This is my 3rd story and first attempt at a longer piece. Enjoy.
*****
Dave's heart pounded with excitement.
Will this work?
he thought. He held his breath as he knelt in the hotel hallway. He placed his phone at the ground level with the camera lens just around the corner. The door opened. Despite the odd angle, he could see the tiny camera preview. The man walked out of a hotel room and headed towards the elevators.
Got you, fucker.
He stood up and grabbed his phone. He kept the video filming. After a moment, the elevator chime sounded. He filmed his walk down the hall towards the room. A few steps away, he zoomed to the number on the door. With the final shot, he held up his watch. 5:27AM.
His thoughts raced as he quickly walked back to his room.
I can't believe I'm doing this.
He had barely slept. His stakeout started around 4AM.
Safely in his room, he rewatched the video. Then he rewatched both videos. The first was filmed at 12:37PM, the night before. It was taken from the same location and showed the man walking with his arm around a drunken woman. She giggled. They stopped and kissed. She fished through her purse and got the keycard. And they entered. The woman was his boss.
His married boss.
Dave had waited for this opportunity for years.
He hopped into the shower and schemed. The scalding water washed over him as he recalled the night before.
He had been at the hotel bar having a few beers while watching the game. On his way back from the bathroom he spotted his boss, Connie. She approached the bar on the arm of a strange man. Dave watched from a distance.
She said she was turning in early?
Connie and the mystery man ordered two drinks. She kissed him. His hands wandered over her. They were clearly drunk and clearly romantic. Dave felt a wave of despair. Then he had a dark thought.
He abandoned his drink and open bar tab.
Fuck it
, he thought. She hadn't seen him. He pulled out his phone, zoomed in and took a few shots. He quickly walked to the stairs and went to his floor.
To their floor
. He surveyed the hallway and found his spot. He leaned against the wall around the blind corner that overlooked Connie's room. After fifteen minutes of adrenaline and anticipation, he got his video.
I've got my lever.
He got out of the shower and dressed for his work day. He skipped breakfast and went right to the lobby. Connie arrived a few minutes late. She looked similarly tired.
"Late night, Dave?" she asked.
"Not really. I turned in early but couldn't sleep. You?"
"The same," she said with a hint of a blush.
Connie had always been a beauty to Dave. She looked tired but did have a glow.
Would I have seen her blush if I didn't know what she was up to last night?
, he wondered.
Dave had lusted after Connie for years. Two years of monthly work travel had made him aware of her marital problems. On a drunken night at a hotel bar in Austin, she had confessed to a female coworker that she was considering having an affair. Dave was talking to another peer nearby and overhood much of the conversation. They had talked about it until the bar closed. Dave's marriage had ended the year before.
As the team parted ways for the night, Dave had drunkenly offered himself to her as a liaison. Connie turned him down. The next day was awkward. That night she told him that 'it was all just talk' and that 'she could never cheat.' Her family meant too much to risk on a fling. Dave reconciled the rejection with her reasons. It hurt less.
As Dave recalled the rejection in Austin, he fumed.
That fucking slut.
They walked to the rental car and talked about their coming sales visit. A quick stop at Starbucks helped ensure they would make it through the day.
They powered through their meetings and had a cheerful lunch with customers. Around 4:30, they drove back to the hotel.
"Do you want to grab dinner?" Dave asked with pep.
"I have to take a raincheck. I'm supposed to meet a friend from college later".
"How late?"
"Seven," she said with a hint of excitement.
"Can we meet up at 6 or 6:30? I have something that I really need to talk to you about. I'm not sure that it can wait until tomorrow." Dave had carefully chosen an air of work formality.
Make her think I'm leaving or asking for a raise
. He had thought about a distressed, personal tone but was afraid she would insist on talking right away. He needed time.
"Sure. Lobby at 6?", she said with a chipper tone.
"Perfect."
They arrived at the hotel. He dropped her off and then drove to CVS for a few items.
If I hurry I might catch a nap
. A few hours later he was back in the lobby.
"What's on your mind, Dave?" She was leggy and confident as she walked up. She even looked rested. He noticed her make-up. Her dinner date is definitely that guy.
"Can we grab drinks?" Dave asked. "I'm buying!" he said with an enthusiastic tone.
She nodded.
A moment later Dave returned with two shots of vodka and two glasses of champagne. Connie was bent over her phone, quite absorbed. He was able to get a quick view down her shirt before she looked up with a smile.
"Two drinks? Whoa there, Dave. I can't do shots before dinner!" she said cheerfully. She took one of the glasses of champagne and asked, "What's on your mind?"
"Before we talk shop, how about a toast?" He sat down across from her.
"Sure. What are we drinking to?"
"To happy accidents and dreams coming true!" Dave said with genuine enthusiasm.
"OK. I'll drink to that." She looked slightly confused but had an accommodating tone.
Dave raised his glass and then drained the whole thing. Connie took a sip. He could tell from her reaction that she found it a bit odd. He stared at her glass performatively to show her that he hoped she would follow suit. She obliged.
He took a deep breath and tried to calm himself.
Do I want to do this?
Yes. This is my shot. He handed her a CVS photo envelope.
He said coolly, "We need to talk. And I don't think you want to do it here."
Connie looked confused as she opened the envelope. She leafed through the half dozen pictures. Some were her at the bar with her lover. There were also pictures of them outside her room. Her expression betrayed panic. "Why do you have these?" she said almost incredulously.
"Not here," Dave said as he got up. "You should text your boyfriend. Tell him you can't make it tonight."
That was bold.
Her expression had been transitioning to anger but pointing out her indiscretion took the wind out of her sails.
That's useful
, he thought. He grabbed the vodka shots and headed towards the elevators.
She hurriedly behind him and sent her text message. They entered the elevator alone. The doors closed.
"How did you--"
"Not here," he said curtly.
She followed him to his room in a daze. There were tears running down her cheeks.
"What are we doing? Is this your room?" she asked.
"Yes. Come in. And hurry." He could see her about to protest. "There is a video." Dave's tone was cold and surgical.
Her face drained of color. "OK," she murmured as she shuffled in.
She probably thought there was a sex video
, he thought.
I have to play this next part just right.
Dave placed the shots down on the TV stand. He sat on the chair. This left Connie only the bed as a seat.
She demanded "What the hell is going on Dave? Why do you have those pictures of me?" Her voice had a growing authority to it.
Dave looked at Connie. She was almost his height at 5' 11". Her sandy blonde hair was short but always very stylish. She was an athlete in college. She had long legs. Even after two kids, she had a lean figure. Her manner was almost always cool and collected. He had a tremendous professional respect for her. When she got angry it reminded him of a tigress.
I have to disarm her
, he thought.
"Connie. Last night you fucked a guy in your room. I have video of you both at the bar, going into your room, and him coming out. I have audio of you moaning while you got stuffed, "Dave said coldly. "I met Kevin a few years ago and he's a nice guy. We're friends on facebook. He's at home with your daughters while you're sneaking around."
Connie broke down crying. She pleaded her case with Dave about how her husband had largely lost interest in her. She told him how she had caught up with a college boyfriend through facebook. Things had gotten out of hand. Connie cycled through all of the infidelity tropes.
It didn't mean anything. It was just for fun. No one got hurt.