Chapter 36 Conniving Cousin

Isabel slammed her door as hard as she could and sat staring into space. She was so tired of Anna and John’s devotion to her. How on earth did someone like her end up with someone like John? She knew she had to do something to make him doubt her. The pictures of Anthony kissing her had been a good start but she knew if would have to be something even more spectacular if this was going to work. Isabel picked up her phone and dialed.
“I need to meet now.”
“Why?” The voice on the other end asked in a tone that grated on her nerves “I did what you asked and gave you the pictures, what happens after that is not my problem.”
“I’m making it your problem,” Isabel screeched at the top of her lungs “I paid you to find something incriminating on her and it didn’t work.”
“Again, not my problem.” The voice said in a tone that suggested he was sitting there casually reading a magazine. “It’s not my fault that your boy loves his wife.”
“He does not love his wife, He just thinks he has to.”
“Look, lady, I don’t really care who he loves or who you love, I just do my job and get paid.”
Isabel saw red at his casual tone. No one talked other like that and didn’t pay for it. “Then do your job, I need something worse, something that will ruin her life.”
“You are a cold-hearted Bit&$ you know that?”
“I’ve been called worse,” Isabel said with a smile “Get me what I need.”
“It’ll cost you.” He said smoothly and Isabel knew he definitely had it coming.
“Just do it.”
“Got it, boss,” the man said quickly as Isabel hung up.
Isabel smiled as she saw Erin coming out of the building. Erin’s head was down and her brown ponytail swung dejectedly. Isabel knew which buttons to push where Erin was concerned and this was a perfect opportunity. She practiced a consoling look before she stepped out of her car and waited for Erin’s attention.
“Erin! She shouted waving wildly.
Erin looked up and Isabel could almost see her groan. Erin walked faster but Isabel caught her in her car. “Didn’t you hear me?” Isabel asked as she grabbed Erin’s arm.
“I heard you, I was just ignoring you.” Erin said jerking her arm away “you ruined everything.”
Isabel gasped and tried to look shocked. She had become very good over the years and her face genuinely looked shocked. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about you hanging me out to dry, I got transferred to another frickin office. I worked for two years to become his secretary. Now I’m working in receiving!”
“Well that’s what I thought might happen,” Isabel said faking sadness. She shook her head and saw from the corner of her eye that she had caught Erin’s interest.
“You thought what might happen? That you would ruin my life?”
“I thought he might move you just so he didn’t get tempted.”
Erin stared at her in disbelief. “Are you crazy? What are you talking about?”
Isabel leaned against the side of the car and shook her head again “The fact that John obviously moved you so he wouldn’t give in.”
“That’s crap, he asked me about it today. He knows.”
“He knows what?” Isabel said carefully to keep her voice even.
“That you told me what to do, that you helped me.”
Isabel grabbed her throat and slammed Erin against the car. Erin gasped as the grip on her throat tightened. “What did he say? Because he confronted me about it too and I’m not losing everything because you can’t keep your mouth shut or say the right thing.”
“He.. He asked how it happened. He wanted to know everything.”
“And you told him I did it right?” Isabel asked as her face went red and she pulled Erin closer.
“Yes…” Erin gasped before pulling Isabel’s fingers free.
“Good thing for you, I threw him off the trail. I told him you wanted him and asked for my help but that I didn’t help you. The more confused I can keep him the harder it will be for him to bond with Anna. “Isabel paced as Erin rubbed her throat. She spun and faced her and Erin jumped back instinctively.
“You have to try again to seduce him. I will try to have him stay late one night and then you can try to seduce him. I plan on making it very hard for him to resist.”
“How are you going to do that?” Erin asked looking suddenly hopeful.
“By tearing his marriage down brick by brick until he doesn’t know what’s going on or who to believe.”
Erin smiled and said, “How can I help?”