The Affair

The Ball

Marlena stepped out of the shower. At least the bruises were almost gone…not quite but with a little makeup no one would be the wiser. Her day had been a whirlwind. Because she missed work the day before she was behind on everything. It seemed all she did all day was play catch up. In a way it was exactly what she needed. She needed to focus her attention on anything but tonight…and now tonight was here. In a little over an hour she would come face to face with John and Rebecca. She didn’t know what would happen…what he was feeling…or what she was feeling for that matter. With the towel wrapped around her body, she walked into her bedroom. Her gown was lying on the bed. Even though it still fit, she wasn’t sure if she should wear it. The minute she tried it on yesterday she was flooded with memories of her and John.

The past:

She was just finishing her makeup when she felt him behind her…his arms going around her waist and his lips making their way down her neck. She leaned back into him, surrendering to him immediately. She remembered their conversation:

“Roman,” she murmured, “We don’t have time for this.”

His hands slowly made their way up her zipper, “Doc, we have all the time we need.”

She heard the zipper of her gown. “Roman if you don’t stop, we’ll be late.”

Her dress fell to the floor, “Doc, it’s already too late.” He scooped her up into his arms and carried her to their bed.

Back to the present:

Marlena shook her head in an attempt to clear her head. She needed to focus on the present and not the past. He probably wouldn’t remember that night anyway. Her towel fell to the floor as she slipped on her garter belt and then her stockings. She loved the way stockings felt against her skin and wearing the garter belt made her feel sexy. John always told her…again he crept into her thoughts. Concentrate she told herself. Marlena picked up her dress and slipped it on. She managed to zip it half way. Roman would have to do the rest. She looked in the mirror. On second thought maybe she should pick something else…but she didn’t have enough time to go thru her closet again. This would have to do. Roman would be home any moment now. It wouldn’t take him long to get ready. All he had to do was jump in the shower and slip on his tuxedo. She sat down at her vanity and began to fix her hair. By the time he came home, she would be ready and waiting downstairs.

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

The door opened. Rebecca stood before him.

“Well hello stranger, come in.”

John took her up on her invitation. He looked around. It was the first time he had been inside of her apartment. “This is really nice. Apparently they pay DA’s more than I thought.”

Rebecca laughed, “No they don’t but I made a few wise investments. Ever hear of a company called Basic Borne? I own a few shares in it. So far I’ve gotten a great return on my investment.”

“I knew you were smart, I just didn’t realize how smart.” He was beginning to feel at ease.

“I have to say; you look very debonair in your tuxedo. Have a seat. Can I get you a drink?”

“Thank you; and I must say you look beautiful. I’ll have scotch neat. We have a few minutes before we have to leave.” John walked over to the couch and sat down.

Rebecca seemed surprised by his choice. “You fooled me. I thought you would have asked for a glass of wine.”

“Normally, I would have but tonight I feel the need for something a little stronger.” He didn’t bother with an explanation. It wasn’t necessary…he knew the reason…Marlena. It was always Marlena.

Rebecca handed him his drink and sat next to him. “So, how was your trip to New York?”

John didn’t want to think about New York…it brought back bad memories…memories of seeing Roman and Marlena’s picture in the paper and thinking the worse. He couldn’t say that so instead he said, “It was business.”

Rebecca sensed there was more to it than his simple explanation but she said nothing. She would bide her time. “So I guess you missed Roman and Marlena’s big to do.”

John tried to keep his voice as neutral as possible. “If you’re talking about them getting remarried or whatever it was they did, I left the same night. I didn’t know anything about it until the next morning when I saw it in the paper.”

“You get the Salem paper when you’re out of town?”

“Of course, it’s good business. Basic Borne’s corporate office is based in Salem and I need to know what’s going on when I’m out of town. You never know what will affect business.” John took a sip of his drink. “After all, my shareholders depend on me to make sure their investment is safe.”

Rebecca smiled, “We definitely appreciate the extra effort you put forth.” She leaned in closer, “But tonight is strictly pleasure…no business…even if it takes money out of my pocket.”

Clearly uncomfortable with the direction the conversation was taking John looked at his watch and spoke, “Maybe we should get going.” He downed the rest of his drink and stood up.

Hiding her disappointment John hadn’t continued their conversation Rebecca grabbed her wrap and headed for the door. The night was young she told herself. There would be plenty of time at the Ball to make her intentions quite clear. Before the night was over, John Borne would be in her bed.

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

Marlena was pacing back and forth downstairs waiting for Roman to finish dressing. He flew in the house twenty minutes earlier apologizing for being late and jumped straight into the shower. He was in such a hurry she didn’t have time to ask him to finish zipping her dress. She heard him coming down the stairs.

“Doc, are you ready?”

“Roman I was ready when you got home.”

“Good, let’s go; we’re already late.” He grabbed his keys and headed for the door.

“Roman, wait.”

“Doc, we’re already late.”

“Roman, we can leave right now if you don’t mind making an entrance.”

“What are you talking about?”

She turned around and showed him the back of her dress. “I need you to finish zipping me up.”

For the first time since he walked in the door, he took the time to actually look at her, “Wow! That’s some dress.” He walked over to her and slowly finished zipping her dress.

She wasn’t sure how to take his comment so she asked, “What do you mean by that?”

Roman shrugged his shoulders, “I just meant it’s some dress.”

Marlena grabbed her wrap and walked to the door. Obviously Roman wasn’t offering any further explanation. “Let’s go.”

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

As John and Rebecca walked into the ballroom he recognized quite a few people he knew. Some were from his days on the police force and others were from the business world. He didn’t bother looking for Marlena…she wasn’t here…he would know the minute she arrived.

Rebecca spotted some colleagues from work and whispered in his ear she would be right back. John nodded his head in acknowledgment and as she headed off in one direction he went in search of the bar.

He was in the middle of ordering his drink when an unknown heat wave shook him to his core. She was here. He didn’t have to look, he could feel her presence. John gulped his drink down before turning around.

Roman and Marlena stood in the door way surveying the room. She knew he was here. She could feel him. Her eyes zeroed in on him at the exact moment he turned around and looked in her direction. Their eyes were locked onto one another.

Roman was completely oblivious to the interaction between John and Marlena. Rebecca, however, was not. She had said a quick hello to her colleagues and was making her way to the bar when she saw the entire scene unfold before her eyes. John turned to face the door way at the same moment Marlena’s eyes found him. It seemed as if they communicated with one another in some unspoken language. There was something between them. Now all she needed to know if it was because of their past or was it something more. Either way, she didn’t intend to lose. She quickly made her way across the room to his side.

John stood there frozen. She took his breath away. He had to tell himself to breathe in and out. The dress…he remembered that dress; white satin; sleeveless …the way it clung to her body; the plunging neckline that revealed just enough to make you want to see more but not enough to seem inappropriate; the slit in the middle that opened with each step she took giving a hint of the promise land no man but the one she chose would ever reach; and last but not least the back of the dress which came mid way down her back and made every man wish he was the one who would help her step out it when the night was over. The last time he saw it they were married and she only wore it for five minutes before it lay discarded on the floor as he carried her to their bed. With her hair up in a French twist she resembled a Greek Goddess. She was absolutely stunning.

Marlena watched as the memory of the night she wore her gown wash over John’s face. She knew he was remembering every second of it. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Rebecca approaching him. She knew their connection would be broken as soon as Rebecca touched his arm, and he looked away. That would be the perfect time; she wasn’t ready to face him yet.

John looked back up at the doorway only to find Roman and Marlena had disappeared into the crowd. He turned his attention back to Rebecca. “Can I get you something to drink?”

“Chardonnay would be fine.” While John ordered her wine, Rebecca scanned the ballroom in the hopes of finding where Roman and Marlena were. Where ever they were, she intended for her and John to be on the opposite side of room. She knew they couldn’t avoid them all night but she wasn’t going out of her way to be around them either.

John turned and handed her glass. “How about we mingle?” He headed across the room before she could answer. Rebecca hurried to catch up with him. As they crossed the floor, the orchestra began to play.

Somewhere on the other side of the ballroom, Roman and Marlena were standing with a group of friends. The guys were all cops and talking shop while the wives were talking amongst themselves. Marlena was trying her best to stay involved in the conversation but the truth was she was constantly surveying the room…looking for John. The way he looked at her earlier told her everything she needed to know. He would seek her out tonight.

Unable to stay involved in the conversation and unwilling to stand there while Roman talked to his police force buddies Marlena excused herself and went in search of the bar. She walked thru the crowd completely unaware of the effect she had on every man she passed. It was her natural beauty and grace that caught their eye but it was the fact that it was effortless that captivated them. As she stood in front of the bar with a glass of wine in her hand she heard the music drift across the ballroom floor.

John and Rebecca were still trying to make their way across the floor. They were constantly stopped by either people Rebecca knew and worked with or business acquaintances of John. After standing next to Rebecca for ten minutes while she talked shop with an attorney from her office, John excused himself and went in search of the bar. This was the last thing Rebecca wanted to happen…John walking around by himself but she could hardly be rude to a colleague from work. She simply smiled and watched him walk away.

The music was so lovely Marlena closed her eyes and began sway with the beat. She loved to dance but Roman was no where to be found and the truth was she didn’t really want to dance with him.

The search for a drink was only an excuse. In reality John was looking for Marlena. He needed to see her…talk to her…make it up to her…beg her forgiveness. And as if by magic the crowd parted and there she was…right in front of him. He stood there for a minute watching as her body swayed to the music. Once again he had to force himself to breathe.

Marlena was enjoying the music…her eyes still closed. She stopped swaying…John was near…she could feel him watching her. Marlena slowly opened her eyes only to find his blue eyes staring into hers. He closed the distance between them quickly…before she could turn away.

“Marlena, please don’t leave.”

“I can’t do this John…not tonight.” She started to walk away.

“Wait.” His eyes pleaded with her to stay. He reached out and attempted to take her hand.

For a moment she almost lost herself in the warmth of his eyes and allowed him to touch her but at the last second she remembered the way he treated her two days ago. She moved her hand away. Her momentary weakness was gone and all that was left was the Marlena he created with his coldness towards her. “My husband is waiting for me and I’m sure your date is looking for you.”

John stood there quietly. He deserved everything she said…he deserved more. Still he had to try, “Doc…please…”

Hearing John call her Doc ordinarily would have sent shivers up and down her spine but tonight wasn’t an ordinary night. She closed the distance between them…what she had to say wasn’t meant to be overheard by anyone else. “I seem to recall you saying you were my personal f*****g machine…well tonight I won’t need your services.” The fact that she leaned in as close as possible to him so he would inhale her perfume and his eyes would automatically wander to her cleavage was an added bonus. She walked away in search of anyone she knew leaving him standing there alone.

John watched as she walked away from him. He watched the sway of her bottom and the curve of her hips. As he looked around he noticed he wasn’t the only man watching her as she walked away. He was heartbroken but he knew he couldn’t say anything…still there was a moment between them. A moment when she wavered…it was over in a second but he knew it was there. He stepped up to the bar and ordered a club soda…the night was young and he needed a clear head. He would wait as long as it took…but before the night was over there would be an understanding between them. Damn! She smelled good.

Roman looked around for Marlena. She was no where in sight. He should have paid more attention to her but he got involved in discussing work with the other cops. That wasn’t a good excuse and he knew it. They were trying to make their way back to one another and this didn’t help at all. He went in search of his wife.

Finally Rebecca was able to excuse herself from her colleagues. She walked in the general direction she last saw John. Rebecca weaved her way in and out of the crowd. Coming toward her dead ahead was Marlena. She hated to admit it, but the woman was absolutely gorgeous. Rebecca watched as men turned and stared as Marlena walked past them never noticing the effect she had on them. If she was coming from that direction it was a sure bet she would find John not far behind her. Now was as good a time as any…she needed to know what was going on between them…if anything.

“Hello Marlena. How are you?”

Marlena was so intent in putting distance between her and John she didn’t even notice Rebecca walking toward her until she spoke. “Hi Rebecca. I’m fine and you?”

“Fine. So are you enjoying tonight or are you bored out of your mind?”

“To tell you the truth I’m little tired. If this wasn’t the Policeman’s Ball I wouldn’t be here but…” She didn’t bother to finish her sentence.

“I know what you mean. I can’t take two steps without running into an attorney or a cop. And all they want to do is talk shop.”

“I know but I guess this is how Roman feels every time he escorts me to one of the hospital functions. So I just have to grin and bear it.”

“Speaking of Roman…congratulations on your recent celebration. I understand it was a complete surprise.”

“Thank you and it was. Roman planned everything himself. I had no idea.” The hairs on the back of her neck were tingling…telling her to be careful in her choice of words. That was something both Roman and John had taught her. Pay attention to the signals your body gives you. They can warn you of danger and sometimes keep you alive.

“Well I’m sorry I missed it but it couldn’t be helped.” She pretended to look around the room before she spoke again. “I got waylaid a few minutes ago and I seem to have lost my date.”

“Oh. Who are you looking for?” Marlena knew John was Rebecca’s escort and she also knew Rebecca was fishing for information.

“John. John Borne.” She looked closely to see if there was any reaction from Marlena. There was none that she could see.

“I passed John a few minutes ago at the bar. If you hurry he should still be there.” Marlena knew Rebecca would be watching for any reaction so she intentionally prepared herself for her reply thereby showing no reaction at all. She was a psychiatrist after all and the subconscious was her playground.

“Thanks. I’m sure I’ll see you again before the night is over and if I don’t try and have a good time.”

Marlena smiled, “You’re right; we’ll probably run into one another again.”

They both headed off in opposite directions. Marlena going anywhere John wasn’t and Rebecca actively seeking John.