Vicky’s aunt paused for a very long timebefore she answered “Yes, of course. Just tell me what I need todo.”
Vicky hadn’t realized she’d been holding herbreath waiting for an answer. As soon as Shirley said yes, she wasable to exhale. “We’ll make all the necessary arrangements and callyou back within the next hour or so. Thank you...Shirley.”
“It’s the least I can do. I’ll wait for youto call back with the instructions.”
After they hung up. Vicky felt so manydifferent emotions all at the same time but the one that stood outthe most was just grateful.
Chapter 13
An hour after Ryan had spoken to Vicky,Ryan was still sitting at his desk looking at the same proposal forthe 3rd time. Finally, hepicked up his phone “Gina, the woman that called Ms. Martin, didshe leave any contact information?”
“As a matter of fact she did Mr. Carter wouldyou like me to get her on the phone for you?”
“No, just give me her information and book mea commercial flight as soon as possible to Atlanta. I need to bethere as soon as possible meaning by 5 or 6 this evening. If that’snot possible then make arrangements for our company plane. Clear myschedule for the rest of today and tomorrow. I’ll take care of therest.”
Ryan hung up with his administrativeassistant and immediately headed for home to get a few thingsbefore heading out to the airport.
Ryan made it home in record time. The housewas very quiet it seemed like even the housekeeper was out. Hewasn’t typically home during this time a day. He guessed Alicia wasout doing whatever it was that she does with her time. It wasprobably best she wasn’t home. This way, he could just pack a bag,tell her he was leaving for an overnight business trip and be backtomorrow before dinner. Ryan hoped Gina was able to get him acommercial flight. It’d be harder for Alicia to track hiswhareabouts and ask a million questions. His legs felt like lead ashe took the stairs two at a time.
When Ryan entered the bedroom suite he wassurprised to find his wife still in bed “No don’t get up on myaccount.”
“Ryan! What are you doing home so early? Iwasn’t expecting you?”
“Clearly not or else you would have made surenot to be caught in bed with you lover.” Then, he raised his cellphone and took a picture.
Ryan calmly walked over to his wife and herlover. The man was freaked out he had no idea what Ryan would do.At first, it seemed like nothing but then like lightening Ryangrabbed the man by the throat. Ryan was seething with anger andthrough clenched teeth managed to get the words out “Now…you mightwant to get out of my bed and out of my house before I killyou.”
The man quickly scrambled to grab his pantsand shoes before running out of the house.
Alicia still clutched the sheets to her body“Jason, I...I...don’t know what to say."
Jason just stared at her. “I’m going out oftown tonight for business. I should be back tomorrowevening.”
“That’s it! We’re not going to talk about what just happened?”
Ryan was exhausted, “Alicia what do you wantme to say? It’s not like this is the first time and it probablywon’t be your last.” He turned around and went to the closet.
“You just caught your wife screwinganother man in your bed and that’s the best you can say or do! Whatdo you feel Ryan? Don’t you feelANYTHING?”
Ryan turned around and looked hard at Alicia.His stare could have born holes through her body. His eyes wereblazing but he needed to remain calm because if he truly let hisemotions come out he would be on an episode of “Snapped”.
“Yes, Alicia, I’m feeling a lot rightnow. But mainly disgust. I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
Chapter 14
Franklin and Sandy boarded the private planefrom Minnesota to Atlanta. They had been seated and were waitingfor take off. Franklin was reviewing some reports and withoutlooking up he spoke to Sandra “The flight from here is about 2 ½hours Ms. Catchings. We should be there before noon.”
Sandra smiled at him “That’s good to know. Ithought we decided it was okay to call each other by our firstnames. Did that change? If it did I wish you would have let me inon it.” He didn’t smile back. She wondered if he was always thisserious or if he was this way because he was worried.
She guessed they were back to being formal.Franklin seemed different since they made plans earlier. Maybe itwas just her being paranoid. Sandy reached over and touched hishand anyway. “Mr. Roth, like I said earlier, you’ve got to believethat everything is going to be ok.”
Franklin removed her hand and responded verycoolly “Thank you Ms. Catchings. I hope you are right.”
Sandy was kind of surprised at how oddFranklin was behaving. If she didn’t know any better she wouldalmost say it was disdain for her. Of course, that would beridiculous. They didn’t even really know each other.
Franklin couldn’t stop thinking about hisconversation with Joshua Jones on his way back to his officeearlier. “Mr. Roth, I’m Joshua Jones, Director of Sales. I wonderedif you had a minute.” He’d recognized Joshua Jones most recentlyfrom being in Sandra Catchings’ office. “Actually, I really don’t.I’m in a hurry. However, if it’s important please schedule sometime with my administrative assistant, Verna. I’ll be out the nextcouple of days though so it might not be until mid next weeksometime.”
“That’s fine. That would be great actually. Ijust wanted to run a couple of ideas past you.” Joshua’s phonebuzzed. He made a big show of looking at his phone “Sorry aboutthat Mr. Franklin that was Sandra Catchings. She’s always callingme.”
Franklin had only been half listening toJoshua until he mentioned Sandra Catchings. “When I walked into heroffice earlier you two seem to have been in an intenseconversation. Is everything alright there?”
“Everything is fine. She seems to thinksomehow I can help her with her career. I don’t know why some womenthink they can make their way up the ladder on their backs. I’msure you’ve had to deal with
