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society and meeting her husband at a ball.
Before her mom could get anymore carried
away with stories she had already heard a
thousand times, Tori interrupted her and
informed her of the aftermath the fight and the
move home. So you see, Mom, this event did
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Concealed Affairs
nothing to help my standing in society. If
anything, my tiny progress was harmed because I
don t think I ll become a doctor s wife after all.
She wondered for a moment if she should have
included the cold attitudes of the Simses, what
had transpired between her and Geoff, and the
mixed feelings she had, but she didn t. She hadn t
come to any conclusions when it came to those
women who could easily alienate her from society,
David or Geoff. Plus, she didn t believe her mom
would understand any of it.
Oh, sweetheart, it was only a spat. It s natural
for them to happen in a relationship. Even your
father and I argue at times. David means well. You
have to remember a doctor s life is very
demanding. Just keep your chin up and be the best
woman a man can have.
After several more minutes of her mother s
lamentations on the news of her return to her
grandmother s house and her promotion, Victoria
said her goodbye and hung up the phone,
dissatisfied.
What had she expected? That her mom would
say dump David and move on? Her mom was
thrilled her daughter was close to marrying a
doctor, and when it came to feeling like a slave
and having fights, it was a part of life. Mrs.
Padden, the prime example of how a wife of a
man of influence should be, hadn t worked for
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anyone except her family and had volunteered her
time and efforts for any social event that would
promote her husband s standing. Felicia Padden
had paid her dues and now was able to relax and
enjoy the benefits of being rich. In time, her mom
had said, she would know that luxury, too.
Perhaps, but she knew her and David s
relationship was quite different than her parents
in many important aspects. Where her parents
were openly affectionate and loving with each
other, she and David were remote. Maybe in time
that would change. Maybe it wouldn t.
At the doorway of her office Tori scanned her
small living room. It had seemed like forever since
she had moved out of this little house. Yet it
hadn t been any time at all. Three months. Almost
four. Fourteen weeks of asking and waiting for
David to say she could move her furniture over.
Big and small pieces that still sat where she had
first placed them three years ago. David didn t like
her worn, homey-looking amenities. He had said
he didn t want the eyesores in his house.
It was as if he had known she wouldn t be a
permanent resident.
Tori thought of the monstrous desk, her
computer equipment and accessories behind her
and was surprisingly glad the items hadn t been
transferred. The furnishings were too heavy and
bulky to have been carted back and forth. She was
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Concealed Affairs
also thankful she d had enough sense to keep the
utilities on and paid. Maybe, deep down, she, too,
had known she wasn t long for David s place.
Enough, she told herself. If David didn t want
to call and talk to her, then she didn t want to
speak to him, either. Two could play at that game.
Besides, Sally had given her two new accounts,
which would immerse her in work, and she had a
house to clean. Those chores would definitely help
keep her mind occupied and off her crumbling
relationship.
As much as she hated to do it, she turned off
her cell phone. She was physically exhausted,
mentally drained, and didn t need her evening at
home delegated out to clients. Not like they would
be left in a lurch. They could call in and speak
with someone in the call center if they had trouble.
Back at the couch, she opened her briefcase and
pulled out a magazine she had bought on the way
home. Home Design. The shiny cover alluded to
decorating and updating while on a budget.
Planning the renovation of her house was what
she needed to do to clear her head and refocus.
The project would help her feel in control and
keep her mind occupied, thus letting her
subconscious work out the kinks in her problems.
She smiled at the logic of it and pulled out a
notebook, pen and calculator to jot down her
ideas. Half an hour later, she read over her list and
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the approximate costs. The excitement that had
been ballooning over her plans burst. She d be
able to do what she wanted, except the renovation
would take her forever to do it all by herself.
Especially when it came to the complex projects
like the deck she wanted to build onto the back of
her house. She could handle a paintbrush and do a
mediocre job with wallpaper. Give her a hammer
and nails, however, and she was all thumbs. She
had to admit the thought of painting wasn t all
that fun, either.
If only Geoff were around. With his help she d
have her home fixed up in no time. She smiled at
the thought of seeing him again.
No. She couldn t call him. Not after what
happened the other day. How could she hire him?
Anyway, he was probably sore about being let off
the job at David s. Not that he should be. It wasn t
like he was being paid for the work.
What had happened in the kitchen? Yes, it was
nice having affection lavished on her. Yes, it was
nice to feel desired. Her soul, unfettered by the
kiss, sang in its freedom, its reawakened passion.
He had unleashed a dormant yearning in her to
feel needed as a woman. Several years ago, party-
girl she was, she would have dropped his pants,
given him one hell of blow job and taken him on
the kitchen table. She almost had. But could she
have someone working in her home who had the
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ability of bringing out her inner freak?
She did need assistance with her house, though,
and he was more than capable to lend a hand.
After a bit of thought, she determined his being
near her would be all business, no pleasure. She
would make a set of rules. Rule number one, no
kissing. Enjoyable or not, she couldn t allow those
kind of liberties to be taken again.
Tori found Geoff s number on a crumpled piece
of paper in her briefcase. With a deep breath to
strengthen her resolve, she straightened out the
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