"I want you to sit right there. I'll plate you up. We'll eat in the living room for a change. How does that sound?" Phoenix asks rubbing my shoulders as I sit on the couch.

"Ahh. That feels phenomenal." I lean my head back, enjoying the impromptu massage. "Today was such a shit show. Can you believe Sebastian? That bastard is actually blocking Windsor Court. What a fucking asshole!"

Phoenix sighs. "I got my people on it." He snickers. "The little shit actually clutched his pearls!"

"Got his family involved! He's out for us. For you. I'm so sorry."

"Babe, it's not your fault. You had no idea when you showed up to that meeting to vet him. It's my fault. I asked you to come and never put two and two together that he was your ex. I never would've let his candidacy get that far if I had realized. You did the only thing you could do, tell me the truth about him. And you were right. He's a spoiled little, entitled shit."

"I just hate that he's brought the Duvall's into this. They're a powerful family—"

"—Well, I'm more powerful, more connected. I'll crash their little party."

A sigh of relief escapes my throat. "I'd hate for them to kill your pet project. I know how much it means to you, to me, to the whole community. You're changing people's lives, Phoenix. Windsor Court deserves to come to fruition."

Phoenix pats my shoulders. "Let me check on the stir fry."

"There's nothing like a man that can cook!" I yell after him.

He waves me away.

Phoenix returns with a glass of red wine and a glass of cranberry juice for me. He smiles as he sits the glasses on the coffee table. "My apologies."

I shake my head. "It's alright. Drinking is not on the menu for me. Have at it."

He takes his phone out and plays Praiz's "Me and You" and does a quick two step.

"Atlanta!"

"Atlanta." He goes away and returns with two bowls of stir fry and chop sticks.

"You spoil me." I reach for my bowl. "Thanks babe." One bite and my mouth waters. "This is so good!"

"Authentic Asian cuisine. My mom's recipe. From the old country."

"Now where are your people from?" I ask between bites.

"Mom's from mainland China. A little sugarcane plantation in Guangdong. America is her saving grace, let her tell it. I swear when you hear the stories from when she was a kid, you'd understand."

"I can't even imagine."

"My grandfather came here in the fifties, I think." He squints.

"And your dad? Where's he from?"

"Dad's from the Caribbean. His family came here looking for a better life too."

"So, you're first generation American? And you've built this empire?"

Phoenix shrugs. "What can I say. When you're constantly being reminded how bad it used to be, it forces you to make sure you never live like they did."

His phone vibrates, interrupting the song. A text pops up.

"Can you come through? Important."

"What does she want now?" Phoenix picks up his phone. He snatches one last bite. "Let me go. See what she's talking about. Amicable divorce, right?" He sighs. "Can't wait till this is over."

"Wait! You're leaving? This late? Phoenix what's up?"

Phoenix looks across the room to gather his thoughts. "Babe. I'm doing my best. Please give me this room. She has something she's been trying to tell me. I think she's finally ready to come out with it. It's been bothering her and apparently, it's something I need to know. So let me go check it out."

"Well? Are you coming back?"

"Honestly, I was planning on going back home to my girls. My original plan was to cook for you, have dinner, then go home to my girls. I need to spend time with them. I planned on making them breakfast in the morning, you know. To let them know I'm there and I care."

"Well, when were you gonna tell me you were leaving? I thought you were spending the night."

"Not tonight." He gives me a quick peck on the lips. "I'll call you after. OK?" he asks as he takes his bowl to the kitchen.

My appetites shrinks to nothing. "Fine. Go."

"I'll make it up to you."

I close my eyes. "Go."

He stops and stares at me.

"Just go!"

He puts on his coat and zips it shut before letting himself out and locking the door behind him.

As soon as I hear the click, I promptly grab my coat, handbag and keys and wait for his headlights to disappear down the street.

I'm getting to the bottom of all these unexpected meetings with her.

I get in my Range Rover and trail him. He pulls up to the Chateau Luxury Hotel and valets his truck. I follow and valet my truck making sure to stay out of sight. He walks into the lobby.

There's Nora. Fucking bitch.

She walks up to him, kisses him on the cheek and hugs him. They go to the bar, order drinks and sit and chat.

I take a seat in the waiting area in the lobby.

Watch and wait.

Is this what he left me for? Drinks with this bitch?

An angry sigh escapes my throat.

Just because I can't drink, he needs to go out with someone else?

A tall woman in a black, fitted pants suit walks up to them. She stands near Nora. Nora introduces her to Phoenix, they greet each other and shake hands.

Is he meeting a third? Has he gotten back into swinging?

She's pretty. They're both gorgeous.

The woman sits and orders an apple martini, the same as Nora. They drink and talk and laugh.

What is this?

He's fucking them both. Tonight.

Images of Phoenix's GQ abs grazing against the woman's thigh as she lays with her legs open in expectation, while he sits naked between them kissing Nora. Phoenix mounting the modelesce woman as Nora kisses her. A menage trois. Bodies engaged and entangled in carnal lust. Phoenix unleashing his beastly desires on the both of them.

"Argh!" I cover my mouth.

This is the reason for all the last-minute meetings!

Phoenix gets up unexpectedly and heads for the men's room. I tuck my face behind a magazine and lean back in my seat.

What is this man's power over women? Remember the girlfriend before you? Coming into Club Lotus to spy on him? Now you're her.

Well, he's not giving me a choice. I need to know, really know what's going on.

He told you the truth, he was meeting Nora. What more do you want?

I want to know why? Why this late? Why here? And I never would've known any of this, if I hadn't followed. So there. It was worth it.

Is it?

I roll my eyes.

Phoenix returns from the restroom. "It was nice meeting you."

"Aww! Finish your drink!" Nora begs him to stay. "Stay a little longer. Never know, you might not want to leave." She smiles.

"No. I'm good." His tone is stern. "Gotta a full day tomorrow." Phoenix pulls his hand out of Nora's grasp. He hugs her and shakes the woman's hand, then he goes to the valet to get his truck.

She called him out for this?

I glance at the two women just in time to catch Nora and the other woman getting close at the bar. They're practically talking into each other's mouth.

Are they flirting?

Nora downs the rest of her martini and playfully waves a hotel keycard in front of the woman's face. They laugh, then Nora leans in, grasping the back of the woman's neck, she brings her lips into hers and they engage in a hungry, love-starved kiss.

What thee fuck?

They get up from the bar and head to the elevator holding on to each other's waist, kissing as they go.

Oh my!

I snatch my handbag and rush off to get my truck just as Phoenix makes it to the end of the hotel driveway.

"Can you make this quick?" I ask the valet guy as he takes my ticket. Glancing in Phoenix's direction, he's getting ready to pull off and merge into traffic.

My phone rings. It's Phoenix! I ignore his call. The background noise is too loud. They valet pulls up in my truck, gets out and hands me the key fob. I tip him and jump in the truck, trailing Phoenix. My phone rings again. I press ignore. We get on the highway. I trail him till he jumps off.

Fuck, I know where we're going.

He drives into my neighborhood. Instead of turning with him down my street, I drive on. My phone rings again. I drive around aimlessly, ignoring all his attempts to reach me.

He's at the house. He knows you're not there, Ari.

I park in a nearby grocery store parking lot. My phone rings. Eyes closed, heart hammering against the inside of my chest, I dare to answer. A phony yawn rears its ugly, lying head. "Hello?" I cover my eyes, trying to hide the truth from myself.

"Where you been? Why aren't you answering?"

"Huh? What?"

"Ari, I've called you like twenty times. You still mad?"

"Oh. No, I'm good."

"OK. I'm pulling up to the house. I wanted you to know when I left from Nora."

"Oh, just go home. To your house. I'm tired. Going to bed." I let out another fake yawn.

"Well, I'm here now."

"What about the girls?" I ask, trying to throw a wrench in his plans.

"I'll lay with you for an hour or two, then head home to the girls."

"Phoenix, just go home. No need. I'm good."

Phoenix shuts his truck door. "I need a quick nap. Guess I'm just getting tired of this balancing act." He laughs. "Listen, I want to come clean about a few things."

"Right now?"

"Yes, right now. It's weighing on me and it's only fair that you know. You've earned that much."

His keys dangle as he fumbles with unlocking the front door.

Fuck!

My hands can't hide my face well enough.

Phoenix walks through the house. "Ari, where are you?"

I clear my throat. "Um, Phoenix. There are some things I need to come clean about."

"What is it, Ari. Just say it. You can't do this anymore? I've been feeling your hesitation, lately."

"No. It's not that. Although this is no walk in the park." I sigh and give up the ghost. "I'm. Not. There? I followed you. Tonight."

"God damn it, woman." He snickers with contempt.

"Yeah. When I saw you were coming back to our place, I panicked." I roll my eyes. "I'm over here, sitting in a grocery store parking lot. A cop just drove by. For the second time now. It's late. I'm—I'm just gonna come home." I press the start button on the Range Rover and pull off trying to leave my shame in the parking lot.

"God damn Inspector Crusoe."

Ignoring his comment, I ask, "You said you had something to tell me?"

"I'll tell you when you get here."

"Don't like the sound of that." I hold my breath, waiting for him to relieve me. He doesn't. "On my way now."

******************************

Aria can't seem to help but be Aria. What do you think he has to tell her?