Chapter 5: Decision Time

It was almost dark by the time Brandi got home on Sunday. Her friend, Elena, dropped her off in the driveway and offered a double-tap on the horn and a wave as she backed into the street.

“Long weekend?” Peter said after Brandi dropped her suitcase in the foyer and collapsed onto the couch in the living room. She had her forearm draped over her forehead and just nodded in response.

“Was the concert good?”

“Yeah, it was great. I did good until we went to the bar after the concert. Debbie’s boyfriend cheated on her and all she wanted to do was drink to forget. We’re lucky the bartender got us a cab and we got back to our hotel rooms in one piece.”

Peter did not comment. What could he say? Brandi finally stirred and said, “I’m going bed.”

Without asking about his weekend or any other conversation, Brandi trudged into the bedroom. Peter heard the headboard clank against the wall as Brandi fell heavily onto the bed, clearly without changing clothes. He shook his head and unmuted the ballgame that was on the television.

Brandi’s excitement for work skyrocketed on Monday when she got a text message from the area vice president. He was in town and wanted to see her in person.

“He’s going to give me the district manager role!” Brandi screamed when she read the message.

“Careful. You know what they say about chickens, eggs, and hatching.”

Brandi just gave Peter a dirty glance and looked back at her phone. She smiled. “You just wait and see.”

She took extra time with her hair and makeup, and then found the dress she discarded for last week’s dinner.

“You look good!” Peter said as he held her from behind and rubbed his crotch against her ass. He reached around her chest and hefted her breasts in his hands. When he tried to lean over her shoulder for a kiss she spun out of his grasp.

“What are you doing? You’re going to mess up my make-up. I need to leave for work,” she said in a huff.

“Have a good day,” Peter called as she rushed into the garage en route to a meeting with her vice president.

Peter spent the day in meetings. He had just enough time between each call to either hit the restroom or fill his coffee. A last-minute meeting was scheduled over lunch which meant he had to eat a quickly prepared sandwich at his desk. By 5:30 he was spent and shut down his computer without a final look at his email.

He checked his phone, and while disappointed, was not surprised to have no messages from Brandi. He clicked out a quick note: “Going to go for short bike ride. Back in 30.”

By the time he changed clothes and started his ride she had not responded. Because he planned on a short ride he took off with a good deal of speed. Within minutes he was drenched in sweat and his legs were burning. He kept his pace for over twenty minutes, then finally slowed to begin cooling off as he covered the last mile to his house.

As he rounded the last corner he saw the garage door going down. Brandi must have just gotten home. He cruised to the door and entered the code, parked his bike, and then headed to the master bedroom.

Brandi was at the sink tugging at the zipper of her dress.

“Hey! Let me help with that,” said Peter as he entered.

“I’ve got it,” she said impatiently. She tried to spin out of his reach.

Peter ignored her and worked the zipper past the offending thread, then easily slid it down the length of Brandi’s back. He did a double take and pulled her dress open slightly to confirm what he thought he saw. She was not wearing panties. He did not say anything but slid the dress off her shoulders. He also noticed that her bra was slightly torn when he unclasped the back hooks.

He turned her to face him and as he started to reach between her legs she snapped at him and slapped his hand away, “Do not touch me there. You stink after your bike ride.”

Peter let his arms drop to his side. Without knowing how it came to him, he suddenly knew.

“You slept with the VP to get the job, didn’t you?”

Brandi’s eyes grew defiant as she glared at him. She did not deny him, however.

“You did, didn’t you?”

She erupted. “No! I did not sleep with him to get the job.”

She tried to get around Peter but he held his ground. He said, “But you did sleep with him?”

“Yes! What the fuck? It’s just sex. I had the job. If I fucked him he said he would give me a 10% higher salary, and a car allowance. With that car money, I could get that SUV I’ve been wanting, and we can get you the Tesla you have had your eye on.”

Peter shrunk as if he had aged thirty years in an instant. His shoulders slumped and his knees bent. He slowly turned without saying a word and started the shower. He dropped his clothes in a heap and entered the steaming silo. He stood there for as long as there was hot water. When it turned tepid he used the soap to wash himself before finally rinsing in cold water.

The rest of the week was a blur. Brandi worked insane hours as she began her new role as the regional district manager. Peter volunteered for an additional project at work because he had nothing better to do in his evenings.

On Tuesday night, Brandi made an effort to get home early. She apologized profusely. She swore her tryst was a one-time thing that was nothing more than a very bad decision driven by greed. She tried to seduce him with a new teddy but he could not bring himself to be with her yet.