“It doesn’t feel like enough,” Mel complained. “You know you’re ending it. You have time to make his life a little messier before you break it up. If this was a novel, you’d contrive some situation where you and Mason have to socialize with Shane and April. I would pay to be there! That slut has been suspiciously quiet, and if I know my other women, which I do, there’s going to be more drama. Maybe a fake pregnancy!” she said excitedly.
Anna considered it. She would like to watch him squirm. Watching him flail about in his lies and regret at home was validating but it would be so much more rewarding in a public sphere with April and Shane present. Rosa widened her eyes. “I have the perfect solution. Work drinks tomorrow night with partners present! Madame Celeste has been banging on about ‘bonding’ lately and we all know she loves a tipple. Coincidentally, Shane should have work drinks at the exact same place and time, with partners present. Let’s see if April and Mason even acknowledge each other!”
Anna: I want to make him squirm. Let’s meet “randomly” at work drinks tomorrow night. The Corner Bar, 6pm? Partners mandatory.
Shane: I’m in. I can bring a few colleagues and their partners to legitimize it.
Anna read his text aloud and Mel squealed in delight, clapping her hands. “Other woman drama incoming,” she announced. “That skank is toast.”
“I’ll look after Mason’s humiliation. I’ve got 24 hours to really harness my inner bitch,” Rosa said, cracking her knuckles. “I haven’t seen Dad and Pauline in a while so she’s been really bored and neglected lately. This should be fun.”
___________________
Later that night, Anna showered and thought about the red lingerie she’d shoved back in Mason’s drawer. Her rapidly developing idea made her feel both sick and powerful. She’d feel like sanding her skin off afterward, but Mason’s reaction would be worth it.
Squeezing herself into the lingerie, Anna sized up her appearance in the mirror. Her breasts fell straight out of the small bodice, while the length of the garment was excessive for her smaller stature. In many ways, she looked like a little girl in her mother’s nightie, but in others, she looked like a developedwoman squeezing into a training bra. It really couldn’t be a worse fit. Perfect.
She heard Mason come into the room, so she sashayed out of the ensuite, pausing in front of him with her hands on her hips.
“Hey baby, I’m so glad you bought me this, but you could have wrapped it properly! Although shoving it in your drawer to hide it is better than the chocolate you gifted me in a Walmart bag on our anniversary.” She giggled and touched his cheek to sell her apparent gratitude, like she was somehow charmed by his efforts, even if he had got it wrong.
“Yeah ... um ... you look great. I knew you’d look great. I was going to wrap it but forgot.” His voice was raspy, and he couldn’t seem to stop his hands moving. He wrung them, placed them by his sides in fists, and then scrubbed one hand down his face. He seemed to be tormented and clamoring for any sense of safety. No rescue here you filthy liar, Anna thought.
“Do you have the receipt? I can take it back. This baby wasn’t built to hold Harris boobs,” she joked.
“Um, I don’t think so. I can check. Maybe at work. I left it at work. It could be at work. The receipt I mean,” he stammered.
Yeah, she thought.Not suspicious at all.How could he stand there and tell me lies, she thought. The fact that he hadn’t looked her in the eye while he spewed his lies indicated that maybe he still had a conscience.
His eyes were everywhere but on her. He looked at his feet, at the ceiling, the bed, the walls. Mel was right. This was fun, and she’d definitely earned some fun.
“Okay, well just check for me. I don’t know why you thought I had the breasts of a 12-year-old girl.” She giggled again. “As much as I love that you thought of me, I’m going to change into something that fits.”
She hated body shaming. Even body shaming April felt wrong, but Mason had earned a huge serving of discomfort and guilt, and if that was at the cost of April, so be it.
Mason began pacing the room.
“I need to go for a walk. I think I’m getting a leg cramp,” he said, rushing his words.
Perfect. Now I don’t have to come up with a reason to avoid sex.
“Sure, I’ll probably be asleep when you get back. Huge day. Oh, by the way, I have work drinks at 6 tomorrow and Madame Celeste has insisted partners come.”
“Sure, I guess. I’ll see if I can get away from work on time,” he said to the ceiling.
“No, Mason. Don’t ‘see’ if you can leave on time. Just leave on time. Seriously, you’re always gone lately and I’m over it.” She injected harshness in her tone. She absolutely had to get him to these drinks.
“Okay, okay. Yep, I’ll be there,” he promised.
Chapter 14: Shane/Anna—Tight ties and awkward exchanges
Shane
Brax slapped him on the back. “You ready for this? This could end badly.”
Shane smiled and shook his head. “I’m ready. I have the proof; the papers are nearly ready. Even if it implodes, it doesn’t matter. I’m just playing the game for Tinkerbell to have her fun.”
They headed off in Shane’s car to pick up April on the way. Convincing her to attend his “work drinks” hadn’t been easy, but he’d insisted on her coming under the threat of cutting off his money.
