It was early in the morning when Thaddeus reached home. He had
been out entertaining his clients and had missed dinner with his
wife, Rachel. Trying not to wake her up, he moved around the house
quietly and finally sliding into bed, next to her.
Lying in bed, unable to sleep, Thaddeus recalled what happen
earlier that night. Dinner was at a posh restaurant and later
drinking at one of the favorite lounges in town. It was there that
Thaddeus saw her. Beautiful, long haired and slim, she had what it
takes to be a model. She turned heads wherever she goes, finally
settling to a seat near the bar counter.
Hey, shes a beautiful thing, isnt she? One of the clients said,
looking quite smitten by the lady.
Thaddeus smiled and thought about his beautiful wife alone at home.
Feeling guilty, he excused himself and made his way to a quieter
area and called home. The phone rang for some time before Rachel
answered. Honey, have you eaten? Im at the Jazz lounge with some
clients, will be home late, dont wait up for me ok? Thaddeus
said. Ive eaten and am watching DVD now. Dont drink so much ya?
She said understandingly. What else can a man ask for, with such an
understanding wife? Thaddeus smiled and hung up.
Where did you go? She gave me her number! His colleague, Joe said
excitedly. Confused, he asked, Who? The beauty, her name is
Liz. Slightly disappointed by what Joe said, he mumbled a reply
and sipped his drink. Thaddeus was far better looking than Joe and
he couldnt understand why the beauty would give him her
number.
Before the group left for home, Joe went to say his goodbyes to the
beauty and Thaddeus tagged along. He shook hands with the lady and
introduced himself. They exchanged name cards and left.
It was early in the morning before Thaddeus fell asleep.
Back in the office after the weekend, Joe excitedly told Thaddeus
that he managed to date Liz for dinner that night. Wow, youre
reacting fast! he replied and Joe said, Oh man, youre married, I
want to settle too, you know. Thinking about Rachel, he soon felt
guilty about thinking of Liz.
Thaddeus was going through his documents and the phone rang. It was
Rachel asking him to suggest what to have for dinner. Trying to
make up to her, he suggested her favorite cuisine, Japanese food.
They decided to meet up at the Japanese restaurant that they
frequent.
During dinner, his mobile phoned beeped. It was a message from Liz.
Hey there, Liz here, want to meet up for coffee? He was busy
replying the message that he didnt hear what Rachel was saying.
Im sorry dear, you were saying? I said, shall we go for a
holiday this year end? Shouldnt be a problem, Ill see to it.
Rachel was all smiles when she heard that.
The mobile phone beeped again. Well, you got a wife, so? We are
just having coffee, not an affair. Ha Ha. He smiled and replied,
Maybe another day? For the rest of the day, Liz didnt reply the
message.
While having lunch with Joe and the rest of the executives, he
nudged Thaddeus. She spent the night with me yesterday. Speechless
is the word to describe. Joe was grinning. Thaddeus thought, so
was the message was a ploy to get her away from Joe or what? They
walked back to the office and Joe couldnt stop talking about Liz.
Thaddeus stopped him in the middle of his sentence, by asking,
Maybe youre not the only one that shes with. Wide eyed, Joe
couldnt believe what Thaddeus just said. No way man, shes not
that type of girl. No way, Thad, I wouldnt take that. Thaddeus
just shrugged.
Back at home, Rachel was in the shower and Thaddeus was watching
television. His phone rang. Liz here, want to come out for a
coffee? Ill be asking Joe along. Ok, what time and where? He
replied. She briefly told him the place and time and hung up. Since
Joe is going, Ill bring Rachel along, he thought.
Rachel, were going out to meet Joe and his new found squeeze. He
said to her, standing outside the shower screen. Honey, why dont
you go ahead, Ive got a long day tomorrow and Ive got to rest
early tonight, she replied.
Liz and Joe were chatting when Thaddeuss car moved into the
parking lot. Sorry guys, Rachel was actually coming with me, but
shes tired. Joe nodded and Liz just stared at Thaddeus. Is there
something on my face? She shook her head.
The chat was simple and informal. Liz is freelance model and will
be flying off to Spain the next week. All the while during the
chatting session, Liz was looking at Thaddeus most of the time. By
this time, it was pretty clear that Liz was interested in Thaddeus
rather then Joe. Feeling out of place yet knowing that the man is
married, he spoke to Thaddeus when Liz went to the ladies. Hey,
looks like shes making a pass on you. Youre married, you know.
It sounded like a warning but the fact is Joe was intimidated by
Thaddeus. Laughing, Thaddeus joked, I wont fight with you over
her, but if she throws herself at me, then no choice ok?
When it was time to go, the threesome went to collect their cars
and went on their individual ways home. During the drive, Liz
messaged Thaddeus and asked to meet up with him one of the days
before she leave for Spain. He replied, Will confirm with you
again, am driving now.
It seemed like a normal meeting to Thaddeus. But to Liz, it was
something else.
Pacing up and down in the office and being unable to concentrate in
his work, Thaddeus was getting frustrated. The phone rang. Yes?
He yelled into the mouthpiece. Whoa, whats the matter with you?
Joe said, caught in surprise of his sudden outburst. Oh Joe,
sorry, whats up? He asked, calming down as they spoke about the
project. After hanging up, Thaddeus was still fidgeting. He took
his mobile, and checked his messages. Hi, Liz here, remember our
date? Ill be waiting for you at the coffee joint. See you at
10.
He decided to call home and check if Rachel would like to go out
for dinner. Darling, youve forgotten? I told you last week that
Ill be leaving for Hong Kong in another hour for the seminar? Are
you ok? the concerned wife asked. Thaddeus was one who has a good
memory; someone who never forgets special occasions and dates. Oh,
I totally forgot about it. Sorry dear. Was busy with the project.
So you have a safe flight and called me when youre settled, ok?
Sure, remember to have proper meals. Ill be back next week. Miss
you already. She giggled and hung up.
After talking to his wife, Thaddeus had a strong urge not to meet
up with Liz. Though its just coffee and nothing else, he didnt
want to lead her on. He didnt want to hurt Rachel. Switching off
his laptop and clearing up the mess on his table, he decided to
take a stroll along Esplanade before grabbing dinner, even though
he could jolly well drive there.
From the office to the Esplanade was only ten minutes walk, but it
seemed forever to him. Racing across his mind was Lizs message,
Joes warning and his wife. Sitting down in a café near the
waterfront, he ordered a pint of beer. Thaddeus knew he shouldnt
be thinking about Liz. He shouldnt even harbor any thoughts about
her, but deep down in his heart, he knew that he do have thoughts
about Liz. Its just physical attraction, he thought. Indeed it
is.
It was about nine thirty when hes done with dinner and beer. He
asked for the check and slowly walked back to collect his car. The
phoned beeped. Darling, Ive safely reached my hotel. Am tired
now, will call you tomorrow? Remember to collect your suit at the
dry cleaners tomorrow. Love you. He smiled.
As fast as the smile came, it was gone. There she stood. Long legs,
short black skirt, kitten heels, and a pink knitted top, she looked
like marvelous. With her long black hair pulled back, she showed
off her sharp features with minimal make-up. I didnt want you to
stand me up again. Called your office and the security said you
left your car here. Oh god, he thought.
Come on, lets go. She smiled and winked at him. Err
where
would you want to go? Thaddeus asked, opening the car door for
her. As she slipped into his BMW convertible, she said, someplace
quiet where we can be alone. He adjusted himself as he heard that,
and suggested, Why dont we ask Joe out too? He should be done
with his dinner at his parents place.
Listen; is it really very uncomfortable for you to have coffee
with me alone without him? Liz said, clearly upset. Her advances
to Thaddeus were pretty obvious.
Look, Ive a wife. I dont want to hurt her and my best friend,
Joe, he said, Im not someone who fools around. Youre beautiful.
Youve no lack of men, so please stop whatever youre doing to
me.
What did I do to you? she asked, flirtatiously. She placed one
hand on his lap, caressing him, the other hand touching his
chiseled face. He pushed her hands away. Please, stop it, if not,
get out of my car. Thaddeus agitated with her and the situation
that hes in. No man has ever rejected me like you did. Stop lying
to yourself. You wanted me as much as Joe wanted me. I want you,
not Joe, that night when we first met. She stepped out of the car
as she finished her sentence.
Without batting his eyes, Thaddeus drove away. He was very affected
because he knew what Liz said was true. He wanted her so much. The
desire was so strong that he could not curb.
Standing at the roadside alone, Liz thought, Youll be mine,
soon.
Drowning himself in cold shower, Thaddeus felt guilty even though
he did not do anything unfaithful to Rachel. He scolded himself for
being weak. Rachel and he had gone through a lot before getting
married. He should be glad to have Rachel as a wife, but yet, he
cant help but think about Liz.
Her touch was soft and alluring. There was something about Liz that
keeps pulling him towards her. It was not just lust but something
else that Thaddeus couldnt figure out. Stepping out of the cold
shower, he got dressed into his Calvin Klein pajamas and went into
the living room.
Playing a Jazz CD on the stereo, he poured himself a glass of red
wine. Flipping through a magazine, his thoughts kept steering back
to Liz. He decided to message Rachel. Baby, I believe youre
sleeping now. Its kind of weird without you at home. Call me when
youre free tomorrow.
Beep. Beep. Thinking it was Rachel whos still awake, Thaddeus
happily check his message. Im sorry about just now. I didnt mean
to make things turn out this way. I dont know why Im feeling this
way, but I think Im in love with you. Liz He tried to delete the
message, but his fingers got numb. Does she really mean it? He
thought, No, even if its real, theres nothing to be done. He
pressed the reply key and started messaging her. Hey, theres
nothing to be sorry about. What has happen, had happened. Just
remember that Im married. We can be friends, but nothing more than
that.
Beep. Beep. I know youre married and I dont care about it. I
want you. I dont mind being friends, but I want something more
then that.
To Thaddeus, this was something going out of hand. He doesnt know
how to react to this situation and he felt lost. He hoped someone
could tell him what to do. He drank a few more glasses of wine and
went to bed.
It was twelve twenty nine in the afternoon when the phone woke him
up. Hey still in bed? It was Joe. Hey, yup, just got up. Whats
up? Thaddeus asked. Ill be organizing a small party at my house
tomorrow night. So Im inviting you now. Joe happily shared.
Whats the occasion? Thaddeus asked cautiously, hoping that Liz
would not be there. But Liz and Joe was the unofficial couple. So
chances of her being there is quite high. Liz, will be flying off
to Spain on Tuesday. So since its the weekend, might as well grab
a chance to introduce her to our friends. He explained. Not
wanting to disappoint him, Thaddeus agreed.
Please wrapped that up for me. She said to the sales girl
standing behind her. Wearing jeans and a white fitting shirt, Liz
was shopping for the nights party. She grinned at the thought that
Thaddeus would be there alone. Joe had told her about Rachel being
overseas at the moment. She had picked a pink satin sleeveless top
to match her black knee length skirt. She will never miss a chance
to be beautiful and wow the men around her.
Hey sweetie, Im at the pickup point. Take your time. Joe called
on Lizs mobile. Im on my way there. She replied. Its not that
Joes a bad guy. Joe had been nice to her ever since they met, but
he had been an easy target. Liz found a challenge in Thaddeus. The
more he rejects her, the more she wants him. Thats her
character.
Back at Joes house, which shes quite familiar by now, she went
into the master bedroom and laid her bags on the floor. Kicking off
her heels to a corner, she slowly massages her feet, aware that Joe
was standing at the door, looking at her. She then purposely took
off her jeans and slowly showed more flesh to Joe, leading him
on.
She then strutted into the bathroom, leaving the door wide open for
Joe to enter. Joe, contemplating to enter the bathroom or not,
heard the shower head being turn on. Damn, shes hot, he thought
to himself. Aroused and turned on, he made his way into the
bathroom.