This is the third story in a series of tales about a group of 50 something workers.
Chapter 1
My experience with Dan and the rest of the girls from the office was a kind of turning point for me. I found myself daydreaming more and more and these daydreams seemed to concern Dan. I suppose that I found him sexually attractive for some reason. OK, maybe it was because he was tall, handsome, athletic, charming, witty and gentle. Oh, and he looked ten years younger than me, but was closer to ten years older.
My daydreams turned into incredibly raunchy nighttime dreams. I became so turned on sometimes, that I found myself touching my pussy. Once or twice I tried to nudge my husband and get him interested, but he just shoved me away. The fact that this usually happened in the middle of the night didn't help, as it made me tired for work and more susceptible to the daydreams when I should have been working.
Then, one day, as I was about to leave work, I got an unexpected text message from my husband.
Dan found me in the kitchen area, sobbing.
"Oh, Maureen. What's the matter darling?" he asked as gently.
I was unable to speak. Not sure of how to react in case it was misinterpreted, Dan followed his instincts and put his arms around me to try and give me some comfort. I responded by burying my head into his shoulder and continued to cry.
He stroked my back and attempted to make what seemed soothing noises. Eventually, I started to regain a little composure. I looked up at him and said, "Sorry. I shouldn't be burdening other people with my troubles."
"Nonsense," he replied. "What are friends for?
"Do you want to tell me what it's about?" he asked.
"I'm not really sure I should tell you." I paused, but then made up my mind. I took a deep breath and continued, "My husband has been having an affair for the last two years. I found out about it a long time ago, but I hoped that he would get bored with her and, well, finish it.
"Of course, she isn't the first. I think he's always had somebody else on the go since just after we were married. I've always tried to do everything to please him. Whatever he wanted me to do. But now he says he's had enough of me and wants me out of his life."
The tears began forming again and I sobbed into his shoulder.
"You mean he wants a divorce?"
I nodded and then looked up at him again. I could see the concern in his face as I said, "Yes, but worse than that."
He looked at me quizzically.
"He wants me out of the flat. He told me to pack my things tonight and get out. He's moving the tart in tomorrow."
Dan stared open-mouthed. He couldn't believe that anybody could act like that. He said, "The first thing you need to do is take legal advice. He wants to divorce you but he's trying to intimidate you into leaving the flat. He's obviously thinking that possession is nine tenths of the law.
"Look, I've got a friend who may be able to help here. Come back to my desk and I'll give him a call".
He telephoned his friend Rob and explained the situation. He then handed over the phone to me and then walked away to get a coffee. I guess he figured that I needed some privacy.
Eventually, after what seemed a long time, I put the phone down. I felt a lot more composed. Dan walked back towards me.
"Was he able to help you?" he asked.
"Oh yes! He's really good at this isn't he? He's made me feel a million times better. Now I know that I need to be controlled and take decisive action. He took a lot of details from me and he said that he would contact me tomorrow. Meanwhile he told me to go home and not leave the flat.
"He asked me if I had any evidence of his cheating and I told him about the credit card statements that I'd kept. You know; gifts obviously purchased for a woman but that I didn't receive. Little does he know it, but I also pinched a dirty photograph that he had. He'd taken some pictures of the little slut."
"I'm not sure that would be enough evidence in itself," Dan ventured.
"Maybe not, except that the wanker forgot about the mirror in the background and the reflection of the naked photographer is clearly him!"
"Ouch! What a moron!"
"Your friend Rob effectively told me that I had him by the balls. He said that if he leaves the house tomorrow, then I have to call in a locksmith immediately."
"How do you think your husband will take all of this?"
"That's the trouble. He's likely to be violent, but until he is I can't do a thing about it."
Dan was really concerned now, "Has he ever been violent before?"
I looked down and quietly said, "Oh yes. He likes to hurt me. Why do you think I keep covered up most of the time? He must have been planning this for a while, because he hasn't touched me for a couple of months."
Dan was astounded. Like everybody else in the office, he had no idea what I had been going through all of these years. Typically male, his immediate thought was to punch my husband's lights out, but would that make me feel any better? No. But then again, it was a pleasant idea.
Intriguingly, it was only after my thoughts of revenge that I realised that Dan had no idea what Martin (my husband) looked like. He hadn't been at my birthday party β he'd made some excuse about work, but was probably with his tart at the time.
Dan took me home. He understood that this could possibly be a bit risky, but we were being careful. As we approached my house we could see that the lights weren't on.
"Thank God," I said. "He must have gone out."
Dan told me to go indoors and do precisely what Rob had advised. I also programmed my phone number into my mobile (under AAAA so that it could be found quickly). He told me to ring immediately if I needed help, or if I was just plain scared.
I made my way to bed and kept my phone by the bedside, but Martin didn't turn up and I didn't need to call.
*****