Chapter 9

From that point on, Robin and I spent most of our free time together at my house. Over the course of the next few months with Robin’s help, we were able to finish the house. I had bought another bedroom set so I had a spare guest room and in the third bedroom, I made an office for working at home.

I had quickly mentioned to Belinda that Robin and I were spending a lot of time together. While she said she was a bit disappointed, she told me she was happy for me. It was on August the tenth right after Robin and I went to bed she rolled over and kissed my neck.

“Tim, how do you feel about me?” Robin asked, softly.

I rolled over to face her pulling her close to me. She looked like she was ready to cry but I had no idea why. Things had been so good between us lately.

“I love you, Robin.” I answered.

“You love me?” she asked, wide eyed.

“Of course, I love you. I have for quite a while now.” I replied.

“I love you too.” she answered, tears rolling down her cheeks.

For the next two months, Robin and I were inseparable. Even though, Stan and Beverly Woods probably already knew about us, we broke the news to them together at dinner once night. They both seemed overjoyed and promised us help with anything that we may need going forward.

We were wrapping up another year at Butler, Land and Reyes, approaching the end of the year vacation period. I was already shopping for an engagement ring for Robin to give her for Christmas. My thought was to propose at her family’s annual Christmas Eve party.

I forwarded the last of the financial statements for the year to Richard, Carlos and Jeremy. They were extremely pleased at the numbers signifying a thirty one percent financial gain from the year before. The three of them knew about Robin and I dating but had no clue I was going to propose. I told them of my intentions but swore them to silence until after the first of the year. They were all elated to hear the news, especially Richard Butler.

About a week before Christmas, I notice a small change in Robin’s demeanor. I could not exactly put my finger on it, but she was a bit different. I had picked up the engagement ring and hid it in the trunk of my car. She mentioned early in the week before Christmas that she had a load of shopping to do. She also had to help her mom with the Christmas Eve party. She asked me if it was okay that she stay at her condo that week making it easier for her to run around town. Of course, I agreed. I knew how stressful the holidays could be sometimes. I also suspected that someone mentioned to Robin that I was going to propose, although I wasn’t sure.

We had the annual office Christmas party on the Wednesday before Christmas. Christmas was on a Saturday this year and Robin’s family party was on Friday night. Everyone was on the top floor of the building and the time had come for Richard Butler to make his annual speech.

In short, he congratulated everyone in the building for the best year that Butler, Land and Reyes had to date. He attributed to the hard work my department had done as well as the effort put forth by all the rest of the departments. He announced that everyone’s bonus would reflect the extra money the company made which drew a loud round of applause. He promised that Carla Davenport would hand out the checks after one more announcement.

“Jeremy, Carlos and I had a long meeting last week about how far we have come in the last few years. I took a chance on a young man still in school and put a tremendous work load on his shoulders. I put him in a position no man his age should ever be in. But every time, he came through. Tim, you’re a great asset to this company and the three of us can’t tell you how grateful we are. But as Carlos said, we can show you. Effective the first day of the new year, Tim Williams is now an associate at Butler Land and Reyes.” he announced.

There was a large round of applause especially from the people of my floor. We had a great team and we worked so well together. If one of us had a problem, we all pitched in and helped one another. I also received several stares from Nora Davis, Mark Berger and a few other employees that had been there much longer than me and had never been named an associate.

Carla Davenport made her way around the room and handed out the yearly bonus checks. I was with most of my crew and Robin when Carla made our way over to us. She handed everyone a check and then walked up to me.

“Since it’s Christmas, I need you to kiss me you good looking stud.” Carla laughed.

“Uh ... ok, I guess.” I said, leaning forward.

I bent over and softly placed my lips on Carla’s kissing her gently. Carla put her left hand on the back of my of neck pulling me into her mouth. The kiss lasted much too long and several times Carla’s tongue brushed my lips. She finally let me go causing the room to explode in laughter and applause.

“I’ll expect that every year from now on when you get your check.” she stated, walking away.

Before I left, I asked Robin if she would be able to spend the night either tonight or tomorrow. She said she would try to make it tomorrow night, but she still had a lot of things to do before Christmas.

The nights were lonely without Robin, she had become the center of my life. That Thursday night as I laid in bed, I began to wonder if perhaps Robin was not ready to get married. We briefly skirted around the issue, but we never really talked about it seriously. Perhaps Robin was extremely nervous about a huge change in life. I decided to take the ring with me but to see how Robin reacted during the party before proposing. Robin had promised to meet me at the party which would give her more time to prepare.

I arrived about seven o’clock and went straight to the front door. I rang the doorbell and Robin’s sister Michelle opened the door. I could see from the look on her face that something wasn’t right, but she invited me in. I followed her to the backyard where I saw Stan and Beverly talking to another couple. As soon as Beverly Woods saw me, she started walking in my direction. She came right up to me and gave me a gentle hug then stepped back.

“I’m surprised to see you here.” Beverly stated, squeezing my hand.

“Why would you be surprised?” I asked, completely lost.

Just about that time, Stan Woods came walking up to me with a stoic look on his face. He extended his hand and shook mine then stepped back as well.

“I’m sorry about everything Tim, not what I expected.” he said, shaking his head.

“I think somebody needs to tell me exactly what is going on. I’m have no clue as to what either of you are talking about.” I demanded.

Stan and Beverly both looked at each other like I was the stupidest mother fucker on the planet. Michelle’s head was down and her hands folded together.

“Robin explained everything to us, Tim. She said that the two of you talked it out and you both thought this was for the best.” Beverly insisted.

“What exactly did we talk out ... I’m still completely lost.” I uttered.

“The fact that Jeff came back into town and told her he still loved her. You know they were together for almost five years. She admitted to you she still loved him and you agreed to let her go.” Beverly stated.

“Something is really off here. I have no clue who Jeff is and never agreed to let Robin go anywhere. I hope you guys are not playing a sick joke here.” I asked, filled with fear.

I could tell immediately they were not kidding and there was a lot I didn’t know about Robin. I was stunned, I did not know what to say.

“I have no clue what you’re trying to tell me because this is the first, I have heard about any of this. I love Robin with all my heart and would never consider giving her up. In fact, I was going to ask Robin to marry me tonight.” I insisted, pulling the ring box from my pocket and opening it.

At that point, Stan, Beverly and Michelle Woods realized they had been misled by Robin in many ways. I not sure how a broken heart was supposed to feel but I sure it was something like I felt at this moment. I felt empty and hollow inside, with my stomach tied in knots. I wanted to run to my car, but my feet would not move. I closed the box and placed it back in my pocket.

As I turned to walk away, Robin was walking around the side of the house and froze solid when she saw me. She put one hand over her mouth then turned around and went back where she had come from.

I immediately knew I was going to be sick to my stomach. I turned and walked away quickly almost running to my car. Before I could unlock the vehicle, I began throwing up in the grass. I heard Beverly running toward me crying.

“Tim, please come back ... it’s all a mistake.” she cried.

I got in the car and drove off quickly going straight home. I undressed and got right into bed trying hard to go to sleep. I could not get Robin’s image out of my mind. In one instance we were to be married and a second later, she loved someone else. That did not seem possible, it could not be possible.

But then, I remembered the subtle change in Robin right before Christmas. Then it dawned on me, those nights I was alone in bed, she was sleeping with him. I refuse to believe that Robin would do that. I was sure there was an explanation to this.

I woke up Christmas morning around eight o’clock in the morning. I looked at my phone, but I had missed no calls. I started to call Robin but then put the phone down. Around ten o’clock that morning Beverly Woods called and asked if I would speak to her for a minute. I agreed and she began to try and tell me what exactly happened. Apparently, several weeks before Christmas, Jeff Martin, Robin’s high school sweetheart moved back to town. They had dated all through high school and the first year of college. Then, Jeff took a job in Ohio and they lost touch. He married and got divorced within a few years and had recently moved back.

He contacted Robin and she agreed to meet him. Apparently after spending several hours together the embers turned into a fire and they confessed their love for each. In Jeff’s defense, Robin didn’t tell him about me. He didn’t know about me until last night just a few moments after I left. Beverly Woods asked me to be patient with Robin, she felt the shock of seeing Jeff after so long confused her. Beverly admitted that she couldn’t begin to understand how I felt, but felt that after a little time, Robin would come to her senses.

I told Beverly, I appreciated her calling me but for now I had a lot of thinking to do. I admitted that I was not even sure if I wanted to be back in the relationship with Robin. She said she understood and we both wished each other a Merry Christmas.

While having some time on my hands, I once again did a financial audit on myself. With the ninety thousand dollar bonus I had received this year my saving was back up to one hundred forty two thousand dollar. That was after using one hundred fifty thousand dollars as a down payment on the house. My checking account stood at eighteen thousand five hundred dollars. I had another six thousand in a shoe box at the top of my closet. My 401K stood at about sixty six thousand. Mr. Butler also had advised me that my salary would be going up since being named an associate.

Since, I was going to have a lot of free time on my hands during the next two weeks, I decided to hit the gym hard again. The day after Christmas, I loaded up several gifts I had bought for Robin and on the way to the gym, I stopped by her parent’s home and dropped them off. Stan Woods answered the door, thankfully Robin’s car was not there.

“Tim, I guess asking how are you would be silly, huh?” he admitted.

“It’s ok Stan, would you please see that Robin gets these.” I replied, handing him the packages.

“Tim, I don’t know what to say, I’m so angry at her right now.” he advised me.

“Well, I honestly don’t know what to feel. I just wish she would have told me a few weeks before. It would still hurt but at least she would have been honest with me. I felt like a complete fool at your party.” I replied.

“I understand son ... I’ll make sure she gets these.” he answered, shaking my hand.

For the next two weeks or so, I laid around the house and worked out like a mad man. I was dreading going back to work because sooner or later, I was going to see Robin around the building. But then again, if the building lived up to its hype’ everyone would know the situation quickly anyway.

The time off passed rapidly and I arrived at work early the first morning back. I was already behind my desk when Richard Butler appeared in the doorway of my office.

“So how does it feel to be engaged?” he laughed.

I motioned for him to come in and close the door. He did so and sat in one of the chairs facing the desk. I told him everything that had happened up to the Christmas Eve party at Robin’s parent’s house.

“Tim ... I don’t know what to say. I never pictured Robin to be that kind of woman.” he said, shaking his head.

“Maybe it’s for the best sir. Better find out now than later, right?” I asked.

“Yes, I guess so. Have you even talked to Robin since Christmas Eve?” he asked.

“No sir, I haven’t. But trust me, I will avoid her here and promise you it will not become a problem inside the company.” I assured him.

“Tim, I trust you completely. I know you would never do anything to harm this firm.” he said, getting up and walking out.

The first week back at work we were extremely busy finishing the prior year and opening the new year. I had corporate returns beginning to come in and would be extremely busy until the middle of April. By some of the looks I was getting on different floors, I was sure something had gotten out about Robin and I. No one on my floor seemed any different, so maybe it was just my imagination.

I was arriving before seven in the morning and staying until after six o’clock in the evening. Somehow, in a month and a half I was able to avoid Robin completely. I had not heard a word from Stan or Beverly Woods, I assumed Robin was happy with Jeff.

Around the end of February, I was still in my office when Belinda came in to tell me she was leaving. She stuck her head inside the door which was customary day after day.

“Hey boss, I’m outta here.” she waved.

“Ok Belinda, be careful.” I replied.

“Tim, are you all right? You’re working eleven to twelve hour days. Not much time to spend with Robin.” she asked.

“Between you and me, I’m not with Robin anymore.” I replied, not looking up from my work.

“What the fuck? When did this happen?” she asked, coming over and sitting down.

“Christmas Eve night.” I replied.

Knowing that I was going to have to explain the entire story, I did just that. I told Belinda everything, including that I had the ring in my pocket. I told her that I had not seen Robin since that night or had any type of communication with her at all. I asked her to please keep this information to herself for the time being. She agreed and left me to my work.

We worked hard until the middle of April then things finally started slowing down. I made an appointment with Jacque at Porter’s to fit me with some new shirts. Since pounding hard at the gym for the past three months my arms, shoulders and chest had grown. He took me right away, measured me and ordered me twenty new shirts. Thankfully, my pants and jackets still fit well enough for now. I did have him alter two new suits for me, one black and one brown.

Right around the end of April, I did see Robin in the parking garage. She didn’t see me as she was getting into her car. She looked beautiful as ever but had a look on her face I can’t describe. Thankfully, she pulled out without seeing me.

My old apartment was extremely close to Robin’s condo. But since I had bought the house, I was in North Dallas very close to her parent’s home. The gym I was using was only about five miles from my home which was very convenient for me. I arrived at the gym around six thirty which was a great time because the evening crowd had already been through. I was getting a lot of stares from the women, but I kept to myself and wore headphones to avoid talking to people. I had just laid down on the bench press station when I felt something slap right shoe. I leaned up slightly and was shocked to see Michelle Woods, Robin’s younger sister. I took off my headphones and sat up in total surprise.

“Hey stranger, how are you?” Michelle asked, hugging me quickly.

“I’m fine, Michelle.” I replied.

“You certainly are.” Michelle giggled, looking me up and down.

“You work out here?” I asked.

“Just started about a week ago. This is all new to me though, I really have no direction.” she admitted.

“What are you looking to do?” I asked.

“I want bigger thighs, bigger calves, bigger arms and tight boobs.” she giggled.

“Do you have a set time that you can come here.” I asked.

“Anytime really...” she said.

“Well, I can get here a bit earlier, say six o’clock or so. If you want to meet me, we can work out together and I can show you the ropes.” I offered.

“That would be great ... Have you started yet?” she asked.

“No, jump on in.” I offered.

I explained to Michelle that I alternated body parts daily. I would work my legs and do cardio one day, then chest, shoulder and arms another day. Then come back with the back and cardio a third day. Then take the next day off and rest, then repeat the cycle. She agreed so we jumped right into chest exercises.

Michelle was perhaps five foot six inches tall and weighed maybe one hundred thirty-five pounds. She was considerably shorter than Robin but every bit as beautiful. Then again, I had never seen Michelle in expensive clothes or makeup. So, I had no idea of her true beauty.

Michelle was also considerably stronger than she looked. She exceeded every weight that I started her at. She was also a hard worker to strain to meet every goal I set for her. After an hour and a half of pushing her to the limit, we called it quits. We both went down and showered then, I met her at the juice bar. I bought two large protein vanilla shakes and we sat at one of the tables and made plans for our future workouts. After about fifteen minutes the inevitable came up.

“Tim, I’m really sorry for what Robin did to you. That fucking bitch is pure evil.” Michelle stated.

“Tell me how you really feel about your sister.” I laughed.

“Oh Tim, you have no idea.” she replied.

Michelle began to tell me her experiences with Robin as they grew up together. Robin was the first born and the apple of Beverly Woods’ eye. Michelle was close to my age with only four months separating us. I was about to be twenty-six and Michelle had just turned twenty-six a month ago.

Michelle told me about Robin and Jeff’s courtship while they were in high. Michelle couldn’t count the times they broke up. Jeff would see another girl or Robin would see another guy. After a few months they would get back together like nothing had ever happened. When Michelle was a senior in high school, Robin actually slept with a guy Michelle was dating. Michelle admitted it was simply because Robin could. Supposedly her and Jeff were together at the time.

“Robin will use her looks to intentionally fuck with you.” Michelle admitted.

Michelle went on to tell me about how many fights the two of them had growing up. Just about every time, Beverly Woods would take Robin’s side in the argument. Robin lied about everything making Michelle look like the bad guy. Eventually Michelle got extremely close to her father, Stan Woods. At that point she confided to her father only and isolated Robin and her mother. I had to admit to Michelle, I had never seen this side of Robin.

“Yes, you did ... The night you were going to ask her to marry you. She showed up to the party with Jeff. How the fuck was she going to explain that to you? You’re a great guy and she’s an evil bitch.” Michelle stated.

For the next six months, Michelle and I worked out religiously. Me, simply to maintain what I had and Michelle to achieve her goals. In just six months, Michelle had first lost almost all her body fat and replaced it with pure muscle. The diameter of her thighs had increased almost four inches and her calves almost two and a half. She had put two inches on her arms and took three inches off her waist. But her favorite accomplishment were her boobs, as she joked. She loved that they stood straight out.

We were wrapping up one Friday night when Michelle invited me out to dinner for all the help, I had given her. Since, I had been alone for so long, I quickly agreed. We both showered and met in the lobby. When Michelle came out of the women’s dressing room, I was blown away. She had on tight jeans, black boots and a woman’s under armor shirt that hugged her body like a glove. She had pulled her hair back in a ponytail and even put on a little makeup. She was beautiful beyond belief.

We met up at a local steak house where we parked side by side in the parking lot. As the hostess walked us through the restaurant to our table, every man’s eyes were on Michelle. We both sat down and the hostess left our menu’s for us to order.

Michelle and I had become very good friends over the last few months. She was very easy to be around and never took anything personally. She was beyond funny making me laugh the entire time I was around her. And not once did anything sexual arise between us.

“Does anyone in your family know we are working out together?” I asked.

“Nope, none of their business.” Michelle replied, taking a bite of her salad.

“I was just wondering.” I replied.

“You want me to tell Robin I stole her man?” Michelle giggled.

“Uh ... No.” I replied, causing Michelle to laugh uncontrollably.

“Trust me, nothing would give me more pleasure.” Michelle giggled.