Main Cast
John, 35 years old, 5’ 11”, 175 lbs, brown hair, blue eyes, Cheryl’s husband.
Cheryl, 34 years old, 5’ 4”, 105 pounds, brown hair, blue eyes, John’s wife.
Meryl, 34 years old, 5’4”, 105 pounds, brown hair, blue eyes, Cheryl’s identical twin.
Monica, 33 years old, 5’8”, 140 pounds, auburn hair, green eyes, works with John.
Ed, 40 years old, 5’11”, 180 pounds, brown hair, brown eyes, Dennis’ boss.
Ted, 9 years old and Natalie, 7 years old, John and Cheryl’s kids.
From the last chapter
I walked over and sat down on the couch and Cheryl stirred. She was facing the back of the couch and didn't see it was me until she turned her head. As soon as she saw me she buried her face back into the couch and started crying. As soon as I saw her pain and anguish, I knew my heart wouldn't let me walk away without a fight. I put my hand on her shoulder and asked her to talk to me.
"Cheryl, please talk to me about what happened. I know that this is difficult, but I want to know exactly how it went down."
She lay there crying as I tried to calm her by stroking her arm and back. Finally, she turned so that she could talk to me. She got the words out while fighting back her sniffles. "It was while you were out of the office yesterday afternoon. Ed said you had a client meeting and asked me to come see him. He said it was very important. When I arrived, we went into his office and he asked me if you and I had a happy marriage. I was surprised that he asked that, but I said absolutely. He seemed to be considering something and finally told me that he might have to fire you. Well, I was shocked. Based on everything I had heard, you were doing well. He said that he didn't know if he should tell me about this, but that he knew that you were fucking Monica. He didn't say sleeping with, he used the work fucking. I think he wanted to shock me a little, and it did. I told him that there was no way you would do that and that I knew Monica well enough to know that she wouldn't do it either. He just sat there like it was so sad that he had to tell me this. Then he stood up and came around and sat next to me. He was holding the pictures in his hand and he handed them to me. He told me he was sorry he had to do this, but that I had a right to know. I looked at them and was, of course, flabbergasted. I see now that since the man is not easily identifiable in the sex pictures, that I should have thought about it some more.
Anyway, I burst into tears and he started comforting me. I'd been feeling less attractive lately, so I was a little out of sorts. I also thought that maybe the affair was partly me pushing you away because we had a fight right before you spent that week in New York. Anyway, I didn't even realize he was doing it until I felt his hands rubbing my shoulders. I looked up and asked him if there was any way that this could not be true. He shook his head and told me that he had had you followed because he had seen some interaction between you and Monica that he felt was inappropriate for married people. I guess I was just in shock, because the next thing I know his hand is on my knee and he is asking me what we would do if you were fired for sexual harassment. I told him that I was not working so that I could stay home and raise the kids until middle school. I told him that it would be a hardship on us because your firing would hurt your chances for another job and I'd have to start looking after not working for a while. Then he started telling me that he could prevent your firing. I asked him how and we beat around the bush until he finally said he was willing to give me the pictures in exchange for a blowjob. Well, I was shocked again and told him there was no way I was going to do that. He smiled and said he understood in a comforting way. He was just so smooth and convincing. He said that he only hoped that our children were not affected by the situation. That, of course, hit a soft spot. He must have known about your childhood and your family situation. Did you ever tell him about that?"
"Yes, I think I did when we were on a trip once."
"When he hit me with that, I started to get worried about the kids. I knew that Ted and Natalie worshipped you and I didn't know how we would support them. And I was so angry with you." She stopped and put her left hand on my chest. "Sorry."
"Just finish the story."
"You really want to hear the rest?"
"Yes."
"Okay. I decided that since you had cheated on me that I would do this just to stave off the inevitable confrontation until I could find a job. So I told him I would do it and he immediately stood up and dropped his pants. He had an average sized dick and it was circumcised. He moved directly in front of me and without any other discussion shoved it in my mouth. Suddenly he was no longer smooth, just an asshole shoving his dick in my mouth. I tried to give him a blowjob, but I couldn't." She sobbed. "I just let him fuck my mouth while I cried, tears ran down my face and fortunately he came in about two minutes. He came in my mouth and I swallowed it, but was nauseated by what had just happened. I pushed him back, shot to my feet, and ran to the ladies room where I got sick thinking about what I had just done. When I came back out he smiled at me and winked. The smug bastard!"
"That was it?"
She looked up at me. "I had to go back and get my purse and he had put the photos in there. I didn't say another word, just turned and left." She looked up at me with fear and resignation. "I'm so sorry, John. I can't imagine how you must feel."
I looked at her. "Probably somewhat like you felt when you thought it was me in those photos."
She looked down. "Probably. Only now I feel even worse. You should know that I told Meryl I was going to go back to you anyway. I didn't want to break up the family and as long as you ended the affair, I was going to stay. I just love you too much to leave. But now... have I lost you?" She almost whispered the last question, looking at me, her eyes pleading and desperate.
I debated my options. I wanted to leave... I wanted to stay. I got up and paced back and forth a little. I was very upset with her for doing what she had done. On the other hand, it appears that she had been manipulated by a master. I stared at her and remembered my childhood without my father, my mother angry and vengeful toward him. I wanted to forgive her, but I also wanted to be strong. My machismo was battling my heart and I couldn't move. I walked to the front window and stared outside. What the hell was I going to say to her?
I turned and looked at Cheryl and our eyes met for a few seconds. I'm not sure what reading she thought she got from me, but she finally looked down and away from me, collapsing back against the couch, defeated. I knew then I would take her back. She did not do this to cheat on me. She loved me, but made a bad decision when faced with blackmail. Maybe there was more to it than that, but it didn't matter to me in that moment. At least I hoped we could get thru it. I just knew that we loved each other too much to break up a good family.
I walked over to her, sat down, took her chin in my hand, and pulled her face up to look at me. I looked into her eyes and told her the truth. "I love you, Cheryl. I have since our second date and I always will." She stared back, tears forming in the corner of her eyes. I pushed her hair back behind her left ear and slightly caressed her cheek. "You were blackmailed into something that you thought you were doing to help both of us, even though, at the same time, you knew it would drive us apart. I know that some part of it was revenge, but I believe you acted first and foremost for the family and to save my job. We both now know that that was the wrong thing to do, but that's behind us now. I want you to come home with me and we can talk about moving forward."
She flung herself into my arms, twisting around on the couch while the sobs racked her body, but this time happily. She kept whispering 'I love you' and 'I'm so sorry' in my ear.
I looked over my shoulder and Meryl was crying, too.
I pulled Cheryl away from me and looked directly into her eyes. "You have to promise me one thing."
She stared back and said yes, looking unsure of what I might ask her, but afraid to say no.
"We have to get back at Ed. No matter what I ask, you have to help me get back at him. Deal?"
"Oh, God. Yes, I'll do anything to get back at that bastard." She was in my arms again crying and I just held her close.
Finally after about 15 minutes of this, she relaxed and I lay her back against the couch. I looked over at Meryl. "Would you be willing to help me with this revenge?"
"Absolutely!"
I smiled. "Good. I don't think Monica is going to tell her husband because he'll kill Ed. But I think that Monica wants to at least castrate the bastard and you may have to help."
Meryl laughed. "No problem. Should I get the rusty carpet knife?" The chance for some levity in this situation was a welcome relief to everyone.
I laughed and finally Cheryl giggled a little while still wiping her eyes. "I get to help. That bastard took advantage of me and I want to stake him down and let the fire ants crawl up his ass."
I turned to Meryl. "This is why I try not to make your sister mad."
Meryl laughed and Cheryl hit me on the shoulder. "Stop!" Then she got a real serious look again and said quietly. "John, I will never, ever allow this to happen again. I will never take anyone's word without talking to you and finding out more about whatever it is. I love you and our family and will do everything I can to make it up to you." I knew she meant it, but I also knew that she was the passionate type that acted quickly when her emotions were running hot. She had always jumped to conclusions quickly. I just hoped she had learned to check things out more closely before acting on her impulses.
I smiled and kissed her lightly. "Thanks, honey. I'll ask for the threesome later."
She smacked me on the arm again and turned to Meryl. "You see what I mean about him not ever being serious for more than 2 minutes?" She turned back to me. "Please take me home now. I want to make love to my husband."
I stood up and put out my hand. "Let's go Mrs. Johnson."