I admit, Ava has a certain allure, one that's hard for any regular man to resist.
I fell for it just a moment ago, but now that I know the truth, I can't muster even a hint of desire for her.
Pushing her away, I fixed her with a stern look. "If you're after money, you'd better behave yourself!"
After being pushed aside, Ava pouted, looking pitiful. "I just wanted to please you. Don't worry, I won't breathe a word to your wife. This will stay between us."
Watching Ava with her coy demeanor, I felt a tug at my heartstrings.
But then I remembered, despite my wife's affair, sinking to Ava's level wouldn't make me any better.
So, I resisted the impulse, glaring at Ava once more. "You better behave. If I ever decide to be with you, it'll be after I've divorced my wife."
Ava smiled and said, "Sure, sure, I'll follow your lead. You know I'll be yours sooner or later."
With that settled, I prepared to leave. But Ava stopped me. "Alex Phoenix, wait."
"What now?" I turned back, giving her a cold stare.
"Don't look at me like that. I just wanted to tell you something you might find interesting."
"What is it?"
"Here's the deal. Once you help me settle this debt, I'll tell you. I promise it'll pique your interest."
I knew Ava was shrewd, she wouldn't say this without a reason to keep me hooked.
But we were both using each other. I needed her to negotiate with my wife, and she needed me to pay off her debt.
It was a partnership, albeit a clandestine one.
Leaving the hotel, I hailed a cab back home. It was already eleven at night.
To my surprise, as soon as I opened the door, my wife was sitting on the couch, as if she'd been waiting for me.
As I changed my shoes, her icy voice cut through the air. "Where have you been this late?"
"Just grabbed dinner with an old friend. Why aren't you asleep yet?"
She didn't respond, instead pressing, "What old friend? After you went bankrupt, who's left?"
She had a point. Ever since I went bankrupt, my so-called friends seemed to vanish into thin air.
I brushed it off, saying it was an old college buddy. She scoffed, insinuating it was a female classmate.
I knew what she meant. This was all part of her plan, but I wasn't rattled.
With a smirk, I replied, "How did you know it was a female classmate?"
My wife fumed, standing up from the couch. "Alex Phoenix, you dare go behind my back with other women, shamelessly flaunting it? Do you have no regard for me?"
I almost laughed. Her acting skills were top-notch, better than some A-list celebrities.
It was getting hard to play along, but I kept my cool. "I haven't done anything. Why are you so worked up?"
She pointed at the clock on the wall. "Look at the time! Having dinner with a female classmate, this late? You're clearly making excuses!"
I was done entertaining her. "If you think I'm cheating, show me the evidence. Emily, if you have proof, bring it out. Otherwise, whatever you want to believe is up to you."
"Fine, just wait and see. I'll catch you in the act!"
With that, she grabbed her phone from the coffee table and stormed off to the bedroom, slamming the door shut.
I had no intention of going in there. Sleeping beside her was the last thing I wanted.
She, the hypocrite, was the one having an affair, yet she tried to pin it on me. If it weren't for those loan sharks today, she might've succeeded.
Until I had evidence of her infidelity, I had to be careful who I associated with.
This life was a nightmare. What used to be a harmonious marriage had turned into a game of betrayal.
Divorce wasn't an option right now. I couldn't let her and her lover off the hook that easily.
I spent the night in my son's room again. The next morning, I got up early.
Today, I planned to meet with Seraphina Bloom, to get things moving and secure the money.
But first, I needed to make sure Ava was on board. Otherwise, who knew what she might do.
My wife usually slept in later than me, but these past few days, she'd been up before me. Maybe she'd found a job, or maybe she just couldn't wait to see her lover.
I didn't care anymore. I'd let her expose herself, sooner or later.
As I was putting on my shoes, she called out to me in a surprisingly friendly tone, "Honey, I'm off to work. I was too rash last night. Please don't be mad at me."
I was taken aback. Was she a chameleon now?
Yesterday, she was ready to tear me apart, and now she's all sunshine and rainbows?
Shortly after my wife left, Ava called me.
She said, "Your wife called me last night, asking if you and I had been intimate."
"How did you respond?" I asked curiously.
"I told her not yet, but I assured her that you were starting to develop feelings for me. It's only a matter of time," Ava replied.
Ava was quite cunning. I chuckled and said, "Excellent. Keep reeling her in. Keep me informed of everything she does."
"Don't worry. I'm yours now," Ava said, her tone teasing.
I didn't have the patience for her flirtations. "She'll likely ask you to meet me again. Play along, and make sure she doesn't find out the truth."
"I understand. But what about my money?"
"In a few days."
"You need to hurry. If those loan sharks come looking for me, I'm done for."
After assuring her, I hung up and spent the morning waiting for Seraphina Bloom's call.
Around noon, she finally rang, asking me to come to her company with the proposal.
I'd already copied the proposal onto a USB drive, so I grabbed it and rode my bike to their office, the same five-star hotel as before.
In Seraphina Bloom's office, we met. She looked hurried, dressed in a simple yet professional blouse and tight jeans, her long legs on full display.
Seraphina Bloom seemed almost anxious, saying as soon as she saw me, "Quick, we need to turn your proposal into a PowerPoint presentation before the 2 o'clock meeting."
"Really? Why the rush?" I asked, surprised.
She nodded, explaining, "I've proposed it to the company, but we need to discuss it at the meeting. It's not as simple as it seems."
I was nervous. It had been years since I felt this way. I wasn't as confident as I used to be, and I feared being rejected at the meeting.
But I had no choice. There was no turning back now.