Chapter 26 begins

     "Xation!" Hays exclaimed as he entered his high-rise office with a bright and shining smile, a sparkle in his eyes. "The insurance policies have been closed, in our favor!" he said waving around two sheets of paper.
     "What policies?" Xation said forgetting the matter, what with all the many long hours he had been working, finalizing huge, multi-million dollar land deals.
     Hays smiled, looking quite self-satisfied, as he sat himself down in front of Xation's massive Brazilian teak wood desk, Xation barely looking up from his computer screen. "You remember old Oscar and Jorge?" Hays gave Xation a knowing look, nodding his head slightly. Here a look of recognition came to Xation's face, but he would not dare speak a word on the deadly matter of those two.., now deceased men. "We had life insurance policies on them, as we do all our employees..," Hays laid the two letters in front of Xation, whom was absolutely delighted by what he read. Hays quickly ran down the numbers with him "We had a 'dead peasants' policy on Jorge; which netted us $357,000.., and we had Oscar on a 'key man' policy.., so that account paid out 3.5 million. The checks cleared this morning!"
      Xation looked up at Hays with an enormous smile, then he paused thinking of the dead men's families, so he asked Hays "And the families.., how much do they get?"
     "Nothing., zero." Hays said with great joy telling Xation "Our company paid the premiums on all these policies, the families have know idea about any of this. Not even our employees know we have these life insurance accounts on them.., but hell if it's good enough for Goldman Sachs and Wal-Mart and every other company, we have every legal right, as a cooperation, to buy as many life insurance policies as we want, and collect on all that we can." he stated in all truth of fact. So that left the two, or their company, a great sum of money to do with as they wished. Hays suggested the two go out to Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak house later, and celebrate the huge, newly acquired fortune, though Xation agreed to go out to dinner he wished his wife and child were up in Texas with him.
     Xation gave a melancholy look, staring off into space, even with this great news, he still sank back down into sadness, for Xation missed Leah so much over the past weeks, but he had so much work to do, meetings all day, from dawn to dusk. Here he let out a little sigh looking at the framed photograph of his wife and child next to his telephone on his desk, and Xation made a mental note to call and check on Leah and Jason later that night. "Sorry, Hays." Xation responded to Hays who had been calling his name trying to get his attention. "I just miss my family so very much."
     "Listen, don't worry, it won't be long now. Serena told me last night that your house on Prince.., well, they expect to be done with the swimming pool and landscaping in about four more weeks, and then everything will be ready for Leah and Jason to come up here and live. You will all be together again really soon!" Hays said trying his best to cheer up his friend and business partner "But until then we have million dollar deals on the line, and what with the Barnett Shale and trying to acquire all those mineral rights., well, we need you focused." Hays stood up, then resting both of his hands on the top of Xation's desk, he leaned forward and said "Listen my friend.., me, you and Serena will go out tonight, we'll have a nice, expensive meal, a few bottles of wine and tomorrow everything will be fine, and you will be one more day closer to having your family living up here with you in a your big, new, beautiful mansion!" Hays gave another of his cheery smiles "Yeah?"
     "Very well." Xation replied the sadness leaving his eyes and just as Xation thought he wold be able to get through another day, lonely, without his bride, a call came through the intercom from Xation's young, lovely assistant.
     "Mr.Day, I have an urgent call on line three for you, from Mr. Bengiman Pruce."
     Xation and Hays each gave one another a concerned look "Alright, thank you." Xation stood up placing the call on speaker phone. "Yes Bengiman, is there a problem?" Xation asked having no idea the amount of turmoil and strife that was about to be stirred up, like a hornet's nest, in his life.

End Chapter 25

     "Bengiman..," Leah said alone with him for the first time since they were in Lexa's bed together. "I just want to say, once again, how sorry I am for having deceived you, but when you started to lick me, and kiss me with your tongue and mouth.., I just could not help myself." she confided in Bengiman, who, even though he was fraught with anxiety for having defiled his best friend's wife, he now felt a little rush of blood fill the tip of his penis at the recollection of the exquisite taste of Leah in his mouth and he cold still smell her on his skin and savour her sweetness on his lips.
     Bengiman blushed, but did not look away from her when he said "Well.., I know if Xation ever finds out I am a dead man, but after what we did together, and to each other.., I can say.., with the thought of you and your mouth and luscious body.., I would go to my grave with a smile upon on my face." he said giving her little wink of his dark eyes.
     "Oh the things you say." Leah laughed then her expression returned back to that of a serious nature "Now listen, Bengiman, you needn't worry! This is our little secret.., and we're never, never, never, telling." Leah reassured him once more, then she reached out and took Bengiman by the hand, saying in a voice that was most sweet and kind. "I promise, everything will be alright." then she added "Besides, I was the villain, you were the victim.., I am the only one to blame, I should have said something the moment you came in.., to the room." here Bengiman felt some sort of relief by her words, but he still felt extremely uneasy, with knots in his stomach and sharp stabbing pains in the tense muscles of his back and shoulders. "Though, honestly..," Leah said with a devilish smile "I really did have an amazing time!"
     Now Bengiman himself held the very same sentiment in his heart, for the experience of ravaging this stunning woman was one of the finest nights of hot sex he had ever had in his life. Both stood there just for a moment in silence and each had flashes of the extreme pleasure endured, caused and created by the other, reliving briefly those certain moments, of sweat, hot breaths, pure physical, liquid pleasure. Leah felt a rush of energy fill every inch of her body as she remembered taking Bengiman all in, there he could now see the little goosebumps rising up on the exposed flesh of Leah's arms, as her pupil's dilated slightly, her lips parting as she licked them seductively, and in that very instance Bengiman found himself reaching out, pulling her close to his body giving her a deep, warm, wet, passionate kiss; to which she did NOT turn away!
     Then the pain of treachery and deceit filled their desirous hearts once again and Leah stopped Bengiman, pushing him off, saying "No.., this can not go on.., or you and I will both end up dead!"
     Meanwhile downstairs, Charles had fetched his doctor's bag and went back to Lexa's room, where he tended to her fresh wounds. "Stay still." Charles instructed Lexa as she lay on her stomach on the unmade bed {which still smelled of sex and sweat} Charles had placed a white, now bloodstained, towel on his lap with Leah's feet resting upon his thighs as he used a pair of stainless-steel, razor sharp tweezers digging into the soles of her bloodied feet.
     "God!!!" Lexa cried out in torment from the sharp cutting pain as Charles tried his best to tweeze out the last remaining, embedded slivers of glass. It was an excruciating, meticulous process, but nothing a well seasoned physician could not handle. Though Lexa's squirming around did not help in any way, nor did the endless pleas for his forgiveness for her unfaithful disloyalty.
     "Lexa!" Charles chided her "I need for you to be still and keep quiet! I need to concentrate!" with this admonishment Lexa shut her mouth, and did not move a muscle while Charles dug deep into her tender flesh extracting the last bits of broken glass. She bit her lip and buried her face in the pillow, a fever rushing to her brow, and she wanted to scream, so instead she bit down hard on her pillow as she felt the last shard, finally, thankfully, coaxed out of her skin. The pain was so intense but nothing compared to the torture of having hydrogen peroxide poured into the open cuts and deep lacerations. "Son of a fucking!!!!!!!! Prick!!!!!!!!" Lexa shrieked so intense was the burning, searing sting of the anti-microbial solution bubbling up with blood and bacteria, now she would of rather had salt, or vodka, poured into her wounds, for surely that would have been less painful.
     "Take it easy!" Charles said as Lexa nearly kicked him in the face as she writhed about the bed in agony. "I need to wrap up your feet in gauze and then I will give you some vicodan to help ease you suffering." Now when  he said this Charles realized he could easily, at this point, actually end her 'suffering' permanently.
     However, just as the thought of giving Lexa an overdose of painkillers came to his head, Lexa turned and looking up at him from her bed, with the saddest look he had ever seen in a woman's eyes, she cried saying "You are so kind to me, even after everything. Thank you Charles, you are such a good and gracious man.., and I want you to know that I have learned, only, one thing today.., and that is.., you are a much better person than I could ever hope to be." with her words Charles realized there was no way in Heaven, or on Earth, that he would ever bring himself to harm his, once, dear Lexa in any way, shape or form.
     "No, Lexa.., that is where you are wrong." Charles sighed, finishing up with the gauze "That shows how little you really know me.., for there is not one good thing inside me., there never has been.., and there never will be."
    

Chapter 25 continues

     "What about your sister.., can she keep her mouth shut?" Charles asked giving Leah an uncertain look.
     "Yes, Lexa will never tell." she replied trying to reassure Charles who stood there still bewildered, shocked by the happenings of the morning, trying to wade through the deception to keep his head and not lose all control, both mentally and violently.
     "Well.., Bengiman." Charles turned his attention away from mother and child, focusing on the other deeply disturbing, heart breaking situation facing the two men. "We will have to tell Xation, about what has happened between us and Lexa." Charles sighed as Bengiman gave a shrug of his massive shoulders, Charles wanted so much to punch that English bastard in the face, but with out a knife and iron, Charles would be bested, and savagely beaten, by the giant of a man. "Because, I can not, I WILL not go on like this any longer, and after everything Lexa has done to me.., I really don't want her to live here with us anymore." Charles turned back to Leah who was quietly cradling her babe in her arms "Leah, I think it is best if you send your sister back to California. And I hope I never have to see her again, for as long as I live." Charles said filled with self-righteous indignation.
     Here the expression of fear, shock and turmoil on Leah's face changed, as she sat up a little straighter, her eyes fixed and sharpened on Charles, as Leah opened up her mouth saying "Is that a fact..?" she gave a smirk and a little wry laugh "Well.., Charles, " her tone becoming severe "I think, maybe YOU should be the one who leaves!"
Charles said nothing as the little hairs on the back of his neck stood on end and Bengiman remained perfectly still thinking this was a fantastic idea.
     "Excuse me?" Charles said astounded by her remark.
     "You heard me." Leah said as she got up out of bed, carefully placing her sleeping baby back in the bassinet. Then she turned and walked up to Charles, saying "You can not possibly have so much hatred for my sister, because you, yourself, have cheated on her as well! You have done the exact same thing, you are no better than she!" Charles said nothing, and Bengiman too held his tongue just waiting to see how this new little scene would play out. "You know.., my grandmother always told me.., 'if you hate something, then don't ya do it too'." here pain and remorse filled Leah's voice and overcame her face, as she said aloud, to no one in particular "I blamed Xation for cheating on me.., and so, when I had the sudden opportunity I pounced upon it like a hungry cat on a helpless mouse... Oh my sweet, cheating, disloyal Xation. Now.., I am just as bad as him." Leah's eyes focused once again on Charles and she pinpointed her disdain upon him "So.., Charles.., I am not about to stand here and let you denigrate my sister, trying to cast her, my flesh and blood, out of MY house.., just because you can not take it. You are not innocent in any of this, nor you Bengiman!" Leah felt very dizzy as the anger bubbled away in her like lava streaming from an active volcano, then the entire reality of the situation, the gravity of all of her, and their, disgraceful, disloyal mistakes, flooded back to the mainstream of her conscience, this is when that deep, blue sadness returned once more to her green eyes, she shook her head from side to side, then Leah gave a sincere, desperate look to each man as she said "What can I say..? I am so ashamed of all of us."
     There was a moment of silence and in that space of thirty seconds, or so, the thought occurred to Charles that maybe it was time for him to go, so he reached out touching Leah on the shoulder saying "I think your right.., in fact I know it! I think it is best if I be the one to leave, besides with the riding academy closed, I really don't have very much to do around here anymore. I will talk to Xation.., later." he said emotionally drained by the events of the morning, numbed by sadness, confused by furious rage, exhausted from the mental strain and pain in his heart. "But first, there is a cold bottle of Grey Goose in my freezer with my name on it., so if you all, y'all, will excuse me, I need to go become unconscious for the remainder of the day."
     With that Charles turned to exit the bedroom leaving Bengiman and Leah to deal with the ramifications of their deception on their own. Charles walked down the long hall thinking of his home back in Chicago and he wished, more than ever, that he had never fled the country, and had stayed and faced up to 'Lady Justice' and served his time, because Charles truly felt, right now, prison would be heaven compared to this fresh hell. Then he heard the sound of Lexa crying as she sat, sobbing, at the bottom of the stairs. The first response in his heart and mind was 'serves you right', so Charles proceeded down the grand staircase as he eyed Lexa, who sat in her pale blue silk robe, on the bottom step, one foot up on her knee as she tried, hopelessly, to pick out the tiny slivers of glass with her long fingernails, as a fresh red stream seeped out of her bloodstained feet. As Charles slowly passed Lexa on the stairs, he averted his gaze, only hearing her painful cries, he had every intent of saying nothing, ignore her completely, and treat Lexa as if she did not exist, as if he could not even see her, this WAS his intention, but then he heard Lexa say through her tears, wincing in pain "It hurts sooooo bad!"
     Here Charles paused, his back to her, he had managed to only get three steps away from her, but at the sound of his, once, dear Lexa suffering, he turned to face her as a little spot in his heart felt a wee bit of a tinge of compassion, so Charles looked down at the injured, still beautiful woman, saying "Lexa.., do you need my help?"
     "No!" Lexa bellowed up through great waves of tears rolling down her reddened cheeks.
     Charles let out a sigh folding his arms across his chest as he rephrased his offer of mercy and pity. "Lexa.., do WANT my help?" then he gave her look of extreme indifference, but even still in his current mood, and agitated state of mind, Charles unfolded his arms extending a hand down to her.
     So it was, and this was just what Lexa wanted, nay, needed, a show, an offer of help in her time of pain. "YES!" she looked up at Charles with her tear stained, emerald eyes.
     Lexa took his hand but, of course, was unable to stand, so out of the graciousness of his heart, and the strength of his back and arms, Charles scooped Lexa up, carrying her back to her room, where he promised to tend to her wounds, even though this was not a task Charles wanted to do, but he was from Chicago, a Mid-Western, native son, and he was bred and born from a hearty stock of fellows who would never turn there back on anyone injured. So as Lexa rested her head on his shoulder, her arms around his neck, she sobbed uncontrollably, confessing to him in short, panicked breaths, lamenting "I don't know what is wrong with me! I have never been able to be loyal to anybody! I'm constantly cheating! I see now what sort of whore I have become! Why?" she cried close to his ear, her hot breath on his neck, her heart spewing out the bitter truth. "I am so sorry! I am sorry for what I have done to you Charles! I know you can never forgive me. I just want to know what the fuck is wrong with me! Why can't I be faithful? I know I am a whore.., and I feel like nothing.., nobody.., no one., no more!"

Chapter 25 begins

     "Leah! God damn it!" Charles shouted, as he pounded on her bedroom door, after learning about their little 'sexcapade' Leah allowed to happen with Bengiman. Without waiting to be told to come in Charles burst into the room where he found Leah sitting up in bed breast-feeding her baby as she gave a shocked look trying to cover her exposed breasts.
     "Charles get outta here!" Leah hissed while Bengiman turned away averting his eyes from the bare-breasted Leah, whom he had, unknowingly, ravaged only hours before, the embarrassment and shame and guilt was too much for him to take, so he looked away, his heart racing feeling as though he wished he were dead.
     "Why!? Leah! Why!?" Charles implored stepping into her room as she sat there looking at the two of them standing there in their pajamas, and now Leah noticed she was unable to look at Bengiman, for she too felt the strain of shame on her heart, now she truly felt bad, full of horrible remorse, as Charles chastised her for her illicit behaviour. The level of anger rising in his voice, so incredulous was Charles, that she had deceived Bengiman in the darkness, just to fill her lustful urges and sexual needs "My God! What were you thinking?" Charles continued disgusted by her actions, and the inaction, of not telling Bengiman who she really was. "You have NO idea what you have done Leah!" Charles shouted his eyes wide, a dire look upon his face, as solemn as a grave.
     "Calm down Charles!" Leah said trying to get him to lower his voice, as not to frighten little Jason who continued suckling from his mother's teet as the argument commenced.
     "Calm down!?" Charles shook his head, throwing up his hands as Bengiman stepped out of the room, into the hallway, for he could not stand to be in the same room this woman, whom did not seem to realize the severity of her sin. "You don't fucking get it do you? Leah, you are married to a very dangerous man."
     "Charles!" Bengiman shouted standing in the threshold with a scowl.
     "Bengiman! Leah! If Xation EVER finds out about what happened between you two.., then I can assure you.., that man will get rid of all of us! And I don't mean give us a ride to the airport." Charles said with all the seriousness of an executioner. Bengiman remained silent, knowing every word Charles said on the matter was true.
     "Don't be so dramatic Charles! My husband doesn't kill people." Leah said with a laugh, then she noticed as Bengiman and Charles looked at one another each with the same look as if to say, 'no.., but he pays people to do it for him'. Here a chill ran up and down the length of her spine, for Leah knew just how jealous her husband could be.., many, many times in the past, now Leah realized her moment of doubt may have led her to the worst decision she had ever made in her life.
     "Leah! You fucked your husband's best friend! Bengiman, you fucked your best friend's wife! And I let this all go down on my watch! I am supposed to be watching out for her! But I had no fucking idea you, Leah, would be sneaking around in your sister's bed!"
     "I didn't plan it Charles! It just happened!" Leah said in her own defence.
     "I was in  bed with you.., for two hours! You could have.., told me it was really you! Now what the fuck am I supposed to do?" Bengiman said seething "I have known Xation since he was a 19 year old college kid. Fall of '77, and I have not even, ever, once so much as stolen a kiss away from one of his girlfriends.., I have always been loyal to him.., he is my best friend! And now.., through your own deceit, by no treachery of my own.., now I have betrayed him.., and it makes me sick to look at you!" Bengiman said as he shot Leah a look as sharp as knives.
     "Alright.., alright.., that's enough! I know what I did was wrong! I'm sorry! I have no explanation for my behavior! I am sorry.., what more do you want me to say?!" here Leah began to cry her bitter, little tears.
     "Just say that you will NEVER TELL!" Charles yelled, then he took in a deep breath, trying his best to calm down amidst the turmoil of the situation swirling through his mind. "We must all promise, and agree.., Xation CAN NOT find out about what went on with you two last night."
     "Yes, of course, I totally agree!" Bengiman said nodding his head.
     "I will never tell!" Leah said with the truest conviciton of her lonely heart, and she would take this dirty little secret with her to her grave, but little did Leah know that day was not so very far away.

End Chapter 24

     "What the fuck is going on in here!?" Charles shouted as he saw Bengiman pick up his nightstand, throwing it through the window, the sound of shattering glass exploded in the room, as Bengiman turned and looked over at Charles giving him a menacing glare, and in that moment Bengiman wanted more than anything to go over and smash Charles in the face with his fists, but there, in the brief moment of his inaction, Bengiman heard the sound of little Jason crying uncontrollably, going unconsoled by his mother, Leah, who was shaking in fear, with her sister, on the floor in the corner. The sound of the baby crying was just the thing needed to snap Bengiman out of his destructive frenzy. So, instead of rushing across the debris strewn floor and attacking Charles to let out all his aggressions, Bengiman bowed his head; which he shook in disgust and shame. "God Damn it! I am so fucking ashamed! What have I done? How will I ever explain..?" here a tremendous look of guilt and absolute sadness over came his face. Then Bengiman looked down at Leah, who still hid from his gaze, his countenance changed back to madness and he shouted down at Leah as he towered over her "This is all your fault! You are the only one to blame!"
     "Bengiman! Simmer down" Charles shouted "Why are you screaming at Leah?"
     "Fuck the both of you stupid bitches!" Bengiman snapped, as he collapsed in an exhausted heap, sitting on the edge of his bed.
     "What are you on about?" Charles stood there more confused than ever. Bengiman said nothing, only averting his eyes from Charles, as he held his face in hands, Bengiman just sat there, slowly shaking his head. So Charles went to help the ladies up off the floor and as he reached for Lexa's hand Charles said "Lexa, please tell me what is going on here."
     Lexa did not reply, nor would she lift her head up and look at Charles, nor would she take his hand. No words came, no explanation was forthcoming, no reason given, for the utter destruction of Bengiman's room and all the contents therein. It was not until Charles assisted Leah to her feet when she said to him "I think I should be the one to explain." Leah said in a sullen voice with a look of doom.
     "Leah, please, tell me." Charles said, he suddenly felt very dizzy as if he were about to faint, or vomit.
     Here Bengiman sank his head down lower as Lexa remained on the floor, pulling her knees up close to her chest as she hid her face. Leah took in a deep breath then as she exhaled she said "I have some very disturbing news, and you are probably going to be very anger when you find out.., about."
    "About what?" Charles interrupted a hint of fear in his voice.
    "Lexa, and Bengiman have been.., having an affair." Leah said calmly watching every move on his face as Charles took a few seconds for this to register in his brain.
     "What.., having an affair..? With., each other?" Charles stammered, the thought of that nasty piece of London trash, fucking his good lady, turned his stomach as confusion, hatred, dejection, wrathful madness, humiliation all raced through his mind, causing Charles so much emotional and physical pain. "Bengiman you fucking bastard!" Charles yelled over at Bengiman who looked up at the ceiling, unable to look Charles in the eyes. "Lexa! Please tell me this isn't true!" Charles said as he knelt down in front of the great whore Lexa, who only turned away as she began to cry. "No, Lexa.., not him! Anyone but him!" here, before anger and bitterness took over, the little piece of his heart, where Charles made room for all the love in the World for Lexa, now burned with ice and fire, as that part of him that adored Lexa began to die, in the pain of his ultimate rejection by his lover, whom had found her happiness in the arms of another. Another man.., Bengiman. "Why? Lexa? I thought you loved me?" still Lexa would not turn and face him as she sat there weeping. It took but a moment, though it felt like an eternity, as the confusion and dejection turned to indignation. "How long Lexa!" Charles said as he grabbed her chin with his hand firmly, trying to force Lexa to look at him.
     "Since the first day she came." Bengiman said, for now he felt was the best time to be honest about their frequent indiscretions. A gasp came up from both Charles and Leah, for she herself did not know anything about the affair, not until that morning.
     "Are you fucking kidding me?" Charles shouted, his face turning bright red, a vein swelling on the side of his neck and he looked like his head was about to explode. Charles turned to look at Leah and he said "I suppose you have known about this all along?"
    Leah gave Charles a very shocked look as she said "No! I only found out this morning."
    "Yeah." Bengiman said sarcastically.
    "Well.., Charles.., it gets worse." Leah said as she carefully tried to back out of the room avoiding all the broken glass, trying not to slice open her bare feet. "Lexa! Get up and deal with this! I have to get Jason!" Leah said as she screamed at her sister.
     Lexa looked up, amidst the utter destruction of Bengiman's room and the contents there within, Bengiman sat over on his disheveled bed, pillows ripped open, down feathers everywhere, as Charles stood over her, glowering down at Lexa as she slowly tried to get up off the floor. Using her hands to press against the wall, Lexa stared straight into the eyes of the man she had been so disloyal to. Neither Charles, nor Bengiman, would extend a hand to her, to help Lexa up from the glass strewn floor, shards of broken mirrors and picture frames shattered at her feet. Then as she stood up, shoulders back, head held high, chest out, arms crossed, Lexa took in a deep breath as she summoned up the courage to face the truth, and be honest with Charles, who had only ever treated her like a Queen, his 'American Queen' that is what he used to call her, but those words, and that heartfelt sentiment, would never pass her sweet lover's lips again, then she began "Charles., I am very sorry.., but it is all true." as the words came out of her mouth Lexa felt a tremendous weight lift up off her shoulders and her racing heart slowed it's furious beating, she felt in a word, Relieved. "We fooled around before dinner, my first day here.., I was just messing about, having a bit of fun.., you and I.., had only known each other for two weeks, I was supposed to be going home, I was not supposed to stay" Lexa tried her best to explain, but her words only brought Charles more pain. "Then.., well, things changed, I was stuck here looking after my sister, after what Felina did..," Lexa paused recalling the sight of Leah collapsed and broken at the bottom of the staircase, then she continued "I am so sorry, I tried to make him stop, but he wouldn't listen! Isn't that right Bengiman? He made me."
     "Make him stop.., made you..? Are you saying he raped you?" Charles asked as Bengiman balked with a laugh.
     "Fuck you!" Bengiman rolled his eyes.
     "No! No! You misunderstand my meaning. Bengiman said if I didn't let him play around with me, once in a while, he would tell you about the first night, and I felt so bad, I didn't want you to know, I had begun to grow so very close to you.., and I knew the truth would only ruin everything! And now I have lost you forever." here Lexa grew silent as tears of shame raced down her face and she could see Charles was still filled with rage, without one ounce of mercy or pity for Lexa in his broken heart.
     "Lexa..," Charles said not knowing in which direction to take this matter, Forgiveness, or Vengeance? In an instant Charles chose the latter as he began to berate Lexa "you are a fucking, disloyal whore! And I can not believe you would do this to me, after everything I have done for you! And out of all the people in Argentina.., you pick him?! That explains why your pussy is not as tight as it used to be! I am so disgusted with you right now! Just looking at you makes me want to puke!"
     "Now hold on a minute there mate!" Bengiman said as he arose from the crumpled mess of sheets on his bed "Don't be such a fucking hypocrite!"
     Charles snapped his head back around giving Bengiman a shocked and anger filled look and Lexa, as well, pricked up her ears when she heard Bengiman say this "What?" Lexa asked in a low, confused tone in her voice.
     "Oh yeah.., Lexa.., that's right.., say Charlie, why don't you tell her what your 'family meeting' in Bermuda with Felina was really all about?" Bengiman said with a look in his eyes as cruel as the grave. "No?" Bengiman laughed looking back over at Lexa telling her. "Yeah, our Charlie here just spent the past fortnight, fucking Felina night and day!"
     Charles froze in place, unable to look at Lexa now out of his own damnable shame. Lexa took a careful step forward, a small sliver of glass slicing into the tender flesh of her foot, but she was so shell-shocked she could only feel emotional pain. "What..?" she muttered as Charles suddenly grew all quiet and silent, unable to speak.
     "Yup! Oh aye, I knew the whole time, but didn't have the nerve to tell you sweetheart." Bengiman said as he stood there beside his bed "And d'ya'know what I asked him, when I found out what he was up to..? I said 'what about Lexa? Charlie, remember what you said to me?" here Charles only response was to take a few steps back towards the door, but Bengiman answered his own question when he spoke up to Lexa, telling her "He said, and I quote, 'fuck her! I'm not married to her, I can do what I want!"
     Lexa stared in shock and horror at Charles, her 'santicmonious' accuser, was now being accused of the exact same sin. "Is this true Charles..? Is this what you said.., and did?" this sudden revelation drained out any love, or affection, Lexa ever had for the handsome American, she had called her friend, and her exquisite lover, but that was all over. "Look at me!" she shouted out through her warm, wet tears as she drew closer to him, pieces of glass cutting deep into her flesh, but she did not care, for Lexa was too focused on the matter at hand. "Did you fuck Felina!?"
    Charles watched as she came forward, blood starting to pool out from the gashes on her feet, but he did not care about Lexa's injuries, nor did he wish to assist her in any way, however, Charles did open up his mouth and give her the gift of the truth, when he said one simple word and that was "Yes."
     Now as soon as he said this all the feeling in her body came back in a flood of stabbing pain and Lexa could feel her warm, scarlet blood seeping out of her fresh wounds, Lexa opened up her mouth seething " Well now.., Charles! I guess you are a just a disloyal whore just like me!" she said through her tears, smiling like a fiend as Lexa began her tirade "You are a lying, fucking bastard! I can not believe you would stand here and accuse me of the EXACT same thing you, yourself, are doing! Well fuck you! I am done with you forever! This is finished! I can not put up with this shit any longer! I can not live like this! I won't live like this! I have to go away and never come back, I need to get out of this 'prison' of a house! I have to get out!" Lexa said braving her way through the physical pain, and mental anguish, as she slowly stepped towards the door, going unassisted by the men in the room , who knew, and could plainly see she was injured and bleeding, but Charles and Bengiman had become, the worst thing to a woman, Indifferent. Then as she neared the threshold, just before she walked out into the hall, Lexa turned back, and with the all the ferociousness of a lion, Lexa roared "Charles, I want you to know that I can fuck whoever I want! Whenever I want! Because I am not married to you either!"
     Enraged Charles turned spewing forth his own brand of venom, screaming at her "And you never will be!"
     "Goodbye forever!" Lexa hissed as she limped down the hallway, leaving her footprints in her own blood as she began weeping, making a strange moaning through her short breaths; which sounded like a small wounded animal that was slowly dying.
     Bengiman carefully left his room, stepping over the broken bloody mess, calling after to her "Lexa! Don't go! I still want to be with you!"
     "Fuck you Bengiman! You will NEVER be with her! Ever again!" Charles screamed over to him his voice reverberating down the long corridor.
     "NEITHER of you will ever fuck me again!" Lexa shouted. "And Bengiman!" Lexa continued "Stay away from my sister!" Lexa added as she began to run towards the stairs despite the sharp, shooting pain.
     "What..?" Charles said wondering what Lexa meant by that then suddenly Leah's words echoed through his brain 'it gets worse.., it gets worse', he could hear her say.
     "Yeah.., about that." Bengiman sighed his voice as tense as wire.

More Chapter 24

     It was around half past seven, on that bright, beautiful Summer's morn', when Leah awoke in all relaxation and physically satisfied splendor, after Bengiman had slipped out of Lexa's bed, still thinking he had just ravished his rival's girlfriend, and not his best friend's wife. Leah knew the truth as she sat up in her sister's warm bed, with a yawn and a stretch, a smile etched upon her face she stood, in the nude, looking at her reflection in the mirror. Letting out a happy sigh Leah delighted in the image of her naked body, with her large, round supple breasts, curvaceous hips and shimmering glowing skin, her long golden hair a mass of tangles from the vigorous pulling on, by Bengiman's strong hands, and, of course, her hated cesarean scar. Delighted by her sexual prowess Leah took a quick shower before heading back up to check on her poor sister, whom had been up all night trying to get little Jason, who was teething and always fussy, to fall asleep. However, Lexa could not find anything to quell the infants grumblings, save for the soft singing of lullaby's; which was great, but the moment Lexa stopped singing the baby would begin to wail and moan. So there Leah found her sister sitting at the edge of the massive bed, next to the bassinet; which she had pulled up close to her. Jason had finally fallen asleep and when Lexa saw Leah, she gave a dazed, shocked look saying in a small raspy voice "Ssh. Leah, he just went to sleep."
     Leah looked at her dear sister who looked in a word, Frazzled. Her hair a disheveled mess, with bits of dried baby vomit encrusted among her golden curls, dark circles under her blood-shot eyes, a vacant, far off look on her face. This is how Leah looked quite often herself, almost every day now, for motherhood was a talent neither of the sisters were imbued with. Lexa looked up at Leah who was all a glow with a bright and shining smile, radiantly beaming so Lexa commented "Well, you certainly look much better!" Lexa marveled that a few hours of rest in her bed had brought about such a drastic change in her sisters demeanor and disposition.
     "Why Lexa.., I feel just capital!" she smiled with a gleam in her eyes of which Lexa had not seen in a such a very long time.
     "Well, what's got into you?" Lexa inquired as she saw a rakish smile come over her sister's face.
     Now Leah could have, and should have, just kept her mouth shut, and saved the torrid memory as a sordid little secret for her to keep, but no, Leah had always shared everything with her sister, now both figuratively AND literally, and she just had to know what was going on between Bengiman and Lexa. So with a sly look of gratification Leah opened up her mouth and said "It's not what has gotten into me, dear sister.., but rather.., WHO!"
     Lexa stared up at her sister, an icy wave coursed through her veins as a bitter churning began to roil in the pit of her stomach, unable to respond, Lexa got up from her sister's bed, stepping away from the sleeping infant, as she grabbed Leah, painfully, by the wrist, leading her out of Xation and Leah's bedroom out into the hall, where Leah gave her sister a cautious, deeply serious look saying. "Who.., got into you? What the fuck are you talking about?" Lexa said her hands shaking a little as she covered her mouth.
     "Well.., I think it is you who need to do the talking." here Lexa stood closer to her sister then she whispered "What is going on between you and Bengiman?"
     With this question Lexa had a strange physical response, she found herself unable to speak, there came a ringing in her ears, and time seem to stand still, each breath she took sounded like the roar of the ocean in her head, her face grew pale as a bottle of milk and she could not feel her heartbeat. "Wha..," she stammered.
     "Bengiman came down to your room last night, he kept saying 'Charlie drank too much whiskey and he is fast asleep.., and" Leah paused.
     "What, Leah?" Lexa said snapping back into the moment."What did he do to you?" she said with a hint of rage and frustration in her voice.
     "Oh.., so many things." Leah smiled giving Lexa a little wink. "As you can see my headache has left me completely." she laughed.
     "I can't.., I don't know.., what, fuck!" Lexa responded a look of deep humiliation mixed with confusion on her face. "And you.., never told him who you were, he thinks you were me..?  You cheated on Xation.., with his best friend..? Leah why would you chose to let this happen?" Lexa said tears welling up in her eyes as the gravity of the situation was actualized in her mind.
     Leah looked at her sister and said with a sternness in her voice, with strength and the courage of her convictions, she told her sister "God Damn it Lexa! I am human and I need to be loved, just like everybody else does!"
     Now here is where the momentum shifted, as a bitter disdain and rage brewed up in a storm of anger and wrath in Leah's anguished heart, shaking her head in a disapproval at her sister, then slowly Lexa turned down the hall way, inch by inch she neared the door of Bengiman's nearby bedroom. Leah ran down the hall after Lexa but it was too late, Lexa threw open the door screaming at the top of her lungs "You stupid son of a prick!" Lexa leapt upon Bengiman as he lay there peacefully sleeping in his bed. Bengiman had not even opened up his eyes as Lexa jumped on top of him, now before he could restrain her, Lexa managed to get two solid punches to Bengiman's face, one on his left cheek and another on his lower left jaw, where she nearly knocked one of his teeth out.
     "Fucking Hell!" Bengiman yelled in surprise and dismay.
     "Lexa stop!" Leah shouted getting up on the bed trying to pull her sister off of Bengiman, who sat up and with one push of his hands and strong arms shoved both women to the floor and off his bed.
     "What the fuck is going on here?!" Bengiman exclaimed as he got up out of his bed standing to his feet towering over the women, he was not exactly sure which one of them attacked him, but he did not think after the night he had with Lexa it could not possibly be her.
     Lexa scrambled to her feet as Leah sat there on the floor a moment longer trying to catch her breath, as Lexa said to Bengiman in a voice full of venom and fire "Did you have fun last night Bengiman? Creeping down in my bed."
     Bengiman thought this was an odd question but he responded truthfully "Oh Aye!" he paused then rubbing his aching jaw he added "and.., as I seem to recall, you enjoyed yourself as well."
     Here he heard Leah give out a little giggle then to his utter shock, horror and dismay Lexa informed him "No, I did not enjoy myself.., how could I, I was upstairs all night taking care of the baby!" the two sisters remained silent as this news soaked into the buds of Bengiman's mind and it took a moment for the situation to sink in.
     "Sorry Bengiman, I should have said something." Leah said in a suddenly bashful tone.
     "It was you.., Leah.., my best friends wife?" now in the next few seconds of his deceitful betrayal of Xation's trust, Bengiman took leave of his senses as his anger and shock surpassed all of his reason. So it was with a loud voice full of madness, shouting obscenities, Bengiman picked up an arm chair smashing it against the wall, shattering pictures, as the two women screamed trying to flee the room, but the pathway was blocked by flying vases, lamps, stereo, speakers, television, etc... Down stairs the maids, who were busy cleaning the kitchen before breakfast, heard the commotion and immediately rushed out to the pool house to wake Charles, telling him they feared someone was being attacked in Bengiaman's room. So up from his bed he arose in a flash, dashing into the house and up the grand staircase, but before doing so Charles instructed the maids and the chef to go and wait in gatehouse. He did not know what was happening but he surely did not want the help finding out about whatever was taking place upstairs in Bengiman's room.
     Charles ran down the long dark corridor, he could hear Jason crying over the loud crashes coming from down the hall. Bursting through the door Charles found Leah and Lexa huddled up in the corner together on the floor, holding one another, heads down, as glass shattered all around them. Bengiman had destroyed virtually every item and piece of furniture in his room. He was now hurling books and cologne bottles at the wall very near to the ladies, who were cowering and screaming in terror for their lives. Had Bengiman not been able to control himself he could have, very easily, choked the life out of each of the women, or picked them both up and toss them out the second story window, but Bengiman would never harm a hair on a woman's head. But he would destroy everything in his path, tear the walls down, and set fire to the house! However, Charles arrived on the scene, just in time, to try to subdue Bengiman's furious anger and find out just what the hell was going on.

Chapter 24 continues

     "Lexa." Leah whispered as she next to her sleeping sister on the bed "Wake up.., I need your help."
     Leah rolled over opening her eyes as she yawned.
     "What's wrong hun'?" she asked sitting up exposing her naked breasts.
     "My head is killing me, and I can't get Jason to go back to sleep." Leah lamented her eyes winced in pain, brow furrowed.
     "Do you want me to go wake up Charles?" she asked with great concern in her voice.
     "No..," Leah paused rubbing her temples "why aren't you in bed with him?"
     Lexa let out a little sigh then she said "he did not invite me."
     "Oh?" Leah replied not knowing what to say.
     "Yes.., well, we have sort of grown apart, here lately." Lexa confided in her sister, who was now thinking the visit Charles paid to Felina in Bermuda was more than just a family meeting, but Leah said nothing of her suspicion to Lexa, who was more than happy to get up out of bed at three o'clock in the morning and help her sister out. So she made Leah curl up in her own bed, whereupon Lexa slipped on her sister's robe, covering up her nakedness as she fetched a cold compress for Leah's fevered brow, telling her "Now I'll shut off the light, you just rest here a little while, and I will take care of Jason for you, alright sweetie?"
     "Thank you Lexa.., you always take such good care of me, you are the best sister, and friend to me, in the whole entire world!" Leah said as she gave her sister a gentle, loving smile.
     "Do you know why I take such good care of you Leah?" here she softly brushed a golden curl off Leah's cheek then she said sweetly "Because I love you, and you are everything to me. That is why I have not left you here all alone, that is why I watch over you and protect you, because I only want for you to be happy and safe." a few understanding, sympathetic looks were exchanged between the two, who had shared a womb, and thirty years on Earth together and they both prayed that nothing, or no one, would ever be able to tear them apart.
     "I love you too Lexa, more than you will ever know." Leah said as she watched her sister go. With that Leah was left alone in her sister's warm, comfortable bed, the sheets scented with her french perfume. There in the silence and the stillness of her memories, she thought how she wished she had never come to Argentina, never met Xation, never had his baby, never married him. For, as we all know and have been made well aware of in our own poor miserable love-lives, jealousy can be as cruel as the grave. Sometimes we all think we would feel much better six feet under, than walking with our heads and hearts so low, above the ground. So with the pain unabating in her brain, Leah pondered what her life would be like if she and Lexa were still two party girls, out for some fun, for though she was still young, just turned 30, and she had got her body back into shape, still looking hot in her little black bikini, she was now married with a son, bored out of her mind, feeling as if the life she had known had come undone. Leah felt that all she had to show for her life was a handsome husband, she rarely got to see, a gorgeous big/empty house, and access to a fortune in the millions of dollars, but she was so amazingly unhappy, for one simple reason, without the attention and affection a woman so desperately needs from her husband, Leah found she had no purpose, or goal in life, no direction with which to proceed. This is a very dangerous time in a young brides life, for without a clear direction, it is very easy to begin to spiral out of control and act out in ways that a clear-headed lady would not, and never, proceed. Though with these thoughts in her heart and mind Leah truly believed she could overcome her rage and disappointment in her marriage, but by what hand of providence she had no idea, nor could she know how the Fates were plotting against her, soon they would open up a path for her to plunge head long first, and at the end of the journey Leah would realize just how little she was truly worth.
     As Leah lie there trying to quite her brain; which flowed in all directions in strange streams of thoughts in her consciousness, such is the case with a restless heart and mind, she heard Lexa's bedroom door slowly open, she, saying nothing, seeing nothing with the cold wet washcloth over her eyes, to her surprise Leah heard Bengiman whisper as he neared the foot of the bed. "Lexa.., I've come to play."
     "Bengiman." Leah whispered, but being that she was an identical twin, she even sounded like Lexa.
     "Ssh.., it's alreet.., Charlie drank too much whiskey, he's fast asleep." Bengiman said as he lifted up the bottom of the covers. Leah removed the wash cloth and opened her eyes, where she saw to her shock the Englishman had slipped his head down under the sheets and now was grasping her inner thighs as he buried his mouth between her legs.
     "Ah.., " Leah gasped as she lifted herself up on her elbows, knees pointing up to the ceiling as she felt the warmth of his wet tongue licking and lapping against the soft pink folds of her moist skin. Now not once did Leah cry out for him to stop, nor did she identify herself to Bengiman, who told her how she tasted like honey, sweet and juicy like a ripe, lush berry, as she released all the tension in an explosion of dripping fluid all over his face. Suddenly with the enthralling exuberance with which she came, Leah felt the pain in her aching head dissipate. Overwhelmed and breathing hard, Leah had enjoyed this pleasure form her husband, now and again, but he was not very good at it, and she thought to herself if eating pussy was an Olympic sport, then Bengiman Pruce would win all the Gold Medals!
     "Oh, Lexa.., I love it when you squirm! You're oh so sexy! My American Queen!" Bengiman sighed with great satisfaction.
     Here again Leah had the opportunity to tell Bengiman that she was not Lexa and that he was mistaken, but instead Leah threw back the covers watching as the amorous Englishman licked her thighs saying in a voice that was soft and seductive telling him "I want some more." to which she reached down between her legs pulling him forward, up and on top of her.
     "Say please." he said enticingly.
     "Please Bengiman..," Leah said as the overwhelming desire to be touched, and loved, and wanted filled her up with wanting and longing, as the weight of Bengimn's large, muscular body was pressing down, and deep, into the heat of her willing flesh, skin on skin, kisses on the mouth, pulling of hair and gnashing of teeth. Leah had not been with her husband in nearly 5 weeks, and her jealousy surpassed all reason, so she gladly, eagerly, gave herself up to Bengiman, who eagerly and effectively sated her pleasure, filling her deep, needful desires with every inch she could take of him. So intense and satisfying was she to him that Bengiman actually believed Lexa was perhaps, finally, falling in love with him, so great was the display of her emotion and vigor. For she would move and reposition herself like a young, lustful college girl, taking him in every way possible. To our lucky Bengiman it was one of the hottest sex sessions he ever encountered. Many times he was forced to cover her mouth with one of his free hands, just to keep her quiet, so loud were her cries of ecstasy as Bengiman brought himself to bare upon her, with all the surging strength of a hurricane. So Bengiman stayed down in 'Lexa's' bed, each fucking and sucking their way to sexual nirvana, and never once did Leah stop to wonder why Bengiman had come to her sister's room? She knew not. Were they having an affair? At this point Leah did not care. All she saw was an opportunity to have a bit of fun, cheat on her husband, fuck this giant of a man, whom she had always had a little crush on. Now it had come to this, Leah and Bengiman were there together in Lexa's bed and no one knew, just yet.

Chapter 24 begins

     So this all passed, with Xation and Hays achieving the goal of eliminating the two men who could have destroyed the business, and Charles was allowed to spend some more time with his sweet, sexy little Felina, leaving Lexa behind at the Estate, Charles still unknowing of her sordid affair with Bengiman Pruce. Lexa did not even mind Charles going alone on vacation without her, for she was growing tired of his company and would enjoy a week, or two, away from him, however, she had wished Bengiman had gone away with Charles on holiday, Lexa was not at all looking forward to being alone with the over zealous and highly sexed Britishman.
      Leah, herself, was left alone by her husband, for now that Xation had shut down their off-shore, illegal account, he and Hays had decided to move his business, permanently and solely, to Texas, for there was millions to be made in the new real estate developments in the DeepEllum, DownTown and UpTown districts in Dallas. So over the next two months Xation and Hays settled into their new headquarters in the Fountain Plaza building in Down Town. Now this all came as shock to the hundreds of employees at the offices in Argentina, and they all lost their jobs. But worse than this, Leah was left alone with her jealous thoughts which betrayed her. She was plagued by imagined visions of Xation with some gorgeous Texas woman in his arms, or some bleached blond, down on her knees infront of her husband, her head bobbing up and down as her mouth made slurping sounds. Even her dreams were haunted by her bitter jealousy, where Lexa would come upon Xation, who was always smiling up at her, with naked women writhing about like serpents in their matrimonial bed. With all of her husbands imagined infidelities Leah grew sad, depressed, all alone, more and more displeased by the day, anxiously passing the hours of the long, dark, nights away.
     Now this is how time passed for our poor, despondent Leah, and when Charles returned, tanned, well rested, all his passions, and lusts, fully sated by his sweet, sexy, little Felina, Charles instantly grew worried when he realized how far gone into depression Leah had sank. Soon after he arrived back at the Estate; which was well after mid-night, Charles had found Leah sitting outside by the pool, in her night gown, gazing down at the moon's reflection on the surface of the rippling water, she had such a deep, far away gaze in her eyes, a look on her face as if she were contemplating drowning herself. Charles spoke softly to Leah, startled she stood to her feet, the two friends embraced, she squeezing Charles so tight, as if she were hanging on for dear life. Then the tears came along with the many stories of Xation's, imagined, disloyalty poured forth from her mouth, and the depths of her mind, like lava flowing down the side of a raging volcano, so deep was her anxiety and emotional pain. Charles did his best to reassure his distraught, disbelieving, friend that Xation was a good, faithful, loyal man, but even his own words did not sound so convincing to Charles himself, for well he knew of Xation's, insatiable, appetite for the flesh of beautiful, fit women, whom Xation never had a thought, regard, or care for at all. Though Charles had to do what was best for Leah, so he took her back upstairs to her room, where her baby was softly sleeping. Charles made her take a hot, soothing shower, while he went to his own bedroom where he took two tablets of Vicodin, whereupon Charles quickly changed into his pajamas, grabbed a bottle of red wine from the kitchen, before heading upstairs. Leah felt a little better, a little calmer, as she wrapped up in her warm robe and sat down on the couch beside her bed. She gladly took the medicine Charles gave her, then Leah let out a heavy sigh as she sat back, a glass of wine in her hand, feet curled up underneath her as she leaned her head against Charles, who sat there with her for a little while, quietly talking about his trip, telling her a few amusing anecdotes about Felina, telling Leah how much Felina wanted to come back to see her, how sorry she was about everything. This served well to keep Leah's mind off of her husband, and his whereabouts. It was shortly after her second glass of wine when Leah finally fell into a deep sleep. Carefully, with much gentleness, Charles lifted her up into his strong arms and set her down in bed next to her son. With his help, Leah was finally able to get a good nights rest, for the first time since her baby was born. She would not be down for breakfast, or lunch the next day, but no matter, her loyal sister Lexa tended to her nephew while Leah slumbered soundly, in peaceful dreams. Yet neither of them, nor Charles, nor Bengiman, knew all the trouble that would come to stir up all of their lives later that night, for when everyone had gone to bed, Leah was still wide awake and restless, unable, yet again, to go to sleep. An excruciating, migraine-headache had overcame her, a rare side effect of the powerful anti-pain medication, so she crept down to her sister's room in the dark of the night.