CHAPTER 4

You're really suing us?"

"Yes," I said. "Especially since you've been violating your own morals clauses for the last year while you've been destroying my marriage."

"Look, man, this was all just in fun," he said. "We didn't intend to destroy your marriage."

"Well, what the hell did you think was going to happen?" I asked. "Did you honestly think I was just going to sit back and applaud you for fucking my wife and using her as a goddamn sperm receptacle? Sounds to me like you've been reading too many stories on the Internet."

"Look, man, we can work through this," Ben pleaded. "A lawsuit like that could ruin us."

"Not my problem, asshole," I said. "You shouldn't have turned my wife into your whore. Goodbye." I slammed the phone down and grabbed a beer, then headed to the balcony for a smoke.

I didn't hear anything from the cheaters until Wednesday, when they were served at Simone's office.

"I don't believe you actually did it," Linda said. "You didn't even give her a chance to explain. Do you have any idea how humiliated she is right now?"

"I really don't give a shit," I said. "She didn't care about humiliating me with her cheating, so I simply don't give a fuck. Goodbye, Linda. Don't call here again," I added, slamming the phone down. God, that felt so good. A few moments later, I got another call. I recognized the number as coming from Ben's office.

"WHAT?" I yelled as I answered.

"You motherfucker," he hissed. "I'm going to kick your ass. How dare you sue me! Simone wanted to fuck us all, you stupid shit. Maybe you should've taken care of her better."

"Bring it, asshole," I said. "How dare you fuck up my life. Now I'm going to ruin yours." I slammed the phone down and called Jenny to tell her about Ben's threat.

"Good," she said. "I'll file for a temporary restraining order against Simone as well as her cohorts today. I'll make sure you get a copy of the order. Remember what I said. Don't do anything stupid."

"What if he comes after me?" I asked.

"Make sure that you have witnesses and don't instigate anything," she said. I understood what she meant. Later that afternoon, there was a knock on the door. True to her word, Jenny had filed the TRO and a courier had just delivered my copy.

I decided to hedge my bets somewhat and purchased a small motion-activated camera to cover my front room. I also had a nice Louisville Slugger close to the front door just in case. I figured if Ben or his accomplices intended to make good on their threats, I needed to have something for evidence, and I needed some means of protection.

Things remained relatively peaceful for the rest of the week. Thankfully, I didn't hear anything from Linda, Simone or her boyfriends. Until Saturday night, that is. I was sitting on my balcony nursing a beer and a cigarette when I heard my doorbell. That was followed up by pounding on the door.

I ground out my cigarette and went into the front room and looked out the peephole in the door. Sure enough, it was Ben, and I could make out someone with him. The pounding continued.

"Open up, Jacobs," he shouted. "I can hear you in there. Open up so I can kick your fucking ass."

"You're violating a restraining order. I'm calling the cops right now, Ben," I said as I dialed 911 on my phone.

"You wouldn't dare," he yelled. "Open up now, Goddammit!" he yelled. "Take your medicine like a man, you little wimp." When the 911 operator came on, I told them what was happening at my door.

"We've gotten a couple calls for that area and have already dispatched a couple cruisers to your location," the operator said. "In the meantime, do not open the door until officers arrive."

"Thank you," I said before ending the call. The pounding continued and I began to wonder if he was going to break the door down. I clutched the bat tighter and waited.

"Goddammit, open up before I break this fucking door down," he yelled as he pounded on the door. I heard a commotion and looked through the peephole. I saw two very large police officers putting cuffs on Ben and the other man with him. One of the officers knocked on my door.

"Police," the officer said. I opened the door to see the two men in cuffs. Ben looked at me as the officer led him back to his cruiser.

"I'm not finished with you, wimp," he yelled. "I'm going to come back and kick your fucking ass." I looked back at the officer.

"Do you know this man?" he asked. I nodded my head and showed him the copy of my TRO. He read it over and spoke into his radio before addressing me again.

"We'll be taking them downtown," he said. "They'll be spending the night with us. Can you tell me what this is all about?" He took copious notes as I told him my story. "Thank you for your cooperation," he said when I finished. "I don't think he'll be giving you any more trouble for a little while." I closed the door and locked it before heading back out to my balcony with a fresh beer.

The next day, the news of Ben's arrest hit the papers. "Hedge Fund CEO Arrested," the headline read. The short story below didn't go into a lot of detail, but something told me this was just the beginning of his downfall.