CHAPTER FOUR

I take a look at my amazing fashion skills. I have nothing but admiration . I looked stunning with the red pixel long dress with a slit that reached my mid thigh. The Cinderella stilettos complimented the look and the make up was spot on. Very spot on. No bruise was on sight and I was grateful for that.

I take out my dusty pink latte lipstick and gently smear it on my lips. After I was done I look into the mirror one last time, checking myself again.

While I was still at it Andre comes behind me, circled my waist and roughly pulled me against his body. I tensed as his lips caressed my exposed back and his fingers traveling up and down my spine.

There was a time his touched used to drive me crazy. When it used to turn me on but now all it does is freak me out. It’s like acid on my skin … it’s burns. Really burns. All I want to do is stay away as far as possible.

“You haven’t lost your touch. You still drive me insane with this body of yours,” he plucked my side causing me to gasp in pain. “I want to rip it off you but we don’t have time for that. Remember what I told you right sweetheart?” he whispered in my ear, his teeth on my earlobe in a bite. He then turn me around and without giving a second to recollect my thoughts his lips attacks me into a fierce and demanding kiss. It was so rushed that I couldn’t keep up with it, he bit my lower lip so that I give him entry to my mouth but I denied it. It would make me sick and the last thing I need is to puke up on him.

He pulled away and wanted to sing hallelujahs for that. He adjusted his tie with a smug smile on his face and his eyes flashing with mischief.

“See you downstairs,” he pecked my lips and left.

As soon as he did I wiped off my lips with the wipes then reapplied my lipstick. He makes me sick trust me.

Smile Maia. Remember to smile. Keep smiling. You don’t always get a chance to be out often so this is your . My subconscious recited enthusiastically as I walked out of the closet switching off the lights as I did.

                               ~~~

The party is a pop. So bombastic and sophisticated with elegant women in gorgeous floor falling gowns and evening dresses and the good looking men in different tux colors. Some wearing purple, others dark green and others black. It looks beautiful.

The waiter offered some champagne and some snacks. As soon as one of Andre’s co-workers saw him, he came over and took him away and I was thankful for that. God bless him.

I find myself our preserved table and start eating my snacks in silence. I occasionally look out for Andre and he is mingling and me___ completely forgotten.

 There is a woman clinging by his side, laughing at something he was saying over to the group then she turned and her eyes set on mine. She instantly drew herself from him which caused Andre to frown then traced her eyes to me. His frowned deepened and mouthed to me to quit staring.

What the hell? What was my problem? I didn’t do anything. She chose to do that by her own will.

After the exchange between Andre and I , she gracefully made her way towards me. I resisted an eye roll. Now I caught on as to why he was attracted to her and must be cheating on me with. Whoever or whatever her name is, she’s a beauty goddess. Like Medusa before she became a snaked haired monster.

But that’s not the point. Why was she coming over to me? That causes me to crease my brows a little as I was trying to be as natural as possible.

“Hello,” came her gentle voice.

“Hi,” I meekly smile back at her then looked down at the plate before me playing with the fork and knife.

“You have such a gentle and caring husband,” she states looking at him with this weird smile on her face.

Tell me about it. My subconscious sarcastically replied her lips held in a thin line.

I cleared my throat gaining her attention. “Yes I have.”

“He treats you like a queen. Look at you…your face is blowing. I take it as a marriage glow up.”

Yes he does treat me like a queen by beating me up, emotionally bringing me down and cheating on me with you. My subconscious reared her ugly, snide head at her.

“Of course! Of course he does!”

“However are you really worth of the queenly attention,” then there comes the sarcasm. She lifted her eyebrow in mockery and I just averted my eyes elsewhere. I didn’t want to snap and end up doing something that will get me beaten up when I get home. Come on a girl needs a break.

“Maybe that’s why he goes out there and seeks for attention and satisfaction,” she snobbishly whipped her hair to the side. “Poor you. It must hurt right? You know one time he flew me away with his touch and his…”

“Excuse me,” I cut her off, grabbed my pouch and started to walk away from the table.

“That’s it walk away little weasel,” I heard her mutter.

I rolled my eyes at her and made my way to find the bathroom. With the help of a waitress I made it there and washed my hands then my face. The words of that woman kept swimming in my head and all I could do is laugh about it.

It didn’t matter or hurt anymore. There was a point it used to. A point where everything went down the drain.

                             ***

We had been dating for about two and half years, he graduated from university then waited for me to complete my studies as well. Everything was a fairytale and I loved every bit of it. Not long after he proposes to me by the seashore, it was the best time of the year for me. It was so charismatic and romantic. He had taken me to a night cruise drive. Not long after we got married.

Like any other couple we wanted to have a baby of our own but it wasn’t happening. We tried everything, the doctors even told us we were hundred percent fertile. It was just not happening. his mother was so angry about it and kept pushing him to divorce me but he loved me and supported me. He took my side and I was feeling blessed of having such a man as a life partner. Then it so happened that one time he withdrew from our daily corny couple activities. You know like going out together, taking a shower together and just keeping each other company. Apparently he was so busy with his job to hang out with me anymore. He got a promotion from company he worked for and I was happy for him but I just missed his presence in my life. I missed the little things he used to do for me.

He came back from work one day and he reeked of female perfume. He even had a red lipstick mark on his shirt. When I inquired about it he got so upset and defensive. Our sex life dropped to zero at one point and because of that I got so angry that I confronted him about it.

“Andre I have noticed that you stay out late. Just yesterday you got home at six and sneaked in like a thief! I love you…yes! But I am not your door mat and demand you to answer me damnit” I bellowed.

“What is this? An interrogation? You’re not a police officer and I am not obliged to answer any of your questions,” he turned to walk out on me and reached out for his wrist.

“Don’t you dare walk out me Andre!” I raised my voice and that did it for him. He raised his hand and smacked me across the face. It hurt so bad and it was the first time he ever done it.

“You? You slapped me?” I stared at him in disbelief and he did it again on the other cheek.

“I will do it again and again till you learn that I am the man of this house and I am the dominant figure and you should respect me!” he shouted and I flinched with tears springing out of my orbs. They were uncontrollable. I cried myself to sleep that night. It continued to hurt when every night he would come home smelling of different women and the beating enhanced and got even worse.

I cried a lot about it that at some point I couldn’t do it anymore. I got numb to the pain and the betrayal.

                            ***

I felt something moist sliding down my cheek and I wiped it off. I chuckled bitterly at the tear. It wasn’t a tear of what was happening to my life or the abuse rather a tear of what I have been reduced to. I was never so weak and brittle. I used to be strong and independent but now I was nothing but a tiny weasel. I couldn’t defend myself anymore. I am a joke and going crazy.

“Hey are you alright?” a voice snapped me out of my dark thoughts. I quickly and quiet wipe off my misty eyes and muster up one of my best smiles. “Need some help with something?”

I shook my head at her and continue to wash up my face ignoring her presence. I am ashamed of the fact that she caught me at my weakest.

“You know sometimes it helps to reach out to a stranger. I know you have been mopping ever since you came in. Your smile doesn’t reach your ears and your eyes don’t sparkle with happiness. They’re rather dull.”

I rose my head and side glance her. She shrugged with pouted lips.

“It comes with the job. I am Katy Legacy, I am sure you kn…”

When she saw the confused look on my face, her eyes wide in astonishment.

“You have no idea as to who I am, haven’t you? Oh my God! This is a first and I am so happy about it.”

“Why? Are you some kind of superstar or something?” I voice out my thoughts.

She blinks, her lips parted then closed them shaking her hand as if to clear it up.

“Don’t mind me. I actually thought you would just stare at me while I do the talking. You have such a beautiful voice and I love your accent. So may I know the name of the angel. As for your question…I am kind of one,” she giggles softly.

I chortle a little. “I am not sure about angel but my name is Maia Andre Steele.”

“Steele? You’re the wife of that arse?” she said and quickly realized she just cussed at my husband. “I am so sorry. It just that he works for my family and he is a jerk. I found out about it when I paid a visit with my dad and he just didn’t cut it for me. Like I said it comes with the job….I am psychiatrist and I know a jerk when I see one.”

I licked my lips tapping my nails against the marble basin.

“It’s okay…I know how he can be sometimes.”

“Honestly I am so sorry Maia.”

“Hey I said it’s okay. Don’t fidget about it. I am not mad. Everything is true about that. You know, I guess you’re right sometimes it helps to talk to a stranger. I am never going to meet you ever again so I will go ahead and let out my steam,” I snorted preparing myself for the long story. “Andre and I got married when we were very young. He was twenty three and I was twenty. I loved him and I wanted nothing but to be with him. Build a home and a family with him. Everything was the perfect fairytale but then everything changed because of one tiny problem. A problem that’s not even my fault in the first place.”

“What was that?”

“A woman becomes a mother after giving birth to a child and sadly I can’t seem to transition from being a woman to a mother. So yeah things took an ugly turn because of that. He wants a baby and I can’t give him one.”

I saw her clenched her fists. “All-rounder my foot and I can’t believe he is getting that award. I have always known he was a jackal in sheep clothing,” she spat out.

“Don’t get worked up. We are good now,” I lied through my teeth. “I mean we are working on ourselves now.”

I have no choice. If he loses that award and he finds out I am behind it. He will kill me and I don’t think I want to die that way yet.

Katy’s phone rang stopping her from what she was about to say.

“Yes brother tell me,” she pauses to listen to the other person on the line. Whilst she was at it, I re-applied my make up.

She groaned. “But brother it is your award. Mind you, you’re the special guest. The whole party and event was planned just for you. You can’t ditch like you always do at the other business functions,” she pauses. “No! Don’t you dare use the I don’t have a date excuse on me. It might work on mom and dad, not me!” she pauses listening.

I look at my wrist watch and huffed. I need to go back to the event about to start soon and I didn’t want to be rude by just walking out. And Katy didn’t look like she was going to get out of the phone very soon.

I pat her shoulder and she looks to me. I sign her that I got to go and it was nice meeting her. I am not sure if she understood my gestures. She smiled and indicated me to go on. She understood me then. I return her warm gestures and walked out.

I plucked out my Luna hand bracelet from the pouch to put it back on since I had to take it off to wash off my face. My head was down and my focus into the purse that I was aware of the other person coming from the other side.

It was only then I noticed when I bumped into them causing the both of us to stumble down onto the floor.

“Oof!” he suck up a breath when my entire weight fell on him then his hands were on my bareback. I tensed and tried to get up but my hand was stuck behind his back. And I want to believe it was twisted as well because of the throbbing pain.

“Stop moving. You will make it worse,” the person said and I will admit. His deep husky voice was so soothing, it made me want to relax and be taken care of but I didn’t give into the temptation. I needed to get up. Like now!

I rose my head hissing in pain and that when my gaze fell into his blue-grey eyes. Weird and strange, my breath hitched . Illicit sparks blow up as the skin of his fingers brushes against mines. He didn’t seem to notice the current going on as he carefully squirmed his way out from underneath me.

He stands up, looks around until he found what he was looking for.

How rude he is not even asking if I am okay.

Must he? Really Maia? You’re the one who dumped into him remember? My subconsciousness sassy said in a duh tone.

I was still whining at the pain on my wrist when I heard a grunt coming from the man not far from me. I looked up and my breath shallowed as I looked at the million of dollars he was holding with a unpleasant expression on his face.

A Falcon Supernova IPhone 6 pink diamond. With an INSANE price of $48.5 million dollars.

Who the heck is this guy? The initial plan was I won’t do anything that would make Andre upset with me but looking at the cracked phone in this man’s hand I am not quite sure that went according to the plan.

You’re so dead. My subconscious sinks in leaving me all by myself.

I slowly stand up, wanting to make a run out of it. He barely looked at my face and I doubt he will be able to recognize me if we ever cross paths again. Just when I took a step back his eyes snap up at me.

He looked so impassive making it so hard to make out what was going on in his mind. He urges closer and stuck out his hand.

“Give it,” that’s all he was with a serious face and I gulp down.