"You Slept With All These Men To Give Me A Job?"Cheating Wife

Thanks for being here subscribe to Cheating Stories Best so you don't miss new stories when Rose my wife shouted "For God's sake hurry up," her voice echoed throughout the house it was the last thing I wanted to hear at that moment i had agreed to go to the party and now it was too late to back out i stood in front of the mirror thinking "Why did we even get into this?" It all started about 6 months ago rose was Searching for a new chief executive officer for one of her largest clients she worked as

a recruiter often called a head hunter the company had already decided on a candidate and Rose's task was to convince him to accept the offer she used all her usual techniques but he stubbornly refused to engage and the process dragged on endlessly she was already on the verge of failure for the first time in her otherwise brilliant career when unexpectedly he changed his Mind and agreed to sign the contract now we were heading to a party at his house eddie stop digging around we are already terribly late she burst into the bathroom with an irritated

look eddie you are not even dressed come on move she was dressed up as if we were going to the Met Gala i was dressed decently but without a suit i am dressed i am just styling my hair give me a break I said she looked shocked you are kidding me right eddie you know how I feel about All this i am not going to dress up like a peacock peacock you are crazy Rose every man at this party is going to be wearing a suit you will stand out like a sore thumb so what

it is just a party eddie please put on a suit stop being this eternal rebel at some point you have to grow up you are no longer the bad boy you think you are rose moved in high social circles and somehow I existed much lower on that ladder i was an engineer a designer and a project Manager just yesterday I had returned from a project in Scotland where I worked as a senior civil engineer yet here I was preparing to accompany Rose to this party she coetishly pressed herself against me and said "Eddie my love

put on a suit shave and I promise I will reward you for it." I grinned contemptuously you already owe me do not forget you promised me an unforgettable night just for agreeing to go to this party she kissed me seductively honey Just trust me i promise to fulfill any of your intimate fantasies just do it for me i gasped are you saying that you will do whatever I ask she nodded hesitantly yes my love of course you know what I will ask for right i teased she frowned yes I know what it will cost i

laughed maliciously and then nodded okay okay give me a couple of minutes thank you honey she said already halfway out the door remind me to buy something at the pharmacy on the way home," I Added she winced at my remark but closed the door behind her i laughed softly to myself i had no real intention of bribing her i could see how much it bothered her and how important this evening was to her i shaved carefully styled my hair and pulled on my suit although I refused to wear a tie as I walked down to

the living room I noticed her looking up from her phone "oh thank God but where is your tie sorry dear but I will not wear one I said calmly i Still put on the suit even if I refuse to wear the tie she nodded and said "Thank you but you do understand that without the tie you will not get everything you asked for right?" I shrugged "so be it." She smiled slightly and whispered "Thank you darling." I opened the car door for her she looked excited as she sat down and pulled her dress into place

eddie I think we need to talk about the party she said closing the door I walked around the car got Behind the wheel and sighed nervously yes about what i put the key into the ignition and started pulling out of the driveway when she took a sharp breath and muttered "Eddie Claire and Anthony are switching partners tonight." I gasped and slammed on the brakes the car screeched to a stop "What did you say?" She hesitated then said "How about wife swapping and all that?" She nodded again silently i was stunned we had never even discussed

anything like this before what Can one even say in such a situation i gathered myself and finally said "I hope they understand that we will not be participating in these entertainments." At that moment a loud car horn sounded behind us i looked around and realized I had stopped in the middle of the road quickly I pulled halfway onto the sidewalk to let the cars pass vehicles rushed by horns blaring and angry gestures flashing past us i turned off the engine silence fell over the car a Few minutes later she smiled flirtatiously twirling a lock of

her hair around her finger you know she said "I thought this might actually be interesting dear when Clare and Anthony told me about it I was shocked and a little nervous but then it intrigued me and now after thinking it over I believe I would not mind trying it so to speak i sat stunned leaning back in my seat trying to process her words "are you saying," I muttered that you have Suddenly decided to join this this group Rose the answer is "No absolutely not i do not think we should even go." I felt anger

boiling inside me anger and a deep sense of betrayal you set this up so that I would not even have time to think about it i barked furiously and the answer is still no after what felt like an eternity she spoke again or she offered softly maybe we can at least just go to the party and simply enjoy the company we do not have to Participate in anything we are not obligated to participate at all she said her voice which had previously been full of disappointment suddenly changed there was now a playful tone to it

but I have to say honey once you see Clare you might change your mind she is a very beautiful woman i thought about it for a moment and after her persistent persuasion I finally gave in okay Rose I said firmly but let us make it clear and simple we go there only as guests as Observers and that is it i do not like any of this and I am honestly shocked that you were even considering it she cringed slightly i am sorry i should have told you earlier so we could discuss it properly but please

let us just go with an open heart they really are wonderful people on the way there she kept talking about Tony and Clare and by the time we arrived I was already tired of hearing their names we stopped in front of what could only be described As a true mansion the house was located on the outskirts of a small village surrounded by luxurious gardens and stood far back from the road the long winding driveway was lined with luxury cars Mercedes BMWs Rolls-Royces and even a Porsche i felt a wave of embarrassment wash over me as

I parked our modest little Corolla among the sea of expensive vehicles it was hard not to feel both intimidated and significantly impressed as we walked up the steps and Rang the doorbell my heart was pounding what a gorgeous place I thought it must have cost a fortune the door opened and we were greeted by a strikingly beautiful woman she was older than us perhaps in her late 40s but she looked incredible she was tall and slender with gorgeous long blonde hair that shimmerred in the light and framed her face like something straight out of an

old Vogue magazine cover her dress was more reminiscent of an evening gown long Flowing with a high slit that revealed seductive slender legs she smiled brightly and kissed Rose tenderly on the cheek "hello Rosemary dear," she purred speaking with a refined aristocratic accent then she turned to me hesitated for a moment and said warmly "And you must be Edwin welcome come in and meet the others." As we stepped inside she held out a large crystal vase filled with car keys smiling conspiratorally she whispered "Throw your keys in here Dear." I glanced at Rose who playfully

reached out to take the keys from my tightly clenched hand but I held them firmly muttering "Sorry Clare we just came for the party and nothing more." Clare frowned clearly confused "i do not understand," she said looking at Rose and sighing "look I sorry but the party is closed to our closest friends only," Clare said firmly "if you do not intend to participate then I am afraid we will not be able to accommodate you." Rose Immediately grabbed her hand "please Clare it is just that Eddie is a little shy i caught him off guard he

feels overwhelmed i dumped everything on him at the last moment we would love to stay we will not cause any trouble and once that he gets settled in and gets to know everyone I hope he will change his mind she looked at me pleadingly but I remained silent clare seemed thoughtful for a moment then she sighed and nodded "okay but I have to say I feel a little Betrayed." I told all of our friends that we would have new members tonight and they are all looking forward to meeting you." She took Rose's arm and together

they walked ahead of me into the house my mouth was dry as if someone had poured a whole bucket of sand into it the house was incredible an old country estate that had been fully renovated although some elements were slightly dated it had retained all the charm of a traditional manor house Elegantly furnished with antique furniture the foyer was enormous and soft music floated through the air as we entered a spacious living room there were about 10 couples gathered there all dressed impeccably the men wore sharp suits and the women were adorned in elegant evening

gowns looking around I noticed that Rose and I were clearly the youngest people in the room clare led us to a tall strong man who was likely even older than she was despite his age he Clearly kept himself in excellent shape perhaps through regular sports or fitness training his physique was athletic and he looked impressive for his years his facial features were expressive and his eyes were bright and attentive when we approached he kissed Rosemary tenderly on the lips a gesture that went far beyond the usual greeting among business associates then he extended his hand

toward me "so you must be Edwin," he said warmly "nice to meet You rosemary has told me so much about you we have been wanting to meet you for a long time." His handshake was strong perhaps too strong and he looked me directly in the eye as he spoke he then led me around the room introducing me to the other men it was a strange and uncomfortable experience i could feel the women's gazes fixed on me as if I were fresh meat displayed in a supermarket the whole situation gave me an extremely uneasy feeling we

had been There for less than an hour and I already wanted to run away from the moment we arrived Clare had taken Rosemary by the hand to introduce her to the women leaving me standing alone i made my way over to the bar and asked for a beer the bartender leaned over and said "Try the kitchen buddy there is no beer here why not try some good scotch instead it is an excellent choice i shook my head politely and headed to the kitchen when I walked in I was amazed Everything sparkled quartz countertops stainless steel

appliances the entire kitchen gleamed with immaculate cleanliness and luxury i found a beer downstairs and while looking for a bottle opener I was briefly tempted to simply knock the cap off against the edge of the table as I sometimes did back home fortunately I soon located the bottle opener and feeling relieved opened the bottle properly i walked back into the living room feeling a little More confident now that I had a beer in my hand however that confidence quickly faded and I once again felt awkward and uncomfortable the conversations around me revolved mostly around business

deals and golf subjects that held absolutely no interest for me i clearly felt like a fish out of water rose on the other hand was completely in her element i saw her laughing and chatting animatedly among a group of women she looked perfectly at home as if she belonged there i found a Quiet corner and decided to wait for the right moment to slip away unnoticed clare seemed to take pity on me noticing me standing alone "you were so shy are you not dear?" she purred i nodded "yes probably," I admitted we stood in silence

for a few moments neither of us quite knowing what to say "finally," she spoke rosemary told me that you are an engineer i nodded again yes you work in Scotland correct yes right now I am working on a project to replace a bridge I see she drawled how long will you be staying there oh I do not know exactly if we meet the deadlines then perhaps just another couple of months rosemary said that she misses you very much Clare added i had indeed been away for a long time much longer than usual and it had

clearly taken a toll on both of us while we stood and talked the music changed and couples quickly filled the dance floor swaying slowly to the romantic tune anthony immediately invited Rose to Dance and they pressed closely together much closer than what would normally be considered appropriate for business associates but when I looked around at the other couples I realized that this kind of intimacy seemed quite normal here i still could not fully wrap my head around the idea that all these people were here for more than just an elegant party clare sighed softly then

took my hand and said with a breathy aristocratic voice "Come on dear let me Introduce you to the ladies." "Ladies?" I chuckled to myself "More like retirees." Apart from Rose and me Clare was probably the youngest woman in the room she led me to a group of women who were standing together sipping champagne they did not seem particularly pleased to see me approaching drinking beer straight from the bottle i looked the women over most of them were in their late 40s or even older and frankly looked like the fading stars of yester Year clare introduced

me and as I talked to them they gradually warmed up to me and the atmosphere lightened one of the women Karen asked me to dance as we circled around the room I could not help but notice that Rose was still dancing with that man Anthony karen was shorter than me plump but very attractive because of her height I could feel the warmth emanating from her body her dress was made of thin flowing silk and her ample chest pressed softly against mine I tried to maintain a respectful distance but she hugged me tightly and whispered in

my ear this is your first time at Clare's party right i nodded and she smiled warmly that is what I thought you look so tense darling just relax and have fun darling oh god that was what my mother used to call me i did not feel comfortable at all in fact I was already growing quite annoyed after a couple of dances I made an excuse to escort Karen back to her friends and quickly turned Around before anyone else could stop me i walked up to Anthony and tapped him on the shoulder sorry for the interruption

but I would like to dance with my wife anthony looked disappointed and Rose seemed downright unhappy but he stepped aside and I pulled her into my arms she did not resist on the contrary she clung to me and her joyful mood was obvious are you having a good time honey she whispered no not really dear I said it is not my scene look I know this is Important for your work but this this is not for me let us leave them to their activities and leave as quickly as possible i am sure you can come

up with some polite excuse she leaned back and looked into my eyes oh honey do not be such a boore i am having such a good time everything is so wonderful here look at these women they are so elegant their outfits are simply stunning and the men they are all so gallant "darling you promised to be open-minded tonight." She frowned "try to relax and have some fun." "You must be joking having fun with this crowd?" "No way in the world," I whispered barely containing my disbelief "yes," she said "they should all be in nursing homes."

I expected her to laugh at my joke but when I looked at her face I realized she was not amused "you are just being foolish," she said "look around everyone is dancing and talking it is so nice to spend an evening outside of the house god this is So much better than another Saturday night at the pub." I merely made a sound in response she whispered "How do you like Clare she is amazing is she not?" I laughed dryly "not bad for an old lady she is probably the same age as my mother they probably

even went to school together i tried to keep it light but it was clear I had made my opinion known rose pressed herself against me again as we danced so you did not find her attractive she teased like I said good For an older woman but I still do not feel comfortable here i want to get out of here i cannot stand all these pompous snobs eddie please do not ruin everything tony is very important do not make a scene just listen to the music and enjoy the evening i rolled my eyes the music it

is from the 1950s just like these people old and gloomy maybe I should go grab a couple of CDs from the car and livven this place up she pushed me hard on the shoulder do not be Ridiculous just relax some of these women could teach you new tricks yes like how to play Scrabble or bingo i muttered eddie look around some of these women look quite good tell me honestly did you not like at least one of them there is only one woman here I want to be with I said firmly tightening my arms around

her and she is in my arms right now and fortunately we will be leaving here together very soon at that moment a man tapped me on the shoulder may I have The lady he asked politely i shook my head sorry buddy not happening he stood there stunned as if he had not heard me correctly i held Rose close and led her away from the dance floor she was beside herself that was terribly rude Eddie he just wanted to dance sorry I said but I am not going to give up the only beautiful woman at this

party i could see her irritation growing she abruptly slipped out of my arms and headed toward the bar we were standing together when Anthony approached again and extended his hand to Rose inviting her to another dance "shall we dance darling?" he asked smoothly she gave me a sarcastic look lightly waved my hand away smiled sweetly at him and said with pleasure they headed back to the dance floor and she easily accepted him into her arms i noticed that many couples around were now openly kissing and embracing and some had even disappeared into the darker corners

of the room now I started To get truly nervous and even angrier all I wanted was to get out of there as quickly as possible as I stood fuming Clare came up to me for a chat i took a deep breath trying to calm down she kept the conversation light and casual mostly talking about Rose but I could not help but notice how closely she stood her hips barely touching my waist as she wrapped one arm around me "are you enjoying the evening?" she asked softly I lied "yes very nice thank you is it Really?"

she asked tilting her head "because you do not look like you are having much fun what is the matter?" Look Clare I said carefully i do not want to offend you but I am just not interested in all of this she whispered soothingly yes dear i understood that from your refusal to participate unable to bear the tension any longer I asked "Why why are you doing this?" I asked trying not to sound judgmental though it was difficult she smiled warmly we like It we enjoy it i understand it is not everyone's cup of tea but

it brings us joy when I did not respond she gently squeezed my waist tony and I perceive love and intimacy as two different things she explained one is emotional connection the other is physical pleasure you can enjoy intimacy without necessarily loving the person you are with she smiled seductively honey we both love intimacy and we enjoy sharing it with others who share our worldview Shaking my head I replied "Sorry but I do not understand this." She giggled softly "How conservative you are." Seeing my frowning expression she continued "Dear the concept of monogamy is an imposed

stereotype created by the church and reinforced by the state to control people while individuals are locked into small family units they are easier to govern humanity is not naturally monogous it is society that convinces us otherwise trying to find a Reasonable argument I asked but when you love someone do you not want to keep that love private between just the two of you why share it she leaned closer that is exactly what I am trying to explain darling why limit yourself just because I enjoy an evening with other men does not mean I love Tony

any less okay but how does it all work i asked it is simple dear she answered every woman puts her car keys into the vase whichever key she picks out she spends The night with the man who owns them so they stay together for the night yes dear that is the expectation it saves people from having to rush home i still could not wrap my head around it is Anthony such a bad lover that you need someone else i asked bluntly her answer was sharp tony is a wonderful lover very skilled still the best I

have ever known then why all this because it is fun it is exciting a little spicy and a bit daring understand dear we all know it is Just for pleasure it is not about hurting anyone it is simply a group of friends who enjoy sharing nobody suffers no harm is done i shook my head again sorry but I still do not understand I said quietly perhaps there was some logic in her words but it did not resonate with me while we stood and talked I watched Rose dancing with Anthony she leaned her head against his

shoulder and his hand rested just below her waist clare noticed my gaze and Commented "They move well together do they not shall we dance?" I wanted to refuse but I did not want to offend her so we stepped onto the dance floor i kept my distance but Clare pressed herself against me out of the corner of my eye I noticed Rose watching us she did not smile instead she grinned maliciously and pressed even closer to Anthony clare wrapped her arms around me tighter as we danced she whispered well have I convinced you maybe you would

Like to stay and join us i tried to keep my tone neutral no I am afraid not sorry Claire but we will be leaving soon she tried once more to lure me closer you do not find me attractive of course I do I said honestly but we are both married and I do not share your philosophy i believe in monogamy after a few more songs when she realized she was not making any progress Clare became slightly annoyed and eventually excused herself saying she had guests to attend To i seized the opportunity to walk over to

Rose and Anthony to reclaim my wife anthony looked unhappy to see me and Rose was clearly annoyed when we started dancing she hissed sharply "Why did you not keep dancing with Clare you seemed to be enjoying it." She went to prepare snacks i replied casually "And I did not want to bore her you know how older people tire quickly Rose giggled god you can be so rude clare is an incredibly beautiful and sweet woman she said Defensively for an older lady yes I said with a smirk seeing her dissatisfied look I added with mock seriousness

i think Uncle Jim would find her very attractive too your uncle she exclaimed in disbelief darn it why are you so nasty she said she is lovely i admitted laughing she would definitely be the star at the local bingo hall rose glared at me god why are you such a rude person clare was so sweet please try to be a little kinder do not ruin this for me Rose pleaded she is cute i agree but Lord let us get out of here right now now Eddie you promised to be open-hearted she reminded me did you

even consider for a moment that this could turn into a really fun evening rose I am just not attracted to any of this I said trying to stay calm maybe if the people here were our age maybe then but honestly look around how many of these men would you genuinely consider as a partner or is it all about Anthony She leaned against me okay I admit they're a little older she said honestly to be fair there are a couple that I find attractive and Anthony is incredibly handsome she added with a slight shudder eddie what

would you say if I told you I wanted to stay and participate i winced and replied firmly i have already given you my answer let us just leave she pouted confused and frustrated eddie if you just tried to give them a chance and stopped making Snide remarks you might actually like it enough Rose please let us just go home she continued stubbornly you know Clare said she wanted to be with you tonight i glanced over at Clare who was twirling on the dance floor with another man very nice of her I said dryly but my

answer is still no i felt Rose soften slightly in my arms darling why are you so categorically against it she asked gently mostly because you were not honest with me I replied if you had told Me from the beginning and we could have discussed it maybe things would have been different but now I am still angry you left it until the very last moment she winced genuinely regretful i apologized i know it was wrong honestly when Tony asked us to come I could not stop thinking about it it really excites me yes well I said

if I had known about it in advance maybe I would have felt differently but tonight I just feel cheated and it does not feel right are You saying that if we had talked about it earlier you might not have minded she asked carefully i do not know Rose i just did not have time to think about it she laid her head on my shoulder and I grumbled what if you pulled out old Jeffre<unk>s keys would you still be delighted jeffrey was a short balding overweight man I had met earlier she shivered slightly in my embrace

"that is exactly my point," I said "tell me honestly how many of these men would you Really want or is it just Anthony?" "Honey most of these men are quite attractive," she admitted "i know some of the women may not seem very appealing but to be honest I am probably the only one here not attracted to Jeffrey even he has some merits according to Clare he is an amazing lover he cannot be that good if his wife wants to replace him," I muttered jesus Eddie stop being so negative she snapped i saw the way you

looked at Clare i think you like her i Will not deny that she is attractive for her age I said but this is like a lottery there is no guarantee who you will end up with darling Clare said I could choose first Rose said with a playful smile she even marked Tony's keys so I would know which ones to pull so it all comes down to you wanting to sleep with Tony I said coldly her body tensed and she looked at me reproachfully i will not deny it honey i tried to explain it to you

no you did Not try I said sharply be honest for once was this entire evening just about getting a night with Tony was this your payment for securing the contract she looked genuinely shocked and outraged no of course not this has nothing to do with the contract she said defensively believe it or not we became friends while working together he invited me because he thought I would enjoy it when I said I did not want to end up with just anyone he explained how it would Work so everything was set up from the very beginning

I said bitterly in a way yes darling she admitted but you are getting the most beautiful woman here tonight clare is a true beauty you cannot deny that she interests you i do not deny that she is attractive i said but I am not going to do this i want to leave right now she sighed okay I will go and tell her the bad news you know she will be disappointed she is crazy about you i shook my head as Rose turned To find Clare i walked over to the bar for a drink while I

was standing there Anthony approached "would you like some whiskey old man?" he asked with a smirk "no thanks i am driving." I replied curtly he frowned "well why not stay the night old man we have plenty of room then you could have a drink relax properly and enjoy the evening." "No thank you," I repeated firmly rose just went to tell Clare that we are leaving anony's face darkened with Disappointment and he muttered something under his breath as he walked away a few minutes later Clare approached holding a crystal vase filled with keys she came up

to me holding it out maybe you'll join after all Edwin said i shook my head and replied "No thank you Clare." She looked very disappointed but still made her way over to Anthony the music stopped and the room fell silent almost instantly well ladies and gentlemen Anthony announced "It's time for the Draw." Rose came to stand next to me and whispered in my ear "Do you think we'll have time to drop in our keys before the draw?" Her eyes were pleading "please just do this for me," she whispered "and I promise I'll make it up

to you somehow." Then she kissed me quickly and added "Who knows maybe you'll even enjoy it." I shook my head "not for anything in the world." Her disappointed expression was "I see it could have frozen even helium." We watched as Anthony declared "Ladies please come forward and choose your prize." The women took turns pulling keys from the vase and walking toward their chosen partners everyone looked thrilled i couldn't believe it the atmosphere felt surreal when it was all over I muttered under my breath "Are you ready to leave?" Rose nodded slowly "just give me a

minute to say goodbye." She walked over to Clare they hugged briefly and then Rose returned to me clearly upset We were just about to leave when Clare stopped us at the door wait Edwin rose she called out we turned to her she sighed heavily i'm sorry tonight didn't go the way you hoped i wish I could have changed your mind i truly think that if you gave me a chance you wouldn't have been disappointed i shrugged maybe but I'm happy with my decision clare shook her head clearly unhappy and hugged Rose again then we left

as soon as the car door closed Rose muttered angrily that Was incredibly awkward you're right i agreed it was awful what a bunch of elitists she rolled her eyes not them you fool this whole thing could have been avoided if you had just dropped the keys in the vase i laughed rose I didn't want to spend the night with women I barely knew she growled in frustration you can be so difficult sometimes maybe but I wasn't about to go home with strangers that's not who I am darn it Edwin this was supposed to be something

Different something exciting and new just one night you know how I feel about things like this i told you about my father and how his actions affected my childhood yes but this isn't betrayal it was supposed to be an adventure something we could laugh about later we sat in silence the rest of the drive home when we parked in front of our building Rose said softly "Eddie I wanted to experience this i was looking forward to it anthony is very attractive And I was curious if this is how you feel maybe we need to reconsider

our relationship maybe we're just not right for each other anymore i looked at her stunned you don't think that's a bit extreme no I don't try to see it from my perspective you never asked how I felt you just shut it down and expected me to go along with it she searched for her keys as I spoke i just didn't want to be pressured into something I wasn't comfortable with no one forced you Edwin No one twisted your arm she snapped you're just so stubborn i have principles maybe you remember that we made vows on

our wedding day she scoffed and if there had been a woman there so beautiful you couldn't resist what then i don't know that didn't happen that's not the reason I said no then why she asked because I've never cheated on you and I never will i don't pursue other women i never have but what if I said it was okay that I wouldn't be upset that You could explore without guilt it doesn't matter I said i still wouldn't do it you're being ridiculous it's not cheating if we both agree she argued i stayed quiet she

sighed in frustration you're impossible that night our bed felt colder than usual she lay as far away from me as possible both of us staring at the ceiling in silence finally I asked "Did you really want to be with Anthony?" She turned toward me even in the dark I could see the Conflicted look on her face she bit her lip hesitating and said nothing she hesitated for a moment as if unsure whether to speak then finally whispered "Yes I wanted to he's handsome charming and incredibly attractive i was looking forward to it i'm leaving for

Scotland on Sunday evening," I said quietly "should I be worried that you'll end up spending the night with him while I'm gone?" She stared at me clearly upset "no absolutely not it's not worth it i Won't pretend I'm not disappointed but I would never do that i wouldn't trade what we have rose I said my voice tense if I ever find out that you were with him while I was away I'm telling you now our marriage would be over wrapping herself in a blanket she hissed i told you already you have nothing to worry about

please just leave me alone i left for Scotland the following day even though Rose had promised to be faithful I couldn't shake the worry i tried to Distract myself by doing chores around the house before she got up she finally woke up late and came up behind me as I was loading the washing machine eddie she said softly i'm sorry about yesterday you were right i should have been honest with you from the beginning i nodded yes you should have and now I'm left worried about where we stand and whether I can even trust you

she kissed the back of my head eddie I gave you my word i meant it i won't do anything to Hurt you you really don't need to worry that's easy for you to say i replied but if someone had asked me yesterday whether you'd ever consider a partner swap I would have laughed i didn't see it coming you lied to me Rose now I don't know if you're telling the truth if I really wanted to cross that line Eddie I would have already done it but you're missing the point last night wasn't about betrayal i

wanted us to experience something different together This morning we could have woken up with a shared secret something thrilling and out of the ordinary we could have laughed about it shared every detail and bonded over something daring i saw a glimmer in her eyes that was the point yes I think Tony is attractive but it was never about just him it was about the two of us doing something new together she studied my face was it because you felt intimidated or were you jealous of Tony i nodded slowly yes Maybe he has the house the

car the confidence i guess I didn't want to lose you to someone like that you must have felt something similar before right i turned to her and she looked me in the eyes she looked me straight in the eyes yes of course I felt jealous clare is far more beautiful than I am but it excited me i'm confident in our marriage Eddie i know I can trust you we kissed after 2 weeks apart I was overwhelmed with emotion and excitement you promised Me I said smiling that if I agreed to go yesterday you'd do something

special for me she grinned mischievously breakfast with bacon and eggs i shook my head no you said you'd fulfill my wildest fantasy oh right she replied raising an eyebrow with mock seriousness but you're not even wearing a tie i frowned slightly and she giggled playfully well I suppose we could always go back to bed and have a little fun we spent the day together reconnecting enjoying each Other's company later that evening as I stepped out of the shower I saw her on the phone her tone was casual and cheerful she smiled at me jumped up

and kissed me on the cheek "just a minute dear," she said warmly "let me finish this call and I'll come down i made myself a couple of sandwiches to take with me for the drive we kissed goodbye before I left." The long drive north gave me plenty of time to reflect of course in situations like this it's hard Not to get lost in your own thoughts why had she even been interested in that man sure he was wealthy and had some public recognition but to me he seemed arrogant and shallow i never understood the appeal

i've always known Rose to be more open-minded when it comes to certain experiences more adventurous than I am but I never truly believed she would cross a line in the days that followed life returned to normal we fell back into our routine talking every evening On Skype catching up on everything she even apologized for bringing up the party so suddenly and putting me on the spot still I couldn't stop myself from asking the question that had been weighing on my mind rose why why did you even want to do that she looked down turning a

pin slowly in her hands her voice soft i don't know honey it just sounded exciting at the time i admit it i developed a bit of a crush on Tony he's very charming but that's all there Is to it nothing ever happened i studied her face can I trust you i asked seriously she sighed and rolled her eyes lightly but her tone was sincere eddie I gave you my word please stop acting like I'm someone you can't believe in you're calling me jealous I said but that's the thing i am a jealous husband because I

love you that's where this all comes from things slowly returned to normal but Tony and Clare began to appear in Rose's conversations more and more she Mentioned them constantly i grumbled and complained but that only seemed to make things worse another two weeks passed before I finally had a few days off and could return home when I walked through the door on Friday night Rose greeted me with a warm hug and a kiss she then pulled me into the bedroom and we reconnected in an intimate way later as we lay in the cozy warmth afterward

she whispered "God I'm so glad you're home i missed you so much." She kissed me Softly and then asked "How long will you need to stay in Scotland this time?" "Two more months if we're lucky," I said "we're on schedule so things shouldn't get any worse." She looked at me with those big pleading eyes darling can you try to find a job here near home i'm so tired of spending nights alone with what I earn we could manage even if you took something with a lower salary i'll see what I can do I replied gently

i promise I'll try it was good to be home again it Felt great to be close to feel that emotional and physical connection returning i thought about bringing up what had happened at that party but we were on good terms again and I didn't want to risk ruining it back in Scotland I settled into my small flat and looked forward to our evening Skype calls we usually talked for about 2 hours each night sometimes Rose would suggest we play online games together and it helped us stay connected a few more weeks Passed before I had

another break when I returned home Rose greeted me with such intensity that it felt like she'd been holding her breath the whole time I was gone later that night lying in bed she whispered in my ear "Don't be upset but Tony and Clare invited us over for dinner tomorrow night." I groaned in the dark "No Rose I really don't want to go this isn't just another one of those partner events right she shook her head quickly no it's not a party if that's What you mean just dinner just the four of us just dinner for

what i asked suspicion creeping into my voice she hesitated slightly they wanted to talk to us talk to us about what i asked already concerned well maybe about the four of us spending an evening together not like at a party more personal so it was about the idea of exchanging partners after all she kissed me gently and whispered "Yes Eddie claire and I have become friends i know this might Sound strange but we've had dinner together a few times." She suggested that maybe you were just overwhelmed by the atmosphere at the party if it had

just been the four of us it might have been easier we lay there together our hearts beating in rhythm as I thought about her words she spoke again her voice soft and hopeful darling you've had time to think everything through what do you say she was right this time I was more prepared to be honest I Hadn't been able to stop thinking about it was I interested i had to admit the idea had sparked my curiosity clare was undeniably an attractive woman but there was one problem Tony i didn't want to share Rose with him

this wealthy confident man already had everything the house the cars the charm a beautiful wife who used to be a model he had all the surface level success the only thing I truly cherished in my life was Rose and the thought of him getting close to Her filled me with dread i'd prefer not to go Rose," I said quietly "i only get a couple of days off every 2 weeks can't we just spend that time together i miss you so much i don't want to waste it on something that doesn't feel right." She shivered slightly

and replied "I already promised we'd go it's just one evening call them in the morning." I insisted tell them I'm not feeling well please honey," she said gently placing her hand on mine "just talk to them if you still Don't feel comfortable we'll leave early i promise and maybe I'll reward you for being open to it do you remember the last time?" As usual she knew how to get her way "okay fine," I said with a sigh "but we leave early if it doesn't feel right." She smiled with relief that's all I ask that we

go with an open mind and at least consider our options you still want this don't you i asked she nodded and simply said "Yes." It had been a long day and the exhausting drive Home had left me completely drained despite my uneasiness sleep eventually took over i drifted off with anxiety still knowing at the edges of my mind when I woke the sun was already high in the sky music was playing from downstairs it seemed Rose had started her usual Saturday routine cleaning the house with her favorite playlist turned up loud she was moving energetically

from room to room organizing and tidying completely in her element when she Noticed me standing there she approached with a playful sway in her hips clearly moving in rhythm with the beat she wrapped her arms around my shoulders and kissed me softly on the lips it was a warm affectionate kiss then she stepped back and smiled brightly good morning handsome you're such a sleepy head she teased i shrugged sorry it's been a long couple of days she kissed me again and said sit down i'll make us some breakfast we sat together sharing Breakfast and easy

conversation she talked about her work and her parents and I filled her in on how the project was progressing she wrinkled her nose when I got into the technical details she never really cared much for engineering talk rose was more interested in stories about people who did what personal dramas funny gossip not the data or blueprints when we finished eating she looked at me with a mischievous smile and said "Let's go Shopping." "Sure," I said stretching "i'll just stay here and relax while you go." She shook her head "nope that won't do i want you

to come with me." I hesitated "really you never like it when I go shopping with you why not take one of your girlfriends?" She smiled slightly "because I want to buy something for you." "For me?" I asked surprised yes i want you to have something new for tonight something casual but stylish you know your fashion Sense could use a little help i sighed surrendering all right I'll go along with it and that's how we ended up wandering from store to store i've always been a jeans and t-shirt kind of guy fashion never really interested me

rose of course was on a mission she made me try on all sorts of shirts and pants some of the shirts were fine i bought a couple but the trousers no way they looked awkward on me and didn't feel right she pleaded but in the end I Compromised i bought a pair of new jeans and even agreed to some leather moccasins at first I didn't like how they looked but I had to admit they were incredibly comfortable while we were walking through the mall we stopped at several women's boutiques rose tried on what felt like

hundreds of dresses and skirts many were from well-known designer brands i noticed that some of them were quite bold very short or with daring cuts and high slits a few even Had plunging neck lines that surprised me everything was on display rose had a naturally beautiful figure her confidence only made her more radiant at the last store she led me into the lingerie section excitedly dragging me into the fitting room to show me how the different styles looked on her the pieces she picked were elegant and delicate crafted from sheer lace they looked beautiful on

her both tasteful and playful later as she was getting Ready for dinner Rose carefully selected her new outfit and modeled her choice of lingerie with a playful sparkle in her eye striking a few confident poses in a low melodic voice she asked "well what do you think you look absolutely gorgeous," I said with a grin "i can't wait to see it again later just the two of us." She tilted her head teasingly "do you think Tony would approve of this?" I replied with a smirk he won't be seeing it so I guess we<unk>ll never Know

she bit her lip watching me with a thoughtful expression are you sure about this absolutely I said firmly she sighed slightly disappointed you promised we'd go into this with an open heart i am open-minded i told her willing to talk to think about what it all means but tonight your outfit will only be for me she stepped closer and kissed me gently when we arrived at Anthony and Clare's house that familiar mix of curiosity and tension returned the house looked just As grand as I remembered even without the lineup of expensive cars at the entrance

clare welcomed us at the door looking even more stunning than the last time tall and graceful her movements elegant and confident "welcome you too," she said warmly her gaze landing on me her smile widened "oh Edwin you look absolutely fantastic today." Thank you I said giving a polite nod she turned to Rose and the two exchanged a light friendly kiss and you my dear look Incredible simply radiant rose laughed thank you Clare you look stunning too she turned to me and said playfully "Isn't Clare beautiful Eddie?" I nodded "yes she is very elegant." "Oh don't

be so modest," Rose teased "just admit it she looks amazing clare rolled her eyes and said with a playful laugh "Stop pestering the poor man we walked into the house and were greeted by Anthony who was standing behind the bar." Upon seeing us he quickly approached and gave Rose a warm hug "welcome Rose you look especially lovely today," he said she smiled and returned the gesture politely "thank you Tony." He let go of her and turned to me extending his hand "edwin you're looking quite sharp too old friend." We shook hands and he asked "What

can I get you to drink?" Clare chimed in enthusiastically "let's have some champagne please." Rose nodded in agreement anthony turned to me and added "And you Edwin i'm about to enjoy a Fantastic scotch care to join me?" "No thank you Anthony i'll just have a beer if you have one," I replied he nodded "of course but you're missing out on some excellent whiskey." I gave a small smile and shook my head i'll be driving later so I'll pass anthony poured me a beer served champagne to the ladies and then suggested "How about we move into

the lounge it's more comfortable there." He led us into a cozy sitting room adjacent to the dining area light snacks And a couple of small dishes were arranged neatly on the coffee table rose and I sat together on one sofa while Anthony and Clare took the one across from us for a moment we all sat quietly facing each other an awkward silence filled the room until Anthony finally broke it so how's everything at work Edwin i heard the bridge construction project is nearly finished i nodded a bit surprised that he knew about it yes it's

going well we're actually ahead of Schedule was it a renovation or a full rebuild he asked a complete replacement from the foundation up he followed up with a few detailed and well-informed questions which genuinely impressed me seeing my surprised expression Anthony grinned i wasn't always a company director you know i started at the bottom that caught me off guard i wasn't born into wealth he continued everything I have I earned i think he noticed the trace of skepticism in my face edwin he Said I didn't even go to university at first i started out on

construction sites only later did I return to school as an adult i started on construction sites Anthony continued driving trucks hauling heavy loads i worked hard to get where I am clare nodded and joined the conversation yes Edwin both Anthony and I are from Spring Hill neither of us came from a wealthy background you don't need to prove anything to me I replied calmly may I call you Eddie clare asked Gently "edddy is fine that's what everyone calls me," I said with a small smile she nodded rose and I have become good friends she mentioned

that you think we're snobbish when I heard that I'll admit it hurt but I also understand we worked hard to get where we are and maybe we've isolated ourselves a bit in the process i didn't respond right away and she added "Yes it hurts knowing that's how you see us you don't have to worry," I said at last "that was just an Opinion I shared in a private conversation." I shot Rose a glance and she looked away anthony stepped in and offered me another beer then refilled the women's glasses so I said gesturing around the

beautiful house how did you end up with all of this anthony took a breath we worked for it back then Clare was modeling and earning good money it wasn't easy for my pride honestly she was successful and I was living in a tiny apartment but we dated talked Seriously about the future i told her I wanted to start my own scaffolding company she lent me the money to get started well you must have been great at it I said he shook his head no not at first but I knew someone who was a real expert

i asked him to teach me the ropes through his connections and yes maybe a few favors we landed some decent contracts that's how it all began but how did you go from that to becoming the CEO of one of the UK's top companies i Realized something pretty quickly he said with a grin i wasn't the best at the technical side but I had a natural instinct for business i enrolled in evening business management classes studied hard graduated with honors honestly I enjoyed learning outside the usual school system it gave me purpose he knocked back the

rest of his scotch and went up for himself another clare added proudly he worked incredibly hard he'd spend 12 hours on the construction Site then come home and study he was completely focused i'm very proud of him Clare said her voice filled with admiration and you're doing the right thing," Rose added anony's in high demand right now when Anthony returned to the conversation he continued "Opportunities came because of Clare the money she earned allowed me to invest in better equipment bid on bigger projects and hire top tier people all of this it's thanks to her

without her support Financially and emotionally I wouldn't have made it." Clare blushed but the pride in her eyes was unmistakable anthony smiled and added "Anyway enough about us we invited you over tonight so we could all get to know each other better i think things got off to a rough start at the party no not really I replied i was just caught off guard when I realized what the party was actually about and I let it influence my opinion of you so you judge me just because I Believe in sharing affection anthony asked i nodded

slowly yes I guess I'm a bit traditional in that area that lifestyle just isn't something I'm comfortable with eddie what we value most is intimacy anthony said "We've learned over time that honesty and trust are everything in a relationship we're very open with one another we talk about what excites us about our desires it's made us stronger not weaker." He smiled thoughtfully when Clare was younger and Modeling I wasn't naive i knew men were constantly staring at her i was jealous sure but I understood it was part of her job to be attractive and confident

if I had let jealousy consume me it would have destroyed us clare nodded he's right the modeling industry can be superficial and yes some of the people in it can be unpleasant but what kept us grounded was our communication anthony added "We made a promise early on we would never cheat never lie and never Disrespect each other we agreed that we'd always be truthful even if that meant having difficult conversations no relationship can survive betrayal and dishonesty we got through those early challenges because we trusted one another i still don't know how to feel about

it I admitted maybe it's not even my place to question it clare glanced at me with concern and added but Rose told me "The two of you already have something amazing." I said "Why risk Involving other people they exchanged a look." And Anthony sighed "we enjoy the sense of stepping outside the boundaries," he said thoughtfully "there's something thrilling about it intimacy is a powerful combination of emotion and connection and being able to explore it freely with honesty and consent makes it even more meaningful involving others enhances that experience for us but if things are already

so good between you I asked why Take the risk it just seems like a lot to gamble for what might be a fleeting thrill they both laughed gently fleeting thrill Clare repeated with amusement eddie it's one of the most exhilarating experiences sharing a meaningful evening with someone else it's not about replacing anyone but about expanding the experience do you remember your first time she asked suddenly i nodded of course everyone remembers that and the second she asked raising an eyebrow did You enjoy that too i nodded again yes it was different but also enjoyable claire

smiled exactly that's the idea it's not about being better or worse it's simply different i hesitated and she pushed further how many serious relationships or partners did you have before Rose i glanced at Rose who was smiling playfully come on Eddie she teased be honest six or seven I think I replied i never really kept track did you enjoy each of them in their own way clare Asked yes I admitted each was a unique experience clare nodded that's what we feel too every connection is different not superior or inferior just its own thing if you

approach it with honesty and respect it can be incredibly rewarding i still feel like it's a risk I said what if someone catches feelings or jealousy creeps in we're not seeking love elsewhere Anthony replied calmly clare leaned in eddie let me ask you something if you and I went upstairs and Spent an evening talking and being close would you stop loving Rose would you feel differently about her tomorrow i hesitated i don't know i think I'd feel guilty maybe even ashamed and Rose she'd be angry it might start fights arguments it could damage our relationship

rose gently placed her hand on mine "darling I wouldn't hate you," she said softly "in fact the thought of it excites me the idea that you could explore something new and then come back To me it's strangely powerful." I let out a long breath right now you say that but if it ever really happened it may turn out to be completely different i said once something is done it can't be undone honey we're not children rose replied gently we're adults i have complete faith in our marriage we're stronger than you think we can handle anything

but what if we can't i asked are you really ready to take that risk at that moment the cook entered the room And announced that dinner was ready clare led us to the dining room and as we took our seats the butler began serving the meal the conversation gradually shifted to other topics tony to my surprise turned out to be quite humorous and incredibly knowledgeable when we discussed my work project he understood all the technical details with ease meanwhile Clare and Rose chatted about fashion our glasses were constantly topped up and Clare persuaded Me to

try their house Merllo as we continued eating and chatting the wine kept flowing and I started to feel a little lightaded after dinner we moved back into the cozy living room tony brought out another beer but I laughed and waved it off no more for me i still have to drive home he set the beer on the coffee table with a grin clare chimed in eddie we have guest rooms you're welcome to stay the night that way you can relax and really enjoy the Evening rose nodded in agreement yes at least then you could rest

properly Tony added and I could share some of the new scotch I've been saving i also have a brandy I think we'll all enjoy rose's eyes lit up i'd love to try brandy i've actually never had it before tony stood up with enthusiasm we can fix that right now he disappeared over to the bar clare smiled and said again "Eddie seriously stay the night i don't mean that in any kind of suggestive way we have beautiful Guest rooms it'll be nice." Rose leaned in come on it'll be fun to spend a night away from home

i realized I probably wasn't getting out of this tony returned with the brandy and poured us each a glass he then raised his drink and proposed a toast oh well this is incredible rose sighed after taking a sip she was right the drink was smooth and delicious after another round I could see that Rose was just as tipsy as I was clare picked up a remote pressed a Button and soft music started playing through the house speakers i was thinking she said "Eddie would you like a tour of the house?" I looked at her a

little uncertain i think Rose would probably like that more than me right dear rose smiled and nodded yes I'd love that the women stood up and just as they did Tony turned his gaze toward me with a calm but focused expression eddie my friend I understand your concerns Tony said sincerely when Clare was young and Working as a model I was constantly on edge i knew what kind of pressure she faced and I knew the kind of men she had to deal with that must have been tough I replied the fashion industry seems full of

well let's say questionable characters he nodded you're absolutely right the only thing that kept me grounded was that she always came home to me she loved me she never treated me any differently but did anything ever actually happen i asked cautiously tony Nodded slowly she was honest about it she admitted that yes it happened a couple of times but she was always upfront with me as I said before it's all about honesty didn't that hurt you weren't you angry jealous of course it was hard he said "We're only human these emotions are built into us

it's almost like we're programmed to feel them but over time I've learned to let go of that he could tell I was still trying to process it eddie were raised to believe Jealousy is natural but if you can free yourself from those reactions life becomes so much easier before I could respond he continued I mean I love my car if I lend it to a friend and he brings it back in perfect condition why would I love it any less i raised an eyebrow are you seriously comparing your wife to a car he laughed okay

that was a bit crude i was just trying to find a simple analogy what I'm saying is if you ever shared something with Clare I Wouldn't love her any less jealousy it's just noise in our heads but what if I hesitated what if she liked that experience more than being with you he shrugged then she would have had a great night for example I don't know the first thing about giving a proper massage if someone else can do it better than me I'm not going to lose sleep over it just then Clare and Rose returned

to the room both laughing and glowing with happiness "it's nice to see you two getting Along," Clare said warmly "would you get us another drink sweetheart?" she asked Tony he immediately jumped up to fulfill her request clare stayed by the coffee table swaying gently to the music playing in the background her movements were elegant and fluid "i love this song," she said with a smile then she looked at me "would you like to dance Eddie?" Rose nudged me playfully from beside me come on don't be boring she teased i hesitated frowning slightly as I looked

up at Clare but she extended her hand toward me come on she said with a wink i don't bite i sighed smiled faintly and let her pull me to my feet she gently led me into a dance the room wasn't really made for it the thick carpet and large coffee table made moving around a bit difficult but none of that mattered we weren't really dancing it was more like slowly swaying in place she rested her head on my shoulder it was impossible not to notice How close we were i could tell what she was doing

she was testing my boundaries hoping I would give in and go along with the idea they had suggested earlier i tried to keep a respectful distance but her arms wrapped tightly around my shoulders in heels we were nearly the same height "you move so well," she whispered softly without meaning to I closed my eyes when I opened them again I saw Tony and Rose embracing nearby swaying to the music too suddenly I Stepped back from Clare muttering "I need a drink." Tony let go of Rose and turned toward me "what would you like i've got

an excellent single malt I think you'll enjoy." I was just relieved to have a moment to refocus "that sounds great thanks." Rose came over and gently wrapped her arms around my neck we kissed briefly "someone clearly enjoyed the dancing," she said with a grin i laughed and collapsed onto the big Chesterfield sofa pulling her with me She squealled with laughter as she fell into my lap clare returned to her seat on the opposite couch watching us with a subtle smile while Rose leaned against me playful and affectionate "why did you stop dancing?" she teased "you

were enjoying it." "I don't know it just didn't feel right," I replied "why not we're married they're married we made vows," I said quietly "and I take them seriously." She gave me a look amused don't be so proper and moral her words Surprised me i don't know if I'm that proper or moral I said i just love my wife and I don't want to lose her she leaned in resting her head on my chest i love you too but darling you looked like you were enjoying yourself it's okay just relax at that moment Tony returned

with drinks for everyone but the mood had shifted slightly the conversation that followed was more scattered a bit tense the earlier playful energy had cooled as the effects of the alcohol Began to wear off I looked at Rose and said "I think I should call a taxi we hadn't planned to stay overnight." "Oh Eddie I just got comfortable i like it here," Rose said with a sigh i looked into her eyes and quietly replied "Rose we don't even have pajamas or anything." She leaned in and joked "When was the last time you actually wore pajamas?"

Her tone was playful but I could still feel the underlying tension ignoring her protests I pulled out my phone and Called a taxi 10 minutes later we were already at the door clare gave Rose a hug "i'm sorry Clare." Rose muttered eddie's just acting a bit grumpy clare looked at me with a hint of disappointment "i'm sorry Eddie you didn't need to leave so quickly no one expected anything from you." "Good night Clare," I said in the taxi on the way home rose leaned gently against me but stayed silent once home we went straight to

the bedroom with a grin Rose asked "So what happened to your pajamas you know I never wear them," I replied "i just wanted to get out of there." "Why?" "We were having a good time "what was wrong?" I took a deep breath "the problem is when I saw him hug you I felt something I didn't expect it wasn't just discomfort it was anger i don't like feeling that way." She raised her eyebrows wow i didn't realize it affected you that much you misunderstood it wasn't about attraction or jealousy It was frustration that whole situation made

me really uncomfortable she sat up suddenly serious you're really serious about this aren't you i nodded yes that's what I've been trying to tell you i'm not comfortable with all of it she leaned back on the pillow don't worry dear we don't have to do anything that makes you uncomfortable sunday passed quietly we spent a lazy day at home until it was time for me to take a taxi back to Tony's house to pick up the car Rose decided to come with me when we arrived I stepped out and walked toward the car what are

you doing rose asked i'm going home isn't it obvious we can't just leave you should at least say hello no please i don't have much time i need to go home and pack we really shouldn't stay just be polite she said she turned and rang the doorbell before I could stop her tony appeared hugged her and greeted her warmly "will you come in?" he asked rose looked at me "no we need To go," I said firmly "i'm already late." Rose grabbed my hand eddie can we just come in and say hi "it's not that late

yet." I shook my head "i really don't have the time." She shrugged her shoulders disappointed "disappointment sorry Tony maybe another time I said as we left once we were in the car Rose turned to me visibly frustrated seriously Eddie that was rude you could have just gone in and said hello i told you I wanted to leave it only seemed Rude because you wouldn't listen I replied we could have just popped in for a moment had a quick cup of tea and said hi like normal polite people do or we could have left quietly they

wouldn't have even noticed we were there the mood soured quickly when I left for Scotland a day later things were tense between us we could barely even say goodbye the following days were especially cold no calls no messages nothing it hurt yes probably both of us but I buried myself In work the project was nearing completion and there was a mountain of paperwork punch lists closure reports final inspections still the nights were the hardest being apart from Rose took a toll we used to talk more during these trips to stay connected but this time even

the thought of connecting emotionally felt distant my mind wasn't just on Rose anymore it kept drifting images of Clare haunted my thoughts when we danced her touch her scent the way Her hair brushed my face it was all still so vivid i didn't want to think about her but I did constantly the intensity of those memories scared me every night they grew stronger and every morning I hated that I couldn't get her out of my head toward the end of the week Rose finally called "hi Eddie how are you?" Her voice was quiet uncertain "i'm

okay." "Busy," I said trying to sound neutral "i'm sorry I was so angry," she said "it was stupid i think I was just upset." "Uset?" I asked again curious "yes I just don't understand we were all having a nice time Saturday night enjoying the company and then suddenly you got all distant like everything had to be about rules and boundaries she paused i could hear her breathing in deeply why can't you just relax what changed i already explained what happened I said quietly i got overwhelmed i felt something I didn't like i felt angry like

I could have hit Someone she started to say something but I interrupted her rose I tried to tell you I don't want to go down this path if this is truly what you want then maybe we need to step back and think seriously about where we're headed and what we want from this relationship there was silence on the line i could hear her breathing and I'm sure she could hear mine the tension grew slowly as we both tried to find the right words finally she asked hesitantly "Why are you saying This?" "I don't know Rose

it just feels like we're wanting different things right now you're not serious are you just because of what happened that night it's not just that I replied since that evening something has shifted it's like a door opened for you and you want to walk through it but I looked inside and realized I don't want to that's not the direction I want to go we need to think about what that means maybe we can talk about it properly when I get home that's The end of our first part of the story but don't worry there will

be a second part of the story soon see you later