[Author's note: Cassidy Hayes, psychologist by day and mother of two, is struggling as her husband Damian cheats on her with Lily. Blackmailed through incriminating videos into doing what Lily tells her, Cassie finds herself yielding to the domineering sexy blonde younger woman. Meanwhile, Cassie is exploring a strange world, having made a new friend in Madame Syn, the owner of the Lost and Found and a highly accomplished Dominatrix.
Cassie has shared intimacy with a woman for the first time, accepting that her marriage finally beyond repair. She has also accepted another truth about herself, finding herself attracted to Syn. Cassie knows it's time to move on, but first there are loose ends that need to be tidied up, a debt that needs to be paid.]
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ALPHA FEMALE
Among the men, Damian and Robert were talking in low tones, heads together, watching their sons on the pitch. As Cassie approached, another one of the fathers noticed her and looked up, giving her a nod as he drifted away, leaving her husband and his best friend standing together. Damian gave out a little laugh, smiling at Robert.
"That's what you get for trying to help. No-one likes advice."
"Yeah, sure."
"Sucker."
There was something in their words that didn't quite ring true, as if she had interrupted a private conversation. Damian caught Cassie's eye, then returned his focus to his friend. Cassie stood behind them, cradling her second coffee of the morning in her hands, letting the steam evaporate until she could drink it. A flash of memory: the casual way Syn poured her coffee into Quinn's lap in the coffee shop the first time Cassie had ever met him, just to prove the point that he was under her control.
Cassie glanced around the other parents, feeling strange to be thinking about such things. The other mothers were chatting among themselves, but Cassie was off to one side, watching their backs as they congregated together. She was aware of the difference in her body, the little bar secreted through her clit. There was a distance now between her and the other mothers, an invisible gap that only she knew was there, separating Saturday morning football from her other hidden life.
Her attention shifted back to her husband. Although Robert had covered expertly, reacting to Damian's abrupt change of conversation, it had been the nod from the other father that had given it away. She knew what they'd been talking about before she arrived. Cassie wondered if any of the wives knew too, kept in the loop by their husbands. It was juicy gossip, such an exquisite little secret, that Cassie would be surprised if they didn't know. But, none of them had reached out to Cassie. Damian had somehow, through his charm and his wit, convinced everyone to keep quiet.
Robert laughed at something Damian said, and her attention switched back to her husband. When she thought of him and Lily together now, it didn't hurt anymore. Her time with Aidan, and then with Syn, her moment of truth, had changed all that. She had picked a side, and that side was her own. They could talk all they wanted, she thought bitterly to herself, screw them all.
The whistle blew for half time and Damian turned back to Cassie.
"Want anything?" he asked, "I'm just taking the orders."
Cassie shook her head, holding up her coffee cup, and Damian headed off towards the coffee cart. Cassie walked up to the edge of the pitch, standing next to Robert.
"Playing well," he said.
"Better, now," Cassie replied.
She was taking little sips of the rich, dark liquid, watching Robert out of the corner of her eye. He was Damian's best friend and had been his groomsman at their wedding. Cassie had known him for a long time.
"You two are up to something," she said.
"Never," Robert replied shaking his head theatrically.
"This wouldn't have anything to do with your end of season boys' night, would it?"
"Of course not."
"You picked a date yet?"
Robert turned to her, amusement showing on his face. He was taller than Cassie, good looking with pitch-black hair cropped close to his scalp, and warm brown eyes set in dark skin. He smiled, showing even, white teeth, in a way that he knew made him appear charming. Cassie knew that he was between wives at the moment, as Damian had put it. She smiled back at him, coyly, with just a hint of flirt. Damian and Robert had always been thick as thieves. She had no doubt in her mind that Robert would be completely on board about Lily.
"I just want to make sure there are no diary clashes," Cassie persisted, "I wouldn't want to be the party pooper because I'd booked a parent dinner for that night or anything."
Robert chuckled, glancing momentarily past her in the direction that Damian had left. Yes, Cassie thought, the coast is clear. We can flirt. Robert leaned closer, impinging on her personal space.
"We're thinking the twentieth," he murmured. "All good?"
"I'll keep it clear," Cassie responded, grinning up at him playfully.
"You're a good sport, Cassie."
It was the way that Robert made eye contact that gave the game away. He liked her; she suspected he'd always had her on the radar ever since Damian and she had first started going out. Robert could see what was coming, that Damian wasn't going to be able to keep Lily under wraps for much longer. Robert knew that Damian's betrayal would be devastating for Cassie, and she would need a shoulder to cry on. She knew what Robert had planned.
Cassie smiled sweetly. "You booked a venue yet?"
Robert's eyes were glittering now, delighting in the attention. Thinking with the little brain not the big one, Cassie decided.
"Working on it," Robert confided.
"I know someone who organises events, maybe I should put you in touch. You'd like her. She's always getting excellent feedback from her clients, she's very creative."
Cassie shrugged nonchalantly, and said, "Or maybe same old, same old. Up to you."
"Sure. Give me her number, I'll give her a call."
Damian returned with coffees for Robert and himself. Robert took a cup, nodding his thanks as Cassie stepped into the background again. She walked away, taking her phone out and dialling a number. It rang and rang before eventually connecting.
"Cassidy, do you have any idea what time it is?" came the cranky female voice on the other end.
"Yes. Eight thirty. Good morning, Cynthia."
"Still the middle of the night. This had better be important."
"You sound worse for wear. When did you get to bed?"
"About two," Syn replied. There was a pause, then she continued, "God, my arm hurts. I really need to delegate more."