Teri -A bit of revision on chapter one. Changes are italicized

Alexandra was fidgeting with the seatbelt, with her hair that was escaping from her bun, and with her fingers. She was clenching her fingers repeatedly in anticipation. The cab driver wasn’t helping her anxiety by driving twenty over the limit and swerving constantly to get in front of the next car only to have to slow down again. Where does he think he’s going to go and what is his bloody hurry? It was almost midnight, how many other rides is he hoping to pick up tonight? “Are you just coming on shift?” she asked. “No, I’m almost done for the night, it’s been slow with the storm,” he replied. By the time they arrived at her apartment building she was twice as exhausted as when she climbed in this cab. The driver fishtailed once again coming to a sliding stop bumping the curb. She contemplated not tipping him, unheard of in her mind, but hell, that was worse than her flight and she hated flying! The whole flight she tried to reconcile why he hadn’t returned any of her calls this past few days. His assistant reassured her that he had been in the office this week and seemed fine. Her irritation turned to anger. He was once again being selfish and ghosting her. Well, she’s had enough of that. This weather wasn’t helping her mood either. This night couldn’t get much worse, she thought . She could barely make out a sliver of a moon through the dense thunderheads. Seconds ago the sky opened up and was pelting the coldest, hardest rain she had ever experienced. She jumped out of the cab on shaky legs and immediately smelled the familiar scent of rain bouncing off the dirty pavement. Even in a late winter storm , the Pacific Northwest had a clean smell. No stagnant exhaust lingered like it did in Florida where she just left after a long,nostalgic visit with her old college roommate. She was sorry to have had to cut her trip short but her friend’s mother got hospitalized and she had to go to her. ( this was changed but i forgot to italicize)—Alexandra was in such a hurry she didn’t remove her coat from her suitcase so consequently she only had on a light sweater and flip flops which flung water up the back sides of her pants. She knew she looked like a drowned rat, but couldn’t worry about that now. Panting and struggling with her large bag she ran for the alcove of the building. Trying to catch her breath , she shook her head to get the rain out of her eyes and released a riot of dark curls that sprung free from her bun. She took a last glance over her shoulder then slipped into the building. Luckily the foyer was empty so she ran for the elevator. She frantically pushed the button all the while looking to see if anyone saw her. The ding sounded extremely loud to her ears, elevating her already fraught nerves. She slipped inside and quickly pressed the button for the Penthouse. She knew he didn’t like surprises, but tough shit. She was bone tired and shivering uncontrollably. When she reached the top floor she caught sight of her reflection in the hall mirror. She wiped the smudged mascara from under her wide crazed eyes and smoothed her hair into place once again. She still had to get through the door to the entrance of the elaborately decorated apartment. Her hands were shaking so badly she had a difficult time inserting the key. She turned the lock and opened the door as quietly as possible and was surprised when she wasn’t greeted with the thirty second warning beeps to turn off the alarm. So he is here after all , she thought. The apartment was dark, no lights on at all. She set her bag down ,removed her shoes and quietly headed down the hall. The only sounds she could hear were the pounding of the rain and the howling wind . Dreadful time of year she mused. January in the Pacific Northwest could have rain or snow, but almost always gray and cold. She continued down the hall with a mission and realized uncaringly that she was dripping water all over the Bamboo floors. She was steps away from the open door at the end of the hall when she heard a cough. She slowed her footsteps so she wouldn’t wake him. That’s the last thing she needed right now. Their confrontations could be deadly. She took another tentative step when she heard murmured voices. She froze midstep ,her heart picked up the pace. Maybe he was still at his conference afterall she thought. He would have told me she mused then immediately dismissed that with a snort. She heard a man whisper. Slowly she turned back toward the living room when she heard a crash . It’s a robbery she realized and scanned the room for a weapon. All she found was the fireplace poker . She gripped it with both hands and retraced her steps. Just before she reached the bedroom door she realized just how stupid she was being and began to backtrack toward the front door. She had her hand on the doorknob when she heard a giggle. Completely baffled, she turned again toward the hall. The giggle turned to a moan. She gripped the poker tighter and slowly turned the knob.

The only light was from the sliver of moon peeking through the curtains , but it was enough. The scene she encountered was one she never imagined she would face in a million years and knew instantly it would change her life forever. She could make out the shapes clearly. The acrobatics being performed on her husband by the voluptuous blonde were impressive Alexandra thought detachedly. Her mind wouldn’t register what her eyes were seeing. She inched closer, raising the poker as she approached the bed. The woman was beautiful; head thrown back, artificially plump lips slightly parted, way too perky breasts jutted out as she bounced on top of her bloody husband! Alexandra squinted - Was that a tattoo on her ass ? That’s when she snapped! It all became clear. The late nights at work when he didn’t answer his phone. The absurd excuses she accepted without question. What a fool I have been, she thought as the rage built. Sweat dripped in her eyes and between her inadequate breasts . Her breath came faster and seemed to match that of the buxom blonde. She was inches from the bed, arms wielding the poker directly over the cheating bastard and his Bimbo. Fury ripped through her body, she knew they deserved this, she raised the poker even higher when the blonde looked over her shoulder at Alexandra and smiled…