorway of the den and simply ask, "Do you want to talk about this and hear about my day or not?".
Tricia turns and softly says, "Eric, it isn't always about your day." Then turns and begins to type on her computer keyboard again.
Eric realizes his fumble immediately and tries to recover, "Your right, lets start with your day. Tell me everything."
