treat his wife like shit, apparently - but he won’t last a second going up against a man like me.
“I’ll see you tomorrow night, Harrison. I’ve given Adeline your information, and she’ll contact you with our home address and such.”
As if I needed it, but still, I nod my head, grab my jacket and stroll off.
In less than two days, I’ll have everything I need to win this game. There are only a few more tasks to complete before I have Adeline and her moron for a husband exactly where I need them.
Adeline
“What’s the cheapest phone you have and how quickly can service be set up? Also, is it traceable? I need something that nobody can link back to me.”
The store clerk looks at me with surprise, the pleasant expression he wore when I first walked in dissolving into suspicion that he is staring at a mad woman.
I don’t blame him. With no doubt, I look like a mad woman at the moment. Because I am mad. Fucking pissed, actually, but more terrified than anything.
After Ari left the restaurant, I had to hold myself together while Grant groaned and complained about not landing the new investor. And the entire time, all I could do was smile and nod, make little non-committal noises as if I were listening while, in truth, I was falling apart.
How I’d managed to make it through lunch was anyone’s guess, but I knew one thing: There is no way in Hell that I’ll make it through dinner at my house.
There has to be a way to get rid of Ari. Fortunately, Grant gave me his number to send him our information. Unfortunately, the conversation I need to have with him is not one I can risk my husband finding.
The store clerk clears his throat and runs a hand through his dirty blond hair. Peeking around the store as if there is somebody who might intervene and drag me out, he finds no security. The store is dead for the most part. Just me and him. The crazy lady who sounds like she’s about to commit murder and a store clerk who is desperate not to become a conspirator.
“Listen,” I say, attempting to appear calm despite the anxiety vibrating beneath my skin, “I don’t mean to sound crazy right now. I know how this must look. But my husband is slightly controlling, and I need something to use that he can’t find.”
Understanding finally dawns on him, a sleazy smile streaking across his face. “Oh, this is for...are you doing what I think you’re doing?”
What am I doing?
I really don’t know for sure.
But desperation is clinging to me like an insecure lover, and I’m acting without thinking, every instinct inside me set to autopilot.
It’s my turn to glance around, check for ears that can listen in. Not finding anybody in the cheap, pay-as-you go cell store located deep in a bad part of town, I’m not concerned that this could leak back to my highbrow husband.
“Sure,” I answer, adding a wink as if I just let him in on a dirty secret. “You must know how it is.”
His smile brightens. “I got you, girl. I know exactly what you need.”
With a new sense of camaraderie, the clerk spins to pull open a lower cabinet behind the counter, practically dancing in place as he selects three different choices. I figure he must enjoy the clandestine edge to what I’m doing, and I try to ignore his sudden vigor.
Placing the three choices on the counter, he glances at me with eyes of turquoise blue and taps a finger over each one.
“First choice, there is a no contract option, but data isn’t included unless you take the contract. Second choice, also no contract, data is included, but it costs a pretty penny for each gig you use. Third choice. Like the other two, no contract, but no data, meaning you can only text and call. However, by text, I mean words only. No naughty pictures sent to someone who isn’t your husband.”
He winks and I sigh, smiling politely because he’s far too eager to help me commit adultery.
“The third one will do. I don’t plan to send naughty photos.”
Disappointment flattens his smile. “But that’s the fun part,” he complains.
Another sigh. “While I’m sure that’s true, I only need the plain text option.” I pull cash from my wallet. “How much does it cost?”
He goes over the different price options with me, eventually giving up on the naughty photo argument and accepts