[Music] the end of spring weather can be unpredictable and this month's unexpected rain and warmth had me mowing the lawn sooner than usual last year we had a blizzard around this time so mowing early seemed like a small price to pay to avoid snow with tax season over it felt great to be outside my backyard slopes down to a stream in woods with the basement exposed at the Back due to the leveled front yard this design allows me to Store Lawn Equipment in the basement which I love after mowing I was eager to shower due
to my grass allergies as I reached the top of the stairs I heard my wife talking with her friend which wasn't surprising until I caught what they were saying making me pause before opening the door my name is Robert Crane but everyone calls me Bob back in school I got the nickname Hogan after the actor from Hogan's Heroes even Though it was before my time I graduated with an accounting degree and earned my CPA quickly now I lead a team at large Philadelphia firm specializing in forensic analytics to uncover fraud and money laundering my work
has even led to Consulting for the FBI I met Ashley during our junior year while she was pursuing political science and business aiming for law school she was tall and slender with long strawberry blonde hair and a striking presence that captivated Me immediately sadly Ashley didn't sit next to me or end up in my group for any projects it took me a month to work up the courage to talk to her I cracked a silly joke and to my relief Le she laughed a real hearty laugh not just a polite chuckle we started chatting and
I asked if she'd like to grab coffee with me after class I've been hoping you'd ask me for weeks she said with a smile for the last two years of college we were hardly ever apart our parents Weren't thrilled at first but we moved in together for our senior year eventually they saw how committed we were and got used to the idea I thought things couldn't get any better but they did after graduation I quickly secured a job at a major public accounting firm in Phil pH Adelphia the salary was impressive for a 22-year-old just
starting out Ashley got accepted into Pen's law school so we decided to stay in our student apartment my company Offered to cover my MBA so I was taking classes as well I used SEPTA for my daily commute which made owning a car unnecessary and helped save money 3 years later Ashley graduated and I proposed to her during her celebration dinner at Morton Steakhouse in writtenhouse square we were married 6 months later Ashley took a job as a deputy District attorney in Bucks County north of Philly we chose to buy a house in Doylestown where the
courthouse was Located and the regional rail line ended this way I could take the train to work every day although the commute was 80 minutes one way it was better than dealing with the squeal kill Expressway or I 95 traffic Ashley and her mother picked out the house it was a great starter home with three bedrooms one room would be set up as an office with two desks one for me since I'd be working for from home occasionally and one for Ashley's legal work the other Bedroom would be a guest room and the last room
was our master bedroom it was also conveniently close to her parents house which Ashley pointed out would be handy for babysitting when we had kids being an only child I always wanted siblings Ashley and I had talked about having children since our junior year and decided to wait until she was settled in her career now that we were ready we agreed two nights ago to stop her birth control and start trying for a Baby I was happier than I had ever been and that's when the sound I heard made my hand freeze on the doorknob
Ashley and I decided it's time for me to get pregnant Ashley exclaimed with excitement her friend Nicole Watkins immediately reacted with an equally enthusiastic high-pitched squeal that made me think of whales stranded on the Jersey Shore trying to join in while I stood on the stairs I couldn't help but smile at their enthusiasm which matched My own Joy at the thought of becoming a father just as I reached for the doorknob again a question made my disappear and took away my happiness that's fantastic Ash Nicole said but what about Paul Paul sh ashle whispered urgently
Hogan is outside mowing the lawn there was a brief pause and I could almost picture her scanning the area waiting for me to appear then she continued speaking I've already told Paul that I'm ending things with him he Was okay with it with Grossman stepping down from the Senate Paul thinks he actually has a chance at the seat being caught having an affair with a married employee would definitely heard his chances just like that three sentences shattered my world Paul Evans was Ashley's boss at the DA's office a widower in his mid-40s he had lost
his wife an to cancer leaving him to raise their daughter Barbara alone Paul was deeply involved in politics and Ashley Had shared stories about his political Maneuvers aimed at advancing his career now I realized how my wife had access to all that behind the scenes information really Nicole asked just quitting cold turkey you've been involved with him for 6 months and now you're just going to walk away from him her teasing tone made me want to lash out at her I had known Nicole from Penn and although she was now Ashley's best friend I thought
she was still my friend too it turns out I Was wrong stop it Ashley said laughing you're so naughty Paul was a great lover but he was just a bit of fun I love Hogan but Paul only used me for closeness and power there was no love just raw desire now that Bob and I are planning a baby I don't want any complication I love Hogan and I'm committed to being a good and faithful mother I wondered how many more cliches we were going to have to endure finding a strange car in the driveway and
Discovering them in bed together would complete the nightmare the urge to burst into the room and scream or to destroy everything in sight was overwhelming but my body felt paralyzed stunned I was unable to move and my heartbeat thudded in my ears so quitting completely Nicole nudged Ashley resp responded with another giggle not exactly cold turkey Ashley confessed I have a conference with Paul in Pittsburgh next week we'll have our final fling there I'll miss the Closeness but Hogan and the baby are more important I couldn't handle it any longer but I didn't know what
to do next loving Ashley was tearing me apart my business instincts kicked in and I realized I needed to step back and plan my next move making a loud racket on the steps I acted like I was coming up the stairs when I opened the door and entered the kitchen Ashley and Nicole were sitting there with their teacups was there a hint of guilt on Ashley's Face are you okay honey she asked her voice filled with concern it dawned on me that my cheeks were wet with tears allergies I muttered Spring's going to be rough
go upstairs and take a shower she said just leave your clothes outside the bathroom and I'll wash them right away so they don't mess up your closet I bought you a new box of claron D last week and it's in the medicine cabinet thanks I said as I headed for the stairs I needed some time to think the next Morning was Monday and I took advantage of an early meeting to slip out of the house before Ashley woke up the night before I'd used my allergies as an excuse to go to bed early because I
was overwhelmed with emotions as I rode the train I couldn't stop thinking about what I had overheard on one side my wife had been unfaithful but claimed she was ending it to stay with me and have our child some might say I should accept that and be thankful she's returning to Our marriage with the intention of being a good wife and mother mother however a voice in my head questioned if she might do it again in the future would she have another just act Affair once the kids are in school if that happened a divorce
would involve the kids and Ashley would likely get custody while I'd face Hefty alimony and support payments as an accountant and business analyst I was trained to think about risk and reward this situation was no different my trust In her was shattered the excuse of just act overlooks the core issue it's the utter lack of respect shown to the partner if the cheater truly didn't think their actions would hurt the other person they'd be open about it and I would have known all along don't get me wrong I wouldn't have accepted her being with Dawn
but at least if she had talked to me about it some respect would have been shown Ashley's Behavior demonstrated just how little she truly Respected me I went through my workday but my mind was preoccupied with what to do next without solid evidence beyond the conversation I overheard I hadn't noticed any signs of the affair over the past 6 months confronting Ashley directly without proof seemed risky and unlikely to yield any reward Ashley would deny it and Paul Evans would deny it pursuing the case in court would be Financial ruin as every judge politician and
lawyer in the area knew Evans I'd be Buried to protect his reputation leaving and starting fresh somewhere else crossed my mind the idea was tempting but the house would feel like a burden since Ashley couldn't afford it on her own and we had little Equity she'd need to to sell it quickly to avoid foreclosure in today's market that would be nearly impossible and it would ruin both our credit scores as a CPA having poor credit would make it hard to get a new job if you can't manage your own Finances how can others trust you
with theirs before taking any action I needed solid proof it was surprising where I eventually found it 3 Days Later although I was trying to stay composed I still had no concrete evidence to support what I had overheard her personal laptop was clean there were no secret email accounts no provocative lingerie hidden away and no suspicious receipts everything seemed clear then Ashley called me at work to say we were Invited to a party at Paul Evans home on Friday night I figured it was his big announcement for his US Senate candidacy I was tempted to
make a grand Revelation but without evidence it felt pointless we arrived right on time for the event Evans had a sizable mcmansion near Washington Crossing with a small horse farm a large tent was set up in the backyard for guests when we walked in Evans was at the head of the receiving line acting like royalty as a widower he Didn't have a wife to host so he'd apparently enlisted his 21-year-old daughter to help she greeted guests with a practiced ease when it was our turn Evans greeted Ashley with a broad smile saying Ashley you made
it how wonderful he gave her a polite kiss on the cheek before turning to me Robert great to see you again I'd be lost without your wife but I hear you'll need to let her go soon as you start expanding the family he laughed at his own joke just make Sure to return her to me when you're done and there'll be no hard feelings another laugh followed while Ashley blushed slightly I was seething inside his smug comment clearly had an underlying meaning that he thought I missed I'm not sure what the future holds I replied
in a flat neutral tone lacking any warmth it was similar to how I would report audit results professional but detached Evans actually turned pale and Ashley nudged me Whispering about my rudeness Evans then smoothly moved on to the the next guest leaving us with his daughter though I was seething inside I couldn't help but notice Barbara Evans who was stunning her dark red hair and radiant smile reminded me of a young Morin O'Hara while Ashley resembled a busty ballerina Barbara looked like she should be on a swimsuit calendar next to Kate Upton with her striking
looks healthy figure and Perfect Skin she was every Photographer's dream Paul Evans had crafted the ideal political family he appeared to be the quintessential wise Statesman and family man the death of his wife from cancer had made her the perfect martyr attacking her would be political ending Barbara his daughter was the perfect princess homecoming queen a senior at pen majoring in business and pre-law a former gymnast and now a member of the Penn cheerleading squad according to Ashley Barbara planned to audition for the Eagles cheerleading squad at their next open call now that she was
21 with a saintly deceased wife and a beautiful smart photogenic daughter Evans was set to win over the Press Robert Barbara exclaimed hugging me warmly this was more than a polite party hug it was a genuine enthusiastic Embrace her body pressed against mine in a surprisingly Pleasant way you look fantastic no wonder Ashley keeps you Hidden away you never come to our parties you should take it easier working too much isn't good for you she managed to say all that in one breath my anger shifted to complete shock instantly I made a few polite comments
about how great she looked and tried to move away but then realized two things first Barbara hadn't greeted Ashley second what parties was she talking about Ashley didn't give me a chance to ask as she quickly jumped in with her Own greeting to Barbara we had no choice but to let the next guests take their turn in line as Ashley and I moved through the crowd I couldn't help but wonder what Barbara knew after getting a drink for my wife I asked what was Barbra talking about with all these parties Ashley just gave a dismissive
smile and snorted oh she's just being a little brat Paul sometimes holds team meetings and strategy sessions here he says he thinks better with a drink in Hand and you never know who might be nearby at a bar she's been around a few times when we've met here and don't tell anyone but Paul let her have drinks at home even before she turned 21 that explained where it was happening the jerk was having an affair with my wife right here at his house under the guise of Team meetings they might even have real meetings where
Ashley stayed until the end or maybe she left early and came back after everyone else had gone that Way a team of lawyers would be less likely to question why Ashley stayed behind to help the Boss clean up with his wife gone and his daughter in college he had no need for a discreet hotel room hence no records of their rendevu does Barbara attend these team meetings I asked Ashley brushed off the question no she's just been home a few times when her classes were cancelled she's only teasing her dad about having parties during work
hours she pulled on My arm come on love letun get you a drink for the next hour Ashley stayed close to me never more than a foot away we chatted with several of her co-workers and a few mentioned our plans to start a family they expressed their sadness about losing Ashley for a while but were excited for us honestly it felt a bit awkward why did so many people know about our plans and hour later Paul Evans called for everyone's attention standing beside him with a smile was his Daughter he began by thanking everyone for
attending and then moved into his major campaign announcement even though it was expected everyone acted enthusiastic I know noticed the local papers publisher and one of his reporters taking notes nearby it's clear this will be a major story in tomorrow's Edition I won't drag you through the rest of the party details it could have been a pleasant evening if my heart wasn't in pieces and my mind wasn't Racing trying to find proof of what I'd heard about 90 minutes after the big announcement Margaret Williamson the first assistant district attorney came over to say that Paul
wanted to meet with his staff Margaret who ran the office while Paul was an elected official was the real powerhouse there there da changed every four years but Margaret was a constant presence known for her toughness as well as her honesty and integrity she was highly respected In the legal field Ashley took the job partly because of Margaret I liked her too Margaret had been married for over 30 years to an electrician who supported her through college and now ran a successful electrical contracting business their Devotion to each other always seemed like a model for
Ashley and me sorry to take your wife away Hogan mark said Paul wants to go over office organization after he's done with his campaigning then they both left I Moved away from a small group of spouses who were left behind for the meeting and headed to the far side of the large pool away from the party's patio there was a wicker swing chair hanging from chains partially in the shadows it was visible enough that people could see me if they looked but not so obvious that I'd stand out it was an ideal spot for me
to gather my thoughts less than 5 minutes after I sat down a voice voice broke the silence so this is where you're hiding a Voice said softly looking up I saw Barbara sliding into the wicker swing beside me she positioned herself facing me slightly without me needing to say anything her little black dress clung to her tanned thighs subtly highlighting her figure without giving too much away it was both alluring and innocent the fact that I noticed this almost like an observer spoke volumes about my state of mind you seem like you're carrying a huge
burden she said talking about my Problems with my wife's Lover's daughter was the last thing I wanted no matter how attractive she was we've just had a lot of audits at the office I said hoping to end the conversation really Barbara responded showing genuine interest I just finished my last accounting course at school we spent quite a few classes discussing forensic accounting and its role in law enforcement I found it really intriguing that caught me off guard even in my Current state seriously I asked not quite believing it it's not exactly glamorous she said but
it's like detective work you sift through a huge amount of information to find the right pieces and then piece them together to see the full picture it's even more challenging when people try to hide the information most people don't see it that way I agreed Barbara went into great detail about what she had learned and why she found it so interesting I Was actually impressed I've seen interns at the firm who couldn't explain the topic as well focusing on her words helped me push aside my anger and her looks allowing me to slip into a
mentoring role it provided a bit of relief from my emotional distress you really did enjoy the class I said you have a great understanding of the subject Barbara blushed at the compliment for a moment the Glamorous image faded and I saw a genuinely Touched young woman I've thought about joining the FBI after I graduate she shared dad wants me to either become a prosecutor or work at one of his friends law firms but I'm not sure that's what I want you should pursue your own goals rather than just following your father's path I meant it
sincerely even though I wouldn't mind disrupting that guy's plans I've collaborated with the FBI when audits revealed criminal activity they're sharp professionals before Barbara could respond Ashley emerged from the Shadows so this is where you've been hiding you weren't up to any Mischief were you she asked playfully Barbara faced my wife with a bright smile we were just discussing Bob's job I recently studied it in class and wanted to hear from an expert Hogan is definitely that Ash said proudly I once read an audit report where an employee was embezzling funds using his boss's login
Hogan figured out that transfers Happened while the boss was away on a trip but the Loggins were from the corporate office most people would have stopped there but Hogan dug deeper I could have secured a conviction on that employee my first day out of law school Hogan practically did the DA's job for them Ashley's pride in me was evident and it threw me off how could she be so proud and loving while carrying on a six-month affair with her boss my confusion must have Shone as Ashley Asked what's the matter dear nothing I replied just
thinking about a problem stop that it's a party Ashley chided me without missing a beat she added Hogan you won't believe the opportunity I've been given Paul and Margaret want me to move into an administrative role before I go on maternity leave that way when I leave no cases will be left unresolved I'll be working directly with Margaret a part of me felt relieved at the thought of Ashley being away from Paul but but My Hope was shortlived I'll need to travel occasionally Ashley continued I'll be delivering sensitive documents to Paul during his campaign I
won't be involved in his campaign but I'll still get to see some of the behind the scenes action it's going to be so exciting I felt my heartbreak all over again even though Ashley said she was ending her Affair to focus on having a baby I could easily see her slipping back into the affair once she got involved in the Campaign and if she did get pregnant how could I be sure it was mine Paul is about my eyes and looks like me without a DNA test it would be nearly impossible to tell my anger
started to build up but I forced myself to stay calm this wasn't the moment to lose control Barbara and Ashley started chatting about her new role in the campaign they quickly got absorbed in their discussion and I was left out I used the chance to pull myself together after tonight I would Begin making a plan I needed a way to combat Paul's political influence but honestly I had no idea how to start 2 Days Later the solution walked into my office your 4:00 appointment is here my assistant announced through the open door we're not allowed
to call them secretaries anymore I checked my Outlook calendar and didn't see any appointment scheduled before I could respond she walked in Barbara Evans hi Hogan she said as she entered her long dark red Hair cascaded down her shoulder she wore a light sundress that highlighted her beautiful legs and sandals with straps that wrapped almost up to her knees her chest was modestly covered with no cleavage visible ible but the fabric hugged her suggestively the dress was held up by two Thin straps leaving her arms bare I was at a loss for words as I
watched her walk in I hope this isn't a problem Barbara said as she shut the office door behind her I told Mary we Were meeting to talk about my career and how Ashley works for my dad I stood up politely it's good to see you I was just working on some reports I pointed to the chairs in front of my desk after she sat down I took my seat What would you like to discuss Barbara's cheerful expression quickly faded I think you already know Bob I saw your reaction when you spoke with my awful father
I'm really sorry heun's causing you trouble I was taken aback this wasn't what I expected at all What are you talking about I asked carefully Barbara looked troubled it's about my father having an affair with your wife I slumped back in my chair shocked by her directness did you just find out Barbara asked softly I nodded I'm sorry how when did you find out I acquired about 3 months ago Barbara said I'm not sure when it started but I discovered it in February I went home early one Friday and found them having one of their
meetings at our house I was Supposed to have a late lunch with a high school friend so I just dropped by to say hello and leave dad asked when I'd be back and I said after dinner then my friend got sick and couldn't come I picked up some lunch and went back home that's when I saw my dad and Ashley having closeness in our hot tub I took photos including some of them running without clothes back into the house there was a foot of snow outside too you took pictures of your dad having Closeness I
asked astonished I also wondered if I could get copies of those photos they would be very useful for the divorce Barbara seemed to sense my thoughts she reached into her bag pulled out a large envelope and set it on my desk these are the photos from that day plus a few extras Barbara gave a Sly smile dad has a security system at the house it covers the entire outside and several rooms in inside if you have the website key fob and password you can Access everything from almost anywhere there's also a thumb drive with video
footage I was stunned Paul's daughter was giving me everything I needed for both the divorce and to take down her father why are you doing this I asked Barbara's sad expression shifted to anger because she said softly I loath that bastard more than you ever could I stayed silent and waited after a brief pause she began to explain my dad met my mom when she was a college student he Was a rookie lawyer assigned to an intimate crimes unit in Philadelphia my mom had come from Ireland for school her wealthy family was killed in London
Dairy so she moved here to escape the troubles her tone became softer echoing her mother's accent mom was dating a loser who beat her badly enough that she ended up in the emergency room Barbara placed a thick green and Lace covered book on my desk after her death I found her journal and I learned she was quite Submissive she liked a strong man who took charge this jerk pushed her too far leading to her hospitalization dad was assigned to her case they met he sent the jerk to jail and a year later they were married
dad was always ambitious he got a smart beautiful woman with an exotic accent mom got a strong man who would protect her I was born a few years later dad pushed me into gymnastics thinking it would boost his political career if I made it to the Olympics do You know what usually ends gymnastics careers I shook my head and replied never really thought about it Barbara grinned they call it the three bees I was pushed into cheerleading and told to be the perfect All-American Girl I didn't mind performing but by the time I was 16
I realized I was just a tool for my dad's Ambitions my mom figured it out early on dad was cheating almost from the start of their marriage she knew and pleaded with him to stop but She was too powerless to do anything being a staunch Catholic divorce was not an option for her Barbara paused to collect her thoughts after a moment she went on some sometimes I wonder if her poor response to cancer treatment was because she unconsciously wanted to die or was intentionally undermining her treatment anyway I was with her when she passed away
the official story says dad was in court winning a murder conviction in reality he had the doctor change the Time of death while he was at his assistant's apartment celebrating he paraded mom as his trophy and the media loved the story of the heroic da saving the battered woman he even hit her a few times that I saw why are you telling me this I asked feeling confused because you don't deserve this Hogan my dad is a terrible person after mom died he kept his Affairs quiet until I went to college that's when he started
having these meetings at the house they're not Just for work he also holds them for charity groups he's involved with I know he's involved with two other women from those groups one of them even thinks it's true love and plans to leave her husband is that what Ashley believes I inquired even though I was already pretty sure of the answer Barbara shook her head no she seems to think it's just fun they say power is the greatest aphrodesiac and Ashley seems to prove that I overheard her talking to my dad About a senator they met
with and how excited she was when she returned to Doyle toown the bluntness of her comment made me wince I remembered that night well I'd come home to an incredibly passionate wife and it had been one of the best nights of closeness in my life that memory was now tainted because I realized my wife had been thinking about someone else what do you want from me I asked Barbara met my gaze firmly as she replied my goal is to get you out of Your marriage to that cheater and ruin my father's career so he couldn't
get elected even as a dog catcher in a town full of cats I considered leaking this information to the press or the opposition but he has too many connections I think if we work together we can make them pay won't that complicate your schooling I asked she tossed her deep red hair as she shook her head no my my mom left me a trust fund I haven't used it yet but if Necessary I could cover the rest of my education and even get an MBA while still having a nice sum left over why didn't your
mom use that money to leave and go to Ireland or your dad couldn't reach her Barbara's expression turned troubled she was raised in a very strict Irish Catholic environment she was taught that divorce was not an option no matter what happened she stuck to her faith until the end I think this is why I believe her death might have been more About a lack of will to live rather than a deliberate choice as self- ending was seen as an unforgivable sin in her view Barbara appeared genuinely sincere and her desire to ruin her father's career
seemed genuine with the information I had it looked like she was committed to this cause there didn't seem to be any trap here if Ashley and Paul wanted to ruin me they could do it openly in court this kind of sneaky Behavior was only for someone who was desperate like me a Plan began to form in my mind I would need Barbara's help with several aspects at the very least this would show how serious she was about taking down her father all right I said but I don't want to use these photos or even mention
him in my divorce Barbara looked taken aback why not she asked her face reing with emotion as she prepared to argue I stopped her with a raised hand I'm not saying we won't go after him but I want to avoid the negative publicity of being The Betrayed husband in a political Scandal instead I want to dismantle his power and influence so I can get a quiet divorce without drawing unwanted attention Barbara looked at me clearly surprised a moment later a cunning smile appeared on her face what do you need me to do I grinned I'm
going to use my skills get me access to his financial records both personal and campaign related Capone was caught through tax evasion and I'm sure I can find Something in your father's files if I can't find anything what then she asked I smirked I'll create some evidence myself in the following 3 days Barbara and I were hard at work she installed a key logger on both her father's personal laptop and the home desktop additionally she backed up the entire hard drive of his computer we configured their security system to upload its footage to a cloud
storage I knew about hosted overseas it was quite convenient that he Had set up so many cameras in his own house as for me I didn't bother tapping into Ashley's phone with the evidence Barbara provided I didn't need anything else I did however set up a GPS tracker designed for parents to monitor their children it used cell towers for gener positioning but could be activated for precise tracking I just wanted to avoid any surprises at home while I was working the day after Barbara's visit I pretended to have a groin injury this Gave me a
reason to avoid having closeness with my wife I never thought I'd need an excuse to avoid intimacy with my beloved wife given the number of Paul's Affairs I wasn't willing to take any more risks besides I probably couldn't have done it without letting my anger show I scheduled an appointment with a doctor to get tested for STDs at first nothing showed up but some infections like HIV can take months to be detectable Ashley left for her final Meeting with Paul at the conference in Pittsburg clearly excited she had been eager to go especially after I
had kept her waiting for a few days some men might have given her a parting gift as Revenge but my feelings were more complicated although I could never trust her again a part of me still loved her the thought of being intimate with her after what I had Learned was unbearable by Thursday morning Ashley was was ready with her bag and waiting For Paul and a junior lawyer from their office who was accompanying them I wondered if the young lawyer was aware that he was just a cover as Ashley approached she dropped her bag by
the front door and came up behind me I was sitting at the table with my back to her sipping coffee she wrapped her arms around me and whispered in my ear I'll be back Sunday afternoon hopefully you'll be feeling better and we can start working on the baby her voice and Scent made me nostalgic almost making me cry I managed to stay composed Ed I'll keep icing it so I'll be all set when you get back I said patting her arm and kissing her forehead she sighed I wish I didn't have to go it would
be so much nicer to stay home with you and be naked all weekend you could always tell Evans that something more important came up I suggested it was a slip of the tongue and she seemed to notice something in my tone what's your issue with Paul she Asked sounding surprised first you were rude at the party and now you seem to hate him I took a deep breath and Shrugged honestly I've seen too many Big Shots like Evans who think they're invincible and full of power they create an illusion of authority and get people to
believe it like that mayor in South Carolina last year he was a supposedly powerful guy embezzling money and sleeping with married women now he's serving 10 years in federal prison and Everyone he was involved with is publicly shamed and divorced Evans gives me the same impression if he makes it to Washington he'll be involved with clueless interns within a week but eventually his facade will crumble and everyone around him will get caught in the mess Ashley looked at me in disbelief although she had heard me rant about Shady characters before I had never connected Evans
to them I probably should have kept my thoughts to myself But it felt good to vent even though our marriage was over I thought it was fair to give Ashley a warning despite everything I still loved her even though I could never trust her again Hogan that's a terrible accusation about Paul Ashley said sounding upset HEK a good man who has done a lot for this County he's not like that her denial had a pleading tone just then a car horn honked outside the house Paul had arrived Ashley sighed in frustration and Shot me a
brief irritated look that quickly turned into a mix of regret and what seemed like fear I'll be back in 4 days Ashley said gently we can talk then but be prepared because we need to start working on having a baby she pulled me into a passionate kiss which I returned with with equal intensity have a good week she whispered I love you I love you too I replied Ashley picked up her bag and opened the front door bye dear she called as she left goodbye Ashley I said As I closed the door behind her half
an hour later I headed to catch the train to the city Barbara and I had an appointment with the FBI it turned out I didn't need to fabricate any evidence Paul Evans embezzlement techniques were moderately clever Barbara and I met at her off-campus apartment to review the document she had retrieved from his computer the methods were fairly standard I estimated that he had around $2 million hidden in an offshore account While he had funneled that much money I couldn't be sure if it was still there since those records weren't included most of the funds came
from numerous small donors who wouldn't typically attract IRS scrutiny but it was unusual that out of-state people were contributing to a County DA's campaign I traced several donors to individuals connected to cases where charges were dropped or plea deals were unusually lenient Barbara uncovered the biggest Revelation the Revelation was a big deal it turned out she wasn't an only child Evans had fathered two other children one child was born 3 years before his wife's death with the mother being one of his staff members the other child was born 8 months after his wife died and
the mother was an 18-year-old volunteer from the hospital where his wife was treated Evans had been funneling $2,000 a month to each woman disguised as pole research Consultants from campaign funds Barbara's anger was was so intense that she nearly wrecked her apartment that red hair of hers is definitely a sign of trouble by the time Ashley and Paul left we had thoroughly examined Paul's records although we had most of the information some questions remained unanswered due to our lack of resources I documented all the findings and arranged a meeting with a senior FBI agent from
the Philly office whom I had previously worked with Barbara joined me To present the story we had prepared Barbara's story was that after completing her forensic accounting class she became interested in examining some real records she decided to review her father's records out of innocent curiosity when she noticed some irregularities she reached out to me because my wife worked for her father and she knew of my expertise Gary the FBI agent was a seasoned professional who suspected there was more to the Story but didn't press us because we had essentially handed him a prime case
a corrupt da in his own District a corrupt da who was running for the Senate it was a case that could make his career falling into his lap like a gift from a above we took a cab back to Barbara's apartment since she had a late afternoon class while I walked to 30th Street Station to catch my train home I was considering packing up and leaving before Ashley returned Gary assured me That he would expedite the case and aim to subpoena Evans records by Wednesday once the investigation became known it wouldn't be long before Evans
realized how fragile his power was when everyone started abandoning him Ashley called me while I was on the train home she explained she was calling early because they had a big dinner planned and she wouldn't be back to her room until very late I had no doubt she actually had no intention of returning to her room that Night I responded with some vague comments saying it was fine she noticed my distracted tone and asked what was wrong I just had a meeting with some FBI agents about a case I said I'm on the train right
now and since the investigation is ongoing I can't discuss it that was all true it seems like it really affected you Ashley said with concern in her voice yeah it's going to be a messy situation it'll probably make national news when everything comes out I explained really Ashley asked sounding curious can't you give me a hint I couldn't resist corrupt politician bribes money laundering scandals marital Affairs and kids involved just typical summer novel stuff I replied hm is it someone I know she asked I grimaced I've already said too much the bureau would be upset
if I revealed anything else I said oh you're no fun Ashley pouted don't worry your secret is safe with me after saying our goodbyes she hung up When I got home the reality of my situation Hit me hard my marriage was over we'd been together for 10 years both dating and married I never expected to be single again but now that was my reality I ended up sitting on the couch watching as the sun set it felt like I was observing my life slipping away I sat there unmoving for hours after the sun had disappeared
by noon on Saturday I finally emerged from my self-pity although I felt I deser deserved a bit Of indulgence I knew I needed to move on ironically while I was mowing the lawn a BMW convertible pulled into my driveway I stopped the mower and watched as Barbara got out the first thing I noticed was her long pale legs swinging out of the driver's side she wore sandles with thin cords wrapped halfway up her calves reminding me of ancient Greek Styles as she stepped out her sculpted legs flexed showing off the strength beneath her firm skin
sticking With the Greek theme she had on a pure white dress that resembled a toga stopping mid thigh with 2 Ines of lace at the bottom giving glimpses of her upper thighs the dress made of a light silky material clung to her curves and was slightly see-through a top was visible through the dress her bare arms marked with light freckles were exposed and the dress draped over one shoulder leaving the other bare her long red hair flowed In Waves over her shoulders yet It was her gray green eyes and her smile that truly caught my
attention as she came closer I turned off the engine and greeted herou look better than I expected Barbara remarked I thought I might have to drag you out of a bottle or off a ledge I snorted recalling the dark thoughts I'd had the previous night it needed to be done I replied and it keeps me occupied not meeting with a lawyer she inquired I Shrugged I met with one Tuesday before they even left the paperwork will be ready by Monday I set up an audit in Austin and plan to leave Tuesday typically this kind of
of assignment takes 3 days of travel followed by remote work until the report is done for this one though I'll stay there for the full 3 weeks I Shrugged again it might be the easy way out but I'd rather not be here when everything falls apart Barbara's expression showed she understood recognizing that this Situation would also draw attention to her as the bastard's daughter I'm glad you're planning ahead she said with a smile I've noticed that's something you're good at that smile appeared again now I can make my own plans here's my plan Barbara declared
I'll help you wrap up your work here and then you'll come over to my place we're going to have a great time and you can check me out as much as you want I've got a swimsuit that you're going to love her enthusiasm Was so high it could have revived the dead I tried to push back Barbara I'm still married I said and I'm not ready to dive into anything right now you need to blow off some steam before you blow up she countered with a seductive smile besides you know the saying what's good for
the goose is good for the Gand her look was a mix of playful mischievous and sincere making me chuckle in a twist of fate that felt straight out of a novel we ran into Nicole after finishing my yard work I cleaned up and Barbara and I went out for a late lunch at a nice restaurant although I wasn't in the mood for Revenge closeness it felt good to leave the house going out with someone as pleasant as Barbara and who looked as stunning as she did wasn't a burden when I arrived I noticed Nicole's car
parked near the restaurant I always thought it was tacky to put OBX and Jersey Shore stickers on a Mustang GT for a moment I Considered telling Barbara to find another place to eat instead I did something completely out of character on a sudden impulse despite all my meticulous planning seeing Nicole's car just hit me hard with a spontaneous move I put my arm around Barbara and guided her into the restaurant without another word I gave the host a tip to seat us at a specific table it was somewhat hidden but visible from the restrooms I
had Barbara sit with her back to the room And I took the seat next to her she smiled when I held her hand why the sudden change Barbara asked with a playful smile not that I mind I chuckled I told you about discovering my wife's infidelity right Nicole her friend well her car is parked right outside Barbara burst into a hearty laugh so I get to be the other woman that works for me she leaned in and gave me a tender kiss it wasn't passionate but rather a soft suggestive kiss like a promise of more
To come our food arrived and I was genuinely enjoying myself the deception faded into the background as I savored Barbara's company her quick wit had me in stitches I had never heard someone make ACC counting sound so risque while we were chatting I noticed Nicole walking by and pointed her out to Barbara oh great Barbara giggled I've been waiting for this with that she leaned in to kiss me again my hand found its way under the table and onto her leg Her thighs were incredibly soft but with a firm toned muscle underneath the sensation was
electrifying I could feel the heat from her panties and my hand moved instinctively to explore the moisture there lost in the moment I was jolted by Nicole's loud voice Hogan what are you doing she shouted who is this woman cheating on your wife while she's away I thought better of you I'm sure everyone in the restaurant heard her I pulled away from Barbara and faced Nicole what's your issue Liv just having some fun before Ashley and I settle down and start a family and can you lower your voice people are trying to eat Nicole stared
at me stunned what come on Liv Ashley is doing the same thing she's probably with her boss right now she's been cheating for months so I figured it was only fair for me to be with the boss's daughter Nicole looked like she was about to faint I felt Barbara start to chuckle so I gave her a gentle Squeeze to quiet her unfortunately I forgot where my hand was and her giggle turned into a moan of pleasure you're aware of Nicole stumbled over her words yep I'm supposed to be the clueless loyal husband while my wife
is off having her fun with someone I thought was a good friend I said my voice dripping with contempt Nicole flinched at the bitterness in my tone I know Ashley wanted one last adventure before we started a family just like she had One last fling before we got married if she can do it why do you have a problem with me I had no proof that Ashley had been unfaithful before she got involved with Paul but I was guessing based on the idea that once a cheater always a cheater I wondered if Nicole was rattled
enough to confirm my suspicion she was you know about that too she exclaimed in shock not until now but thanks for confirming I said Nicole turned pale leave now Nicole I told her she quickly Got up and left the table we soon heard a commotion indicating she had exited the restaurant well that was entertaining Barbara said with a chuckle I was hoping she'd stick around longer her smile made me blush she's probably calling your wife right now Barbara added most likely I agreed I expect my phone to ring in about 5 minutes but it'll take
her 5 hours to get home from Pittsburgh if she leaves immediately that gives us time for dessert and Enough time for me to get home and pack sorry I won't get to see you in that bikini you promised Barbara laughed again we can definitely reschedule that she said reaching over to pull me closer by my shirt my semester ends in a week and a half she whispered in my ear I've always wanted to visit Austin before I could fully process her words her tongue was in my ear epilog yes things went seriously wrong Ashley began
calling me just 10 minutes after Nicole left the Restaurant I listened to a few of her voicemails where she was enraged about my cheating it almost made me laugh after an hour of her messages and texts I decided to block her number I knew she would eventually try contacting me from another phone but since she was driving back from Pittsburgh she couldn't easily borrow someone else's phone on the turnpike I went home packed up all my personal belongings not just what I needed for Austin and left my house probably for the last time a hotel
near the Philly Airport became my temporary home after I dropped most of my stuff in a storage locker while searching for a new place I spoke with Barbara a few times she was staying with a friend as her father started leaving angry messages on her phone I rescheduled my flight to Austin to leave a day earlier and flew out Monday morning Ashley called me from different numbers leaving tearful Messages about how I could do this to her and questioning why I would ruin her career Nicole's initial Outburst had attracted a lot of attention someone posted
a detailed account on their blog identifying Barbara and me as the key figures my comment about Ashley's affair with Paul was also shared along with news that they were together in Pittsburgh over the weekend this stirred up a lot of buzz in the local political scene in courthouse for the rest of the Week I steered clear of Philly news it wasn't until Friday that I received an email from Margaret a senior manager at the DA's office in Doylestown she expressed her apologies for the chaos acknowledging that she knew Paul was seeing two women outside the
office but was unaware of Ashley's involvement she also complemented my use of legal means to get revenge against a lawyer Margaret reported that Paul was at the DA's office on Monday morning trying to Manage the Fallout and deny any wrongdoing on his part he claimed it was just my daughter's Rebellion influenced by a cheating husband was the story he tried to spin then on Tuesday day Ashley received divorce papers citing adultery the envelope contained photos DVDs and a letter from me when Ashley read my note her horrified scream brought Margaret and two others rushing into
her office Ashley sat there in shock slumped in her chair while Margaret noticed the Pictures scattered on the desk in my letter I explained that I hadn't had an affair but hoped she understood how I felt about her and the jerk I told her I couldn't stay married to someone I no longer trusted especially knowing she had been faithful before not much work got done at the DA's office that Tuesday the following day while Margaret was in Paul's office for a meeting four men in suits walked in unexpectedly Paul was shouting at them for disrupting
an Important meeting when one of the men informed him he was under arrest according to Margaret Paul was stunned when they cuffed him and escorted him out of the office they paraded him out the courthouse's front door passing reporters who had somehow been tipped off I owed Gary a few beers for that Margaret ended her email by apologizing for the chaos in her office and offering to help with anything I might need saying I didn't deserve this kind of Situation while some of her message was probably to manage the Fallout I believed Margaret was being
the principled professional person I always thought she was my plans for a quiet divorce were ruined by my own Reckless impulsive act with Nicole at the restaurant Philly news stations quickly picked up on Paul's arrest and the charges against him as I told Ashley this had all the elements of a summer novel closeness betrayal revenge and way Too much drama the media loved it and it was swiftly picked up by the 24-hour news networks since I was out of town I managed to avoid the worst of the media frenzy they hadn't tracked me down yet
as I had booked a second hotel room 10 Mi away from the one listed on my work itinerary even though I had checked into this new place reporters were still camped out trying to catch me I saw on TV that they were stationed outside my house but since Ashley wasn't coming out They only managed to get footage of my in-laws coming and going Barbara had the toughest time as the daughter who turned in her own father despite needing to attend classes and take exams the media easily found her during the initial days the situation improved
when the school intervened and removed the reporters from campus as they were causing too much disruption it also helped when the two women who had children with Paul came forward to seek their moment of Fame after finishing her last final Barbara quietly left campus and went to the airport the media was disappointed but not entirely surprised when she didn't show up for the graduation ceremony eventually the story became a minor news item and remained in the background it made headlines again when Paul's trial began but he pleaded guilty to several charges resulting in a 20-year
sentence in federal prison fortunately his guilty plea meant Barbara and I were never required to testify after that the media lost interest and the attention shifted away from Barbara Ashley and me strangely despite all the media attention my my divorce proceeded swiftly and without much trouble Ashley signed the divorce papers Just 4 days after receiving them in her letter she apologized for her actions and for what had happened between us she had been Furious and vowed never to forgive me for my Infidelity but realizing she was the only one who had been unfaithful made her
see how hypocritical her anger was she accepted the 50-50 split offer and asked if at some point when things weren't so raw we could meet so she could apologize in person she ended her letter by expressing that she would always loved me and wished me well I later learned from her mother that Ashley had left her job and moved to the Midwest to live with an aunt bringing Paul down greatly boosted my career the FBI publicly credited me for analyzing Paul's records while I was staying out of the media's way I worked even harder on
the Austin case not only did I uncover the embezzler they were after but I also discovered a second one they hadn't known about my firm recognized my efforts by promoting me to lead a team specializing in white collar crimes so someone even humorously dubbed our team Hogan's Heroes the Highlight was getting An assistant assigned to me this assistant was a recent college graduate eager to gain experience in forensic accounting working late became surprisingly enjoyable with her around plus seeing that swimwear on my hotel room floor added an extra perk [Music]
