Train Me Daddy by Mia Ford (30)

“I know it’s a lot different,” Veronica tried to reassure him. “It’s a lot different for both of us.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” Calvin said, and she could tell that there was something else on his mind.

A long silence stretched between them, and Veronica began to feel uncomfortable.

“Well I’d better get back to work,” Veronica said lamely, kicking at the wood of the deck.

“Oh yeah of course,” Calvin said, a soft laugh on his voice. “Well good night! I love you!”

“I love you too,” Veronica said, maybe a little too softly. “Goodnight.”

With that, she hung up the phone. She let out a long breath through her nose and closed her eyes. She had no idea how she was ever going to manage to tell him the truth.

After taking a moment to collect her thoughts and straighten out her emotions, Veronica stood up and made her way back into the house to while away the rest of the evening with the girls, as well as with Frank.

* * *

Veronica returned quietly to the den, escaping notice as Frank and the girls played their game. She was content to watch them play, and when they had worn themselves out she helped Frank get them up to their rooms. Veronica made sure that extraneous toys were picked up off the ground.

When there was nothing else to keep her occupied, the only thing left for her to do was face Frank, who lingered in the upstairs open area.

“Hey,” Frank said softly.

“Hey,” Veronica replied.

Another long silence passed, and Veronica looked at the front pocket of Frank’s shirt.

“Hey,” Frank said again, more softly, and placed his fingers under her chin to lift her face so that she was looking him in the eye. Veronica looked there and saw a mixture of emotions swirling.

“Was that Calvin?” he asked her. Veronica frowned a little.

“Yes,” Veronica answered, her voice soft. Frank let out a sigh, and clenched his jaw.

“How is he doing?” Frank asked, and Veronica felt a familiar pang of guilt, now because she felt like she was being deceitful to Frank. This was all incredibly confusing and foreign to her.

“I don’t want to talk about Calvin,” Veronica said plainly. Frank blinked and drew back a little.

“Okay,” he said softly, and Veronica sighed.

“Sorry,” she said. “I didn’t mean to sound angry.

“No, no I understand,” Frank nodded. “It’s your business of course.”

Veronica nodded. They stood in silence for a moment.

“How are you?” Frank asked. “You’ve seemed a little off today.”

Veronica let out a soft laugh. That was the understatement of the year.

“Yeah I’m just trying to wrap my head around all this,” Veronica said, and Frank seemed to relax a little.

“Oh,” he said, looking around at their surroundings. “Yeah, I know it’s lot to have to get used to, but don’t worry, you’ll adjust to it.”

“I’m not talking about the house,” Veronica said, all her emotions coming to the surface. “And I’m not talking about the job.”

Frank frowned a little, pressing his lips together.

“Then what are you talking about?” he asked, his brows knitting together.

Veronica scoffed and rolled her eyes, irritation and stress coming to the forefront of her emotional struggle.

“What am I talking about?” she returned. “Oh I don’t know, the fact that I’m sleeping around with my boss and I have a boyfriend!”

Frank’s scowl dissipated into a look of concern. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but Veronica held up her hand to stop him.

“Look, I get it,” Veronica said. “I know I’m grown and I can make my own decisions, but I really think you are a major contributor to this as well.”

Veronica finished with a huff, and spun around, unable to look at him. She felt tears gathering in her eyes and she swiped at them with her hand.

“Veronica, I’m sorry,” Frank said from behind her, and she was more than a little shocked to hear him apologize. Slowly, she turned back to face him.

“I know what we did was inappropriate,” he said, his voice soft. “Not only was it inappropriate, it was premature, as we’ve only even known each other for a couple of days.”

Veronica said nothing, and merely looked back at him, sensing that he was nowhere near done saying what was on his mind.

“When I first met you in that interview, I knew you were the person I wanted to be responsible for taking care of my daughters when I am not around,” Frank started off. “You seemed so cool and collected, and experienced, and I knew that two little girls would be nothing for you to handle. After talking with you for a little while, there was little doubt in my mind that you were the one for the job.”

Veronica took in all that he said. She was flattered with all that, but she knew this was just a lead in for whatever else he was going to say.

“And even then,” Frank said. “I… I felt something else, too.”

Veronica’s eyes widened a little.

“It was like this… electric connection,” Frank said. “I was instantly attracted to you, just from the way you look. And then when you talked I was just drawn in even more. I knew there was something there, and I couldn’t help but want to explore it.”

Veronica knew very well what he was talking about. She had experienced all these things when they first met as well. Unfortunately, none of that excused the way she had conducted herself with him.

“Honestly, I should have just taken you out for coffee instead of offering you a job,” Frank said. “I should have known that having you living here would be too much for me to ignore. By the way, I didn’t just make all that up about you living here. All the nannies I’ve ever hired have lived here under my roof.”

Veronica was actually a little relieved to hear that. She had actually been wondering if he had not just made up that situation for her in particular.

“But when I saw you here, taking care of my girls,” Frank shook his head. “I really felt something. And every time I looked up at you, you were looking back at me and… I don’t know. I just felt alive.”

Veronica couldn’t help but feel her stomach flutter at those words, and she felt her expression soften. Frank must have seen it as well, because he began to move closer to her. He raised his hands to brush his fingertips along her cheeks. Her breath caught a little as he brushed his thumb along her bottom lip.

“I shouldn’t have gotten so carried away,” he said, his voice growing lower and more husky. “I’m sorry.”

Veronica let out a shaking breath. Her heart pounded, and she didn’t quite know how to react to all this. She could certainly not deny, though, the throbbing ache that had wound its way between her legs.

Veronica said nothing, but she softly kissed the pad of Franks thumb as it hovered near her mouth. Franks’ eyes darkened as she did so, and he pressed his thumb against her lips. Almost instinctively, Veronica opened her mouth further and took it into her mouth, lightly sucking on it.

Frank’s eyes widened with a predatory look, and she heard him growl deep in his throat. Veronica gasped softly as he suddenly pulled her close, pressing her against his body. Veronica whimpered softly as she felt his hardness pressing against her abdomen.

“I won’t lie Veronica,” Frank leaned down and whispered harshly into her ear. “I want you.”

Veronica let out a shaky breath. She tightly gripped his shirt and buried her face in his chest. She felt his hands move to her hips and began to trace up under her shirt. She sighed as goose bumps ran up along her skin. She looked up into Frank’s eyes, and she knew that she would give in.

Looking around though, she realized that they couldn’t very well do this here in the open. What if one of the girls woke up? That would certainly take a lot of explaining.

“My room,” Veronica said simply. Frank blinked down at her, seemed to have been taken of guard.

“Are you serious?” he asked her, his voice sounding both excited and disbelieving.

Veronica simply nodded and stepped back from him, heading down the hallway to her room. She couldn’t hear him moving, but she could feel his eyes on her as she led him into her room.

Frank stepped in and Veronica shut the door behind him, making sure it was locked. Then, she turned to find Frank already taking off his shirt. Veronica’s throat tightened as his muscled torso was revealed to her, and she felt a wetness forming between her legs. Without hesitation, she began divesting herself of her clothes as well.

Gradually, and slowly enough that it was tantalizing and torturous at the same time, the two stripped until they were standing in front of each other, naked. Veronica’s eyes locked onto his erection, and she nearly drooled when he started to slowly stroke it in front of her.

Veronica watched him for a long while. She finally tore her eyes away from his manhood long enough to look him in the eyes, and the look of lust and desire in them made her knees weak.

Veronica inched closer to him, and when she was standing directly in front of him, she lowered herself to her knees. She looked up and made sure her eyes were locked on Frank as she took his tip in her mouth, and then took him into her mouth.

* * *

Veronica moaned as she sucked and pumped at Frank’s cock, alternating between sharp, fast movements to ramp him up, and then slow, rhythmic movements to bring him back down. She revealed in the way his muscles flexed and twitched in response to her. She lost track of how long all this went on. Her own arousal was maddening in and of itself, but she knew it would be worth waiting for when he finally sunk his length into her.

Veronica heard Frank release a growl, and she felt his tip slide past her lips as he suddenly withdrew from her.

“Bed, now,” he commanded, and Veronica bit her lip at the assertion. She wasted no time, and got up to move to the bed. She laid herself out in the middle of it, and tried not to squirm as Frank stood beside the bed, his eyes taking her in.

Veronica looked up at him, and unable to stop herself, she began to run her hands along her body. She brought them up along her ribs and groaned softly as she cupped her breasts, her back arching up off the bed as she tweaked at her nipples. She played with them as long as she could stand, and then began running her hands down over her stomach.

Her pussy was dripping and throbbing sharply with the force of her lust, and she couldn’t wait for that first contact with her sex. Just before she reached her destination, though, she felt Frank’s hand clamp down over her wrist. As her mind, had clouded with pleasure, she had not felt him get onto the bed beside her.

Veronica whimpered a little and weakly tried to free herself. Frank shot her a devilish smile, and brought her hand up over her head, holding it there. Veronica gasped as she felt his hand on the inside of her thigh just above her knee, and slowly beginning to trail up. She wriggled and squirmed beneath him at the light touch, and she panted lightly as he came closer and closer to her sex.

Just before he would have touched her wetness, though, he stopped short. Veronica’s eyes snapped open, and she looked up at Frank in a mixture of confusion and disbelief.

“Frank, please…” she whimpered beneath him. Veronica saw a spark in his eyes, and she nearly screamed as she felt his fingertips drag along her slit, gathering up her wetness before circling them around her clit.

Veronica arched her hips up into the touch, and she spread her legs even wider. Frank continued to play at her, running his fingers and the flat of his palm against her soft folds. He kept the touches light and slow, certainly not enough to do anything more than tease her. Sometimes he would increase the pressure just enough to give her a taste of real pleasure, but then he would back off again.

Additionally, no matter how much veronica ached for it, he did not slide his fingers into her. She ached to have something, anything inside of her as he inner walls ached for lack of something to latch onto. It finally became too much for her to take, and she looked up at Frank in desperation.

“I need you inside me…” she whined at him, arching her hips up against his hand.

“Oh yeah?” he teased her.

Veronica felt him slide the tip of one finger just inside her dripping entrance, and her muscles immediately clamped down around it.

“You really do need it,” Frank chuckled, and Veronica thought she might actually dissolve into tears.

Frank withdrew his finger, and Veronica nearly started protesting, when she saw him moving to situate himself between her thighs. Veronica sighed out her relief, and he placed her hands on his shoulders. She brought her knees up alongside him, and when she felt his tip at her entrance, she shuddered involuntarily.

Veronica bit her lip and squeezed her eyes shut as he began to drag his tip along her entrance and up over her clit. She could feel her heart pounding and her thighs already quivering in anticipation.

“May I?” Frank asked her, and Veronica nodded frantically. Frank gave her his pure white smile just as he thrust deep inside of her with one powerful thrust.

Veronica barely managed to keep from sobbing at the feeling of him buried within her. She could not keep still, and she immediately began to roll her hips up into his. She wrapped her legs around his hips, and began to start bringing herself up and down his length.

Frank, though, would have none of that. He seized her ankles and unwrapped them from around his body, and instead placed them on his shoulder. Veronica could feel him slide even deeper into her, and her jaw dropped as he looked down at her with a smirk.

Frank began to pound into her with slow, hard thrusts. Each time he bottomed out inside of her, Veronica let out a soft huff of air. She could feel her orgasm slowly building up inside of her, but she knew that there was no way she would ever reach it at this pace. Still, the pleasure he was giving her was incredible, and she didn’t want to ruin that.

Suddenly, Frank pulled out of her, and withdrew from her slightly. Veronica managed to come out of her haze of pleasure long enough to Catch Frank’s eye. She saw him slowly stroking his length as he knelt at the end of the bed.

“Roll over,” he said softly, and Veronica felt a jolt of excitement rush through her core. She loved being taken from behind, but Calvin preferred other positions. She couldn’t even remember the last time.

Veronica obeyed eagerly and her body hummed in anticipation. She felt Frank move behind her, and he situated her legs so they were closed together. When she felt his top at her dipping sex again, she buried her fingers in the bedclothes beneath her. She arched her hips back a little to encourage him, and she groaned quietly as he slid inside of her.

This time, Frank started a slow and gentle rhythm that gradually ramped up Veronica’s climax. She could feel her body moving closer and closer to the edge, and as she grew nearer and nearer, he increased his pace and the strength with which he thrusted into her. Soon, she knew she was just about to go over the edge. She arched her back and tightened the muscles of her thighs, but just when her orgasm was about to crash over her, Frank pulled out.

Veronica had experimented with edging and orgasm denial before, but it was still a cold shock when her approaching orgasm faded away, replaced once again by a burning need ten times as strong. She felt Frank’s hand gently stroking her ass, and she felt him running his head from the wetness of her slit up the crevice of her ass. Veronica’s head was still swimming with a mix of pleasure and desperation, and all she could do was moan softly.

Finally, Frank sank into her again. Veronica felt her orgasm building up inside of her again. She hurried to clench her muscles and seize her own orgasm before Frank could deny it again, but it was in vain. As soon as he felt her clench up, he withdrew again, and Veronica sobbed into a nearby pillow.

“Please Frank!” Veronica turned her head to the side to beg him. “I need to come, please, please let me come!”

“Well…” Frank said lowly as he pressed back into her. “Since you said the magic word…”

Veronica yelped into the pillow as he began again at a brutal pace. She panted and squirmed beneath him as he pounded into her, his fingertips digging into her hipbones to keep her still.

For the third time, Veronica felt her orgasm bubbling up inside of her. She felt a pang of fear as she got closer and closer, still half worried that Frank would leave her aching again.

When the first wave of her climax crashed into her, Veronica opened her mouth in a soundless scream, the pleasure absolutely overwhelming her. As Frank continued to take her for his own pleasure, she dissolved into a twitching, whimpering mess.

Soon, Frank, too reached his end. With a few particularly hard thrusts, Veronica felt his cock jerk inside of her, and his hot seed filled her womb. He stayed buried deep within her for a moment before gently pulling out of her and moving off the bed. Veronica turned her head as the light of her bathroom flicked on.

Frank returned with a warm, damp cloth. Veronica twitched a little as he gently bathed her sex, as it was still sensitive. Frank looked up at her at the movement.

“You okay?” he asked her, his concerned eyes searching her face.

“I’m wonderful,” Veronica smiled, and Frank visibly relaxed, smiling back.

He left to return the rag to the bathroom and turn off the light. He made to get in bed with her but he hesitated. Veronica frowned.

“What is it?” she asked.

“I just didn’t know…” Frank gestured to the bed. “You know, if you wanted me to leave for the night.”

Veronica blinked, remembering her refusal to share a bed with him the night before. She considered asking him to leave, but she was not at all surprised to find that her heart sank at the very idea.

“You can stay,” Veronica said softly. “If you like…”

* * *

Frank looked a little surprised, but also pleased. He slowly moved back onto the bed, and the two moved to get the covers out from beneath their bodies. Once that was accomplished, the two laid down beside one another.

Frank turned onto his side and propped his head up in the palm of his hand, and looked over at Veronica. A smile played at the corner of his lips. Veronica smiled back at him, her brows meeting.

“What?” she asked him, mirroring his position to look back at him.

“Nothing,” he said. “You’re just so beautiful.”

Veronica smiled, and leaned forward to press a soft kiss to his lips.

“It’s been a while since I’ve done the pillow talk thing,” Veronica admitted, and Frank frowned a little.

“Really?” he asked, moving his hand to gently trace over her upper arm.

“Really,” Veronica softly confirmed. She knew she probably shouldn’t be talking about her relationship, but she was feeling strangely open and vulnerable, and she didn’t really feel like closing up just yet.

“I mean, it was rare enough that we had sex,” Veronica spilled out. “And I mean when we did he sort of just… went to sleep. I guess it gets that way after you’ve been together a while.”

Frank said nothing, but Veronica drew from his expression that he didn’t agree with her.

“What?” Veronica prodded, wanting him to bare all since she was doing the same.

“I mean nothing,” Frank shook his head. “I just didn’t have that experience, is all.”

It was veronica’s turn to be disbelieving.

“You mean for as long as you were married, things never got even a little stale?” Veronica raised her eyebrow. She knew it was bold to bring up his wife, but she was in a bit of a bold mood anyway.

Fortunately, Frank smiled and gave her a chuckle.

“No, it never did,” he said with a shrug. “I was just always amazed and interested in her. She was… magical to me, I guess.”

Veronica felt a chill, and a small pang of jealousy at the mention of his wife.

“I wish I could relate,” Veronica shrugged.

Frank was quiet for a moment, and he frowned.

“So…” he started. “I take it your relationship with Calvin isn’t exactly living up to your expectations.”

Veronica frowned and thought for a moment. There was a part of her that wanted to change the direction of this conversation. But there was another part of her that wanted to open up about her frustrations. In the end, the latter was the part of her that won out.

“I didn’t really have any expectations, exactly,” Veronica said quietly. “And in the beginning things really were great. He was smart, and he was going somewhere. He still is. So, I just always felt lucky to be with him.”

Frank listened quietly, his eyes locked on her.

“I think domestic life got to me,” Veronica speculated aloud. “Just the whole do dishes, wash laundry, go to work, repeat cycle. And I always tell myself that’s what life is about… but there’s a part of me that really thinks there is something that I’m missing.”

“Like what?” Frank asked, his voice barely more than a murmur.

Veronica suddenly felt very vulnerable, and she blushed a little.

“I don’t know…” Veronica whispered. “But I think I’m getting close to finding out…”

Veronica looked into Frank’s eyes, and he smiled. Again, she felt her heart fill with tenderness as she looked over at him. The tenderness, though, was immediately followed by a rush of guilt, and she cast her eyes down and frowned.

“What’s the matter?” Frank asked, and Ran his hand down to rest on her hip.

Veronica was silent for a moment before she looked back up at him.

“I’m cheating on my boyfriend,” she said with a dry laugh. Franks face fell a little slowly, and she could see his jaw clench.

“I definitely never imagined myself in this situation,” Veronica admitted, moving to lie down on her back, allowing her to look up at Frank.

“I have to say I never thought I’d be in this situation either,” Frank said softly, moving his hand to trace his fingertips over her stomach. “But then again, I never thought I’d feel about someone this way again…”

Veronica looked up at him, and gave him a smile.

“I never thought I could in the first place,” Veronica said softly. She reached up and ran her hand over Frank’s smooth jaw.

They were quiet for a good little while after that. Veronica scooted her body closer to his, and Frank laid down and wrapped his arm around her waist.

“I know this whole thing is unconventional,” Frank murmured softly. “But if it’s any consolation, I really do feel a connection with you.”

Veronica let out a sigh, and then laughed.

“This is crazy,” she shook her head. “But I feel it too. But I just can’t help but feel like it’s all happening so fast. Like this initial spark we feel is just going to fade, and I’ll be left with nothing.”

“Hey, hey,” Frank soothed her, cupping her palm in his hand. “You’re never going to be left with nothing. Even if nothing more happens between us, I’m not just going to leave you high and dry. I care about you.”

“Well that’s good to know,” Veronica said, though she was reluctant to believe him.

“And yeah, we did just meet,” Frank said softly. “So maybe we should just take some time and try to get to know each other a little more, okay? We can talk, and just be around each other. We’ll both work, and you can still have your own time in the afternoons if you ever want to go anywhere. We can take things as slow or fast as you want. I really think there might be something here between us. And I’m not willing to just lose the chance of ever finding out.”

Veronica was a little taken aback to find that he was so adamant and certain that there could be something between them.

“As for me, I just have to be honest,” Frank went on, his tone very serious. “I want you to be mine. I want you now and forever. I know what I like, and I know when my soul is connected to someone else’s. We’re connected Veronica. And I will do whatever it takes to make you mine.”

Veronica raised her brows. She certainly hadn’t expected him to speak so plainly and openly, and she hadn’t expected him to feel so strongly.

“You don’t have to respond right now,” Frank said softly, giving her a small smile. “I just want you to know.”

Veronica let out a soft laugh.

“I think you made all your feelings pretty clear,” she said. Frank smiled and pulled her closer.

“I’m a pretty open guy,” Frank smiled. “For a really long time I thought that holding in my emotions was going to make me stronger but… it really only made me hurt.”

Veronica looked up at him and gave him a soft smile and a kiss.

“I’m glad you figured it out,” she said to him.

“I went through a lot of therapy as soon as I had the money,” Frank said with a hint of humor, but Veronica knew he was likely not joking.

Veronica gave him a somewhat sad smile. Frank leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers, and Veronica kissed him back tenderly. Her hands pressed against his chest, and her body arched into him a little. She had never felt so physically connected to someone in her life. And in spite of how much she regretted cheating on Calvin, and her uncertainty of where this relationship with Frank would lead, in this very moment, she was happy.

They broke off from their kiss, and each of them gave the other a smile.

“We’d better get to sleep,” Veronica said softly. “We both have jobs to attend to.”

Frank chuckled and pulled her closer.

“You’re right, of course,” he murmured as he nuzzled into her hair. “I guess it’s goodnight then.”

“Goodnight then,” Veronica murmured back. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“I’ll see you now,” Frank purred, and placed a kiss on her neck.

Veronica laughed. As she faded away into sleep, she basked in the feelings of contentedness that she was feeling after having gone so long without them.

* * *

For the next several weeks, Veronica’s life at Franks estate went much like the first several days. In the morning, the each worked out and then met for a rendezvous in the kitchen before the girls arose, and then they went their separate ways, Frank to his office and Veronica remaining at home to take care of the girls.

For her part, Veronica grew to feel like this was the home, and practically the family she had always wanted. When she was a little girl, she had always imagined what her life would be like as an adult, and this was very close if you subtracted the mansion-like home.

Every now and then, of course, she had her moments of doubt. She remembered that she was no more than an employee here, and in spite of Frank’s assurances that he had feelings for her and that his intentions were to win her over, the cynical part of her mind insisted that she was just a way for him to pass the time until the next nanny got there.

It was in these moments that Veronica felt exceedingly guilty for ever even entertaining the thought of cheating on Calvin. In spite of the fact that their relationship was less than thrilling, there had been nothing truly wrong with it. And up until recently, they had both been faithful to one another.

It certainly didn’t help that while she was delving into a potential relationship with Frank, Calvin was still trying hard to save theirs. It seemed that he had actually listened when she voiced her complaints about their relationship, and was actively seeking to build her up more. Unfortunately, he was only serving to fuel her guilt for being constantly unfaithful to him.

They spoke on the phone every day, though, and one day, Calvin suggested that she take an afternoon off and go see him. Veronica had no idea what to say.

“Just one afternoon,” Calvin pressed, his tone hopeful. “It doesn’t go against the terms of your contract. Davenport should be home at that time, right?”

“Yes, of course,” Veronica said. She didn’t know how to tell him how much the terms of their contract had changed in the time she had been there.

“Great!” Calvin said. “So that’s a yes?”

Veronica sighed, and ran her hand over her face.

“I can’t say,” Veronica said. “Davenport is my boss; I have to run it by him.”

“But I mean it shouldn’t be a problem, right?” Calvin said easily. “I mean he said he would allow you time off.”

“Yeah, of course, you’re right,” Veronica said a little snappishly, her emotional turmoil starting to rise to the surface.

“I mean, if it’s too much trouble for you, you can just forget about it,” Calvin said kindly, but Veronica could hear the disappointment in his voice.

“No, no,” veronica insisted. “Of course I want to go, baby. I just have to ask first, okay?”

“Okay,” Calvin answered, and his voice was filled with relief.

“I’ll talk to him about it tonight and I’ll tell you what he said tomorrow,” Veronica said. “And if it all goes well maybe we can set a date and time.”

“Great!” Calvin said, excitement evident in his voice. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow then. I love you.”

“I love you too,” Veronica said, her heart heavy. “Goodbye.”

“Goodbye,” she heard Calvin say, and she immediately hung up the phone.

Veronica let out a long sigh and leaned back against the wall, shoving her phone roughly into her pocket. This whole thing was really starting to wear on her, and she didn’t know how much longer she could effectively keep it up.

“Calvin, I assume?” Veronica turned to see the familiar figure of Frank in the doorway.

Veronica nodded, and took in his appearance. He wore a pair of dark wash jeans and a grey cable knit sweater. He stood with his arms crossed and his brow raised, a somewhat cold look on his face.

“Please don’t look at me that way,” Veronica said to him.

“Fine,” Frank said, raising his hands, and then putting them into his pocket. “So are you going to ask me or what?”

Veronica’s brows met and she cocked her head at him, annoyed.

“So did you just eavesdrop on my whole conversation, or what?” Veronica asked.

“Well I couldn’t help but hear,” Calvin said, his voice very calm and measured.

“Well since you asked,” Veronica said, irritated. “Calvin wants to know if I can take an afternoon off to go on a date with him soon.”

Frank raised both eyebrows.

“Would that be agreeable with you?” Veronica asked. “My contract states that I am not absolutely required to be here if you are present with the girls, and it assures me some time off as well.”

“I am not opposed to abiding by your contract,” Frank said, his voice as a calm and cool as ever. Somehow, that made her even more furious than if he had raged at her.

“Fine then,” Veronica snapped at him. “I’ll be calling him back tomorrow so I can set a time and a date.”

Frank said nothing, merely looking back at her.

“Say something!” Veronica hissed at him.

“What do you want me to say?” Frank bit back. “That I don’t want you to go? You’re a grown woman Veronica. That’s your relationship. You have a right to do what you want with him. I can’t stop you. As you’ve already pointed out, you’re well within the limits of your contract to take an afternoon off and spend it with him. To be honest I’m a little surprised you haven’t already done so.”

“That’s not what I wanted to hear,” Veronica said, her voice now betraying her conflicted emotions.

“Well then here’s something else,” Frank said, his voice incredibly low and deadly cold. “I don’t want you to go. I don’t want you to speak with him. I don’t want you to ever see him again. The truth? I’m horribly jealous. I want you to myself Veronica. I don’t want to take you to bed every night knowing that there’s another man out there with a claim on you. If you were any other woman in the world, there is no way on earth that I would ever put myself through what I am going through now.”

Veronica could have sworn her heart stopped at his words. She could feel the sincerity of his words resounding in her bones, and she knew that he meant everything he said. She felt numb in the face of such raw truth.

Silence stretched between them for a long moment, and the only communication that occurred between them was solely between their eyes.

“I don’t want you to go,” Frank said.

Veronica stayed still as he pushed off the wall behind him and began to move toward her. He came to stand in front of her, and she covered his hands with her own as he cupped her face. He lowered his head and kissed her softly. Then, he pulled back and rested his forehead against hers.

“I want you all to myself,” Frank said softly. “And for a while I thought that you wanted me too. But right now, … I get the feeling that you don’t even know what you want.”

Veronica said nothing, and lowered her eyes. If she was completely honest, Frank was really right. She stayed silent, and she heard Frank release a long sigh through his nose. His hands moved down to rest on her hips, and his fingertips slipped beneath the hem of her shirt.

Veronica’s eyes flicked up to Franks, and she saw darkness and lust swirling there. She felt his hands move higher up inside of her shirt, and she gasped as he easily undid the clasp of her bra.

“Frank, we’re in the kitchen,” she protested in a hushed whisper, but she couldn’t deny the heat that had started to build up in her core.

“Very observant,” Frank growled into her ear as his hand moved back to her waist and roughly jerked her into his body. He unabashedly rolled his hips into her, and she bit her lip to keep from crying out.

“I want you,” Frank growled, and Veronica couldn’t help but gasp as he roughly bit down on the juncture of her neck and shoulder.

“But you have to be quiet or we’ll wake the girls,” he warned her with a dark whisper, his lips brushing against the shell of her ear. “We wouldn’t want them to walk in on something like this, now would we?”

Veronica panted and shook her head. Frank forced his knee between her legs and rubbed it against her sex, nearly causing her knees to buckle. She knew there was no way she could resist, and deep downs he knew she didn’t want to.

* * *

Frank reached up to the collar of Veronica’s shirt and tore downwards, ripping off all the buttons and baring her upper body to him. He quickly swiped off the bra as well, and dipped his head to take a nipple into his mouth.

Veronica struggled to keep quiet and she dug her fingers into his shoulders as he tortured her breasts. By the time he finally pulled back, they were exceedingly tender, and even the cool air of the room brushing against them was serving to excite her.

He moved lower and took hold of the waistband of her yoga pants and roughly dragged them down her legs. He wasted no time and immediately brought his hand between her legs. She was not shocked at all that his fingers slid easily through the wetness at her slit, sending her head spinning.

Frank looked up at her with a dark smirk just before he sank two fingers deep inside her. Veronica ground her teeth and shuddered as he began to rhythmically pump into her, brushing his thumb against her clit.

It didn’t take long for Veronica to dissolve into a quivering mess under his touch, and she soon found that she could not remain on her feet. She began to slide down the wall, Frank’s fingers still buried inside of her. When she finally hit the floor, Frank did not hesitate to pounce and capture her lips between his own, nipping at her lower lip with his teeth.

Veronica cupped his face between her hands and held him tightly. Veronica gasped as Frank suddenly scooped her up into his arms and stood up with ease. Veronica had never been small, and she was taken aback by his pure show of strength.

He carried her across the kitchen to stand in front of the table.

“Bend over it,” Frank commanded, and Veronica easily obeyed. Her breasts pressed painfully into the wood beneath her, but a part of her relished the discomfort, and used it to better fuel her arousal.

Veronica noticed that Frank was still dressed as she felt his Erection through his jeans pressing against her backside as she bent over the table, and she felt the rough material of his sweater against her back.

She moaned softly as his lips came into contact with the back of her neck.

“Shh,” he scolded her, and gave her backside a light swat. Veronica jumped a little, and feared that she would bit a hole in her lip from biting it so hard to keep herself quiet.

Frank proceeded to kiss, suck and lick a line down her back. His hands at her waist kept her from moving away, and she kept a tight grip on his wrists to keep herself secure. The touches of his lips, tongue and teeth were sending shocks of sensation right to her core, and she was not at all surprised when she felt a thick droplet of her own wetness travel down her leg.

“Hm,” Frank hummed, and gathered up the droplet on his fingertips. He held up his fingers, wet with her juices to her mouth, and Veronica knew exactly what he was asking of her. Without hesitation, she drew his fingers into her mouth and sucked them clean. She felt a shudder roll throughout her frame at the taste of herself.

“God you’re a sexy woman,” Frank growled.

Veronica felt his hands move from her waist, and she heard the shuffle of material as he divested himself of his clothing. It was not long, though, before his hands resumed their place at her hips, and she felt the tip of his cock at her entrance. Veronica let out a harsh breath, and she moved onto her tiptoes to offer herself up to him.

Veronica felt one of his hands move up her sides and eventually come to circle her neck. He gripped her there, not too tightly, but tightly enough to excite her, and he slowly pressed into her.

Veronica let out a sigh of pure pleasure as he filled her, and she turned her head to look back at him. She immediately met his eyes and saw his lust, but also his pure adoration for her sparkling in his eyes. As he began to pull out of her and then press back in, establishing a steady and gentle rhythm, she lost herself to the pleasure he created within her body.

As excited as he had already made her with his fingering and the abruptness of the entire encounter, it did not take long for Veronica to feel an orgasm coming on. She doubted she would be able to take a denial from him this time.

“I’m going to come…” Veronica whimpered softly.

“Go ahead baby,” Frank encouraged her softly, moving his hand down from her neck to gently caress her back.

Frank picked up his pace a little, and slipped a hand beneath her to gently circle her clit. Veronica could have sworn she felt electric shocks to her core, and within a minute, she was bucking and whimpering as her climax rocked her. Behind her, Frank panted softly as he thrust into her a bit harder until he, too, reached his peak.

When he had finished, he leaned down over her, and began to place gentle kisses along her back. For a while they both remained that way, catching their breath, their sweat cooling on their skin.

At length, Frank stood and gently withdrew himself from inside of her, and helped her into a standing position. They both quietly gathered up their clothes, and retreated into the bathroom of Frank’s office to fetch a pair of robes before they headed back upstairs.

They quietly moved into Veronica’s room, and they both undressed and settled into the bed. As they laid down, Frank pulled Veronica in close to him.

“Are you okay?” he asked her softly. “I hope I didn’t hurt you or do anything that you didn’t want…”

“No, no,” Veronica insisted, horrified that he would ever even think that. “Baby, if you ever do anything I don’t want, I know you’ll stop if I ask you. I am never going to put us through anything like that.”

Veronica felt Frank’s muscles relax, and she leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on the hard muscle of his chest.

“To be honest,” Veronica said, her voice more teasing. “I thought it was all really hot.”

Frank chuckled and nuzzled his face into her neck.

“I thought you might,” he said, baring his white teeth in a beaming smile. “And I thought we both needed to blow off some steam.”

Veronica sobered as she remembered what had brought about their show of mutual lust in the kitchen. Her heart sank a little, as it always did when she thought of Calvin.

“Hey,” Veronica said softly. “I’m going to talk to Calvin tomorrow, and I tell him that I’m too busy here and I can’t go. Okay?”

Frank was silent, except for a soft sigh. He took her hand in his and pressed a kiss to her knuckles.

“I want you to go see him,” Frank said softly, and Veronica felt a shock at his words.

“You what?” she asked, her disbelief evident in her voice.

“I want you to go,” Frank said, firm in his resolve. “I think it will do you good to see him. I think it will help you to better think things through.”

Veronica’s head spun. This was certainly not what she had expected to hear from him just now.

“I’ll get you a car and a driver so you can get a ride there and back, and not worry about having a good and safe time,” Frank said.

Veronica was still horribly confused.

“Why do you want this?” Veronica frowned over at him, pulling back a little from their embrace. “You made it pretty clear in the kitchen that you wanted the exact opposite.”

“Well I was angry,” Frank nodded. “And what I said about my feelings was true. But I did some thinking just now, and I think that you are very cut off from the rest of the world here. I don’t think you’ve left even once. Which is perfectly fine. However, you may feel differently in a different environment.”

Veronica was a little offended.

“You think I will change my mind when I get out into the real world?” Veronica asked.

“I think you will think more clearly in the real world,” Frank corrected gently. “I think this is a good idea, and you have my blessing. You are grown, of course, and you can do what you want.”

Veronica was silent for a long moment, thinking through all the things he had said. Finally, she looked back up at him and sighed.

“Okay,” she said softly. “I will call him tomorrow and set it up.

Frank smiled a little sadly, then leaned down to press a kiss to her forehead.

“Okay,” he said. “I think this will be a really good thing. For both of us.”

Veronica nodded.

“Goodnight, baby,” Frank whispered into her ear as he slipped his arm arbour her waist.

“Goodnight,” Veronica whispered, and tried to settle herself in to sleep.

She knew that she was in for a very long night.

* * *

The next day, in the morning just after her run, Veronica made her call to Calvin. Her heart was pounding and her stomach was in knots. There was still a huge part of her that wanted to turn back and have absolutely nothing to do with this. Still, by the time she pressed the call button, it was too late to turn back.

“Hey!” Calvin answered. “What’s going on? You never call this early.”

“Oh nothing,” Veronica answered, trying to muster some enthusiasm into her tone. “I just wanted to call to let you know that I want to set a time for us to have a date.”

The phone went silent for a moment, and Veronica wondered if Calvin was even still on the line.

“Hello?” she spoke into the phone, wondering if he had somehow cut out.

“Oh hey!” Calvin said, his voice clearly illustrating his shock. “Sorry, I just honestly didn’t expect you to say yes.”

“Well I want to go,” Veronica said. “So when are we doing it?”

“Um, let me check!” Calvin said, and Veronica waited for him to respond. “Actually, tomorrow looks good! I was going to take you to that Italian place you like. Is that good for you?”

“Yeah that sounds wonderful,” Veronica said. That particular restaurant was her absolute favorite, and she hadn’t been in quite a long time. All in all, it was a very thoughtful gesture for him to put forth.

“Great!” Calvin said with a laugh. “I get off at five, what time would be good for you?”

“Why don’t we call it six?” Veronica suggested. She knew that Frank normally got home about five thirty, and he would be able to take over care of the girls for the night. “I know that seems a little early, but I told Davenport I would be back in by midnight.”

“Alright Cinderella,” Calvin teased her. “Six it is! God, I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to this. I’m so excited to see you!”

“I’m excited to see you too,” Veronica said, hoping that she sounded at least a little genuine.

“Okay well I have to be getting to work,” Calvin said. “I’ll see you tomorrow. I can’t wait! I love you!”

“See you,” Veronica said. “I love you too.”

Veronica hung up the phone just as Frank walked into the kitchen. Veronica had already gotten him a glass of water, which he immediately drank.

“Thank you,” Frank said.

Veronica nodded, but remained quiet.

“Was that Calvin?” Frank asked quietly, and Veronica knew that he already knew the answer to that.

“I called and set up our date,” she explained quietly. “It’s tomorrow at six, and I told him I had to be back by midnight.”

Frank looked a little surprised.

“I thought you would want to take the whole night,” he said.

“That is probably the very last thing I want,” Veronica scoffed.

“Hey,” Frank moved closer to her and placed his hands on her waist, looking into her eyes. “Don’t be down about this.”

“I can’t help it,” Veronica sighed. She thought for a moment, and she was grateful that Calvin granted her the time to process her thoughts.

“I haven’t even seen him in weeks,” she said softly. “I just… I just don’t know how to be around him anymore. Especially not with all this. With you and me.”

“Don’t worry about all that,” Calvin said softly. “You just be you. You’re smart. You’re going to know what to do in whatever situation you find yourself in. I believe in you.”

Veronica nodded, and she found that his words served to comfort her quite a bit.

“Are you sure you want me to go through with this?” she whispered, and he smiled down at her.

“Like I said,” Frank gave a half smile. “I think you need to see him. And I think it will help you to figure out what you really want to get out of this situation.”

Veronica nodded. She moved closer to Frank and rested her head against his broad chest. She inhaled the scent of his musk after his workout and shivered as the scent filled her lungs.

“I just want you to remember one thing,” Frank said, pulling back slightly. Veronica looked up at him, waiting for him to tell her what was on his mind.

“I want you to remember that I want you,” he said. “In your mind while you’re processing all these things, I don’t want you to ever doubt that I think you’re the woman for me, and that I want you more than anything. Don’t ever get that twisted. I want you to be mine. You just have to decide if I’m the one for you.”

Veronica swallowed at yet another raw confession from this man.

“But if that man for you is Calvin,” Frank went on more softly. “I will respect your decision in that regard, and we can both move on with our lives accordingly.”

Veronica took in his words, and looked up at him.

“Thank you,” she said softly. “I can’t tell you how much it means to me that you’re so understanding.”

Frank smiled down at her.

“All I want is for you to have a good chance to be happy,” Frank almost whispered. “And I do want it to be with me, no doubt. But I think Calvin is a good man, too. And I know he has a good future to offer you as well. If he was some kind of shady low-life, I wouldn’t be encouraging you to entertaining him as an option.”

Veronica smiled, as she couldn’t quite manage a laugh. Frank noticed her quietness, and he lifted her face up to look at him.

“Everything’s going to work out, alright?” Frank assured her. “I’m going to go get ready for work. You coming up?”

“No,” Veronica shook her head. “I’m going to stay down here for a second. I just want to clear my head a little bit.”

“Okay,” Frank smiled. “I’ll see you in just a little bit.”

Veronica smiled as he moved out of the kitchen and up the stairs. She let out a soft rush of air, and she buried her face in her hands. She felt like her life was beginning to spin out of control.

She wondered how things would have been if she had never taken the job from Frank. Would she and Calvin have broken up eventually just from their differences? Would they have stayed together, eventually gotten married and had children and a family of their own? All those ideas seemed to be pure fantasy now that she had been disloyal to him.

Veronica wondered if she would tell him about her and Frank on their date. It seemed almost too cruel to do something like that to him. She knew he was terribly excited to see her, and this revelation would absolutely crush him.

And if she didn’t tell him, she knew the guilt would be eating at her the whole night, and she would just end up having a completely miserable time altogether. She would only be sparing him from the truth temporarily, anyway, and there was little point in dragging it out.

She wondered how he would react if she did tell him. Would he be angry? Hurt? Betrayed? Embarrassed? Doubtless he would feel all these emotions, but which one would he display. It was a question she would not know the answer to until she revealed her horrible secret.

And the bigger issue in all this was whether she wanted to try and recover her relationship with Calvin, or if she wanted to pursue a new relationship with Frank? In some ways, the choice of Frank seemed easy. She had already nearly seamlessly adjusted herself into his life. She was attracted to him both physically and mentally, not to mention the deeper connection that they shared.

But then, there were outside issues to consider. Frank was a man of wealth and status, and the duties of a wife were certainly much different than the duties of a nanny. She would likely be expected to attend events and to mingle with an entirely different class of people than she was accustomed to. In her mind, she just could not picture herself ever fitting in to that kind of picture.

Veronica was also afraid of being a disappointment to Frank. They had only interacted in this environment. What if he came to find one day that she was not all he had made her out to be, and came to regret his decision entirely?

All these thoughts rushed through her head, and Veronica rubbed at her temples. She got up from the table and headed upstairs to her room. She desperately hoped that a shower would help her to be able to sort out her thoughts on these issues.

* * *

Veronica had a hard time keeping her mind away from this pressing issue for the next couple of days. She tried and tried to sort everything out, but even after hours and hours agonizing over it, she had not come any closer to finding a solution or making a decision.

By the time Friday afternoon rolled around, she was nearly a complete mess. She was anxious about seeing Calvin after having spent this time without him, and knowing all the things she had done in that time.

She really was on the verge of a complete mental breakdown.

So, she was very caught off guard when Frank showed up at his home a little earlier than usual. He greeted his daughters, and then gave her a small smile.

“Go on up and start getting ready,” he said softly. “I’ve got the girls.”

Veronica nodded, unable to verbally respond, and headed up the stairs. She made it into her room, but stopped short as she saw a box on the bed. She looked closer and saw a note card lying on top of the box.

She hesitantly moved closer, and picked up the card.

‘Wear this on your date. I know it will look incredible on you. -Frank’

Veronica felt her heart clench as she read the note. As if it wasn’t enough to be playing with Calvin’s emotions, she was also acutely aware that Frank had feelings for her, and wanted her to stay with him.

She was tempted to simply ignore the box and refuse to wear the dress. But she knew that he would insist, and she didn’t want to risk hurting his feeling over something that only cost a tiny fraction of his fortune. She would wear the dress, and she would thank him profusely for it.

Slowly, Veronica opened the box, and she gasped at what she saw. It was a deep purple dress that she already knew would accentuate all of her curves in just the right way. It was complete with a neckline that would serve to show off her generous cleavage, but not so much as to be tacky.

Veronica couldn’t wait to put it on. She found a pair of black lace bra and panties that would easily compliment the dress, and then she slipped on the garment itself. She gasped as she saw herself in the mirror. She was shocked to find it fit her perfectly, and with a pair of black heels it would give her a classy, elegant look.

Veronica hastily took off the dress, all but too eager to put it back on when her hair and makeup were done. She went into the bathroom and picked up her speed on that whole process. She found the perfect pair of black heels to go with the dress, and then put on the dress and shoes. She selected a black clutch to complete the look, as well as a matching set of pearl necklace and earrings.

She was observing herself in the mirror when she saw her door open from its reflection, and she stiffened a little as Frank walked into the room.

“Hey,” he said softly, and she watched his jaw drop slightly as he took in her wardrobe. She felt heat rush into her cheeks, and she couldn’t help but smile up at him.

“Thank you for the dress,” she said softly, feeling a flutter of arousal as his eyes swept hungrily over her.

“Thank you for wearing it,” he said, his voice husky. “You look stunning.”

Veronica dipped her head out of modesty.

“I wish it was me taking you out tonight,” Frank said softly as he moved closer to her. He placed his hands on her waist, and she could tell he was being careful so as not to wrinkle the material of her dress.

“I wish it was too,” Veronica said softly, and she meant it.

Frank gave her a sad smile and sighed.

“Well if you go on a date with me at any point,” he said speculatively. “I’ll just have to buy you an even nicer dress.”

Veronica smiled up at him, knowing that he was quite capable of doing so. They were both quiet for a moment, feeling a bit awkward for the first time she could remember since they had met.

“Are you ready?” Frank asked her.

“I think so,” Veronica said, though she was having a hard time keeping her voice from shaking.

“It’s a little chilly out, you might need a coat,” Frank said.

“Oh, thank you,” Veronica nodded, and moved into her closet to find an overcoat. She had forgotten that the chill of autumn was creeping up on them and that the warmth of summer was disappearing. She couldn’t help but think that somewhat metaphoric for her life at the moment.

Veronica stepped out of her closet with the coat and began the process of putting it on.

“Here, let me,” Frank stepped forward, and held the coat so that she could more easily put her arms through it.

“Thank you,” she said when she was securely wrapped in the garment.

“Of course,” Frank nearly whispered. Veronica could feel tension building between them, and she could see Frank’s jaw working.

“You know,” he finally spoke after what seemed like ages. “All I want to do right now is take you and kiss you, so that when you kiss Calvin tonight, it won’t be your lips he’s tasting, but mine.”

Veronica wanted to tell him that her lips already were his, and that if he had not already physically claimed her at this point, then one more kiss wouldn’t magically do the trick. Besides, she knew what he was saying, and she didn’t want the moment between them to be ruined by useless logic.

“Anyway,” frank cleared his throat. “I came up to let you know that Thomas is outside with the car for you.”

Veronica was a little relieved that Thomas would be driving her. She had gotten to know him better and better during her time her, as he was a member of the staff. He was kind, and she knew he would not judge her for where she was going, and he wouldn’t badger her with questions about her situation.

“May I help you to the car?” Frank offered, extending his hand to her.

Veronica gave him a nod, and took his offered hand. A little more slowly than they might have normally walked, he led her down the grand staircase and out the front door. Veronica saw Thomas waiting by the rear door to help her in, but with a nod from Frank, he moved to get into the Driver’s seat.

Veronica felt her nerves mounting up inside of her as she approached the car, and when Frank opened the door for her, she hesitated to get in.

“Everything alright?” Frank raised an eyebrow at her, and Veronica could hardly find her voice to speak with him.

“I…” she trailed off for a moment, feeling vulnerable. “I’m scared.”

“Don’t be scared,” Frank assured her softly. “Just try to go out and have a good time. Don’t think about right or wrong or making decisions. Just go out, and stay calm.”

Veronica nodded, and she took a deep breath. She had known Calvin for years. There was no reason to be getting so worked up over a simple date with him. Somehow, though, in such a short time, she felt like everything had changed.

Veronica lowered herself into the car, allowing Frank to help her as she did so. He bent over so he could smile in at her.

“You said you’d be back by midnight?” Frank asked.

“That’s right,” Veronica smiled up at him, taking comfort in the fact that no matter what happened on her date, she was still coming back to her life here afterward.

“Good,” frank said, and she heard a trace of humor in his voice. “That’s about when the spell wears off, or so they say.”

Veronica laughed aloud. She debated telling him that Calvin had also made a Cinderella joke, buts he decided the information was not quite welcome.

“I’ll miss you,” veronica said softly. She had not spent an afternoon away from him since she had known him, and this was more than a little strange to her.

“I’ll see you soon,” Franks aid comfortingly. “You should get going, you don’t want to be late.”

“Alright,” Veronica agreed, sounding very calm considering her heart had just leapt into her throat.

“Have a good date,” Frank said, a little acidity in his tone.

“Thank you,” Veronica said.

With that Frank closed the door and patted the hood of the car, and Thomas pulled out of the driveway, taking Veronica to her date with Calvin.

* * *

Veronica stepped out of the car and smiled a thank you to Thomas, who had extended a hand to help her out. When she straightened herself she saw Calvin standing at the front entrance of the restaurant and he had a sparkling smile on his face. Instantly, waves of nervousness and guilt filled Veronica and she felt her shoulders slump a little from the weight of it all.

As she heard the car being driven away by Thomas to be parked, she walked towards Calvin. She only took small nervous steps, still unsure of herself.

Calvin was dressed to the nines, and it suddenly reminded her of how hard he had tried in their initial days of being together; to please her. He was in a sharp dark navy suit and his hair was neatly polished to one side. He had a bouquet of red roses in his hand that he was gripping tightly.

She could sense that he was pleased to see her. Not only pleased, but he was excited.

“You look beautiful, Veronica,” he said, gushing, as he stepped towards her.

Veronica felt an initial instinct to step away from him when he moved towards her, but she caught herself just in time. Calvin was her boyfriend after all, and he had every right to touch her or kiss her.

“Thank you,” she said, blushing to a bright red as she accepted the soft kiss that he left on her cheek. Without a word, Calvin extended the bouquet towards her and she accepted it, hanging it from the crook of her arm. Then she felt Calvin’s hand on the small of her back as he pushed open the door of the restaurant and they both stepped inside.

Veronica was glad for the hustle bustle of the place. Surrounded by so many people, the noises and the soft background music; had put her somewhat in ease. At least they were not completely alone.

Calvin had already booked a table for them, and the host led them towards a small table for two by the large bay windows overlooking the back garden view.

Veronica noticed the changes in Calvin’s behavior. He was quick to pull out a chair for her before he sat down, a chivalrous gesture that he had tended to forget as their relationship grew old. She was beginning to believe that she had completely been right, their time apart had definitely done them a world of good.

Calvin’s eyes were bright and he had a constant smile on his face. Like a young teenager, giddy over a crush, he sat down across from her. The host came over and lit the tall candle between them, and Veronica placed the bouquet of roses at her feet on the ground.

“Is that a new dress?” Calvin said, finally breaking the awkward silence between them. Veronica wondered if it was only awkward for her or for them both. He seemed blissfully unaware of the contradictory feelings that were going on inside her.

“Yeah, it is,” she admitted, being quick to avoid looking directly into his eyes. She was aware that she felt beautiful in that dress. Was that the most expensive piece of clothing she owned? The feel of the buttery soft fabric against her skin, was also a constant reminder of who had given the dress to her. Frank Davenport. Her cheeks colored immediately.

“When did you have time to go shopping? I thought you said you were always in the house with the two girls,” Calvin continued to interrogate and Veronica crossed her brows. Back to the cross examination! She thought.

“Will you stop being a lawyer, for one second, Calvin,” she snapped at him, and instantly regretted raising her voice. Calvin’s eyes widened and then sank down. He had rarely seen her lose her temper, and she hadn’t expected that reaction from herself either. In fact the last thing she wanted to do was to infuriate Calvin.

Veronica gazed at him, blinking, as he quietly read the menu. She still hadn’t decided when and what she was going to tell him. She could feel a familiar feeling of guilt creep up in her as she watched him.

It had been several weeks since she last saw Calvin, and given how long they had been dating and how intimately she thought they knew each other - Veronica had expected at least a little more excitement when they met after so long. But she had felt nothing when she set her eyes on him. She appreciated the effort he had put into setting up the date, and how polished and handsome he looked. Beyond that however, she didn’t feel that spark. The spark she knew she felt every time she merely set her eyes on Frank.

Calvin looked up at her suddenly, interrupting her thoughts.

“Have you decided what you’ll order?” he asked and Veronica felt her mouth go dry. After the number of times they had frequented this restaurant, she thought he would have known exactly what she wanted. She had ordered the same main and same side for the past three years, every time they came to this place. She never got bored of it.

But instead of pointing that out to him, she simply nodded her head and Calvin smiled. He shut the menu and placed it with a smack on the table, which caught the attention of one of the waiters.

“I’ll have the Arancini as a side and the Gnocchi with ricotta,” Calvin said, looking up politely at the waiter when he appeared at their side.

“And I’ll have the Linguini in clam sauce as my main, and the pesto and garlic bread on the side,” Veronica said.

“Of course, I forgot you order the same thing!” Calvin said with a nervous laugh escaping his lips.

When their eyes met, Veronica looked away from him. She was feeling guilty again, because even though she was sitting in front of her boyfriend who was trying his best to be sweet and kind to her, all she could think about was being with her boss.

* * *

“How’s the food?” Calvin asked her and Veronica looked up from her plate to fix her eyes on him. They had been eating in relative silence since the food arrived. Even though Veronica wanted to make some kind of conversation with him, she couldn’t think of a single thing to say.

“Delicious, as always,” she said finally, wiping the sides of her mouth with the napkin on her lap. Calvin smiled and nodded his head, and after a few moments of silence had passed again, Veronica decided to say something too.

“And how is yours?” she asked, her voice catching a little in her throat.

“Very good,” Calvin replied.

Did they really have nothing left to talk about? They were seeing each other after nearly four weeks. Granted that they spoke over the phone every other day, surely, there would be something more private to discuss? Veronica racked her brain.

“Ashley, Mr Davenport’s older daughter…just won a dance competition,” she said. Veronica had to try very hard to remind herself to refer to him formally, instead of just calling him Frank. She didn’t want to slip up unexpectedly. Any news she wanted to break to Calvin would have to be done gently.

“That’s lovely. Sounds like you’ve grown quite fond of the kids,” Calvin said, with another one of his kindly smiles. It seemed to Veronica that he was trying to please her. They had lost a lot of their comfort and it felt more like a “first date” rather than a hundredth.

She nodded her head vigorously.

“I love them. They’re brilliant kids,” she said with a smile. She noticed that Calvin was looking at her curiously, something was on his mind.

“And what is Frank Davenport like? I’ve heard that he is quite a difficult man to work for,” Calvin said, dropping his fork on his plate. He was gearing himself up to listen to what she had to say.

Veronica felt nervous again. How was she supposed to describe Frank to him? What words could she use to tell Calvin that Frank Davenport was the most interesting and affectionate man she had ever met. She considered if this was the opportunity she needed to confess everything to Calvin.

“Umm…he’s okay. We get along fine,” she blurted out, before she could formulate any other words.

Calvin’s eyes seemed to expand.

“And I suppose you don’t bump into him very often anyway, do you?” he asked and Veronica spooned a mouthful of food into her mouth. She tried to bide her time before committing to a response. She couldn’t decide how to frame a response.

“I see him everyday,” she said flatly, when she was done chewing. Calvin licked his lips and nodded his head, before going back to his food. A deathly silence had descended on their table again. It was evident to Calvin that Veronica didn’t want to talk much about her work for some reason.

“How is your work coming along?” she asked, just as Calvin opened his mouth to ask something else. She wanted to distract him. He closed his mouth shut and nodded his head again.

“Good. The usual. Nothing new,” he said and then cleared his throat.

Veronica was still trying to avoid looking at him directly. She was still trying to find more neutral ground to talk about.

“But, we’re not here to discuss my work,” he said suddenly and she jerked her head up to look at him. Calvin had his eyes narrowed at her, he was studying her face intently. Veronica gulped.

“What are we here to talk about then?” she asked, and she was sure that he could hear the loud thumping of her heart in her chest.

“You. Us. Our relationship,” he said, without wasting another moment.

Veronica put her spoon down lightly on her plate, wiped the sides of her mouth and reached for the glass of water beside her. Calvin was following all her movements with intent eyes. He was giving her a chance to respond.

“What do you want to discuss about our relationship?” she asked, in a voice that sounded more weak than confident. She was afraid that somehow Calvin knew that she had cheated on him, that she had been cheating on him for the past four weeks. She was guilty and afraid and upset with herself. Looking at Calvin’s narrowed curious eyes, which showed that he was trying to be patient with her; Veronica was sure now that she had taken him for granted. He didn’t deserve this treatment.

“When you took this job, you told me that we needed some time apart. You said that we had fallen into a routine…quite frankly, you were trying to tell me that you were bored of me,” Calvin said, still keeping his eyes on her.

Now that she was hearing those words, and after what she had done with Frank; Veronica could see how harsh it might have sounded to him. Calvin’s face was softened. He wasn’t accusing her of anything, he just seemed sad.

“I’m sorry Calvin, if I hurt you…” Veronica said, but he interrupted her again by shaking his head.

“No, you were right,” he said and her mouth nearly dropped open. Those were the last words she was expecting to hear from him.

“Don’t look so shocked, babe. I’ve given it a lot of thought and I know you were right. And I want to make up for what you felt was lacking in our relationship,” he continued.

Veronica still couldn’t say anything. She was dumbstruck by Calvin’s apologetic voice and his patient kind eyes. Then she saw him put his hand into the inside pocket of his jacket. In silence, with her eyes widened, she watched as he extracted a small blue velvet box.

In the next moment, Calvin was down on his knees beside her. He was opening the box, while Veronica’s hands flew to her mouth in shock. Calvin was proposing to her!

* * *

When Calvin opened the box, Veronica was struck instantly by the size of the diamond ring. It was sparkling in a hexagonal shape with smaller diamonds covering half of the platinum band on either side.

Some sighs and cheers had erupted around them, other people had taken note of the proposal and some had even begun clapping. Calvin remained on one knee on the floor beside her, looking up with an earnest face and enthusiastic dark eyes. Veronica was still dumbstruck, she still didn’t know what to say to him, except to remain in shock.

“Veronica Jane Lawrence, will you do me the honor of being my wife?” he said finally, in a loud confident voice. He wasn’t expecting a refusal, he didn’t appear to be able to think of a single reason why his longtime, dedicated girlfriend would refuse a proposal right now. And Veronica could say nothing to that.

Eventually, when she realized that there were too many people’s eyes on them, she slowly removed her hands that were covering her mouth.

“Please sit down, Calvin,” she said in a quiet voice that was tearing up. She was emotional, realizing that she would soon break into tears. The last thing she was expecting was for Calvin to propose to her. Not when she was toying with the idea of confessing to him that she had been cheating on him.

The smile on Calvin’s face dropped. He was expecting an immediate “yes”. He remained on the floor for a few more moments.

“Aren’t you going to let me slip it on?” he asked and Veronica licked her lips and breathed in a deep sigh.

“Let’s talk about it first, Calvin, this seems so sudden,” she said in a soft voice, hoping that the people who were staring at them wouldn’t be able to eavesdrop.

Dejectedly, Calvin straightened up and took his chair again. He dropped the open velvet box between them and stared into her eyes expectantly for an answer.

“I was going to wait till dessert, but I couldn’t. I had to ask you. I’m so excited, Veronica. What is there to talk about?” Calvin sounded confused, and he kept trying to catch her gaze while she tried to avoid his eyes.

Veronica shifted in her seat, and eyed the beautiful diamond ring for a few seconds before looking away from it.

“It’s so sudden, Calvin. We haven’t seen each other in four weeks,” she blurted out.

“So? We’ve been together for so many years. We’re practically married already, besides this would be a good excuse for you to come back home,” he said and over the table, Calvin reached out to touch her hand lightly. Veronica didn’t have the heart to pull her hand away from him. Instead, she remained still, with her muscles stiffened. Those electric shocks that Frank sent down her spine every time he touched her, were sorely missing with Calvin.

“Yeah, but your home isn’t my home anymore. We were taking some time out to work things out,” Veronica said and Calvin nodded his head, like he was in total agreement.

“And I’ve worked it out. I can’t…and I won’t live without you. You’re my girlfriend and I love you. Your place is in my home, in my bed. I want to be able to wake up every morning and see you by my side,” he continued and Veronica felt her heart drop to her stomach. This was too overwhelming. First Frank and now Calvin. She had waited for so long to hear these words come from Calvin. She had given up on them. She had just assumed that men in the real world, outside movies and books, just didn’t say things like these.

“But, I need some time to think, Calvin,” she said.

“You had four weeks. Don’t you miss me?” he asked, squeezing her hand now. Veronica didn’t pull it away.

“I do miss you, Calvin. I had four weeks to clear my head but not four weeks to think over whether we should be married,” she said and Calvin drew his hand away and sat back in his chair. He suddenly looked disappointed. His features were darkened again, with a steady narrowed gaze, he stared at her.

“I thought you would be more excited about this, Veronica. I mean, isn’t this what you wanted? More stability? Isn’t this what your parents want for you?” he prodded her and all Veronica could do was stare back at him. At the mention of her parents, she looked away from him. She couldn’t disagree with Calvin on this. He was right. This was exactly what her parents wanted, especially her father. They wouldn’t be happy or satisfied without knowing that their precious daughter was well settled. The prospect of marrying a successful man like Calvin, was the dream. Wasn’t it?

“I have to go now, Calvin,” she said abruptly and got up from her chair.

“Go where? Back?” Calvin asked, standing up with her.

“Yes, I have to be back for the girls. I have a job,” she said and picked up her purse.

“Promise me you’ll think about this, babe. Please take the ring with you,” Calvin said and she felt him thrust the box into her hands. Veronica had no choice but to accept it, and with that she turned away from him and started rushing towards the doors of the restaurant.

She could sense that a lot of eyes were on her, on them, but she didn’t care right now. She needed to breathe, she needed to think.

“Veronica, I love you,” she heard Calvin’s voice behind her. She turned to see him standing next to their table still. He had called it out to her, loudly, for everyone to hear. She gulped and tried to force a smile on her face.

“I love you too,” she said, more to herself than to him and she didn’t wait to see if he had heard her.

* * *

When Thomas pulled up outside the mansion, Veronica got out of the car quickly. She was feeling suffocated and was constantly too aware of the velvet box in her purse. She hadn’t taken it out or looked at the ring once since she got into the car. Her mind was dizzy with thoughts, her knees felt weak as she hurried towards the front door.

It was way before midnight, but the house looked dark. She was certain that the girls were asleep and also hoped that Frank had gone to bed.

Just as she was about to push the front door open though, she found Frank swing it inward. He was standing on the other side, with one hand pushed deep into the pocket of his pants. He was casually dressed, in a thin plaid shirt and khaki pants. He looked handsome and relaxed, with his thick beard covering most of his face. He still had his reading glasses on, so Veronica assumed that he had been working in his study and had been alerted of her arrival by the sound of the car.

“You’re home early,” he said gruffly and stepped aside to let her in.

Veronica could barely control her emotions. Seeing Frank was just too much. Carrying the diamond ring in her purse was a whole other ball game. Why hadn’t she just said no to Calvin, there and then? Why hadn’t she confessed everything to him? Surely, he wouldn’t have wanted to marry her if he knew that she was sleeping with Frank Davenport all these weeks!

“Yeah, I wasn’t feeling too well,” she said, stepping past him into the darkened foyer. The crystal chandelier was above them, an instant reminder of the world of difference between Calvin and Frank.

Calvin was successful, ambitious and young. Frank was rich, established and much older. He was looking at her curiously now, with his dark brows crossed. He didn’t buy her excuse.

“How did it go?” he asked, stepping towards her.

Veronica didn’t step back, she was under his spell again. Just setting her eyes on Frank was enough to remind her of just how he made her feel. Her body was reacting to his presence already.

“It was…” she began to say, and Frank stepped even closer and took her purse off her shoulder and flung it to the side.

“Don’t tell me the details,” he whispered, bringing his lips close to hers. Veronica felt a shiver run down her spine. He had begun leading her toward his study, in the dark, without making any loud sounds.

“The girls are asleep so we can be together,” he said, gripping her hand tightly. He hadn’t even given her a chance to explain herself. What did he assume had happened at the dinner?

Veronica remained silent as she entered the study with him. The table lamp on his desk was still on, and there were papers strewn everywhere.

“I was trying to concentrate on my work, but I couldn’t,” he said and gently closed the door shut behind them. “I was thinking about you all evening. I couldn’t help but be jealous. I didn’t want to imagine you and him together,” he continued and encircled his arm around her waist and drew her close to him.

She could feel her breasts pressed tightly to his chest, and she drew in a sharp breath. Veronica was suddenly afraid of what he was going to do. At the same time however, she couldn’t deny that her body was reacting to his touch. She was aroused by him already, and he had barely even touched her.

“Frank, I…” she said, and bit down on her lip as she looked up at him.

“We don’t have to talk about it now,” he said gently and lowered his face so that he could graze her cheek with his lips. She felt a quiver between her legs. The coarseness of his beard as it grazed her soft flesh was enticing. She suddenly felt an incredible urge to kiss him.

“For now I’m just happy that you’re home so early,” he added, before pressing his lips to hers. Their breaths caught in their throat as they started kissing. She felt his hands gripping her waist tightly while his tongue parted her lips and searched her mouth.

Veronica couldn’t help but compare the differences between Calvin and Frank. With Calvin, she had felt no inclination to touch him. She went cold in fact when he took her hand. With Frank, she could barely keep her hands to her self.

When Frank drew his face away from her, Veronica was out of breath.

“Did he compliment your dress?” he asked gruffly, in a low growl. His fingers found the hem of her skirt and he was pulling up the fabric of her dress. Slowly sliding it up her thighs as he leaned her backwards by the waist.

Veronica held on to his arms tightly, digging her nails into his shirt as she arched her back.

He had sent goosebumps all over her skin as his fingers continued to pull her dress upwards, till it was bunched up at her waist.

“You are so beautiful, Veronica. I missed you so much,” he said, just as his fingers found the lace material of her panties. She gasped as she felt his fingers slide underneath it. She couldn’t hide her wetness from him any more. She could feel herself throbbing, her juices beginning to slide down the inside of her thighs.

“Get up on the desk,” he commanded, suddenly letting go of her. She nearly stumbled away from him, but she was quick to do what she was told.

Veronica wasn’t even thinking about Calvin or the ring any more. All she could think about was having Frank inside her, feeling his cock slide into her. She got up on the desk, her knees resting on the scattered papers as she thrust her ass out towards him.

“Not so fast,” she heard him say as he came up to her and placed his hands on her ass.

* * *

Veronica felt like her heart had stopped beating, as she felt Frank’s long fingers travel around her hips, then her belly and then dip down.

She could sense that he had discarded of his clothes, while her dress remained bunched up at her waist, exposing her legs, her ass…his fingers found her hot mound quickly. She was wet and throbbing for him. She felt him press his erect cock against her ass, but only left it there. He was going to let his fingers do all the work for now.

Gently at first, he only grazed his fingers along her wet slit and Veronica moaned. He was teasing her again. She was sitting on her knees on the desk, with Frank pressed up behind her, his arms encircled around her waist.

Then she felt the roughness of his two fingers as he started sliding them in, slowly parting her flesh. She started panting, anticipating the moment when his fingers would be completely inside her. She straightened her back, pressing herself against his bare chest. With his other hand, Frank wound around to grab her breast which he squeezed hard.

Veronica moaned again. He was quickening the pace of his thrusts. His fingers kept sliding in and pulling out, bringing her to the brink of an orgasm and then pulling back. She wriggled as she sat, keeping her legs pressed together so that Frank’s hand was stuck there, between her thighs.

She threw her head back, so that it rested on his shoulder and she could look up at him. She pushed her breasts forward and Frank continued to massage one of them, through the fabric of her dress.

“Frank…” she said his name pleadingly but he wasn’t going to stop. He was going to keep pumping into her till he was satisfied that she couldn’t control her orgasm any more. Veronica looked up at his firm face, the thickness of his dark beard with the specks of gray. His eyes were narrowed and glowing at the same time, they were almost glazed over. Like he was on a mission.

She squirmed around while his fingers pumped into her.

“I’m going to come…” she moaned sleepily. She didn’t have the energy to protest or think any more. She felt like she was lost under his spell.

“Not without me you won’t,” he said and abruptly pulled his fingers out of her. With his fingers still sticky from her own wetness, she felt him push her body forward. She was kneeling in front of him again. He was standing at the side of the table, stroking his throbbing cock.

“I don’t want you to ever wear that dress again,” she heard him say and when she looked around she found that he was reaching for her dress. With one swift motion he had ripped it apart, right down the centre and it fell to the floor.

She was only in her black lace bra now.

“That goes too,” he growled and Veronica quickly took it off, her mouth hanging open as she stared at his chiseled muscular body.

He stepped towards her again, his feet firmly set to the ground.

“Turn around,” he said, almost angrily. Veronica gulped as she turned, thrusting her ass towards him again.

Frank reached for her, without giving her a moment to prepare herself. He used his hands to pull apart her butt cheeks so that he could better reach her soft throbbing core. She had just closed her eyes when she felt him push himself in.

This time it felt different. Almost like Frank was angry about something. He had mentioned jealousy to her. Was he fucking her like this because he was jealous of Calvin?

Veronica couldn’t think about it for too long, because Frank’s forceful thrusts had taken over her body. She felt tight where he continued to slide in and out of her, slowly stroking her in that spot which she knew only he could reach. His cock felt bigger, fiercer than usual as he continued to push in and pull out.

He was gripping both her shoulders. She could feel the strain of his fingers on her skin. Veronica started feeling dizzy with pleasure. She wasn’t going to be able to control her orgasm any more. She had reached the point where she didn’t even want to warn him.

She just came.

It felt like an explosion as her body shook against his. She was in a dream-like state as she sensed that he was releasing himself as well. She felt the warm seed from inside him, shoot into her and Veronica gasped. Having him inside her, deep inside her like that…was the most comforting feeling in the world. It made her believe that she didn’t have anything to worry about…

Veronica could feel her eyes begin to droop. She knew she was exhausted, mentally and physically both…but she had never passed out from an orgasm before. She tried to force her eyes to open as she felt him slide out of her.

“I’m so tired, Frank,” she managed to mumble and then she felt his strong rugged arms encircle her waist. She started to snuggle into his arms, resting her face on his chest as she sensed him lifting her off the desk.

“Don’t worry, just go to sleep. I’ll take you to bed,” she heard him say. The sound of his beating heart against her ears was like a soothing lullaby to her. She could sense that she was being carried, a silk robe had been lightly draped over her.

Veronica couldn’t open her eyes. It was like her mind had completely shut down from the experience of the night. Frank was carrying her upstairs…he was tucking her into the bed…his lips were on her cheek and then she was completely asleep. Her body and her mind had given up for the night.

* * *

When Veronica woke up the next day, she was surprised to find that the other side of her bed was empty. When she spread her fingers over that side of the sheet, it was cold. She thought she had sensed Frank sleeping beside her at night, but now she wondered if she was mistaken. He might have just tucked her into bed and then gone to sleep in his own room…but why would he do that?

Veronica sat up in bed and stretched her arms, enjoying the warmth of the sun pouring in through the windows. For a few minutes she forgot that she had things to worry about. But soon enough, she remembered the previous night all too clearly. Calvin had proposed to her, she came rushing back to the Davenport mansion and then slept with Frank.

Veronica pressed her temples with her thumbs, trying to stop the dull ache that was arising. How had she let that happen? How had she allowed herself to fall into Frank’s arms so soon after Calvin proposed? She had made up her mind to spend the night by herself, thinking over things. All her resolve had melted away the moment she set eyes on Frank.

She shook her head, trying to get the raging thoughts in her head to settle. She could still hear Calvin’s voice ringing in her ears. He had told her that her place was in his house, on his bed and that he wanted to wake up every morning with her by his side. She gulped as she thought about that. They had spent so many years together. They had a strong history, their lives were wound up together…he certainly had a point when he said that her place was in his home.

Then she also remembered that he had pointed out how that was what her parents would want. He was right about that too, wasn’t he? More than anything else, that was what her parents were most happy with about her. That she had a handsome successful boyfriend, and they had high hopes that one day they would get married and live in a big comfortable house and start a family.

She didn’t even want to imagine what her parents would say if they found out about Frank. They definitely wouldn’t be thrilled. The prospect of being with an older man, who already has two children would not be something that they wanted for their daughter. Especially her father. No matter how successful or rich Frank was, they would always assume that Frank was with her only for her body and her young age.

Besides, Veronica didn’t even know for certain if he wanted to marry again. What if Frank was done with marriage and never asked her for her hand? She wasn’t sure if she wanted to spend the rest of her life just as somebody’s girlfriend. Despite how much she loved the girls, Ashley and Kaitlyn, she also still wanted her own children. What if Frank didn’t want any more kids?

Veronica slid her legs off the bed and stood up, swaying a little on her feet. She could still feel the sensitive spot between her thighs throbbing, where Frank had driven into her with much force the previous night. At least, that wasn’t a dream, she thought and smiled.

Then the guilt came flooding in, all over again. Calvin had truly changed his ways. He had taken all her complaints and tried to make a positive change in his life and a positive change in their relationship. And how had she rewarded him? By cheating on him, and avoiding seeing him as much as possible.

Veronica stepped into the bathroom and splashed some hot water on her face and began brushing her teeth. Despite all the thoughts in her head, she still had a day to get on with. She realized that she had overslept, so she wouldn’t have the time to go for a run this morning. She still had a breakfast to prepare nonetheless, and get the girls up and ready for school.

She stared at herself in the mirror for some moments longer than necessary. She still hadn’t come to a final decision about what she was going to do, but she knew, deep in her heart that she was leaning towards Calvin. Towards giving him another chance, towards saying yes. Frank had said that he would respect whatever decision she made…but every time she thought of Frank, about ending it with him, she felt her heart break a little. What would her life look like without him in it? For the past four weeks, her life had revolved entirely around him, his home and his children. She was happy here, she wanted for nothing.

She knew she was falling in love with Frank too, it had transcended sex. It wasn’t just lust any more, it was more than that. Like he said, they connected on an emotional level. The sex the previous night for instance, blew her mind…but saying yes to Calvin was the right thing to do. The right way forward.

Marrying Calvin would give her the stability in life she needed, and also keep her parents happy. It was the right decision for the future of her life. Perhaps in the long run, she would be happier if she spent her life with Calvin…and perhaps Frank could not give her more than what he was already giving her.

Veronica took a quick shower, changed into a pair of tight slim jeans that accentuated all her curves, and a floral blouse; before stepping out of her room to go downstairs and prepare breakfast. The grandfather clock on the landing told her that it was time for Frank to come back from his run. Which meant that it might give them an opportunity to talk in private before the girls woke up.

* * *

Veronica was flipping pancakes when she saw Frank enter the kitchen through the pool doors as usual. She jerked her head up to look at him and noticed how good he looked. The t-shirt he had worn for his run was sticking to his body, she could see the sweat trickling down the sides of his face. His hair looked damp and his eyes were bright and narrowed.

“Morning,” she said cheerily, recognizing how he made her feel just by entering a room. She was still stressed over all the thoughts in her head, and the big decision she needed to make, but she was sure that she would feel better once she spoke to Frank.

He grunted and turned to one of the cupboards to take a glass out. In silence, he filled it with tap water and turned away from her to drink it.

Veronica stared at the back of his head blankly. She couldn’t understand what was going on. He was usually happy and cheerful after a run, and on other days she would have been in his arms by now, embracing in a tight hug.

“Pancakes?” she forced herself to ask, which made him turn sideways a little, only to look at her over his shoulder.

“I’m good, thanks,” he said in a deep voice that startled her. Veronica was now getting the feeling that she had done something wrong. She remembered the way he had made love to her the previous night. He was rougher than usual, like he was trying to prove something…even though she had enjoyed herself, she couldn’t help but wonder if Frank was still jealous of the fact that she had gone on a date with Calvin.

“Frank, is something wrong?” she asked him, stopping the work she was doing.

He finished drinking the glass of water and smacked it on the kitchen island, before turning to her. She saw the rage in his eyes. His face was darkened and she could see that he was clenching his jaw.

“Nothing is wrong, Veronica,” he said, in that same deep voice that scared her a little. She licked her lips and met his eyes nervously.

“Did you spend the night in my room? I was surprised to find you missing in the morning,” she said in a meek voice, hoping that he might care to explain. She knew for certain now that he hadn’t slept in her bed.

“No. I was in my room,” he said flatly, without any intention of continuing the conversation.

“Frank, something is wrong. You’re not yourself. Please tell me what’s wrong,” she cried and walked around the kitchen island towards him. She was surprised to find that Frank took a step away from her. As though he didn’t want to get too close to her incase he got burned!

“Nothing is wrong, Veronica. Everything is exactly the way it should be. I hope you have a nice day. Say hi to the girls for me,” he said and with that he was out of the room in seconds. Veronica remained standing there in silence, watching him leave. She still hadn’t moved, even though she heard his shoes on the stairs, then the opening and slamming of his bedroom door upstairs.

She was completely at a loss now. He seemed fine the previous night, even if he admitted that he was jealous of Calvin, he hadn’t taken out his anger on her. Veronica gulped, still confused and a little hurt now as she went back to stacking the pancakes on plates. Wiping her hand on a kitchen towel, she went up to the girls’ bedrooms.

Ashley and Kaitlyn were never any trouble to wake up. She went through the usual routine with them, of helping them brush their teeth and wash their little faces. She brought them down to the kitchen after that, the whole time trying to keep a cheerful face on, for their sakes.

“Where’s daddy?” Kaitlyn asked after a few minutes of chewing her food. Frank usually came over to say bye to them before leaving for work, even if he didn’t have breakfast with them.

“He was in a rush. He told me to say hi,” Veronica told her, taking a seat across from them at the breakfast bar. Kaitlyn looked crestfallen as she ate, while Ashley hung her head over her food.

“What’s wrong girls? You’ll see him in the afternoon again. I’m sure he misses being here,” Veronica said, realizing that a lump had formed in her throat.

Ashley looked like she was hesitating to say something. She kept exchanging looks with her younger sister. They were too young anyway to successfully keep secrets, and Veronica gave them some time. She knew Ashley was going to spill eventually.

“We’re just sad that maybe daddy is going to go back to before,” she said in a sad voice.

“Go back to before? What do you mean, sweetheart?” Veronica asked, and reached for Ashley’s hand.

“Like before you came to the house. He was always sad and grumpy after mommy died. But ever since you came to stay with us, he is happy and spends more time with us,” she explained and Veronica felt her heart sinking.

“He just had work, girls. Nothing to worry about. Now c’mon, lets get you ready for school,” Veronica declared, standing up from her chair.

She guided the kids out of the kitchen and back up to their rooms so they could take their showers and change into fresh clothes for the day. The whole time, she felt like she was going to implode from what she had just heard, combined with Frank’s behavior from the morning. If the girls were being truthful, it meant that having her here had made a huge impact on Frank’s life. He was being honest when he said that he had never done anything like this before, with any of his employees. It could mean that their relationship actually meant something more to him than just sex.

* * *

Frank didn’t return in the afternoon, as was his usual routine. Instead, it was after dinner, after Veronica had already tucked the girls into their beds that she heard the front door opening. She hurried down the stairs and found Frank hanging up his overcoat on the coat rack and placing his briefcase by the door.

“Where have you been?” she asked, as she reached the landing of the stairs. She was aware of the strain in her voice, but she couldn’t help herself.

“Work. Why?” he asked, fixing narrowed dark eyes on her. His beard looked freshly trimmed and he was in his formal office wear that made him look more intimidating than usual. Veronica caught the lump in her throat and she gulped.

“The girls have been asking about you. We didn’t know you weren’t coming home at your usual time,” she said, taking a step towards him. She had missed him all day, especially after his behavior from the morning. Veronica yearned for his touch, but Frank stood his ground. She could see now that he wasn’t going to reach out to her.

“They know that I’m sometimes held back at the office. And it’s not like I need to ask for your permission before I change my plans,” he said curtly and it felt like a dagger had been struck in her heart. Veronica thrust her chin out to him and realized that her lip was quivering.

“Yes, I know. I only work here,” she said, trying to sound as firm as possible even though she was crumbling inside. Without a word, Frank stepped past her and walked towards the living room. She followed him.

They were both silent as he walked over to the bar in the corner and poured himself some whiskey in a crystal glass. He didn’t offer her any, but Veronica knew that he was aware of her presence in the room. He was purposely choosing to ignore her.

“What’s changed, Frank?” she blurted out, when she realized that he wasn’t going to say anything. She couldn’t just remain silent endlessly. He swirled his drink around in his glass and then slowly turned to her.

“You tell me, Veronica,” he said and a small sarcastic smile was forming on his face.

She was stumped. Yes, a lot of things had changed since she met Calvin. But nothing between Frank and her.

“I don’t know what you mean. You were fine last night when I came home and since today morning you’ve been pushing me away, like we’re strangers,” she said, clasping her hands together. She was thankful that the girls were already asleep, because they definitely didn’t need to hear this.

Frank took a few hurried sips of his drink and then smacked his lips, before fixing his eyes on her again.

“We are strangers, Veronica, aren’t we? I mean, how much do we actually know each other?” he said and she shook her head, her nostrils flaring. Why was he tiptoeing around what he had to say? Why wasn’t he just being honest with her?

“Last evening, before I left for the restaurant, you told me that you cared for me deeply. That you wanted nothing more than to be with me. What has changed since then? What makes you think that we don’t even know each other?” she said, aware of the tears welling up in the corners of her eyes. She was already awash with guilt, full to the brim with the anxious thoughts in her head…with the decision she had to make. Who knew when Calvin might call and demand for her answer? And Frank was only making it worse for her. He was making her feel like she was all alone.

“A lot of things have changed since you went to the restaurant, hasn’t it?” he asked and Veronica watched in silence as he gulped the whole drink down his throat in one go. He slammed the glass down on the bar and proceeded to fold his arms over his chest. His eyes seemed like they were trying to burn a hole right through her head. She had never seen Frank so angry. This was probably what people talked about, when they said that he was a difficult and harsh man to work with.

“What’s changed? You know nothing about what happened at the restaurant. You’re only making assumptions and taking your anger out on me!” Veronica’s voice was raised now, but she couldn’t control herself. Even though the truth was that a lot of things had changed, Frank had no way of knowing that. And she was sure that he hadn’t followed her to the restaurant and seen Calvin proposing.

“You’re right, I have no way of knowing exactly what’s changed. Especially since the first thing you did when you came home was have sex with me,” he said, maintaining his calm deep voice.

“You wanted it too!” Veronica said, aghast.

“You’re right. We both wanted it, but you failed to point out a crucial factor of the night. Which was entirely your responsibility,” he said, keeping his small glimmering dark eyes trained on her. Veronica could hardly look at him any more, without the fear of breaking into a volley of tears.

“What crucial factor? Why don’t you just tell me what’s on your mind?” she said, through gritted teeth now. She could sense that she was beginning to lose her patience.

“I found it, Veronica,” Frank said and drew in a tired deep breath. “The ring. It fell out of your purse in the study, maybe when we were stripping our clothes off each other. I found it when I came back down to turn off the lights after you were already in bed,” he continued.

Veronica could do nothing but stare at him, her mind had stopped functioning.

“It’s a beautiful ring and I suppose congratulations are in order!” he added.

* * *

“Frank, I…” Veronica tried to formulate the words but he only waved his hand away like he didn’t want her to bother with an explanation.

“Like I said, Veronica, I respect your decision. You’ve decided to marry him, and that’s fine. What I am concerned with is that you kept it from me and then proceeded to have sex with me, knowing fully well that you now officially belong to another man,” he said and turned away from her with a jerk, to pour himself another drink.

Veronica stepped towards him when his back was turned, in the hopes that she might be able to find the words to explain it to him better. She wanted to get closer to him.

“I wanted to, Frank…I really did,” she muttered and he turned to look at her again.

“But you didn’t, did you?” he said and Veronica noted how completely calm he sounded, despite the anger she could see in his eyes.

“You told me that you didn’t want to hear the details then, not before we made love first,” she argued in a strained voice and Frank sighed and shook his head.

“When your first words weren’t - it’s over between us Frank, I assumed that there was no reason for us to not continue as usual,” he said, his voice rising a little but within seconds he had calmed himself back down. “I had no reason to believe that anything had changed. I asked you to spare me the details of an awkward date with an ex boyfriend, not spare me the most important detail; that you are now engaged to the man I thought you were going to break up with,” he said and with a huff he shook his head, as though there was something funny about that.

Veronica stared at him, her dark eyes widened, her breathing going heavy.

“I’m not engaged to him, Frank,” she said and suddenly the sarcastic smile from his face dropped.

“What was the ring for then? It certainly looks like an engagement ring to me,” he said and took a swig of his drink.

“Yes, Calvin did propose, but you should have asked me first Frank, instead of just assuming things,” Veronica said and now it was her turn to fold her arms over her chest. Frank followed her movements and she noticed the way he gazed for a few moments at her breasts before looking away. Despite the conversation they were having, Veronica was well aware of the existing sexual tension in the room.

“I haven’t given him an answer. He forced me to take the ring with me, to think over my decision. But last night, when we had sex, I wasn’t and am still not engaged,” she said.

A silence hung between them for a few seconds. Frank was breathing hard. She could see how his knuckles had turned white as he gripped the glass tightly in his hand. It was like he didn’t believe a word of what she was saying.

“Frank…” Veronica said, taking a few steps towards him. Thankfully he didn’t move away this time, but neither did he reach for her.

“I didn’t say yes because I’m torn, don’t you see that?” she said and he clenched his jaw.

“But you didn’t say no either,” he said and Veronica could only stare back at him.

In a flash he had slammed the glass down on the counter and taken two long steps in her direction. She was in his arms and Veronica let out a sigh of relief. She had spent the whole day yearning, craving for his touch and now finally she could have it.

“I’m sorry, Veronica. For losing my temper at you. I don’t want to push you to make a decision, that was not my intention,” he said and she looked up at him.

“I thought you didn’t care about me any more. That you were suddenly bored of me,” she said with a quivering lip. Frank lowered his face so he could kiss her. Their kiss this time was soft and meaningful. His hands remained on her arms, keeping her close to his chest. When he pulled away, Veronica looked up at him again.

“I haven't made my decision yet, because I don’t want to lose you, Frank,” she admitted and he nodded his head.

“But Calvin is the right choice for you, isn’t he?” he asked, and she noticed the change in his tone.

“We have a history together,” she said and Frank nodded his head.

“And no baggage,” he added and Veronica looked away from him.

He had tightened his grip on her arm and she could now feel his heart beating against hers.

“I don’t know what to do, Frank. I’m so sorry that it upsets you. I don’t mean to keep you hanging like this,” she said and Frank hooked a finger under her chin and tilted her head so that he could look down at her face. A soft, encouraging smile had formed on his lips.

“You’re not keeping me hanging, Veronica. You’re only filling my life with joy. I was afraid of losing you too, which is why I got angry,” he said and she bit down on her lip. It was getting harder and harder for her to control the feelings of arousal that were coursing through her veins.

“You haven’t lost me yet, Frank,” she said, almost in a whisper and he smiled. His fingers found their way down, and then under her blouse till he found the snap of her bra. She felt her bra straps sliding down her arms. Frank helped to pull them off and they fell to the floor.

“No, I haven’t lost you yet,” he said as he undid the buttons on her jeans and thrust his hand in, under her panties, till she could feel his fingers slipping into her again.

* * *

Frank was bringing her to the brink of an orgasm, as he continued to push his two fingers into the soft deep core of her. He held her tightly with his other hand and they stood pressed together, in the middle of the living room. Veronica noted that all the lights were on, the curtains at the windows weren’t drawn and they had never had sex in the living room before. A thrill ran down her spine, as though they were doing something dangerous tonight.

Frank’s breathing was heavy and he thrust his chin towards her as he kept stroking her wet center. His fingers had found their way in, deep into that spot she knew was going to make her come.

Her fingernails dug into Frank’s biceps as she clung to him, her eyes rolling in her head from the pleasure. He hadn’t even bothered to roll down her jeans, he just held her in that position while he made her inch closer and closer to the brink.

“Don’t stop, Frank, please don’t stop,” she cried and just as she said it, she felt him sliding his fingers out of her. When his hand was out from under her jeans, he held her by the waist lightly, looking down at her. She was quivering, her thighs were still shaking from coming so close to an orgasm.

“I can see your nipples. They look like they want to be sucked,” he said, with a soft smile dancing on his lips. He lifted his left hand and it found her pert bare nipple, through the thin fabric of her blouse.

Veronica moaned, as he pinched her nipple. She had never thought she could feel this much pleasure in pain. He squeezed her breast and toyed with her sensitive erect nipple between his thumb and forefinger.

“You have to beg me,” he muttered, keeping his eyes focused on her.

“Please, Frank. Please!” she cried, digging her nails deeper into his biceps.

“Show me what you want,” he said and she drew away from him. She hurried to strip herself of her clothes. First her blouse, then her tight jeans and followed by her panties. Within a minute, Veronica was standing completely naked in front of him, with not a stitch of clothing on her. Frank on the other hand was fully clothed. He was in his crisp dark suit and starched white shirt, replete with textured blue cufflinks. He hadn’t even loosened his navy tie yet.

“Show me, Veronica,” he said, stepping back. He wanted to see her in full naked view. She could sense his hungry eyes on her, and when she looked down she saw the raging erection in his pants. But he still didn’t make a move to take his cock out.

She got down on her knees, on the soft fawn colored carpet and then sat down. With her open palms supporting her body, she spread out her legs, opening them wide so that he could see how wet she was. How badly she wanted him inside her.

Frank stood over her, watching her for a few seconds more. Then his hands went to the zip on his pants. Then the buttons and slowly, but surely, his pants came sliding down to the floor.

With his eyes still on her, as Veronica wriggled on the carpet with her legs outstretched, Frank unbuttoned his shirt, loosened his tie and dropped his clothes. Veronica opened her mouth, drinking in Frank’s powerful muscular naked body. Those glistening chiseled abs, the strength in the muscles on his thighs. The smattering of short curly black hair on his chest that she wanted to weave her fingers through.

Frank kneeled down in front of her, and she started moving her hips. His cock was big, glistening at the top with precum. He pointed it towards her, as he grabbed her ankles and placed them gently on his shoulders. Veronica felt helpless in his hands, like he could mould her like clay if he wanted to.

With her feet up in the air, Frank moved forward, placing his bunched up fists on either side of her. Then, just as she moved her hips, trying to reach him, he thrust himself in. He needed no help. His cock was hard and she was wet and ready. He slid in smoothly and they both groaned. This time the waiting had seemed longer than usual.

She felt him slide deep inside her, reach her there where his fingers had been. He moved, pushing his cock deeper and deeper into her, and then pulling out again. Their eyes were locked, Veronica grabbed her own breasts, squeezing them for support. Frank increased his pace when she least expected it, and now she was sure that she was going to go over the edge.

“Veronica…” he said her name softly and she released. She could feel herself drip as he continued to drive into her, fast and strong. He grunted and she saw the beads of sweat on his forehead that were beginning to form. He came too, only seconds after her orgasm began to soften. Frank’s body jerked and he gritted his teeth, releasing his hot seed in her with multiple jerks, till she knew that he was done.

Frank drew in a deep breath and then gently, he lay himself on her. Her breasts were pressed against his chest, and they were both panting softly.

“How is it always so good with you?” he asked, almost in a whisper as she felt his cock beginning to slacken inside her. She could do nothing other than smile at him, a genuine heartfelt smile. Because she had the same question in her mind…how was sex always so great with him? Now, after seeing Calvin just the previous night and being reminded of their relationship, Veronica was certain that sex had never been this good with him. Calvin had never been able to satisfy her this easily. But was it enough to choose Frank over him?

* * *

When Veronica woke up the next morning, she found Frank’s broad chest pressed against her lips. His arm was around her neck and she was nestled into his chest while his leg covered her thigh, almost like he was afraid she might try and escape at night.

She had an instant smile on her face. It was nice and comforting to wake up next to this man, she thought. Veronica tried to wriggle free from his arms, realizing that they were both too late for a run now and she would have to go straight to making breakfast again.

Frank blinked his eyes, forcing them open when he sensed her moving in the bed.

“Where are you going?” he mumbled in a groggy voice that sounded happy at the same time. He reached for her just in time and tugged at her arm so that Veronica came tumbling back into bed with him.

“We’re late. I have to make breakfast and get the girls ready for school,” she protested, laughing at the same time. Frank only wrapped his arms around her tighter, making it impossible for her to escape.

“Let’s all stay in today,” he said, smiling at her. Veronica’s eyes widened and she laughed.

“What do you mean?” she asked and Frank drew some strands of her dark curls away from her face.

“I mean, I’ll stay at home. The girls can skip school and we can all stay home and spend the day by the pool,” he explained and Veronica couldn’t suppress her smile.

“You’re going to skip work for a whole day?” she asked, arching her eyebrows up.

Frank laughed and she noticed how his shoulders shook when he did it.

“Did you think I was incapable of staying away from the office?” he asked and pulled her in closer, nuzzling his face into her hair. Veronica giggled and tried to pull herself away from him.

“That’s the impression I got,” she admitted and when their gazes met again, she noticed the warmth and softness in his dark eyes. Frank looked content and happy.

“Well, I want to make it up to the girls for my absence yesterday,” he said and Veronica bit down on her lip.

“They’ll be so excited. They missed you all day,” she said and tried to break free from him again.

“As for you. Maybe a whole day with me and the girls, might help you make your decision,” he said, and leaned in to nibble her ears. Veronica felt her muscles stiffen. She had forgotten about that completely. She was so taken up with Frank’s happy demeanor that she’d forgotten about the decision she still had to make. Was that a sign? That an expensive diamond ring in a velvet box was lying on her dresser. Given to her by a guy she had been with since college…and she had completely forgotten about it.

“What are you thinking?” she heard Frank’s voice which snapped her out of her thoughts.

“That you’re making it harder and harder for me to make a decision,” she said, pursing her lips. She didn’t want to spoil their mood with serious talk, but she couldn’t help it now that he had brought it up.

“I’m only making my case,” Frank said, the smile still not leaving his face. He leaned in and kissed her on her cheek then, and Veronica felt a warm glow spreading through her body right after. That was the kind of kiss she wanted to be greeted with every morning. Did it matter what her parents thought?

“Well, you’re making a strong argument. We have to get out of bed now lazy bones. The girls need their breakfast on time, even if we are staying in,” she said and pulled away from him. This time Frank relented and she was able to jump off the bed.

She was naked still, and remembered how they had run up the stairs with their clothes in a bundle in their hands the previous night. It was a moment of madness and after they fell into bed in her room, they couldn’t stop laughing. She couldn’t remember the last time she had laughed that hard.

Frank was watching her. She could sense that he had his eyes on her back as she pulled out fresh clothes from the closet to change into.

“Veronica…” he called out to her, and she whipped around to look at him.

He was half-sitting in the bed, with his head propped up by his hands. His arms were folded behind his head and he was staring at her, not smiling any more. He looked handsome in the morning golden glow of the room. His hair looked just as scruffy as his beard now, but she didn’t care. She liked looking at him like this.

“What is it, Frank?” she asked, breaking the silence.

“I just wanted to reassure you that you can take your time with this. I know I was angry yesterday, but I’m not today. The decision is yours and I will respect it no matter what. I don’t want to come between you and your happiness,” he said in a somber voice.

Veronica nodded her head, already feeling like she was drawing closer to a decision. No matter what her parents planned for her future, and how much history she shared with Calvin, no body could make her feel the way Frank did. In just the span of four weeks, she had felt so many emotions for him. Turning quickly from lust to something more. She knew she couldn’t deny it any more. She was in love with him. He respected her and gave her space. He was everything she needed.

Veronica smiled at him and turned to go to the bathroom, aware now that she had been foolish to even think about this. To waste so much time. There was no two ways about it, as sweet as Calvin was being, she would have to find a way to let him down easily.

* * *

Veronica was in the den when the bell rang. Ashley and Kaitlyn were on the floor, trying to piece together another jigsaw puzzle with Frank. It had been a lovely day. The four of them had spent it by the pool, then ordered pizza in and spent the evening in the den playing games.

So when the bell rang, Veronica expected it to be the pizza delivery guy.

“I’ll get it. Must be the pizzas,” she said, getting up from the leather armchair where she was sitting. Frank looked up at her from where he was sitting on the carpet and she noticed that he had his brows crossed.

“It can’t be. The pizzas would have been collected and paid for by the security guard at the front gate,” he said and stood up. The girls still had their heads knocked together, trying to find the missing piece for one of the corners.

“So who do you think it is?” Veronica asked, a little confused by Frank’s suspicious look.

“Has to be a social call. Someone who the guards let through. I’ll get it, you stay put here,” he said and immediately smiled reassuringly. Veronica nodded and went back to looking at the girls on the floor.

She heard Frank’s slippers squeaking on the wooden floor as he walked down the foyer, and then she heard him opening the door. Even though she was trying to play with the girls, Veronica couldn’t help curiosity get the better of her and she tried to listen. She could hear two male voices and shrugged, assuming now that it had to be the pizza delivery guy. Who else would Frank keep at the front door for so long?

Then she heard the door shut and the sound of two pairs of shoes on the wooden floor. Veronica sat up straight in her chair, more curious than ever now. The footsteps were fast approaching, and they were coming towards the den. Frank was bringing someone in there, and Veronica smoothened her skirt and tucked in some stray curls behind her ears.

When the door of the den opened, she stood up and the two girls looked up in unison. Calvin’s nervous smiling face appeared at the door and he stepped in, followed by Frank.

“Calvin!” Veronica said, her hands dropping to her side.

He took a few more quick steps till he was in front of her. Calvin placed his hands on her shoulders and Veronica looked up at him.

“I thought I’d drop by. I was hoping that you’d have some time to talk,” he said, smiling down at her.

“Veronica, who is this?” Ashley’s small voice interrupted Veronica’s trance like state. Not in a million years would she have expected Calvin to just turn up here. She was expecting him to call, but not this!

“Umm…he’s my friend, Calvin. Calvin these are the girls, Audrey and Kaitlyn Davenport,” Veronica said, gently drawing her shoulders away from Calvin’s grasp.

“Hello, girls,” Calvin said and encouragingly dropped to one knee to look at the puzzle they were working on. Veronica took the opportunity to lift her head and look at Frank. He was standing with his arms crossed over his chest and leaning against the door frame.

He had a neutral expression on his face. She couldn’t tell what exactly he was thinking.

“Calvin, we should talk privately,” Veronica turned to him with a jerk. All the nervousness from the previous night, and the guilt came rushing back to her. She knew she was blushing too. The two men she was involved with were both in the same room with her. She didn’t know where to look or who to talk to.

Calvin looked up at her and smiled.

“Of course,” he said and then ruffled Audrey’s hair before he stood up beside her. He placed his arm around her shoulder and Veronica felt her muscles stiffen again. She didn’t want him to touch her, especially not in front of Frank.

“I hope it’s okay with you Mr Davenport, me intruding in your home like this,” Calvin said, looking up at Frank now with a polite smile.

“Of course. It’s no problem. Take your time,” Frank said in a low smooth voice. It was still difficult for Veronica to know exactly what he was thinking.

“It’s just that I have something to important to discuss with my girlfriend,” Calvin added, and Veronica blushed some more.

“Girlfriend? You’re this man’s girlfriend, Veronica?” Kaitlyn butt in and Veronica looked at her with guilty eyes. She didn’t know what to say to her. In front of Calvin no less.

“Yes, she is my girlfriend. And maybe soon, she’ll be my wife,” Calvin said in a happy voice to the little girl, before turning to Veronica with a smile.

“I’ll take over from here, Veronica. You both should go ahead,” Frank said and Veronica whipped her head around to look at him. He looked as calm as ever, and now he was walking towards them. He brushed past her as he walked over to the spot where his daughters were playing, and Veronica felt an electric shock run down her spine when their arms lightly touched.

She felt like she was beginning to choke up, like she was going to break down and cry. Lying had never come naturally to her, and now she felt like a horrible human being for keeping her affair with Frank hidden for so long.

“Shall we go up to your room, babe?” Calvin’s voice interrupted her thoughts and Veronica glared at him, speechless still. He reached for her hand and tugged at it, and that was when she started walking, leading him out of the room. Veronica wanted nothing more than to just be out of that space. She wanted Calvin away from Frank and the girls, as though he might end up causing some kind of harm to them.

* * *

“Why would you just turn up here unannounced?” Veronica let her voice loose the moment she shut the door of her bedroom behind her. Calvin had walked in and was now standing in the middle of the floor, looking around him with some awe. He turned to fix his eyes on her again and then arched his brows.

“Mr Davenport doesn’t seem to have a problem with it, why are you so worked up about it?” Calvin asked and Veronica shook her head with rage.

“He’s polite, so he won’t ask you to get out of his house. But I know he doesn’t like strangers coming to the house unannounced, demanding to be let in,” she continued. Calvin didn’t seem perturbed by the sound of her voice, he either didn’t care or didn’t seem to notice that her voice was raised and that seemed to be upset.

“Well, I’m your boyfriend, that doesn’t make me a stranger. I didn’t demand to be let in either. I just asked if I could talk to you and thanked him for the apartment he got me. He let me in and took me to the den himself,” Calvin said and then started walking around the room a little. He was running his fingers over the soft fabric of her fresh bed linen, admiring the thread count apparently. He looked up at Veronica and smiled suddenly.

“You seem to have it pretty good here,” he said, in a tone that almost sounded like he was jealous of her.

“Yeah, isn’t this what you wanted for me?” she asked, glaring at him. Calvin shrugged his shoulders and nodded.

“I wanted you to manage your work better, bring in new and high paying clients. I didn’t want you to shut me out of your life completely,” he said and then took a few steps towards her.

“I haven’t shut you out of my life,” she snapped and Calvin raised his brows again.

“I had to beg you to go out on a date with me,” he said but he didn’t seem to be begging now. All the sweetness and kindness he had portrayed earlier had somehow vanished. Calvin had turned back into the man who Veronica was trying to escape when she took up the job.

“I was busy, I’m sorry about that,” Veronica said and Calvin pushed his hands deep into the pockets of his pants and took in a deep breath.

“Let’s forget that for a moment, shall we? I proposed to you two nights ago, Veronica. You still haven’t given me a yes,” he said and she noticed now that his nostrils were flared.

Veronica looked about her room and sighed.

“I’m still thinking about it. I just need some time,” she said. It wasn’t that she hadn’t made up her mind already, she just didn’t know yet how she was going to break it to him. What reason she was going to give.

“Need some time for what? We’ve been together for so long, Veronica. Isn’t this a natural progression of a long term relationship? Isn’t marriage what you wanted?” Calvin asked, and now he came closer to her. She remained where she was, nervous of what she might do if he tried to get any closer.

She could see that he was disturbed. Even though he wasn’t being as nice to her any more, she knew that she would be breaking his heart very badly if she just said no, bluntly.

“I don’t know if I’m ready yet,” she said, meeting his burning gaze. She was losing some of her earlier confidence now. Her bravado was beginning to crumble. On one hand she didn’t want Calvin to manipulate her like he always did, and on the other, she didn’t want to hurt him either.

“You’re not ready yet…with me or with anyone?” he asked, and his voice had softened a little.

Veronica looked away from him, trying to avoid his questioning gaze and she breathed deeply in through her nose and let out another sigh.

“I don’t know Calvin, I just think it’s the wrong time…it isn’t your fault,” she said and Calvin shook his head, then he let out a small cruel laugh.

“I know it’s not my fault. I’ve done everything by the textbook. I’ve done everything I could to give you a better life, to guide you in the right direction, save up for our future together…Hell, I even got you this job,” he continued with a snarl in his voice.

“Maybe, that’s just it Calvin, maybe I didn’t need your guidance. Maybe I didn’t need you to give me a better life. You didn’t approve of my business decisions any way,” she snapped and then there was silence between them.

Calvin was staring at her, with a sort of blank glazed expression in his eyes, while Veronica stared back at him with her shoulders heaving. She wasn’t exactly sure what he was going to say next.

He allowed the silence to extend between them for some time, before he cleared his throat and clenched his jaw.

“So, can I just put us out of this misery and ask you here and now if your answer is going to be no? I’m giving you the chance, Veronica, to get out of this easily,” Calvin said and Veronica suddenly felt like her mouth had run dry.

“Yes…I mean no. I mean, it’s going to be a no. I’m sorry Calvin,” she cried and felt hot tears pricking the backs of her eyelids as she tried to hold his gaze.

Calvin only nodded. Like he was expecting that very answer.

“Okay. Just one more thing, Veronica, before I get out of your hair. Are you sleeping with Frank Davenport?” Calvin asked, keeping his voice as steady and neutral as before.

As Veronica heard the words, she felt like she would rather dig a hole and jump in it herself, rather than face Calvin for one more second.

* * *

Veronica stared at Calvin in shock, speechless for a few moments. In her attempt to refuse Calvin’s delicately, she hadn’t once entertained the thought that he might have figured it out himself.

“I take it the answer to that is yes,” he said and Veronica tried hard to even her breathing. She wasn’t angry, she was only feeling guilt. Guilty because the man who had been her boyfriend for so long, who had done nothing truly evil himself…now knew about the fact that she had been unfaithful to him.

“How could you sleep with your boss, Veronica? I didn’t expect that from you. Is he the reason why you’re turning my proposal down?” Calvin asked, and took a few more angry steps towards her.

Veronica stepped away, afraid of him a little now. Never before had she felt the need to physically defend herself from Calvin, but now she wasn’t so sure. She couldn’t be certain what he might do in his rage.

“It just happened, Calvin. I didn’t plan for it,” she said meekly, but her voice only seemed to anger him more. Calvin’s eyes were rounded and fiery, the expression in his gaze seemed like he was ready to pounce on her at any moment.

“So what if you didn’t plan for it? How could you not even think of me?” he growled and Veronica felt a fat tear drop roll down her cheek. He was right. She had been selfish. She shouldn’t have slept with Frank while still in a relationship with Calvin. And she had kept it from him for so long.

“I’m sorry, Calvin,” she cried and he shook his head. He wasn’t buying it.

“I don’t care how sorry you are. You’re going to stop it right now and come home with me,” he said and she noticed the way he clenched his fists. Go home with him? She had just refused his proposal. She had just confessed that she was unfaithful to him. Why did he still want her?

“I can’t do that Calvin, I’m not ready to do that,” she said, still in a soft voice. He had backed her into a corner of the room now and she still wasn’t sure if he was going to physically hurt her.

“Why can’t you do that, Veronica? Because you think that Frank Davenport actually gives a shit about you? You’re a nanny to his kids. That’s all you are,” Calvin spat out and Veronica pressed her eyes close.

“Why do you want me anyway, Calvin? After all this. Why do you care? Why don’t you just leave me alone?” she asked, aware that she was screeching now. She could only hope that Ashley and Kaitlyn weren’t able to hear them fighting. The last thing she wanted was to scare or hurt them.

“I’m willing to forgive you,” Calvin said, through gritted teeth.

“I don’t want your forgiveness,” Veronica said and Calvin took in a deep breath. As though he was losing his patience with a small naughty child.

“Okay, look. I’ve been unfaithful to you in the past. I slept with Jeanine from work, a couple of months ago and I didn’t tell you about it. So we can call it even now, and just move on, okay?” he said and reached out to grab her hand.

Veronica pulled her hand away, her face aghast with rage.

“You slept with Jeanine? The girl we had over for dinner with your other colleagues?” Veronica asked, in utter disbelief. She didn’t have a clue. Calvin had managed to keep that under wraps very well.

He stared back at her now, silently.

“And you think that’s okay?” she spat out.

“You think sleeping with your boss is okay isn’t it?” he said, a sarcastic smile was lifting the corners of his mouth.

“No, I don’t think it is okay. I have been racked with guilt and I was going to tell you. I refused to marry you because my relationship with Frank actually means something. Whereas you, you had no intention of telling me. You had a one night stand with someone else and pretended like nothing happened for several months,” Veronica said, glaring at Calvin with her nostrils flared.

He rolled his eyes and looked away from her.

“It’s the same thing, Veronica. No matter which way you put it,” he said in a quiet voice.

“It’s not the same thing. Frank and I have feelings for each other. How many other girls have you had one night stands with?” she was yelling now, unconcerned about who could hear her.

Calvin’s silence said a lot about his answer. He had definitely slept with more women.

The door to the bedroom opened abruptly, and Veronica whipped her head around to find Frank entering.

“I’m going to have to ask you to leave now, Calvin,” Frank said and crossed his hands in front of him. Beside Calvin, Frank towered above him and even though he was older, he appeared to be stronger and more muscular. Calvin looked up at him and then back to Veronica.

“So, this is how it’s going to be? Your new boyfriend is going to step in and kick me out of your room? After all these years?” he said, his words drawling and dripping with rage.

“All those years mean nothing after what you just told me. You’ve been cheating on me the whole time. I tried to do the right thing here and not get into a marriage based on lies,” Veronica yelled and Calvin only scoffed it off.

“Please, leave Calvin. I’m going to ask you politely this last time,” Frank’s deep calm voice cut through the air and now Calvin looked like he wasn’t going to take his chances.

“Goodbye, Veronica,” he said and she watched him in fuming silence as he walked to her dresser, picked up the box with her ring and left the room, sidestepping Frank on his way out.

When he shut the door behind him, Frank turned to look at her and she could tell that he had been worried.

* * *

“I’m so sorry that you had to witness this, the girls…” Veronica cried, but before she could cover her face with her hands, Frank had rushed towards her and taken her into his arms.

“Don’t worry about that. Are you okay?” he asked, trying to get her to look up at him.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Just a bit in shock. I didn’t expect him to just turn up here,” she said, wiping her damp cheeks with the backs of her hands.

“I heard loud voices and came up here. I didn’t want to intervene unless absolutely necessary. But I didn’t want him to hurt you either,” he said and drew her into his arms.

Veronica rested her head on his chest as she tried to catch her breath again. Frank remained as he was, with his arms around her, and gently rocked her from side to side.

“He’s been cheating on me. For years, Frank and I had no idea. I feel so foolish,” she burst into tears again, and now Frank wiped the tears away from her cheeks and continued to rock her. It comforted her, the rocking motion, and she laid her head on his chest again.

“He figured out about us, and wanted me to stop and just go back home with him,” she said, in a meek voice. Frank allowed a few seconds to pass before he said anything, almost as though he was allowing the words to sink into his mind.

“Your home is here, Veronica, with us,” he said and she looked up at him with her sparkling earnest eyes. He was right. There was nowhere else on Earth that she would rather call home.

“I don’t ever want to see him again,” she said, in a whimpering whisper.

“You don’t have to,” he replied and gently stroked her forehead, pushing her curls away from her face.

“I’m just glad you decided to stay,” he added and she couldn’t help but smile.

“I wouldn’t leave for anything. This is where I want to be,” Veronica admitted and Frank leaned in to kiss her. The kiss was soft and gentle, while they continued to sway in each other’s arms. Veronica felt like she could have stayed there forever, just rocking in his arms like that.

“And he took your ring away too!” he said abruptly and she looked up at him and rolled her eyes. The last thing she cared about was Calvin’s ring.

“But it’s a good thing that I have something to replace it with,” he said and gently pushed her away.

Veronica’s brows crossed in confusion as she watched Frank take out a red velvet box from the pocket of his pants. Unlike Calvin, he didn’t drop to his knee but remained standing over her, looking down at her with a warm smile spreading on his face.

Veronica felt like her breath was caught in her throat. She hadn’t expected him to propose. She hadn’t even expected him to formally commit. She was just happy knowing that she could be near him for a while.

“I’ve been carrying this around in my pocket for a few days, before you went for your date with him. After that I just wanted to give you a chance to decide for yourself, before putting you in the spot like this,” Frank said and Veronica couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

“That is the most romantic proposal I’ve ever heard,” she said sarcastically and Frank smiled.

“What I really want to say is, that ever since I met you I knew that you were a woman who I respected and someone I could trust. The fact that I find you irresistible and I want to make love to you all the time, is just an additional bonus. I want my daughters to grow up around a woman like you, I can see the positive influence that you’ve had in their lives and in mine. My days are just nicer with you around. So, will you be my wife?” Frank ended this by popping open the box and presenting the ring to her. It was a pink diamond, cut out in the shape of a heart, studded with small rubies around it.

Veronica could do all she could to keep her gasp from being too loud. She stared at the sparkling ring in front of her and then back up at Frank’s face.

“There is nothing more that I want to do, Frank,” she said and before he had a chance to slip the ring on to her finger, Veronica had flung her arms around his neck and was kissing him.

When they parted they were both laughing. Frank finally slipped the ring on and she held her hand out to admire it.

“It’s gorgeous Frank. I can’t believe this. It’s all happening so fast,” she said, through her laughter. She still couldn’t stop giggling. Frank was smiling too and he reached for her hand and squeezed it.

“I’ve always believed in love at first sight. When I know, I just know. And with you I knew from the moment you walked into my office. And kissing you, making love to you only strengthened that belief,” he said and leaned forward to knock their foreheads together.

Veronica bit down on her lip as she looked at the man who was going to be her husband. She couldn’t help but blush, giggle and remind herself that this was all actually happening. She was going to be with Frank forever. Her deepest wishes were coming true. No matter what the world or her parents had to say about it.

“I love you, Frank,” she said to him, for the first time aloud.

“I love you, Veronica. I always will,” he said and pressed his hand on the back of her neck to draw her in closer.

“Now, let’s go tell the girls!” Frank said and Veronica was laughing again. She was going to have that happy family after all.

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There are more bonus stories ahead…..just look what you want to read next via the Table of Contents (TOC)

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