Max raised his voice. “Enough, Ella. I’m warning you. What has got into you today? You were just fine when I dropped you off this morning. You only had to pick up some clothes for Christ’s sake.”
“That’s just it, Max. I did a little digging, and I found out Kirk was having an affair with some army slut called Kathy.” She couldn’t hide the venom in her tone. “You know the little tramp, Max. The one he told you about.” Her eyes flared accusingly, connecting with his. “So there’s no need to keep pretending.” She shook her head, and rolled her eyes. “I’m such a fool. To think I thought you actually cared about me. You and Kirk must have had a good laugh, and now you’re just scraping up the stale crumbs that he didn’t want.” Tears began to stream down her cheeks unchecked, and her lower lip trembled.
Max felt his brows draw together. “Did you say Kirk was having an affair?”
Ella clapped her hands, mocking him. “Huh, you’re really good, Max, I’ll give you that. If it wasn’t for the fact that you were Kirk’s best buddy and he always told you everything, then I might almost believe you.”
Ella sounded so sure, but as she said, Kirk was his best buddy. Why hadn’t he known? “If it’s true then—”
“If?” She sounded incredulous. “There’s no if about it. I saw it with my own eyes, Max.”
“Saw what? Where?”
“He had this memory stick hidden in the garage. I connected it to his laptop.”
“Look at me, Ella.”
She stared straight at him, but he knew she didn’t really see him. “I mean look at me properly.” He raised his voice. “Just do it, woman.” Reluctantly, she stared directly into his eyes. “I’m telling you now, I didn’t know. This is as much a shock for me as it is for you.”
Slowly it began to dawn on her, and she replied in a strangled whisper, “You didn’t know?”
“No, I didn’t. I promise I didn’t.”
“Promise me you’re telling the truth, Max. Please.” He heard the tremor in her voice. This meant so much to her.
“Believe me, Ella. Trust me.”
She closed her eyes and whispered, “Thank you, but if I ever find out you’re lying, I’ll—”
“I’m not.” Max tenderly brushed the tangled, tear-soaked hair from her eyes. It was obvious that she was deeply upset. Time to step in and take total control. She needed some structure to her life. Otherwise it would spiral out of control. What would she get up to next if he didn’t guide her properly? “Ella you need to always show the greatest respect to your Master. In a D/s relationship we do not have any secrets from one another. We respect each other at all times. The golden rule is we believe what our partner tells us. By not trusting me you have shown the greatest disrespect possible. Disrespect to your Master is not acceptable behavior. It is my intention to deal with this fully when I get you home. This cannot go unpunished. Do you understand?”
She looked warily at him, and nervously knitted her hands together. “Yes, Max, I understand, but now I know the truth, I shall accept my discipline with good grace.” She lifted her head defiantly, unafraid to hold his gaze. “But just wait until I get my hands on this bitch. Revenge will be sweet.”
“We’ll see,” he said as he fired the car into life. “Did you manage to pack any clothes?” he asked as he maneuvered the Porsche onto the highway.
“There are two bags waiting in the hallway.”
“Right, we’ll pick them up, and then get you home. Be prepared, Ella, your training is about to commence,” he warned, using anticipation to generate a little fear in her mind. It didn’t seem to have the desired effect. All she could focus on was what she’d just discovered.
“I couldn’t believe it, Max. It was so distressing finding the information Kirk had saved on the memory stick. I feel betrayed. I know he’s dead, but I still feel betrayed. He told her things that are personal to a man and his wife. Intimate things that he should have kept to himself. I’ll never forgive him for that.”
When he reached her home, Max retrieved the two bags lying just inside the front door. While he was there he also removed the memory stick from Kirk’s laptop and discreetly placed it in his pocket. He’d look at the contents on his own, later.
During the twenty-minute drive back to his house, Max couldn’t shake the fact that Kirk had kept his affair with another woman a secret. Perhaps he hadn’t known his best friend as well as he thought. In a way he felt hurt, but he was also glad Kirk hadn’t confided in him. It would have put him in an impossible position with Ella. Maybe Kirk knew all along that he’d always had a soft spot for her? Although he’d never have taken advantage of this while they were married.
Ella held a hand to her head and groaned as they drove up the impressive winding drive to his home. After parking the car and helping her from it he asked, “Head hurt?”