Chasing Her Discarded Ex-husband

Miss Raven's New Toy?

VANESSA STERLING'S POV

I sit back in my desk and flip through the stack of photographs my private investigators have gathered. It’s been hell waiting for the last couple of hours for them to bring me something that concerns my ex-husband. The first image shows Abel, entering the grand entrance of Central state hotel. The second is of him exiting through the back exit.

“Did you find out what he was doing there?” I question.

“He was there to meet someone, ma’am,” the woman detective replies.

"Who?” I press, turning to the third photograph. My heart scorches on seeing a smiling Aubrey Raven in the same picture, just two steps behind Abel.

So, Aubrey was the one he met! I get that she is his boss, but bosses don’t take employees to fancy diners unless there’s something more.

"How long has this been going on?" I demand, my voice rising unintentionally.

"Our investigation suggests this is their first meeting outside of work,” the older detective says and the extent of the relief I feel is unexpected, and it makes me frown.

I flip through the other photos. One shows Aubrey guiding Abel toward a car, another of her opening the door for him, and the last she is kissing his cheek as he gets in. I feel my blood run cold and I fist my hands.

"We thought that was a casual gesture ma'am." The man says.

“A casual gesture?” I scoff

But why is she all over him? Who kisses their employees?

"Did you get any shots while they were inside the hotel?” I ask.

“No, ma’am. They were in an exclusive private suite. We had no access,” he replies.

“Private suite, huh."

I understand that Abel is irresistibly attractive and Aubrey is a woman with human desires like everyone else. But does it have to be him?

“Did you follow the car?” I ask, my voice tight.

“No, but I checked Blackwood’s place thrice. He never went home,” The woman replies and suddenly my heart is pumping as if I’ve run ten miles. The car in the picture is unmistakably Aubrey’s. I wonder where else she could have taken him that is not his place.

Maybe her place. Are they having a s****l relationship?

"Give me your phone." I request from the woman detective.

"What?” She looks taken aback but fishes her phone out of her pocket anyway.

I take it from her and pull up my computer to find the text with Abel’s details. I copy his number and press the call button trying to contain my temper. My heart wants to really find out where he is.

While we were together I always laughed to myself that he always felt the need to keep me up-to-date on his schedule. I didn’t even have to ask where he was, he always volunteered the information first.

After a few rings, someone picks up. I knew he won't pick up if I call from my cellphone but an unknown number he will.

"Abel, so help me, where the f**k are you?” I say trying to contain my temper.

"How nice to hear from you.” He says from the other end sacastically, I'm glad he still recognizes my voice.

"Where. Are. You?” I press, noticing the noise in the background. Is he at a club?

"What’s it to you?” he shoots back, all breathy. "How is where I am your business?"

“Right," He has a point. We aren't together anymore, I have no right to ask about his whereabouts.

“Can we meet? I just want to talk,” My voice is arctic as I wrestle with my anger. I am really trying to handle this calmly.

"No. I’ve already told you, I don’t want to see you, Vanessa.” He says and my anger flares.

I take a deep breath, reminding myself to stay gentle. "I am a kind and gentle person at heart Abel. But you know I don’t take well to being told no.”

There is silence from the other end for a moment.

"Good day, Vanessa.” He says, and before I can respond, the line goes dead.

“Abel!” I shout, staring at the phone in disbelief. No one has ever hung up on me. What the f**k!

"Can you access Ms Raven's phone contacts, messages, and calls?" I ask and both detectives regards me with disapproval.

I know that what I am asking is too against the law, but Abel could be getting himself into a lot of trouble. He is a new toy for Aubrey, his runways are making millions of dollars and it was easy to see why she wants to be close.

"Someone like Ms Raven's likely has top-tier security software that we can not hack through, Ms starling," the female detective says.

"But with her phone, you can synch instant messages, to allow me to access her private communications without needing to hack into her system." I suggest and watch the two hesitate.

"If you can't deliver what I need, then maybe I should hire someone else?" I add and watch the male detective scratch his chin, reconsidering.

"Well, yeah, I suppose we could do that. But we'd need you to get us the phone first."

"I'll see what I can do," I say, already formulating a plan.