Melissa wasted no time taking advantage of her new lifestyle. Darian saw his wife leave for work on the weekdays while carrying an overnight bag. It has only been a few days since Darian agreed to have an open relationship, but he did not think she would be doing it so soon. Melissa would disappear for a week while Darian worked and came back home to an empty house. Darian tried to go on dates; however, his grief-stricken heart clouded his thoughts. Finally, Darian just gave up and hoped that his wife would come to her senses and realize that their marriage was more important than her newfound freedom.
A month had passed, and Darian's emotion was eating him alive. On a Thursday evening in mid-July around; 8 pm, Darian reached his breaking point while working with his boss Andrea. Andrea was wearing a navy blue power suit, red bottom heels, and make-up that compliments her outfit. Andrea was asking him about the quarterly income sale from the western region of the United States. Darian did not hear a word; which, Andrea yelled at him that snapped him out of his emotional days.
Andrea was a wealthy billionaire heiress from Canada. Her mother and father are Chinese Immigrants who established a home in Montreal. Her Chinese great-grandparents were immigrants who started their first hotel; to house Chinese Immigrants. Over the years, Andrea grand turned their refuge for Chinese immigrants into small hotel rooms. Over the years, Andrea's family business expanded internationally. Andrea's family sent her to Detroit to oversee the Midwest operations of their hotel chain. Andrea speaks fluent French, Spanish, and very little Chinese.
"Mr. Baron, what is wrong with you? Your work ethic used to be far more exceptional, but lately, you have been walking around in a daze," Andrea scolded with a French accent.
"I am sorry, I uh, I haven't been feeling well lately!"
"You don't have the Covid, do you?"
"No!" Darian replied. Suddenly Darian's eyes started burning with tears as they began to flow.
"I am sorry, Ms. Selvas, I think I need the rest of the day off,"
Andrea went to her desk and grabbed a box of kleenex, and handed it to Darian.
"No, we can continue. Just give me a second, and I will be good to go."
"I doubt it. It looks like you are going to need a drink. I surely want one."
Andrea took Darian to the Bad Luck bar. This bar was very high-end and very expensive with the drinks. Andrea ordered the Pappy Van Winkle. The $250 cocktail is a blend of 20-year bourbon, citrus zest, sherry, dried fruits, and vanilla. Darian ordered the Envy. It was a mixture of French Absinthe, Hendrick's gin, Dolin Genepy, fresh lime juice, cucumber spirulina syrup, and black pepper tincture. It was 25 dollars which were well in his budget.
"Wow, for a drink that costs $250, I bet it tastes amazing," Darian sarcastically replied.
"You want to try it. Go ahead; I don't have cooties," Andrea replied as she slid the drink over to Darian.
"Yeah, maybe I do!" Darian takes a sip. The flavor dances on his taste buds.
"Wow, I see why it cost $250."
"You should get one."
"I don't have 250 dollars to blow," Darian replied. Andrea stopped the waitress and ordered another Pappy Van Winkle for Darian. Darian, thanks, Andrea. Darian apologized for his emotional breakdown at work. Andrea was more interested in what caused his emotional breakdown.
"So are you going to tell me what makes a focused and dedicated man; break down in tears?"
"It's my wife. She is going out with other men."
"She is cheating on you?"
"I dunno. My wife came to me weeks ago about having an open marriage. I never wanted it, but she threatened to sleep with other men anyway."
"If you never wanted it, then why did you agree?"
"I figured maybe if she gets this out of her system, we can move forward."
"Have you slept with other women?"
"No, I don't have the heart too!"
"Tsk! Tsk! Honey, it's time to reclaim your balls," Andrea said as she took a sip of her drink. "If she is out having fun, you should also. Don't you dare shed another tear for her?"
"It's pretty hard when I come home to an empty house."
"Having an empty house is not all bad. At least you have solitude."
"I guess!" Darian replied as he quickly finished off his drink. Andrea took out her checkbook and wrote $20,000 for Darian.
"I have an idea for you. If you can't sleep with many women, how about sleeping with just one?"
"What do you mean?"
"How about we be partners?"
"Are you joking!"
"Darian, of all the years you've known me, have I ever joked in your presence?"
"But you are my boss."
Andrea slides the check over to Darian.
"What is this?"
"As of today, you're fired!"
"What? You can't do this; I need to work..."
"Darian, I have not finished talking? Your termination is temporary. First of all, I need you to take the time to work out your situation at home. Second, I am paying you this money because something tells me you are going to need it."
"So what I have to do for this money is to sleep with you."
"I offered you to sleep with me because maybe it would be easier for you to focus on one woman. We can't have any relationship if you work for me. It's against company policy. So if you choose to do this with me, we both need to be free from the worry of repercussions."
"You are saying I have a choice. You are not ordering me to sleep with you."
"Darian, you have my phone number; call me if you want. The offer is on the table," Andrea replied as she got up from her seat. Darian looked down and noticed the $20,000 check was on the table and $1500 payment of drinks and tips. Darian grabbed the check and put it in his pocket.
Shortly after Andrea left the bar, Darian went home. During his drive home, he thought about Andrea's idea. He never fathoms the idea of sleeping with her. However, thinking about the times he worked with her in close relation, maybe he was unwillingly suppressing his sexual urges for her. Then there was his wife, whose love was starting to wane. He has not seen her for nearly four days. "Reclaim your Balls," was Andrea's advice. Did Andrea think he was a weak man for her to say that to him, or was it a taunt to get him to sleep with her? Darian was confused about what course of action to take.
After midnight Darian arrived at his Ferndale home. Darian saw that there was a light in the living room. Darian thought that Melissa had finally come home, which she indeed was present. Darian entered his house; he heard sexual moaning coming from the living room. Darian entered the living room and saw Melissa doing the reverse cowgirl on some man. Darian noticed that Melissa's sex partner was a little older and more athletically built than him. After seeing Melissa's sex partner made Darian feel subconscious about his physique.
"What in the hell is going on here," Darian yelled. Both Melissa and her sex partner were startled. Melissa jumped off of her sex partner's 6-inch anaconda; while he hurried to cover himself. Darian noticed Melissa's sex partner covering himself with his favorite Detroit Lions afghan. Darian was pissed to have another man's mojo stains on his memorabilia.
"Darian, I wasn't expecting you to be home!"
"Who is he?"
"Now Darian remember the rules. No asking about each other's sex partners."
"Hey babe, I thought you said he was okay with us doing the...you know," Melissa's sex partner stated with fear.
"Quiet, let me handle this," Melissa stated.
"Rules, you broke the rules about bringing strangers into our home."
"Baby, I know, but we just met at the last minute, and we had nowhere to go."
"Um, a fucking hotel would be a place."
"Yeah, I did that. But, it was getting expensive."
"What about his place?"
"He is married and has kids at home. Look, let us do this one night here, and I'll never do it again. I mean, my name is on the deed also, so I have every right to have a guest here."
Darian wanted to slap Melissa, but he held his composure. Instead, he gave her a look of disgust before saying anything.
"Take it in the guest room, and please keep it down!"
"Okay!"
Melissa grabbed her sex partner's hand and led him to the guest room. Darian retreated to his home office and sat at his desk. He buried his face into the palm of his hand and wept. Darian gazed over to a wooden frame of him and Melissa's wedding picture. Darian grabbed the picture and tossed it in the trash.