Thanks to Dejavu1978 and RatedrKjErIcHo for the help.


Annie found herself not wanting to see Randy during the next few days. Dreaming about being with him had been one thing and she had enjoyed the thrill of the slightest touch from him and the kiss. But when she found herself in a situation she almost couldn't back out of, it became real. It had been too real. Before it had been a harmless fantasy. Now she felt terrible and dirty. She was nervous and a foul ball churned her stomach making her feel like vomiting.

"Hello" she answered the phone with a shaky voice, knowing it was John. Could he hear her betrayal in her voice?

"Hey, honey." he sounded tired.

"Hi." She shifted her gaze to the side, glad he could not see her for he would surely know what she had done in her eyes.

"Are you alright?"

"Ya, I'm fine, why?" she bit her lip. It was in her voice.

"You don't' sound fine."

"I think I'm coming down with a cold." she lied. When would it end? She was already creating fabrications to cover her great scandal. She had never lied to her husband. "Where are you?"

"I'm actually on my way home. A volcano erupted in Europe and the ash is so thick it's shut down the airports."

"Again?"

"ya." he sounded disappointed that he was not heading to Europe. "So, I'm off for the week. Maybe more. Depends on the Colorado rig and if the man decides he wants to sell or not."

"Oh."

"You don't' sound too happy."

"I am. I'm just tired. I guess I am really getting sick." She did feel sick. She felt like her entire body had turned to mush.

She had to sit down. She felt like she couldn't breathe. What if Randy came over while John was home? Randy had made it clear he wanted her. Would he say something and destroy her marriage just to have her. She was terrified. "So, I'll see you soon. Then."

"Ya. I have to stop for gas and I should be home in about twenty minutes. Go take a nap and take care of yourself. I'll see you soon. I love you."

"I ... I love you too."

"Oh. What do I do." she paced the floor wringing her hands. She didn't know what she would do without John. She loved him more than anything beside her daughter. Yet she lived without him most the time, so it really wouldn't be any different. And she would not be alone. Randy did like her. Or did he only want a onetime thing? Her mind raced. Her head swirled. She found herself sprinting to the bathroom and her lunch ended up swirling around the toilet and she was stuck on her knees trying to stop her world from being tore apart at the seams.

John stopped at the gas station just outside of town. He was tired. He had been driving all night. The deal he was working on was put on hold due to the fact that the partners thought someone was embezzling money from the company. They were currently investigating it so all deals were put on hold.

He sighed and said his bank card into the gas pump. He pulled out the nozzle and began to fill his vehicle.

"John? I thought that was you."

John turned toward the voice. "Debbie, how are you?" He asked and the blonde nearly sprinted across the parking lot.

"I'm fine. On your way back home?"

"Ya."

"You look tired big boy."

"I am, Debbie." John was not fond of the woman. It wasn't' because she wasn't nice but because he found her energy exhausting and sometimes she talked way too much.

She smiled slightly. "You know Annie came to the party I had the other night."

"What party?" John asked confused.

"I had a party at the Sheraton and Annie came as Randy's date."

"Oh, well, Randy has been very nice to my wife. He probably only wanted to be considerate." But it bothered John that Annie had gone to such an affair without him.

She smiled sinisterly. "Oh ya. Randy has been VERY nice to Annie while you've been away."

"Debbie, if you have a point to make please do. I'm in a hurry to get home." John replaced the gas cap and stood against the car with his arms crossed. Keys dangling from his hands.

"Well, I saw them go into the garden together."

"That's not out of the ordinary. Annie loves gardens."

"And I suppose you also don't mind her kissing other men?"

"Nah, you must be mistaken." John tried to laugh it off.

"And they left the party very early."

"So."

"So, you're neighbor across the street, Mrs. Bronson told me that Annie accompanied Randy inside his home and she did not leave for nearly two hours."

"Mrs. Bronson is a nosey old ..."

"She's also my mother, John. And she has no reason to lie. If I were you, I would not be so naive. There is something going on between those two. Everyone in the community knows it. You're the only one who doesn't want to believe it. "She smiled as she turned her back and walked away.

John stood there for a minute. Tears burned his eyes. He wanted to cry. He wanted to yell. He wanted to hit something. He wanted to hit someone. He wanted to hit Randy. He quickly headed home. He had seen the signs himself. He had seen the way Annie gazed at their neighbor. Randy was always around. Granted he didn't' know Debbie that well but what reason would she have to lie to him. He pulled up to the gate and signed in. Once he had, he drove to the house.

"Annie." He bellowed walking in.

"In the playroom." She said from the room. John made his way into the room. Annie was cleaning up "Hey, you're home." She smiled weakly.

"We need to talk, Now." his fists clenched and unclenched. He ground his teeth trying hard to keep his cool so not to upset his daughter.

"Okay." She said sitting down at the table in the room. "What's going on?" Fear settled in her chest her heart felt like it was going to beat out of her chest.

"Not here. Not in front of Payton."

This was serious. It was the only time John ever wanted to discuss a problem away from his child. When he knew they would argue. Surely he couldn't' know what had almost happened.

"I'm going to ask you something and I need the truth." John took her by the arm and led her into their bedroom and shut the door.

"Okay."

"Is something going on between you and Randy?"

"No. He and I are friends. That's it." she stuttered. She wrung her hands.

"Don't lie to me Annie." her eyes darted away. She couldn't' even look him in the eye. "Did he kiss you at Debbie's party?"

"What?" She was shocked he knew that.

"Did he kiss you at Debbie's party?"

"I ..." she couldn't' lie. "Ya, but."

"Did you kiss him back?"

"John, please let me explain. It was not like you are thinking."

"Not what I'm thinking. Don't make me laugh Annie."

"John, please."

"What is that?" John moved closer. He pulled away the collar of her blouse. "You have a damn hickey on your neck. And I know damn good and well I didn't put it there."

Annie touched her neck. She hadn't noticed.

"Did you screw him too?"

"No, John it was just a kiss, honestly."

"How the hell am I supposed to believe that?"

"I swear John. I made him take me home after he kissed me." Annie could tell she could not tell him the entire truth. He wouldn't understand. She had to make him believe her or she would lose him.

"I don't' believe this. Here I am busting my ass trying to save a job so I can give you and Payton everything ... And you. You're screwing around behind my back! How many others have there been?"

"John I haven't slept with anyone else."

"Just Randy right?"

"No! John please." she began to cry hysterically.

"Was my daughter there too? Are you so caught up with your new man that you are taking our child with you while you visit your lover?"

"John I didn't do anything. It was just a kiss."

"And you're lying to me again."

"I'm not John."

"Annie, I'm giving you one more chance to tell me the truth. Are you having an affair with him? Did you go to his home with him after that party?"

"NO!" she screamed. "No."

John collapsed on the bed. He held his head in his hand.

"Yesterday, I found out that my bosses think someone is embezzling money from the company so all deals are on hold and today I found out my wife has been cheating on me."

She felt the tears in eyes. "I love you, John. I do."

"Why? Why would you do this?"

"I don't know." She said with a sigh. She dropped to the floor. She had to be honest. The lie was killing her. "I have started having feelings for him recently. He was here and you were gone. I don't know how it happened. I don't."

He sighed and ran his hand over his face. "I can't believe this. Its true it's all true."

"You haven't been here for me! You just expected me to get over what happened. I'm healing but I'm still scared about things. Randy was here and he made me feel safe."

"So you screwed him because I don't understand? I'm trying Annie. Damn it. I have to work."

"I know. I didn't mean to have these feelings."

He held his temper. "You wanted him?"

"Yes! Okay!" she screamed. "I wanted him! Is that what you wanted to hear? I felt so alone. I was scared. And honestly you haven't made me feel important in a long time. You barely touch me when you are home."

"We make love whenever I'm home ..."

"No John. We have sex. There's a big difference. It's not like it used to be. How it was when we first got married. You just took the romance away and never thought of what I wanted. I wasn't ready for that to be over. I'm only 29 John. Forever is a long time to never feel how wonderful being in love feels."

John stood up from the chair. "So, I guess you made your choice. I hope you and him will be happy together." He walked to the other side of the room and retrieved his bag.

"I didn't' choose Randy. I chose you!' She got up and walked over to him. "I didn't mean for what happened to happen but it didn't' take me long before I realized that I want us and our marriage. And I couldn't' do it. I stopped and I came home. John, I love you."

"You should have never been there with him in the first place! You had to get naked and in another man's bed before you realized you loved me? Do you know how that sounds Annie?"

"John please. Don't leave. I love you. Please!" she screamed. "I never should have been there. I know that. But I love you."

"I can't be here with you right now. I can't be here." He made his way downstairs. Annie begged and screamed after him. But it didn't change his mind.

"Please tell me we are not over."

"Right now I don't know. I just don't know if I can ever forgive you for this. I can't trust you." the door slammed behind him.

Randy stood outside his home watering his garden. He heard the screaming but couldn't' make out what was being said. John stormed out of the home. Randy smirked his way.

John stomped across the lawn.

"I only have one question for you. Did you sleep with my wife?"

"What did Annie say?" Randy teased him; the smile never left his face.

"Yes or no Orton?"

"You know I can see why you're upset." he spoke as if John had no reason to be upset and if he was Randy didn't care. "I would be upset to if I lost such a great piece of ass."

John's fist shot out and caught randy's jaw before he made his way to his car and left. Randy laughed and rubbed his jaw, starring after John.

Annie couldn't stop the tears from coming down. She left the play room and headed to their bedroom after checking to make sure Payton was sleeping. She lay down on the bed and continued to cry. She never heard the alarm being disarmed and she didn't hear the front door open.

"We get what we need and we get out." One of the men said.

"Do you really think that disk is here?" Other one asked.

"Yes. It has to be. Now, look and remember we don't hurt the woman or the child. That's not what we are here for. "

"Don't worry. I don't plan on hurting her at all." The man laughed sinisterly.

The three men split up and began looking through some things. Annie froze when she heard something being turned over. She thought that John was back and got up from the bed and walked to the hall. She saw one of the men downstairs looking through something. She gasped softly and began to back up intending on pressing the alarm in her bedroom. She stopped when she bumped into someone. She turned around and saw one of them behind her.

"Well, we meet again." He said softly. She knew it was the person from before. She started to run but he grabbed her and pulled her to him. He placed a hand over her mouth and dragged her backwards into her bedroom and shut the door behind them.

He pulled her to the bed and threw her down on it. He got a scarf and tied her hands behind her back. Once he had, he turned her to where she was facing him.

"What the hell are you doing?" One of them said when they opened the door and saw him on top of the woman.

"What I wanted to do last time. Now, go do what you want you have to do and leave me." The man's voice was muffled as if he wore something under his mask to disguise it.

"This isn't part of the plan."

"I don't care. I did my part. Now I'm getting what I want out of this deal."

"Fine. But you're on your own." He left the room and headed to the office to look.

Once they were alone the man locked the door. He removed her clothes and stood above her starring. He dropped down on top of her.

"You see if you had just given yourself to me the last time we were together, I wouldn't' have to do this." He covered her mouth with his and began to grope her body. He seemed to enjoy her squirming and kicking and was turned on more when she screamed. He wasted no time undoing his pants in forcing himself inside her. He violently pulled in and out of her body. Squeezing her arms so tight to hold them down that they were going numb.

The torture seemed to go on forever. When he was finally finished with her he laughed. "I told you we would meet again" he whispered. "Was good for you." He was still laughing when he left the room. He saw that the others had left already. He made his way out of the house.

Annie shook in fear, still tied to the bed. Her entire body ached and her thighs felt like they had been ripped apart. She heard Payton crying. She tugged and pulled at the scarf that tied her down.

"Annie!" she heard someone yell for her. "Annie!" She heard loud footsteps on the stair case. "Oh my God, Annie." he saw her lying tied to the bed, naked and bruised. "Baby." he hurried to untie her and he pulled her into his arms and rocked her.

"Randy," she crumpled into his embrace.

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