Ch. 16..20: Chapter 16-20
CHAPTER 016: Dealist
CHAPTER 016: Deal Is Back On
I let out a short, humorless laugh. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me," he says, stepping closer, his eyes blazing with fury. "Whatever you've started with the it ends. Now."
I meet his gaze head-on, refusing to back down. "I don't tell you who to date, Ryan, So what gives you the right to dictate who I see?"
"This is different, Julie!" Ryan shouts, his voice booming through the room. "He's my business partner This could ruin everything!"
"Everything?" I repeat, my voice dripping with sarcasm "By 'everything, do you mean your business, or your little arrangement with Emily?"
Ryan's face flushes with anger, and I can see the veins in his neck bulging, "Don't you dare bring her into this."
"Oh, why not?" I fire back. "She's already here, isn't she? I mean, she's right there, living in our hous sitting on my couch. So why the hell shouldn't I bring her into it?" Ryan clenches his fists, and for a moment, I think he's going to explode. But instead, he takes a deep breath, his voice low. "End it, Julie, I'm not asking."
"And I'm not ending anything. Not for you. Not for your business. And certainly not for her."
"You're being reckless!" he shouts.
I take a step closer, matching his energy. "Reckless? Reckless is you bringing your mistress into our home and expecting me to just play along like some kind of idiot!" Emily lets out a small, uncomfortable cough, but we both ignore her,
"You're throwing away everything!" Ryan yells, his voice cracking with rage. "For what? Some fling?"
"Fling?" I repeat, my voice rising. "You have the audacity to call it a fling? While you're shacked up with Emily in our house?"
Ryan's face twists in anger, and before I can react, he grabs the heavy glass paperweight off the coffee table and flings it at the TV with all his strength. The screen shatters with a loud crack, glass splintering across the room.
For a moment, there's only the sound of our breathing, heavy and ragged. Emily lets out a small gasp, her hand flying to her mouth, but Ryan and I just stand there, glaring at each other, the broken TV buzzing with static.
I take a deep breath, my voice steady but cold. "Nice. That's really mature."
Ryan doesn't say anything, just stares at the broken screen like he's trying to will himself to calm down. "You know what, Ryan?" I say, my voice sharp. "If you're so desperate to keep control over your precious business and your little affair, then go ahead. But don't you ever think you have the right to control me."
Ryan opens his mouth, but before he can say anything, I turn on my heel and walk out of the room, the
-ES BONUS
sound of glass crunching under my heels the only thing that fills the silence.
I barely make it to my room before my fingers are flying over the screen, typing out a message to Luke Deal is back an
I hit send before I can second-guess myself, the adrenaline from my confrontation with Ryan still thrumming through my veins. What did I just do?
A bitter laugh escapes me as I toss my phone on the bed. Oh, this is going to be fun. Because, of course, why not add a fake relationship to the already delightful cocktail of marital betrayal, a hypocritical husband, and a mistress who's probably upstairs right now screaming while my husband apologizes for being a son of a bitch. How utterly perfect.
I kick off my heels, sinking into the plush chair by the window, trying to let the tension seep out of me. But it doesn't. It sits in my chest like a heavy stone, growing heavier by the second. I stare out the window, the city lights twinkling in the distance, but all I can see is Ryan's furious face when I told him the truth about Luke. God, the satisfaction I felt seeing his jaw clench like that was almost.... addictive.
Still, what now? I should probably feel guilty-hell, any decent person would feel something-but all I feel is this strange, twisted sense of freedom. Like I've finally pulled the trigger after staring down the barrel of a loaded gun for far too long.
I grab my phone, almost hoping Luke doesn't respond tonight. But then, of course, because the universe has a dark sense of humor, it pings.
Luke: Good to know. Meet you tomorrow?
Meet me? I bite back a smile. This is the mess I signed up for. Might as well dive all the way in.
The next morning, I walk into the office with the usual mask of calm indifference I've perfected over the years. But something feels... off. The second I step through the front door, I can feel eyes on me. My secretary, Sarah, glances up briefly, then looks down, her fingers nervously tapping on the keyboard.
"Morning," I say, heading toward her desk, but she doesn't respond. Just keeps tapping away.
Okay... weird.
"Sarah?" I try again, stopping by her desk. "Something wrong?"
She jolts, like I've caught her doing something she shouldn't. Her cheeks flush, and she finally tears her eyes away from the screen to meet mine. "Uh, good morning, Mrs. O'Brien."
Is there something you need to tell me?"
୦୦ ୦୦ ୦୦୦୦ ୦୦୦
"Oh, um, yes. Someone sent something for you. It's on the desk," she says, her voice barely above a whisper.
I raise an eyebrow. "A message?"
She nods quickly, looking anywhere but at me. "Yes, it's... on your desk."
I continue to my office. The second I open the door, I'm hit with the unmistakable scent of roses. The
CHAPTER 017: Which Is It Going To Be?
My eyes immediately narrow. Ryan?
I step closer to the bouquet, already feeling the tension in my chest. It can't be Ryan. He hasn't sent me flowers in years-our relationship had never been the romantic, spontaneous kind. I pull the small note attached to the bouquet. The handwriting is neat but not familiar. My heart does a weird little flip as
read.
"Glad we're back on, fake girlfriend. You're stuck with me now. Forever... or at least until Ryan comes to his senses-Luke."
A laugh bubbles up in my throat, catching me off guard Of course. It's Luke. Who else would be so damn cheeky? I snatch my phone out of my bag and dial his number, my fingers drumming on the edge of the desk as I wait.
He answers after the first ring. "Good morning, Julie."
"
I roll my eyes, though I can't help the smile that creeps across my face. "Flowers? Really, Luke?"
"Hey, you texted me, remember? Saying the deal is back on. I asked myself what a fake boyfriend could get as a 'welcome back' gift to his fake girlfriend, something that would make her smile, and voila. Flowers." His tone is playful, as if I should be grateful for the flowers. "Besides, I thought red roses were a nice touch. Got you thinking about me, didn't they?"
"The only thing they did," I say, "is make my office smell like a funeral home."
"Ouch, Julie. You wound me. I thought you'd appreciate a little romance."
"Romance?" I laugh, though my heart does that stupid flip. "Luke, we're faking a relationship, not starring
in a rom-com."
"That depends," he replies, and I can hear the smirk in his voice. "On how convincing you want this to be. We can go all in, or we can half-ass it. Your call."
I pause, glancing at the flowers again. There's something about the way Luke talks, the way he makes light of everything, that irritates me-and makes things easier at the same time. Less heavy. Less real.
"Fine." I lean against the desk. "What exactly are you proposing?"
"Lunch," he says simply. "We'll start there. Then you can tell me how we'll proceed."
"Me?" I say. "You're making it sound like I know anything about fake relationships. This was your idea in the first place, Luke."
"And you didn't have to agree," he counters. "But you did. So here we are. Let's have lunch and figure out the rules."
"Just pick a place, Luke."
"Already done," he replies, his voice smug. "I'll send you the details."
"Fine," I say, trying to sound casual, though my pulse is racing. "I'll see you there."
CHAPTER 017 Which Is It Going To Be?
I drop my phone on the desk, releasing a long breath I didn't realize I was holding. Luke, with his quick tongue and knack for throwing surprising things at me, flowers for example. I stare at the flowers again. They're beautiful, sure, but the note-"stuck with me forever"- has my stomach in knots.
I shake my head, trying to push the lingering thoughts of Luke out of my mind. I glance at the clock. Still a couple of hours until lunch, and knowing Luke, he'll pick some absurdly extravagant place just to mess with me.
My phone dings, pulling me from my thoughts.
Luke: Still want me to pick the location? I'm giving you one chance to say no.
I sigh. Of course, he's going to make this dramatic.
Me: I don't care. Pick whatever.
His response comes almost immediately.
Luke: Really? Thought you'd want to impress me. This is your show after all, boss.
I roll my eyes, though my fingers hover over the keyboard longer than I want to admit. He has a way of pushing just enough buttons to get a reaction, and damn it, it's working.
Me: I'm giving you the chance to impress me. You're the one getting paid to play my fake boyfriend, remember?
Luke: Oh, I'm gonna impress you. Don't worry.
Me: Just pick a place and text it to me. I'll be there.
Luke: Nope. You're getting a surprise.
A couple of hours later, I'm knee-deep in emails when I hear someone clear their throat. My focus snaps up from my screen.
I blink, startled, and pull off my reading glasses. Luke is standing in the doorway, leaning against the frame like he owns the place, that damn smirk plastered on his face. "Luke?" I blink again. "How did you get in here?"
He grins, stepping into the office with that effortless confidence. "Your secretary let me right in."
I frown, standing up and crossing my arme
"She's supposed to tell me when I have visitors."
"Jesus, Julie. Aren't you happy to see me?"
"Not when you surprise me like this."
He steps even closer. "But I warned you about the surprise."
"You warned me about the location."
Luke's smirk only widens. "I thought we were supposed to be 'back on. Isn't this what fake boyfriends do- surprise their fake girlfriends with spontaneous visits?"
CHAPTER 017: Which is It Going To Be?
I roll my eyes. "Not when they barge into offices unannounced. You bribed her, didn't you? That's why she let you in without warning me."
"Details, details," he teases, taking another step. "Come on, Julie. You've got to admit, I'm not the worst surprise you've ever had."
My eyes narrow at him. "Don't come any closer, Luke."
He chuckles, undeterred, and takes another step forward. "Or what? You'll kick me out?" His eyes gleam with mischief, and I can feel my pulse quicken, my body betraying the frustration I want to cling to. "Yes," I shoot back, trying to sound firm. "That's exactly what I'll do."
Luke stops, but his expression softens into something more mischievous than before. "I came here to take you to lunch, Julie. And as long as you keep standing there scolding me instead of walking out the door with me, I'll keep invading your space." He takes another step, and I take one back, bumping into the edge of my desk. My heart thuds harder as he moves closer, slow and deliberate.
"I mean it, Luke," I say, my voice barely above a whisper now. "Don't come any closer."
He stops again, only a few feet away. "Which is it going to be, Julie? Out the door, or would you like me closer?"
CHAPTER 018: Hole In The Wall
I swallow hard, my throat dry as his words hang in the air between us, thick and heary My brain is screaming at me to push him back, to tell him to stop this ridiculous game, but my body has other dess Heat rushes through me, and my mind refuses to form a coherent thought
Before I know it, he's closing the remaining distance between us. Another step, and were practically nose to nose. His breath is warm on my skin, his scent filling my senses, and I'm frozen, caught in the mass of whatever this is.
"Make a choice, Julie," Luke says.
I need to say something, anything, but my brain is short-circuiting All I can focus on is how close he is, how his eyes flicker with amusement and something darker, more dangerous. "Julie," Luke says, "you've got that look."
"What look?" I manage to ask, though it comes out more breathless than I'd like.
"The one that says you're thinking way too much," he whispers, his lips dangerously close t
You're overthinking this. Just go with it."
mine now."
I suck in a shaky breath, trying to hold onto the last bit of control I have. "This is a game to you, ist t?
"Isn't it to you?" He challenges, his hand reaching up to brush a stray lock of hair away from my face 1 mean, you're the one stirring up shit just to get your husband to dump his mistress."
My skin tingles where his fingers graze my cheek, and it takes everything in me not to lean into his touch But his words remind me why we're here in the first place. This isn't real. This is all part of some ridiculous charade we've concocted to fool Ryan. Nothing more. And yet, here we are, inches away from something that feels far too dangerous.
"Luke..." I say again, this time more firmly, though my voice betrays me once more with its softness." Stop."
But Luke doesn't pull back. His eyes hold mine, his hand lingering on my cheek.
"You sure you want me to stop?" His voice is low now, barely audible.
And for a moment, I can't breathe. My body wants to betray me, to lean in, to close the distance that remains between us. My mind, however, is screaming at me to snap out of it, to remember why we're here.
I'm not sure how long we stand there, caught in this silent standoff. Seconds? Minutes? It feels like an eternity. And then, with a shaky breath, I manage to break free of the haze clouding my thoughts. "No," I blurt out, stumbling back from him as if I've been burned. "We're-we're not doing this."
Luke's eyebrows shoot up, amused but surprised. "Not doing what, Julie?"
I grab my bag off the desk, fumbling with the strap as I head for the door. "Lunch," I say hurriedly, feeling my face heat with embarrassment. "We're going to lunch."
His laughter follows me, that deep, knowing sound that tells me he's all too aware of the effect he has on
1. me.
CHAPTER 018: Hole In The Wall
"Julie," he calls out as I reach the door. "Wait up. You do know I'm supposed to follow you, right?"
I glance back, my cheeks burning. "Then hurry up and follow me," I snap, pushing the door open and marching out before I can let myself fall under his spell again.
A few minutes later, we're driving through the city in Luke's car, the engine purring beneath us. I watch the buildings blur by, still trying to figure out where we're going.
"Are you seriously not going to tell me where we're headed?" I ask, glancing at him out of the corner of
my eye.
Luke just smirks, eyes focused on the road. "Patience, Julie. You'll see soon enough."
I cross my arms, huffing. "If this is some hole-in-the-wall-"
"Would I do that to you?" he interrupts, flashing me a sideways grin.
"Yes. Yes, you would."
He laughs. "Trust me, Julie. You're going to love this."
I sigh, staring out the window again, my heart pounding a little faster with each passing minute. Why do I even care?
The city starts to fade as we drive farther, the busy streets giving way to quieter roads lined with trees. Fewer people. More sky. I shift in my seat, glancing at him from the corner of my eye, but he keeps his focus on the road, his expression unreadable.
The road stretches on, and I start to wonder if we're driving out of town entirely when, suddenly, the smell of saltwater hits my nose. I sit up straighter, my brow furrowing as I turn to look out the window.
Luke pulls the car into a small, secluded parking lot, and the moment the car stops, my heart does too. I blink, my mind trying to process what I'm seeing.
"Wait... Is this... a beach?"
Luke parks and turns to me. "Not just any beach. Come on."
I fumble with my seatbelt, stepping out of the car and taking in the scene around us.
Before I can fully process the beauty of the beach, I see it a massive yacht, pristine and gleaming, anchored just off the shore. My jaw drops.
"Holy shit. Are we getting on the yacht?" I ask.
He nods.
"You rented a yacht for lunch?"
He smirks. "Rented? Julie, it's mine."
CHAPTER 010: Hearts Are Meant To Be Broken
CHAPTER 019: Hearts Are Meant To Be Broken
~~Luke~~
I think something's wrong with me. And that something is a five-foot brunette whose heart belongs to someone else.
Julie's standing on the deck, wide-eyed and practically glowing as she takes in the view of my yacht. The way her lips are parted, eyes slightly wide, it's like she's just seen a unicorn. I can't help but follow her gaze, half expecting to see something new, something I must've missed after all these years of owning the damn thing. But no, it's still the same sleek, luxurious vessel that's been my playground for a while now. Maybe she's seeing it with some kind of magical filter.
"You really haven't been on a yacht before?" I ask, leaning against the railing, arms crossed.
She turns. "Do I look like the kind of person who lounges around on yachts?"
"Well, this is New York. Your husband's a billionaire. Half the billionaires in the city own one of these, and the other half have been on one or two. I'm just surprised you've been missing out."
"Yeah, well, I guess Ryan isn't into these things. Too... pretentious for him."
I laugh. "You know, I'm starting to think your husband might be the boring one, not you."
"Careful, Luke. I might start believing you think I'm exciting."
I smirk, stepping closer. "Oh, I think you're more exciting than you let on, Julie. That's why we're here, after all. To stir up a little excitement in your... otherwise dull life."
"My life's not dull. It's complicated."
"Alright," I say, inching closer. "I'm quite good at undoing complications."
I don't know why I do it-get under Julie's skin. I don't know if there's a reason I'm obsessed with something that isn't mine, but I can't stop. Lord knows can't stop. Julie's just another woman who will most likely break my heart. The way she looks at me, I swear I can feel my heart doing backflips. That loud bang bang thing it does right before someone damages it. Not that it matters. Hearts are meant to be broken anyway. I'll throw mine off the top of a thirty-five-floor building a thousand times over if it means getting her to look at me the way she is right now.
"So," she says, snapping me out of my thoughts. "Where's this legendary lunch you promised?"
I grin, gesturing toward the dining area set up just for us. The staff have outdone themselves-white linens, crystal glasses, a chilled bottle of champagne, the works.
Julie walks over to the table, glancing at me with that mixture of politeness and flirtatiousness she does so well. "Seriously, Luke. This is what you call lunch?"
"Is it not enough?"
"It's too much."
I want to say there's nothing too much when it comes to luxury, but it would sound weird. She's already
afraid of me at this point.
1
CHAPTER 019: Hearts Are Mesrk To Be Broken
"Only the best," I say, moving to pull out her chair for her. "And don't act like you're not impressed. You're practically drooling."
She scoffs, taking her seat. "I'm admiring the effort. There's a difference."
I sit across from her. "Whatever helps you sleep at night, princess."
I pour her a glass of champagne. Her eyes linger on me for a moment longer than they should, but I don't mind. It gives me a chance to admire her too. She's dressed simply, like she always is, but the way she's carrying herself right now is different. There's something lighter about her. Maybe it's the ocean air, or maybe it's because, for once, we're not talking about her disaster of a marriage or the fact that we're plotting her husband's entrapment.
"So," I say after a few bites of our meal, leaning back in my chair. "How's the yacht experience treating you so far?"
She finishes chewing, dabbing her lips with a napkin, and then looks at me. "It's alright, I guess, I mean, the view's not bad." Her eyes flick to the skyline, then back to me, and she smirks. "But I've seen better."
I chuckle. "Is that so? Maybe I'll have to up my game, then. What would impress you, Julie? Private jet? Helicopter ride over the city?"
She leans forward, resting her chin in her hand. "You'd have to try a little harder than that. I'm not as easy to impress as you think."
"Oh, I know," I say, my voice low. "That's what makes this so much fun."
She blushes, but she hides it behind a sip of her drink.
"Alright, seriously," she says, her tone shifting. "We've had our fun. We need to talk about the plan."
I blink. "The plan?"
Julie pulls out an iPad from her bag, her fingers swiping across the screen, all business now. "Yeah, you know, the fake relationship? The whole reason we're here?"
My chest tightens, though I'm not sure why. "Right," I say, leaning back. "The plan."
She nods, tapping something on the screen. "We need to get Ryan's attention. Make him jealous. But we can't overdo it, or he'll just brush it off as me being desperate. It has to be subtle. Calculated."
I watch her, barely hearing her words. She's serious now, all in on this ridiculous plan, and it's throwing me off. Just a few minutes ago, we were laughing, flirting, and now she's back to plotting how to win back the man who doesn't deserve her. The shift annoys me, and I don't know why. I shouldn't care.
"And what exactly do you want me to do?" I ask, forcing my voice to stay casual.
She glances at me, the corner of her mouth twitching. "Just be yourself."
I raise an eyebrow. "That's a dangerous advice."
"Not for this," she says. "I need you to be the Luke I met in that bar. Confident, charming, a little bit of a jerk, but in a good way. The kind of guy who makes women question their entire life decisions after one conversation."
CHAPTER 019: Hearts Are Meant To Be Broken
I let out a short laugh. "Sounds like you've got me all figured out."
She shrugs. "I've been studying."
My gaze lingers on her a second too long, and I feel that strange pull again. "And what about you?" I ask quietly. "What's your role in all this?"
Julie's fingers pause on the iPad, and for a brief moment, she seems to hesitate. But then she looks up, her expression unreadable. "I'll do whatever it takes to get Ryan to notice. Even if it means going the extra
mile."
And there it is. The reminder that this is all just pretend. A game. A way to get her husband back. I should be fine with that. Hell, I am fine with that. It's what I signed up for, isn't it?
But as I watch her, so determined, so focused on someone who isn't me, something inside me shifts. I don't want to be part of her game anymore. I want to be more than that. I want her to stop thinking about Ryan and start thinking about me. "Alright," I say, leaning forward, we'll play by your rules. But just know..."
She looks up. "Know what?".
"If we're faking this, I'm going to make damn sure it feels real."
CHAPTER 020: My Wife
Julie laughs, but it's more nervous than before. "That's the point, right? I mean, it's supposed to look real."
I watch her carefully. I don't even know how to answer that without giving myself away.
I see something flicker in her eyes-something unsure, maybe even vulnerable. But she brushes it off, returning her focus to the iPad, as if that will shield her from whatever tension is building between us. "Let's get back to the plan," she says.
And so we dive back into the details, hammering out strategies and scenarios, but all the while, I'm watching her, realizing what I really want.
I want Julie.
I'm determined to get her.
I'm going to play along with her stupid plan-because one way or another, she's going to end up mine.
I drop Julie off in front of Paragon Jewels, my eyes following her as she steps out of the car. She adjusts her blouse, throws a glance at the building, then back at me. Her smile makes me wonder if she can read my thoughts. God, I hope not. If she knew the whirlpool of ideas and let's be honest-desires swirling around in my head, she'd probably sprint up those stairs without a second look.
"Thanks for the ride," she says. "It's not every day a girl gets chauffeured by her fake boyfriend. Also, thank you for today. I really enjoyed myself."
I smile, leaning against the driver's seat, watching her. "I'm here to serve, princess. Perks of the job."
"Yeah, well, don't let it get to your head."
"Too late for that."
She gives a playful sigh before turning to face the glass doors of Paragon Jewels.
"Luke," she calls over her shoulder, "don't wait. You don't have to."
I nod. "I know. But I want to."
Her eyes soften for just a second, and then she turns, walking inside the building.
For a moment, I don't move. I just watch her figure disappear.
I lean back, waiting until I see her step into the elevator and out of sight.
Showtime.
I have a meeting with Ryan, and I don't want Julie to know about it. She might get worried.
It's not like I, myself, haven't thought this meeting through. I have. Over and over again.
I push the car door open and stride into the building.
The lobby is too perfect, as usual. Gleaming floors, meticulously arranged flowers. But my eyes catch on
CHAPTER 020: My Wife
the lady standing by the receptionist's desk. A bit too eager.
She steps forward the moment she spots me, flashing a smile so wide it almost hurts to look at. "Mr. Martinez, my name is Lucy," she chirps. "Mr. O'Brien asked me to escort you to his office."
I raise an eyebrow. "Oh? Couldn't trust me to figure out how an elevator works?"
Her smile doesn't falter. "It's just procedure," she says. "Right this way.
Sure, it is. I follow her, hands in my pockets. It's obvious why Ryan sent her. He's playing his game, trying to make sure I don't stray toward Julie's office on the way up. He doesn't want me anywhere near her, even if he's the one who left her in the first place. The irony is almost laughable.
Lucy leads me into the elevator. It's a quiet ride up.
The elevator dings, and we step out into the upper-floor hallway. As we approach Ryan's office, she turns to me with another bright smile. "Here we are. Mr. O'Brien will see you now."
I step into the office, and there he is-Ryan O'Brien, sitting behind his oversized desk, looking every bit smug. His suit is sharp, his expression sharper. He stands up, offering a hand. "Lucas," he says. "Good to see you."
"Likewise," I say, taking his hand. It's a strong grip, but squeeze back just a little harder.
We exchange the usual pleasantries, talking about business deals and markets as if there isn't a massive elephant sitting right between us. I can feel the tension building. I can see it in his eyes, the way they narrow slightly whenever I mention the marketing department, Julie's department, the way he tries to steer the conversation back to neutral ground.
Finally, after what feels like an hour of bullshit small talk, Ryan leans back in his chair. "There's something I've been meaning to ask you."
"Go ahead," I say, though I know exactly where this is going.
"You know, I love my wife, Julie, so much." He says it like a confession. "There's nothing I wouldn't do for that woman. She and I, we've been through some storms together. Friends storm, family storm... even a literal storm." "A storm?" I ask.
"Yeah. A giant tornado. Almost died. Best near-death experience of my life." He laughs. "And through it all, we're still waxing strong."
I resist the urge to roll my eyes.
Ryan continues, undeterred. "Her family is my family, her friends are my friends. You know how it is when you're in love, right? You become one." "That's right," I say.
"Well, Julie told me you're a friend of hers."
"She did?"
He nods. "That means you and I are more than just business partners now. We're family."
CHAPTER 020 My Wife
"I appreciate that, Ryan," I say, trying not to let my annoyance show.
He smiles. "I just want to make sure we're on the same page." He leans forward, eyes boring into mine." Julie's... important to me."
"I'm sure she is. She's a special woman."
Ryan doesn't look comfortable. "Right," he says, leaning back in his chair. "So, it's true, then. You're her friend?"
"I guess I am."
"And there's nothing more to it?"
I tilt my head, feigning ignorance. "Something like what?"
"I don't know," Ryan says, his voice growing more strained. "Maybe a little extra?"
I give him a blank look. "Extra how?"
He sighs. "You know what I mean."
"Do I?"
Ryan's jaw clenches, but he doesn't back down. "Mr. Lucas," he says, his voice low, "are you fucking my wife?"