Chapter 4 The Blackmailer

My knees shook as I walked from the guest room to the bedroom I shared with Max. It took four attempts to lock the door.

I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the phone like it might explode. The anonymous message glared back:

He's not the only one who saw you last night.

The photo was vivid-Julian tangled in my hair, my shoulder bare, my face leaving no room for ambiguity. Someone had watched. Recorded. Threatened.

Scrolling through the thread, there was nothing-no name, no hint of motive, no ransom. Not yet.

Julian appeared, wordless, jaw tight. His presence made the tension worse.

"I got a text," I said.

His gaze snapped to me. "I know."

"You got one too?"

"No," he said. "But I checked the cameras. Someone was outside the window last night."

My skin chilled. "You saw them?"

"A figure. Blurred. Probably male. Not just walking by. They waited for us."

I stared at my phone. Someone had planned this.

Julian dragged a hand through his hair. "I'll handle it", he said.

"How? What if they send it to Max?" I asked, the thought causing me a feeling of pure horror.

"Then he'll finally know the truth", he stated flatly.

"That I cheated?" I asked, my eyes still wild at the prospect.

"That you left him. Emotionally. Years ago", he said with unwavering certainty.

I felt panic rise. "This isn't a movie, Julian. Real consequences. Divorce. Court. Reputation. All these cannot be overlooked or escaped from.."

He came close, too close. "Are you afraid of Max finding out... or afraid of how free you'll be when he does?"

The question hit like a slap. My mouth opened, closed.

The doorbell rang. Sharp. Innocent. Terrifying.

"Don't answer it," I whispered., scared out of my wits.

Julian didn't move. The bell rang again. Then my phone buzzed. I stared at it.

It was an unknown number. With a message which read:

"Cute pajamas. The blue ones are my favorite. Answer the door, unless you want Max to see my little photo album".

Julian took the phone, knuckles white. "Upstairs. Now", hhe ordered.

I followed, heart hammering. He opened the door-no one. But on the welcome mat lay a USB drive.

"They want us to see what they've got."

In the study, he inserted it. A folder appeared: THE WIFE AND THE WOLF.

Clips, dozens of them. Some from outside, some from inside. Security feeds hacked.

"They've got everything," Julian muttered.

Another message buzzed:

"You'll do anything to keep this from Max, won't you? There's more. You will have to do much more to keep him from knowing. Tick-tock, beautiful".

Julian's voice was steady but dark. "They want access to you. Not just blackmail. Power. Obedience. If they don't get it... they'll release it all.

"I'm not a slave," I whispered.

"You're a woman with something to lose," he said quietly.

I buried my face in my hands. "What do I do?"

"You don't do anything," he said. "I'll track them. I'll deal with them. And if it leaks before I do..."

He took my face in his hands, eyes intense. "Then let it burn", he threw at me carelessly.

"Let what burn?" I asked, incredulously.

"The lie. The life you built around a man who never saw you. The silence. The pretending. Let it burn-and walk out alive."

I whispered, almost inaudible, "And if I can't?"

His gaze never left mine. "Then I'll walk into the fire with you", he said, looking at me with a strange look in his eye.

And in that moment, fear, lust, and the dangerous thrill of defiance coursed through me like wildfire.

I saw an answering response in his eye as he pulled me into his arms, and kissed me reverently.

We came up for air gasping.

"The Blackmailer...", I started.

"To hell with the Blackmailer, whoever they may be!" he answered as he captured my lips again and carrying me, he sat me on the table in the study and I wrapped my legs round his waist. "He can wait. This can't!"

If he was watching, the Blackmailer, that is, then let him continue. The feeling that he might, added more thrill to the desire and excitement pulsating through my body in waves. What more could he possibly do to us that he hasn't already done or was planning to do.

"You are wet and it is driving me wild", he whispered hiarsely into my cheek, close to my ears.