JR Chandler walked back into the parlor after tucking his son in bed. He could feel a vein pulsating in his neck. Scotch…I need scotch. He thought. Before his conscience could convince him otherwise, he poured himself a drink. Just one drink…just one. Then I will go to a meeting later, it will be alright. He downed the glass in just minutes and he walked away from the bar. He took a seat by the window, withdrew his cell phone from his pocket and re-dialed the last number.
"Steele, speaking" Answered the voice on the line. JR cleared his throat and began to deal. "So, Mr. Steele. Thank you, first off…for allowing me to call you back. Now you say that you have proof that my ex-wife, is holed up in some swanky love-shack resort with her former client and one of my oldest aquaintances? How did you come by this evidence?"
"Well, now Mr. Chandler…you know I can't reveal my sources. I was at first alerted to the presence of Ms. Montgomery and a 'lover'." JR cringed at the word, and Steele continued. "America loves a good Kane based scandal. Then it was brought to my attention that it was your ex-wife and well, I thought…"
"You thought you would take it to the highest bidder instead of broadcasting it in that checkstand trash paper of yours!" JR interjected. "How do I even know that your source is reliable? You are aware that my wif…er…Ex-wife and Ms. Montgomery are the very best of friends? Don't you?"
"Yes, sir…Mr. Chandler, I do. However, it was confirmed that when making the reservation, Ms. Montgomery specifically requested 1 bed, and 1 room, for her and her 'girlfriend'. I am expecting pictures to verify within the next 18 hours. So is there any arrangement you are wishing to make here sir?"
"Well, I will tell you what, Mr. Steele. Allow me to consider your offer and if you have substantial proof presented in those 18 hours…we just might have a deal. I will be awaiting your call. Good night!" JR disconnected the call and set his phone down.
Marissa? A lesbian? What in the world is going on? And Bianca…how long have they been making a fool out of me? JR's eyes glared with realization. That night! That night we fought…I left and Marissa went straight to Bianca's! Damn it! Was that the start? Or maybe it was all the times she stayed there...she was always 'helping a friend recover'…I bet she helped her. A lesbian, though? She never…It doesn't matter. I loved her and I tried to change and she was playing me all along. She won't get away with this. I am going to buy this so called story and keep that sleazeball from printing…but so help me, Marissa…one toe out of line and there will be no more 'Mr Nice Guy'!
JR couldn't help but return his glare to the bottle of Scotch across the room. He shifted uncomfortably for a moment and got up. After several attempts to cross, his conscience would stop him. With a punch of his fist to the nearby wall, his resolve broke and he grabbed the bottle and walked out through the terrace doors and to the pool.
/
The next morning, JR woke to the sun blazing steadily above. His head was throbbing and he could not exactly pin point where he was. He tried his damnedest to open his eyes, but could not manage more than a squint. Reality finally set in when he felt the cold glass of the empty Scotch decanter still in his grip. Shit, the pool…I can't believe I fell asleep…Damn It! I need to get inside before AJ sees me like this. JR shot up to his feet. His movement was a little more than his body was ready to handle though, as he promptly fell on his face. He managed to pull himself up and find his bearings…but in the distance he heard his son's voice. "Shit!" He said and in a panic he ran behind a large shrub. The movements caught up with him and he was sure he was going to vomit. He breathed deeply and kept out of sight till the nanny and his son had passed.
When the coast was clear, he carefully and slowly made his way back to the house and up to his room. He took a long shower and a couple of aspirin and made his way down to find his son. When he reached the parlor, he checked his cell and found that a message had indeed arrived from Mr. Steele. He took a deep breath and opened the message. Nothing prepared him for what he saw. There, in front of his own eyes, was Marissa. She seemed to have merely a bathrobe on and was smiling so big she was beaming. Her hair was tousled and messy and she had her arms around the neck of Bianca. He could clearly see the door of a hotel room behind them and that look in Bianca's eye…well that is unmistakable. I have had that very same look before. But I don't know if yet another betrayal at the hands of Bianca is what is making me so angry? Or if it is that unbearable adoration on Marissa's face? I don't ever recall her looking at me that way. JR was snapped to the present by the sounds of AJ playing on the terrace. He quickly grabbed a bottle of Whiskey, looked over his shoulder and took a drink. He capped the bottle, released a sigh and went out to join his son.