Trust Me
      Chapter 1
 

Michelle walked to the door and listened for the voices in the room. She hated listening in on these conversations. Each time she went away admonishing herself for being so suspicious and for not trusting her husband. They had been together for only 2 months and Danny was trying make the family business legitimate. It was the meetings that made her worry so much. Every time there was a meeting her nerves would go into over drive. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't help but feel that, one day, one of these meetings would turn violent. Most of the time she barely heard a word. The voices were usually muffled and the words would get lost coming through the thick wood doors. That was what was happening now.

"Maybe I could convince Danny to do some redecorating? Change the doors...get rid of the dark colors..." , she thought laughing to herself.

How many times had Danny told her, "Michelle, my mother's greatest fear is that you'll do a Martha Stewart makeover on the house." It was an old joke that always made them laugh, especially when they were being silly.

Danny had no idea that she "listened" in on his meetings. She knew he'd be disappointed and probably angry.

All of a sudden she heard shouting. One of the loudest voices was Danny's.

"Dammit, I told you that Sancorp wasn't part of the deal.", he shouted. "Daniel, Carmen has offered--", said the other man. Michelle thought it might be Ben Warren.

"I DON'T CARE what my mother said OR offered. This is my deal, MY DEAL!", he finished.

Michelle, outside the door, cringed when she heard him raise his voice like that. She hated hearing the anger in his voice. It scared her.

The she heard Carmen, "Daniel, I've decided that SanCorp will be in capable hands with Ben..."

"BEN? YOU are incredible. I'm NOT playing games mother. That's it. I'm out of here.", Danny said.

"What does he mean he's "out of here"?, Michelle whispered to herself.

"Daniel, listen...", Carmen tried.

"NO! I'm done listening..."

Michelle heard footsteps and realized he was headed for the door.

"Oh my God! He can't find me here! , she thought as she headed towards their bedroom.

The doors to the office opened with a bang before she had taken 3 steps.

"Michelle!", she heard him say as she stopped in her tracks. "What are you doing?"

Michelle closed her eyes and slowly turned to face her husband...

"Hiiiiii!", Michelle squeaked and smiled.

"What...What are you doing?", Danny repeated. The tone of his voice wasn't any friendlier and she remembered the scowl from times past.

"Wellllll...I", She started only to be interrupted while trying to find an excuse to give him.

"Wellllll? You know Michelle, I'm having a REALLY bad day. What's going on?" , he said

"I was...I mean...I", she stopped and looked up at him biting her bottom lip and scratching her head.

"Michelle, I find you creeping away from the door. You have yet to give an explanation, much less complete a full sentence. What? Were you listening at the door?" , Danny's words came fast and furious. The last sentence punctuated with him lowering his face to hers.

"I knew he'd be mad! What do I do?", Michelle thought to herself.

"Creeping? I was not creeping away. I was..., she said meeting his gaze. "UH! Maybe playing the innocent will be better?", she thought after watching his face and seeing that he was looking angrier.

She stepped back and said almost whispering, "I was looking for you. "I...UMMM...wanted to ask you if we could have dinner alone, in our room." , she finished smiling up at him. "Now's your chance, before he loses the contrite expression beginning to grow on his face." , she thought to herself as she held her hand up to his face and touched his lips. "I heard the yelling, I didn't want to interrupt."

"Michelle", he said the beginnings of a smile on his face despite his attempt to be serious. "I swear your ..."

"Danny?, She questioned and put her lips against the hollow of his throat. She stood on her tip toes and kissed his neck. "Are you going to be working until late?", she said in her most seductive voice.

It was over for him right there. He cleared his throat and pulled away from her. "Sweetie, I'm sorry. Dinner sounds great. ALONE", he emphasized. He pulled her close now and kissed her on the lips.

"HMMMM!", he growled into her mouth. "You feel so good."

"Does this mean you won't be working late?, she smiled. She wrap her hands around his arm and started to drag him towards their room.

"Honey, give me a minute. I'll meet you there. You go ahead." , he said. He could see the look of disappointment building on her face so he added, "I promise, I'll be there in a minute. By the way, what's for dinner?", Danny asked.

"You have to ask?" , Michelle replied as she let go of his arm and walked away. Making sure he had full view of her swinging hips. She heard him chuckling as she walked away.

As she turned the corner, Danny shook his head and said, "What are you up to Michelle? Why didn't you just admit you were listening?".

Michelle closed the bedroom door behind her and leaned back into it. "Oh God. Why didn't I tell the truth?"