The Black Widow Read Online Free
Author: C.J. Johnson
wondered if she'd have some sort of a meltdown before he played his role in his murder. Indeed, her heart felt like it was going to explode in her chest and she looked around her to see if anyone had noticed.
Dave, Richard and Ella were still dancing, Tom and his wife seemed to be having a serious conversation based on their hard facial expressions and James looked as if he was willing himself to stay awake.
Not for the first time in her life, Cheryl noted the feeling of being in company, yet having the sensation of being completely alone
It wasn't a pleasant notion.
Then, it happened. Dave suddenly mumbled something incoherent, placed his empty pint glass on the mantelpiece and began to stagger towards the door.
Cheryl rushed forward and took the half-smoked cigarette from Dave's limp fingers and grinned at everyone.
Richard and Ella cheered loudly as James and Nicole laughed.
"I guess that's his lot then," James commented.
"C'mon Dave, just one more" Ella shouted, but Dave turned away as if he hadn't heard and stumbled from the room.
Standing in the doorway, Cheryl watched Dave stumble his way up the stairs then turned and grinned. "I think that's his lot, folks," she told everyone as she stubbed out the cigarette in the nearest ashtray.
As she expected, the guests immediately took that as their cue to leave. No-one ever stayed long after Dave went to bed, but instead of feeling insulted as she usually did, tonight it was required.
As murmured conversations between the couples began, Cheryl said that she was going to check on Dave and excused herself.
Rushing upstairs, she dashed into the spare room and pulled off the duvet and pillows from the guest bed. Bundling them in her arms, she then went to check on Dave.
He lay sprawled on his back, one leg hanging off the side of the bed and his arms splayed out at his sides. He had got as far as to unbutton his jeans and remove his belt, but otherwise he remained dressed.
Cheryl's throat tightened as she heard Dave's voice in her mind. "I'm starfishing," he's say playfully when Cheryl complained about his hogging the bed. Once more, affection came rushing over her, affection for her husband whom she loved very much.
I can't do this. I just can't.
Cheryl gazed at him, almost smiling—when she suddenly wondered if Dave had 'starfished' in his secretary's bed. The moment of weakness passed as quickly as it came.
There's no backing out , Cheryl told herself harshly. You either do this and secure your future, or you sit back and wait for him to leave you for another woman.
Cheryl turned and went back downstairs into the living room, the affection she'd suddenly felt within her once again turning into heavy darkness. She found the three couples on their feet preparing to leave.
"Making your bed?" Nicole asked grinning.
"Yep. There's no way I'm going to bed tonight. It'd be like trying to sleep on the airport runway."
Hearing Ella's animated voice, Cheryl turned and saw her talking to Tom, the man smiling and nodding as Karen stood by his side glaring— at Cheryl.
An jolt ran through Cheryl as she met the woman's gaze. Karen maintained eye contact before looking away, neither smiling nor concerned at having been caught staring.
There was no mistaking the animosity in the woman's eyes; she clearly despised Cheryl.
What the hell is her problem?
Probably just jealous because I'm younger and prettier than her, she thought nastily, though she knew that wasn't it.
She'd had jealous looks from women before; a strange mixture of desire and envy that immediately dissolved into a forced smile when Cheryl turned and caught them staring, but this wasn't what she'd seen in Karen's eyes. She had looked at Cheryl as if she were a snake.
Along with the dislike and utter contempt in the woman's eyes, Cheryl had also seen suspicion.
Just what had the woman seen to make her suspicious ? Cheryl wondered as bile rose from her chest to her throat.
Someone already suspects me and
Dave, Richard and Ella were still dancing, Tom and his wife seemed to be having a serious conversation based on their hard facial expressions and James looked as if he was willing himself to stay awake.
Not for the first time in her life, Cheryl noted the feeling of being in company, yet having the sensation of being completely alone
It wasn't a pleasant notion.
Then, it happened. Dave suddenly mumbled something incoherent, placed his empty pint glass on the mantelpiece and began to stagger towards the door.
Cheryl rushed forward and took the half-smoked cigarette from Dave's limp fingers and grinned at everyone.
Richard and Ella cheered loudly as James and Nicole laughed.
"I guess that's his lot then," James commented.
"C'mon Dave, just one more" Ella shouted, but Dave turned away as if he hadn't heard and stumbled from the room.
Standing in the doorway, Cheryl watched Dave stumble his way up the stairs then turned and grinned. "I think that's his lot, folks," she told everyone as she stubbed out the cigarette in the nearest ashtray.
As she expected, the guests immediately took that as their cue to leave. No-one ever stayed long after Dave went to bed, but instead of feeling insulted as she usually did, tonight it was required.
As murmured conversations between the couples began, Cheryl said that she was going to check on Dave and excused herself.
Rushing upstairs, she dashed into the spare room and pulled off the duvet and pillows from the guest bed. Bundling them in her arms, she then went to check on Dave.
He lay sprawled on his back, one leg hanging off the side of the bed and his arms splayed out at his sides. He had got as far as to unbutton his jeans and remove his belt, but otherwise he remained dressed.
Cheryl's throat tightened as she heard Dave's voice in her mind. "I'm starfishing," he's say playfully when Cheryl complained about his hogging the bed. Once more, affection came rushing over her, affection for her husband whom she loved very much.
I can't do this. I just can't.
Cheryl gazed at him, almost smiling—when she suddenly wondered if Dave had 'starfished' in his secretary's bed. The moment of weakness passed as quickly as it came.
There's no backing out , Cheryl told herself harshly. You either do this and secure your future, or you sit back and wait for him to leave you for another woman.
Cheryl turned and went back downstairs into the living room, the affection she'd suddenly felt within her once again turning into heavy darkness. She found the three couples on their feet preparing to leave.
"Making your bed?" Nicole asked grinning.
"Yep. There's no way I'm going to bed tonight. It'd be like trying to sleep on the airport runway."
Hearing Ella's animated voice, Cheryl turned and saw her talking to Tom, the man smiling and nodding as Karen stood by his side glaring— at Cheryl.
An jolt ran through Cheryl as she met the woman's gaze. Karen maintained eye contact before looking away, neither smiling nor concerned at having been caught staring.
There was no mistaking the animosity in the woman's eyes; she clearly despised Cheryl.
What the hell is her problem?
Probably just jealous because I'm younger and prettier than her, she thought nastily, though she knew that wasn't it.
She'd had jealous looks from women before; a strange mixture of desire and envy that immediately dissolved into a forced smile when Cheryl turned and caught them staring, but this wasn't what she'd seen in Karen's eyes. She had looked at Cheryl as if she were a snake.
Along with the dislike and utter contempt in the woman's eyes, Cheryl had also seen suspicion.
Just what had the woman seen to make her suspicious ? Cheryl wondered as bile rose from her chest to her throat.
Someone already suspects me and
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