Chapter 10: Mike and Cass

Mike had been working at the seduction of Awesome Cass for months. She was a difficult conquest, because Aquila was her best friend, and she would not want to betray her. He knew from his long experience of women that it would be a slow business, but all the more rewarding for that. He decided on a devious strategy.

One time when she was in their house, and Aquila was in the bathroom, he asked Cass, “Does Aquila talk to you about me? I’m asking you because I’m afraid that there is something not quite right in our relationship.”

Cass thought for a moment. She thought all married women grumbled about their husbands to their friends, and Aquila was no different. It did not mean they did not love them. Or did it? She did not want to cause any trouble between her BFF and her husband, so she said, “She’s always saying how great you are. She makes me wish I had you and not those losers I keep meeting on dating sites. What seems to be wrong anyway?”

“It’s nothing I can put my finger on, but I feel she is going off me. Do you think there is another man on the scene?”

“No, I’m sure there isn’t,” replied Cass. “Maybe it’s just your imagination”

“I hope you’re right. Please don’t tell her we had this conversation,” he said as he heard Aquila returning.

He had planted the seed in Cass’s mind; and by asking her not to tell Aquila about the conversation, he made the first move in sabotaging the frankness and trust between them. It was the start. Over the next few months, he continued to manipulate Cass, subtly at first and then less so, into believing that Aquila no longer loved him and their marriage was heading for the rocks. He complained about her coldness and indifference. He also implied, then stated, that he found Cass very attractive, and seemed to be about to say he wished he had married her and not Aquila.

When Aquila came home from her first day with Dan, and said that she would not be bringing Cass the next day, Mike thought the time had come to strike. He called Cass.

“Cass? Mike here. How did you two get on today?”

“Fine. We were at Dan Dancer’s all day. It’s a funny kind of a house, converted from an industrial unit. All the living quarters are downstairs and the top floor is completely open, it’s where he has his studio. I sat downstairs on the couch watching TV while Dancer and Aquila worked upstairs. His little girl came in the afternoon and played with me.”

“What’s he like?”

“Nice guy. Widower with a young daughter. Thirtyish. About 6 feet, curly light brown hair, blue eyes. Irish. Really from Ireland, he has this cute accent. Smooth, polite, good-humored. Talented artist. There was lots of his stuff hanging all over the house.”

“Attractive?”

“Very. Not my type, though. I prefer them a bit rougher around the edges,” and laughed.

“Did Aquila find him attractive?”

“I don’t know. What are you implying?”

“Why do you think she doesn’t want you along to-morrow?”

“Well...”

“She was very cagey when I asked her about him. As if she had something to hide. Tell you what. Why don’t you come over to my house tomorrow afternoon and then we’ll see. When she comes home you will be able to tell if she has been banging him. A woman always knows.”

“Okay.”

“Come over for lunch, then. I don’t know what time she’ll be back.”

Mike hung up and then fistbumped the air. “Yes!” he said.

When Cass arrived the next day she found Mike sitting with a drink in front of him and an air of profound gloom. He had his lies carefully prepared for her.