Paid in Full
by Reggie70
Copyright© 2026 by Reggie70
I smoothed the wrinkle out of the tablecloth. Everything had to be exact. Two plates. Two forks. A cold pitcher of water.
Tonight was our celebration dinner. Mike had just walked in from a three-day business trip to Chicago. He said he worked around the clock to land a huge client. He dropped his leather briefcase on the couch and sighed like the weight of the world was on him.
“I’m starving, babe,” he said, pulling me into a loose hug. “You have no idea how brutal this week was.”
I hugged him back. My stomach was a cold knot. His collar smelled like hotel soap. And under that, sweet perfume. Not mine.
He had no idea. Yesterday I checked our shared bank account. There it was. A luxury suite in downtown Chicago. Room service for two. A bottle of champagne that cost more than our first date. Then I found the texts on his tablet. It was still linked to our home Wi-Fi while he was gone.
He thought he was smart. He thought I was stupid.
“Sit down,” I said. My voice was smooth and quiet. “I made your favorite.”
Mike smiled and slid into his chair. “You’re the best, Jody. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“You won’t have to worry about that,” I said, sitting across from him.
He picked up his fork and ate. He had no clue. Between bites he told me fake stories about client meetings. He nodded along to his own lies. I just listened. I kept a calm smile on my face.
When he finished, he wiped his mouth and leaned back. “That was incredible. I owe you big time.”
“Actually, Mike,” I said, resting my hands on the table. “You don’t owe me anything. I have something special planned.”
He blinked and laughed a little. “What do you mean?” A slow smile spread across his face. He thought I was playing a game.
“I missed you while you were away,” I said, leaning in close. I forced my eyes to look warm and soft. I buried every drop of anger deep inside. “You worked so hard in Chicago. You deserve a real reward.”
His shoulders dropped. The doubt left his eyes. Fast interest took its place. “A reward, huh? What kind of reward?”
“Go upstairs to the bedroom,” I whispered, standing up slow. “Take off your clothes and lie on the bed. Give me five minutes to set things up. I’ll meet you there.”
Mike laughed and rubbed the back of his neck. “Who am I to say no to that?”
He stood, kissed my cheek, and headed for the stairs. I listened to his heavy steps on the carpet until I heard our bedroom door open.
The second he was gone, my smile died. The house went dead silent.
I didn’t head for the stairs. Not yet. I opened the drawer and grabbed the heavy steel handcuffs. We bought them years ago as a joke. We never used them. I slipped them into my pocket.
I took a deep breath. I put the calm smile back on. I started up the stairs.
When I walked in, Mike was sitting on the edge of the bed. He was smiling at the door, eager.
“Close your eyes,” I said, soft. I stepped closer. “I want to try something new tonight. Trust me.”
He laughed and closed his eyes. No doubt at all. “All right, babe. Surprise me.”
I didn’t lead him to the bed. I led him to the heavy wooden desk chair by the window. He sat down and stretched out his wrists like it was a game. Fast and quiet, I pulled the handcuffs from my pocket. I locked them tight around his wrists and the back of the chair.
Mike’s eyes flew open. He blinked and tested the metal. “Whoa. Okay. Handcuffs? I like where your head’s at, but—”
“Stay right there,” I whispered. I walked away.
I opened the bedroom door and waved into the hall.
A man stepped out of the guest room. Wayne. A friend from work. He always had a thing for me.
The color drained from Mike’s face. His eyes went wide, darting from Wayne to me.
“Jody ... what the hell is this?” Mike yelled. He yanked at the chair. The playful tone was gone. Pure panic now. “Who is that?!”
I didn’t answer. Not yet. I walked back, stood next to Wayne, and kissed him deep. His hands gripped my body. I looked down at my husband.
“You spent three days in Chicago with someone else,” I said. My voice was ice. “You didn’t care how it felt. Me sitting alone in this house. So tonight, you get to see what betrayal looks like up close.”
Mike thrashed against the cuffs. The chair legs scraped the wood floor, loud and ugly. “Are you out of your mind?! Uncuff me right now!”
“No, Mike,” I said, staring into his terrified eyes. “You sit there and watch. Just like I had to picture you.”
I turned to Wayne and nodded. Let it sink in. Let him feel it.
Mike rattled the cuffs. His face went red. “Jody, stop! Look at me!” His voice cracked. He leaned forward as far as the chair would let him. “You’re doing this just to hurt me!”
I kept my hands on Wayne’s shoulders. I stayed locked in the moment. I let Mike’s panic fill the room. For days I felt helpless. Lying awake. Wondering how he could cheat and face me like nothing happened. Seeing him trapped, forced to feel that same weight, was the first time I felt in control in days.
Wayne pulled back a little. He looked down at me, calm, checking. Making sure I was sure.
I looked at Mike one last time. His eyes were wide. Tears spilled over. There was no going back. No fixing this. No talking his way out.
I kissed Wayne deep and slow. A clear message. Everything between Mike and me was broken. Gone. I let Wayne’s hands roam my body. The risk lit me up inside. I guided him to the edge of the mattress. My heart pounded in my ears. Every step was slow. Planned.
Mike screamed and yanked the chair. Wood shrieked against the floor. “Jody! Wayne, get away from my wife! You don’t know what she’s doing! She’s using you!”
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