S I X

I didn’t know whether to ignore it or just go on to open the text message, nevertheless, I took the step and did open it. It was a video recording.

I told myself that this might just be another of Michael’s sex tapes, it was obvious that it just had to be it. The moaning sound that began from this fifteen-minute-long video as I pressed play was enough to turn it off but I didn’t, I watched it to ensure that Michael’s face was shown, and believe me when I say that his face was clear as day, I couldn’t even recognize the woman as it was blurred out.

I didn’t know what to do, this was too much for me to handle, how much was I going to keep hanging on like this, I don’t deserve this from him. I couldn’t it for long as I immediately texted back, “Name your price,”

My heart raced because this was the first time this had gotten to me, I hate that I have to sort this thing out for Michael but what more can I do? I can’t have my family fall apart or I will be gossiped like the others are.

“Name your fucking price!” I texted again, growing impatient, biting my lips and pacing around.

“Five million dollars,” the strange number finally answered.

I laughed at the unbelievable amount, “You must be mad to think that I will throw away five million dollars to you,”

“I am not the one who would have her family’s ass to the public, I will get my bit of fame when this gets revealed, and while you will have a miserable life, make sure to reply to me when you are ready, I am giving you just 24 hours,” The strange number sent.

I continued replying, cussing out on the phone though I didn’t get a reply back. I became frustrated and through the phone on my bed making it bounce and fall face flat to the ground.

“Ahhh… Michael, what have you done to me?” I sobbed within me as I sat at the edge of my bed. There was a knock on the door but I didn’t bother answering, I didn’t have this strength.

How could this have happened to me this very early in the morning? The strange person was right; she had all the balls in her court while I had nothing, absolutely nothing.

I knew someone who could help, someone who would help me trace this number and have this person dealt with but I didn’t want to go through that route until I was very desperate.

I wore my robe and went out to get the kids prepared for school, wearing that big smile I always tried to put on so no one would suspect a single thing.

Carmela was the first person I saw at the table as she was about to have her meal, “Car—” I tried to call to her but as soon as she sighted me, Carmela got to her feet and said while directly staring at me, “I think I have lost my appetite,” she grabbed her school bag and went out.

“Carmela! Carmela!!” I called after her as she went towards her car so she could leave for school, “Answer me when I call you woman,” I chased after her in my nightwear.

“Leave me alone, I don’t want to talk to you. David, open the door,” Carmela ordered her driver and I eyed him not to as he stood still, “I have hands,” she grabbed hold of the door handle but it didn’t budge, “David open this damn door,”

“He won’t be opening anything,” I said to her, “David hand over the keys,”

“Yes ma’am,” David placed the keys in my palms

“What the hell is your problem?! Why can’t you fucking leave me alone!” Carmela yelled at me.

I was angry, “Don’t you dare use such foul language at me? Don’t talk to me like that!”

“Then leave me alone!” Carmela screamed. Just then, Michael arrived from work, I didn’t even notice he hadn’t been home since yesterday.

“Carmela please tell me, what have I done wrong? Let me apologize,” I pleaded with her, I am a mother and I can’t continue to watch as my daughter constantly pushes me away.

“Everything! You are the reason Virginia lost her job, you sent her away, didn’t you? Just like you did with the others, I hate that you are my mother!”

“Carmela!” Michael’s voice resonated as he joined us, I no longer felt apologetic that Carmela felt this way, she was angry because I fired most of her nanny, and why? Because all those loose women can’t keep their legs in one place, not my fault.

I wish I could scream to her that it was all her father’s fault but knowing Carmela, she would rather blame me than blame her father.

“Don’t speak to your mother like that,” Michael said in a firm tone which Carmela immediately abided by. “Go to school, when you return, let’s talk,”

I handed over the kids to David so he could take her to school.

“Aren’t you cold?” Michael asked me and I stared down looking at how open my nightwear was but burning anger was able to keep me warm even as everyone had paused whatever they had been doing to watch us.

“I will go have my bath. How was work though?” I asked him as we walked inside after Carmela had left for school.

Michael shrugged, “As it has always been. I might head over to the new site later today, got a few things I need to work on,”

“Oh, alright”

“And how was the women’s meeting yesterday?” Michael asked me.

“It went great,” my response was short because I had other questions I had in mind instead but I ignored it, he just returned.

“Where is Leo? Has he gone to school? Forgot to tell you that he will be taking extra lessons this summer, he wanted to do it and I agreed, I guess we would have to cancel that trip,” Michael said and I told him that I already knew and had canceled the trip. “I will go shower then,”