He lied. He was jealous. She didn't answer his question and it raddled his nerves more than they already were. His train of thought wandered so wildly that the driver behind him had to lay on the horn to bring him back to reality before the light switched back to red. He knew what rule five was. It was his decision to create it. No sharing the details of the events that occurred during single time. But he created that for her benefit. He didn't want her to feel insecure and become wistful and forlorn.

He didn't need her knowing that the day after they officially agreed to open their marriage he hand Nia bent over his desk, skirt pushed to her waist and fucked her well before his 9a.m. meeting. He wanted to share Aleena from knowing that he had a key to Nia's condo and was welcomed to visit anytime he desired. Nor did he wish for her to learn that for the briefest of moments he pondered on how it would be if he spent the night with her and woke up from the morning light with Nia sleeping against his chest.

DeMarcus didn't linger on the thought but he was shaken that he entertained it for a second too long.

Today was only the second time of his career that he was late into the office. He usually left the house two hours before he needed to be. Houston traffic was unpredictable; a five car pile up or someone might be under the delusion that they could run across I-45. Wild things happened on the interstate and he didn't want it to affect the upward mobility of his occupation. It was thirty-five past eleven as he took quick strides to his corner office being successful in not garnering the attention of any of his subordinates or rival associates that were campaigning for the same promotion.

He hustled by his secretary giving him an obligatory greeting—a nod of the head and quickly retreated into his office not wanting him to start talking. He needed a moment to decompress in his office peering out the window. It was just a view of the busy intersection and Rice University but he needed to woosah his frustration away and get his mind right.

DeMarcus closed the office door and realized he wasn't going to get that moment, "What are you doing?

"What do you mean?" Nia looked at him as if he should know something. "Lunch. We have reservations. Don't tell me you forgot."

"I...did." He rubbed face roughly letting out a heavy breath with his eyes closed.

Nia rose from the corner of the couch she'd been perched in. The yellow satin halter top matched up well with chocolate trousers being complimented by gold jewelry. Her loose curls were held back by a barrette of the same precious metal.

"It's almost over." Nia claimed the space in front of him, taking hold of his free hand, stroking his appendage with her thumb.

He knew what she was referring to and played along once he dropped his hand and opened his eyes, "Mr. Nakamura will be back in a week and I just..."

"You will." She reached up and embraced his face. "Nakamura and Robinson Technologies will successfully merge and this weekend you will acquire that donation for the foundation at the Hellene Gala and obtain that vacancy on the top floor." A smile spread across her face chasing away some of his frustration. "It's all coming together. Just breathe."

This was why he needed her. She was the best work wife anyone could ask from. He did as instructed and gave her a deep, passionate kiss and reminded him of how foolish he had been. He had nothing to worry about. He had something real here. Not just a couple minutes of sex. Plus, his wife was just with her friend having a girl's night on the town. It was probably sleep deprivation having him act erratic.

"Better?" She inquired once they broke apart.

"Completely." He gave her a quick kiss to the lips again and remembered forehead kisses were reserved for his wife so was oral sex. It wasn't something they agreed to together, just his own addition to their rules.

She read her watch, "It's too late to make it to the restaurant but do you want to grab something downstairs."

"Yeah..." He started as he phone rang. He fished the device out of his coat pocket and read the screen. "I need to get this. I'll meet you downstairs."

As Nia closed the door behind herself, he answered the phone. "Ty, you can stop. I'm good—"

"I'm done." Tyrese sounded through the speaker.

"You are." He replied, moving to the wall of windows. "That was fast."

"It wasn't that complicated. It's something anyone could easily do but I'm not doing it again." Tyrese insisted. "Her phone's at 754 San Verde Lane. It's an—"

"Estate." DeMarcus completed. "What was she doing there?"

"I don't know. It's not my business and it ain't yours either." Tyrese stated. "I gotta get back to work on an actual case. Let this shit go." He ended the call.

DeMarce started at the view Google Maps rendered for the address and he knew something that brought the frustration back to his body. Aleena wasn't just with Serena at a club. She was at someone's house. Now, he needed to know who lived at 754 San Verde Lane.