I hadn't expected this; I wasn't prepared for it to happen. I had decided that I would be stupid to do what I was doing, that I would just go through the motions. I couldn't even imagine it happening to me this way. But it wasn't turning out the way it was, why? Because I wasn't expecting to even begin to enjoy what was happening, and that's not the way it should be, even have been.
My name is Charlene or Charly to my friends etc. His name is Paul Rafferty. I am a better than good looking blond woman of 28, he is a very good looking black man of 28 too. I am here, or I was here under duress, but not so much any more. He's changing that opinion in a way I never thought could happen.
He is the man who has saved my husbands business, I am the price for that rescue. Because of my husband's track record with the banks he couldn't get the loan he needed to fund forward looking investment. Without it he would go under taking everything we have with it. His rivals in his business line would be like vultures mopping up the very lucrative remains of our lives. He was being railroaded into the deal by this Mr Rafferty.
We would end up on the street with no sign of ever getting back on our feet. Our very existence rode on the money coming through before the end of the month.
Paul Rafferty had set the deadline, no play, no pay! It was his way or the highway. Jack had no where else to turn, there were no other avenues open to him or us. He had negotiated the deal with Jack, my husband. Then he had added the proviso that I would go to him for two weeks and be his woman for those two weeks. There was no doubting what he meant, no wiggle room.
I of course was blissfully unaware of this negotiating tactic being used by Mr Rafferty as I knew him to be a genuine business friend of Jack's. I had met him, and he seemed to be a really nice guy. I held him in high regard because Jack had told me he was the man that would stop the rug from being pulled from beneath our collective feet.
This was all taking place four weeks before our deadline to come up with a very substantial amount of money. After the initial explosions and what have you from Jack. Mr Rafferty had calmed him down, held him off because Jack wanted to kill him. He of course refused his demand, but Mr Rafferty suggested to Jack that he talk to me about it, discuss it.
Ask me my opinion he had said, if I loved Jack as much as I was supposed to, then as a loyal and dutiful wife, maybe I would see what benefits would be gained by all if I agreed but only with Jack's consent. We would all be winners in Mr Rafferty's eyes. The upshot was we both agreed finally after a lot of discussions. We would accede to Mr Rafferty's demands; we arranged a meeting with him where questions would be asked and answered by him and us.
On the day we were to meet, I got ready; I was going to dress down, to not appear as I know I can. But Jack told me there was no point in that, Rafferty knows what you look like, he said to me. He knows that you would look good in a plastic bin liner! He was being remarkably stoic about this. I knew he was hurting inside, how could he not be, I thought. He was being made to give up his wife to another man, and knowing that that man would have me for his own in every way.
Jack was seriously considering refusing and giving it all up. The trouble was, the loan he would get from Rafferty was at only 1% interest, all other possible loans had ludicrously high interest rates attached to tem, and some had wanted a partnership and or a controlling interest in my husbands business. We really were between a rock and a hard place!
So after much and much more talks about the situation we were in. It was I who made the final decision to go ahead with Rafferty's way. I told Jack that no matter what happened, Rafferty would never own me. I was my husband's wife, and that's the way I will stay, I told him.
So I got ready, I had had my hair done, I had told my hair dresser to pile my long soft golden hair high on my head. I wanted it elegant and stylish as if I were going to a glittering ball. She wove a silver chain through it. It was truly magnificent, I loved it.
I am 5ft 8" tall, weigh around 120lbs, and I am all woman. Like most females who, and though I hesitate to say it, can stop traffic, and I can. People do give me more than the once over. I have even seen just about every head turn in a restaurant, or a dinner engagement we have been to when I have walked in. I am of course very proud of that, I know Jack loves it. He has me on his arm when nearly every other man in the room would slit his wrists to swap places with him.
We have been married for four years and we have known each other for just over six. I have never been unfaithful, though as you could guess, I have had many offers, some of them even tempting but no. I did have a varied sex life before Jack, but that's where it stays, it was pre marriage, no more!
Paul Rafferty is very good looking, he has charm and charisma dripping off him, he is affable, is easy going. He can hold a conversation with any body, on any level. He is around 6ft 2 or 3" tall, broad shouldered and I suppose underneath his suits and clothes is a very well built man. I must confess I was a little in awe of him, and now a certain amount of fear and intrepidation was in there too, especially now.
We met him at around 2oclock in the afternoon; it was three days to D day! as it were. When we walked in he stood to greet us, and he could hardly tear his eyes off of me. I was wearing, to all intents and purposes, a simple summer dress that finished about 3" above my long legged knees. It was of silver silk, flowing around me even though it was a close, though not tight fit. It was sleeveless allowing my smooth bare arms to show. A low but not revealing neck, a silver necklace and high heels completed my attire, but only Jack knew I was dressed to kill and maim any man by what I had on under it.
The first thing he did was hand Jack an irredeemable bankers order post dated for the amount he/we needed. It was also 20.000 more than we had asked for.
"A token of confidence in you Jack, and hopefully to show my sincerity in this business deal." He said, smiling at me. I have to say I was staggered, that this man would do this just for the opportunity to have me.
"I am not happy Rafferty," Jack said, "you have forced this on me and Charly, we both dislike it intensely, and believe me if I could find another way, this situation would never have got off the fucking ground!"
Mr Rafferty smiled benignly, "Yes Jack, I am taking advantage of the problem you have," he said, "though, and I hate to lay it out. It wasn't me who put you where you are, it was you. I'm sorry to have to say it. And I can tell you also; this is your decision to go through with it, not mine."
Jack's head dropped at that, he knew what the man was saying was true, and that we could pull out, but we couldn't could we? Time had run out. It was go or no go, I tapped Jack's foot.
"Okay," he said, "but I will never see or speak to you again after this Rafferty!"
On my part I was rather quiet about it; I knew where I was heading and what was waiting for me. But I knew better than my husband that I could and would get through this. I had hardly even contemplated having sex with this man, good looking or not. Because that is just what it would be as far as I was concerned, sex! Certainly not even attached to love, it was sex, pure and simple.
If he wanted me that badly that he sank to monetary blackmail just to get me into his bed, it would cost him very dear, I wasn't going cheap! That extra 20.000 had been my secret demand that Jack knew nothing of.
Jack had had enough and said it was time to go. We had discussed the general terms, he had surprised us by saying we were flying to Paris to start with. Did he somehow know it was one of my dreams to go there, I never had. But on Saturday I would be going there with a man other than my husband, to the romantic capital of the world?
"What's the timetable Rafferty?" Jack asked.
"My car will pick you up at 11am Charly," he said to me, "have your passport, and as many case's of luggage you think you may need, although you will have the use of an American Express gold card at your disposal."
We walked away without saying another word, but I knew his eyes were on me, I could feel them tugging at me. Jack and I didn't have a lot to say; the time was drawing near, what was there to say between us now. I was literally being forced into infidelity, even though it had been my decision to go ahead with this.
The next two and a half days were purgatory, he had tried to pretend that it wasn't really his fault, and in a way it hadn't been, but for a couple of decisions that were the wrong ones neither he nor I would be in this insidious position. I spent the intervening time packing and repacking.
Then Saturday was upon us, Jack had been following me about like the love sick child he was. He was losing his wife knowingly to another man for two weeks knowing what I/we would be getting up to. Another man would be, for want of better phrasing, fucking his wife whenever and however he wanted to.
The car pulled up at our house at exactly 11am, we looked at it, at each other, he hugged me. There were tears in his eyes, one more minute and I would be gone, no come backs, no saying no. I wasn't taking my phone with me. I would be out of touch until I got back.
I got in, a small smile, a tiny wave, the car pulled away, I was on my way. I was taken to the airport, where I was guided into the VIP lounge for first class passengers. Paul Rafferty was waiting for me.