What to do?

Ryan made his way towards the lifts wanting to get back to Marissa as quickly as possible. That had always been his intention but unfortunately now, he didn't think it would be for the pleasurable reasons he had at first intended. He had no idea what to do about these new revelations. Keith was in hot pursuit still hurriedly pulling on his shirt and jacket and stuffing his socks and tie in his pocket as he went.

"Ryan." Keith called from behind.

Ryan pressed the call button on the lift and then turned to Keith who was now slipping his bare feet into his shoes.

"I want you to know that I had no idea." Keith tried to explain. "I would have never gotten involved with her if I'd known."

Ryan nodded. He completely believed what Keith was saying. "I know." He looked up at Keith and sighed. "In truth, I feel a little to blame. Maybe if I hadn't come up with my bright idea in the first place then none of this would have happened."

"It's not your fault." Keith assured him. "I just can't believe her. She never once mentioned anything about having someone else in her life. I even asked." he said and then when he saw Ryan's questioning glance he went on to explain. "I've been trying to remember her exact words but … on Friday night before we … well before we … you know ... well I guess it was actually while we were, if you know what I mean?" Keith was embarrassed but as Ryan still looked puzzled he went on. "I actually said to her something like, I couldn't believe that someone like her was actually unattached and her response was that she was attached … to me." Keith blushed as he said the last words, knowing that he'd just confessed to what they were actually up to only hours after having met. "I though it was a strange reply at the time, I just didn't realise that she meant just physically."

Ryan shook his head. "I feel like I should apologise to you. In all honesty, it's not as if she hasn't given me reason to doubt her morals before." Ryan replied.

Now it was Keith's turn to look surprised.

Ryan explained. "The reason that she and Skip got together in the first place was because she was making it a little difficult for Marissa and I and Skip offered to run interference. It seems as if she may have had her eye on me for a while there and she was being a little obvious."

"From her performance just now, it sounds like she still does." Keith added.

"It will never happen. She actually turned up at a dinner party at our place with a dress on and no underwear. And let me assure you that it left very little to the imagination. Just ask Seth … he still talks about it. I guess I should thank my lucky stars that I never showed any interest. As you know all my interest lies elsewhere." Ryan smiled as he thought of Marissa waiting in his … no … not his, he corrected himself. … their … bed.

"Well, you definitely made the right choice. Although I'm sure that it wasn't necessary to make a choice at all. Marissa is in a different league to Annabel."

"In more ways than one." Ryan replied. "But I really don't know what to do about her now?"

"In what way?" Keith asked.

The lift arrived and they stepped inside. Fortunately it was empty so Ryan continued on. "Well, if I could, I'd fire her sorry ass right now. But I can't. Unfortunately I don't think her morals or lack there of, are sufficient grounds for dismissal. She's not stupid … quite the opposite. I suspect that if I try to get rid of her that she'll have me in court in a flash. Unless I find her hawking her wares on a street corner, she can pretty much do what she likes in her own time. Plus … the fact is that there is a secret that I'm counting on her to keep. If I make life too difficult for her then she just might let something slip that I'd rather not be public just yet."

Keith nodded starting to understand the intricacies of the problem. "Would it be that bad?" he asked. "If the news got out? I mean … I've sort of been wondering why you aren't shouting it from the rooftops? I know I would be."

Ryan smiled. "Part of me agrees with you and I guess it wouldn't be the end of the world. But it would certainly cause some problems with our friends and family that we'd rather avoid. We were planning on keeping it to ourselves until after Seth and Summer's wedding." He explained. "They really want their nuptials to be this big fairy tale; sort of the complete opposite of ours." Ryan explained. "And we just think that if news of our wedding gets out … then their's will be completely overshadowed. We don't want that. It would spoil it for them. And I will do everything in my power to make their day as special as can be. I owe it to them. They are my closest and dearest friends. I'd do anything for them."

Keith nodded trying to think of something that may be able to help.

"Plus the fact that when Summer finds out she is likely to rage blackout on both of us. I'd like to delay that as long as possible." Ryan laughed.

Keith smiled. He'd yet to see Summer in action but he'd heard about her rage blackouts, they were legendary and if they were even half as scary as the rumours then he could understand why Ryan wanted to avoid it. "So what will you do about Annabel then?" Keith asked.

"I'm not sure. I'll talk to Marissa and see what she thinks." Ryan said.

Keith started to laugh.

"What? What's so funny?" Ryan asked.

"You. When we got here on Friday, if I'm not mistaken, you and Marissa were barely speaking. Yet here, 2 days later, you're married and talking like you can't make a decision without her … like you are a part of a partnership that is rock solid." Keith explained.

"It is." Ryan assured him. "We just had a small speed bump on Friday but it's all smoothed out."

"Do you think that Annabel will tell Skip?" Keith asked.

Ryan thought for a moment. "Seriously? I doubt it. From the way she just behaved … I don't actually think she realises what she did was wrong. I'm scared that she genuinely doesn't think that there was anything wrong with it; that she could have been playing chess with you just as easily." Ryan explained. "I'm starting to think that she may have some serious problems. So I don't know if I should feel sorry for her or what?"

"What? You think she may be a nymphomaniac?" Keith asked.

"I guess you'd know better than me." Ryan shrugged.

Keith thought for a moment. "I'm no expert but I guess it's possible. All I know for sure is that she likes sex. And lots of it. And she was certainly prepared. I swear she had a year's supply of condoms with her that she was keen to put a dent in. I don't know why she would have so many given that we were only here for the weekend? I can tell you that I certainly have never met anyone like her. She has taught me things that I'd only ever heard about before." Keith started to blush thinking back over the nights he had spent with her. "I'm not usually like that." He tried to explain. "But when she made it so obvious that was what she was after on Friday night well … I guess I'm not proud of the fact that I took what was offered."

Ryan sighed. "Don't beat yourself up about it. I'm sure that most unattached guys would do the same… She's an attractive lady." He shook his head wondering just where to go from here?

"So if you don't think that she will tell Skip … will you?" Keith asked.

"Why the interest in Skip knowing?" Ryan asked.

"I just feel like I should apologise. Try to make sure that he understands that I had no idea that she was his girlfriend. I feel terrible about the whole thing. Skip and I got on really well when we went out in San Francisco together and he had suggested that once I got settled in LA that he'd return the favour and take me out on the town and show me around. I'd hate to think that I have made an enemy of him because I couldn't keep it in my pants." Keith explained.

Ryan nodded. "Well … there's no point in you apologising if Skip doesn't know anything about it. I suspect that Annabel won't say anything. And for what it's worth … I think that he has enough to deal with right now with his father. He doesn't need to be worrying about a cheating girlfriend as well. So I don't think that I will tell him … at least not until he gets back here. He's not going to do anything until he returns anyhow."

"I feel sorry for him." Keith said. "You know … that he doesn't know what she is really like."

Ryan nodded. He felt saddened for his friend. He had enough to deal with right now.

"Do you think he will be okay when he finds out? Or was he really in to her?" Keith asked.

"I'm not sure. I know they were having some problems. So maybe he won't be too upset about it all. But I guess we'll have to wait and see what he says once he knows." Ryan commented.

"So you will tell him?" Keith asked.

"I have to eventually. What sort of a friend would I be if I didn't let him know just what she is like?"

"I see your point." Keith said as they arrived at their floor and got out of the lift. "After you've spoken to Marissa would you let me know what you decide to do?" he asked.

"Sure. I'll keep you posted."