Deviant Agendas: Book 1 of the V-Files

The phone was on its fifth ring and she was feeling relieved because she could hang up and avoid the call, justifying to herself that she had tried. But just as she took the phone away from her ear to press disconnect, she heard a rather cheery, “Hello.”

Wilhemena didn’t respond immediately. Much to her surprise, she felt her throat tighten and a rush of heat ran through her body and sweat formed under her arms. This could backfire, she thought. “Hello?” The woman on the other end had a little less cheer in her tone that time, snapping Wilhemena out of her thoughts and into the present.

“Hi,” she began a bit timidly. “May I please speak with Jenny Acker?”

“This is she.”

She sounds pleasant enough, Wilhemena thought. Well, let’s see how she sounds after she hears what I have to say.

“You don’t know me and this is awkward to say,” Wilhemena said in her clipped and precise British accent, “but I’m your husband’s mistress and have been for a number of years. I understand you’re going through a rather tricky and difficult divorce. I have some information I thought you might be interested in,” Wilhemena finished in a rush before she could chicken out.

Jenny was stunned into silence. Her mouth dropped open while she stood dumbstruck, holding the phone to her ear. After a good long minute of silence, Jenny got over her surprise and felt anger. How dare this woman call her. How did she get her phone number? That part of her life was over and she had moved on, and she had no intention of allowing this bimbo to drag her back into the drama of her old life. Instead of saying all the things she was thinking, Jenny responded in a controlled and monotone voice, “I’m quite sure we don’t have anything to say to one another. If you want money, you’ll have to ask your keeper.”

Jenny was about to hang up when she heard, “Wait, I have information for you. It’s what I can do for you,” Wilhemena said, knowing she was about to lose her only chance.