I picked one of the city’s leading private hospitals and selected their most expensive packages; at the ATM daily limit withdrawal, I could only make a fifty per cent deposit, but assured them I would pay the balance on my next visit.
If all David wanted to be a part of was the financial aspect of having this baby, I would make sure he more than amply covered it. After the hospital, my next stop was a popular outlet of baby clothes, at a mall not far from the hospital.
Again, because of the ATM daily withdrawal limit, I was limited in how much I was able to buy, but I made mental notes of all the things I would return for when I made another withdrawal the next day. At this rate, the account David had opened would be depleted within a week, but I did not care.
I wanted to hurt him back, and yet felt powerless to do so, so my only option was to run through his money, because I could at least be sure that he would feel that.
DIANE
The shoot with Mark started off well enough; I had carried lots of outfits, and it was actually fun matching them with the different models. It took up most of the day, but by six, we were finally done, tired, but pleased with how much we had accomplished.
“Thanks so much for all your help; I couldn’t have pulled this off without you,” Mark thanked me gratefully as we packed up.
“You’re welcome. I actually had a good time; so, you don’t really need to thank me.”
“Of course I do! In fact I was just about to offer you dinner as a thank you,” he added quickly.
It had been a nice, but long day, and I was tired and should have turned him down and gone home, but I did not. We had grown comfortable in each other’s presence as we worked through the day, and I was enjoying his company so much.
So, I smiled and nodded. “Dinner sounds good, thank you.”
We went to the same cafe we had met at the last time, and we had just sat down when David called. I rejected the call and texted him: “In a meeting. Will call later.”
Over dinner, we talked about the shoot and our respective work. As it approached nine, we reluctantly admitted we had better get going, and that is when the mood changed.
Mark had dropped me at my car in the boutique parking lot, and I had leaned in to give him a quick goodbye hug, but instead of releasing me after a few seconds, he had moved his head so that we were face to face, and then he bent forward and our lips met. For a few seconds we kissed passionately, but just as suddenly, he released me and staggered backwards.
“I’m sorry. I… I’m so sorry,” he stammered, his expression one of horrified disbelief. Shocked as well, I remained silent.
“I’ve got to go, I’m sorry. Goodnight,” he mumbled, before turning and hurrying off, leaving me staring after him, my heart racing, my lips throbbing.
DAVID
Waiting for Diane to get home that night, I was irritated by the irony of the fact that now that I had decided to focus on my marriage, Diane was not around for me to do so. What was the point of me being good, if she was not going to be here to see the effort I was making? Where was she anyway?
She had texted to say she was in a meeting and would call back, but that was over three hours ago, and since then, nothing! By the time she finally got back, it was almost ten, and my irritation had grown to full-blown anger.
“Where the hell have you been?” I demanded angrily the minute she walked through the door.
“I told you I was in a meeting,” she answered, totally unfazed by my obvious anger.
“That was just after six, it’s ten now!”
“There’s traffic,” she shrugged, and brushed past me as she headed for the stairs.
I had no intention of letting her get away so easily, and immediately followed her.
“So, what meeting is this that goes on up to this time?”
“A dinner one with Mark; he was doing the shoot for the boutique’s campaign today, but that secretary of his didn’t show up for work; so, he was short-handed, and needed my input. The shoot took all day; so, he bought me dinner while we discussed it.”
“Oh,” my shoulders slumped as the fight went out of me. It was a perfectly reasonable explanation, and her reference to Julie let me know I was treading on thin ice, so I quickly dropped my accusatory tone.
“How did the shoot go?”
“Very well; I think it’ll be a successful campaign.”
“That’s great; I just wish you had called back to let me know – I was getting worried,” I answered, my tone now fully conciliatory.
“You shouldn’t ever worry about me, David; I’m a big girl,” she laughed, then headed for our bathroom.
“I’m going to take a shower,” she added over her shoulder, before locking the door behind her. I obviously was not invited.
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