The Invisible Man

Wednesday morning me and my crew arrive at Tristan's. We're greeted by his house sitter Monique. Beautiful, tall, Black lady, with long wavy hair. She must be a model too.

    "Mr. Black says you may start anywhere you want." 

    "Is Mr. Black available?" I ask.

    "No Ms. Warring, he's in New York attending his wife's funeral."

I'm working for the devil. Monique stands observing my reaction. I give a pursed smile then respond, "We'll be starting in the living area."

She answers with an exaggerated, "Perfect."

After leading us to the living room she then sashays into the kitchen. I'm instructing my crew but watching her as she makes a private phone call. While playing in her hair she gives a flirtatious laugh when she's speaking. The way she's biting her bottom lip I can assume she's having an erotic conversation. Shaking myself, I focus on my task, but pray she's not sexually talking to Tristan only days after his wife's funeral! How in the world was Alex his wife? What kind of twisted world have I been introduced to? 

This job should be done in thirty days max, but today I wished it could be completed in thirty minutes. I want to be far away from this sick madness.

As we work, Monique is there swimming and working on her laptop. She's quite at home. It's apparent she stays here often. Our day's work is complete. I wave motioning for her attention. She's on her cellphone as she's been all day. Phone now pressed to her chest, she comes over.

    "Monique we're done for the day. Please let Mr. Black know we'll return at the same time tomorrow, and please give him my condolences."

    "Okay. Bye." She sneers. I return a slight scowl then leave.

Wednesday is bible study night. After service Blake, Janay, Toni, and I go out for dinner. Immediately, Janay gasps, "Oh my God, Jade! My husband told me about that woman Alex and how Tristan made a joke out of her death! Plus they were married? What a wicked man!"

Toni's shaking her head, but Blake has a dazed look on his face.

    "Blake, are you alright? What are you thinking about?" I ask.

    "N-Nothing!" He stutters.

    "Well, you're acting weirder than a serial killer! Say it or act normal!" Janay scolds.

Huffing and rolling his eyes he says, "Janay, don't start tonight. I'm not in the mood!" She quickly apologizes.

    "Did you suspect he was married?" Toni asks me.

    "No! The first time I went to his home Alex was there and his introduction of her was, we call her Alex. She seemed fine and then left happy."

   In a dry tone Toni replies, "Wow, that's amazing." 

Toni's annoying me. I know she's implying I should've never gone out with him knowing he had a girlfriend. As we sit pondering Tristan's lifestyle, I notice Blake is still very uncomfortable.

    "Blake, had you known he was married?" I ask.

Bucking his eyes he sighs, "Yes."

    "WHAT?" Janay yells.

    "I can't discuss this if you're going to keep acting ridiculous! Stop it! I'm not in the mood for your outbursts tonight! Please! For once act civilized then I'll explain everything!" Blake shouts. Janay agrees in humiliation.

    "Jade I'm very sorry I didn't tell you he was married, but he assured me they were already separated and soon would be divorced!"

Blake then tells of the first day he was introduced to Tristan.

    "About a year ago I went to a golf retreat in Hilton Head given by The Black Corporation. My two friends Sal, Jeffrey, and I had done a few holes then retreated to the resort's lounge.

    "There's Tristan Black!" Sal points out.

    "Oh okay. He's a young model type." I comment.

    "Yeah, he's a Marine I hear. He has no interest in the business. He simply inherited his father's fortune." Jeffery adds.

"A few of the top executives are conversing with him when Alex walks up. 

     "Look at his wife!" Sal swoons.

    "Oh, he's married?" I ask.

     "He just married her a couple of weeks ago." Sal continues.

Jeffrey adds, "She's one of those supermodels from Paris I hear."

"We watch Tristan and Alex until they exit the lounge area then we continue with our day. The next morning I'm up at the break of dawn. I'm hoping to catch the dolphins out. I grab a coffee and I see Alex sitting at a table crying. I wanted to ignore her, but she was not trying to conceal her sadness, so I decided to approach her.

    "Hi. Are you alright?"

She looks up then drops her head sobbing. I ran to the concierge and got a box of tissue.

    "Here. ...Why are you out here crying like this? Please let's walk along the beach. You want any juice or water?"

Alex shakes her head no but accompanies me to the beach. Immediately, a dolphin jumps up and we laugh.

    "Hi, I'm Blake Duffy. I'm an employee at your husband's corporation. Does he know you're out here so upset?"

    "No. ...He didn't return to our room last night." She whimpers.

Shrugged I say, "I'm sure he has a good explanation for not returning last night." 

    "Like what Mr. Duffy? Please enlighten me."

    "I didn't say I had one. I said he'd have one." I grin.

    "I don't understand him. He's so in love with me. We married in three months, and now he never comes home at night. I have to beg him to stay." She cries.

    "May I?"

"I asked to embrace her. I allow her to cry on my shoulder. I'm praying no one sees me hugging Tristan Black's new bride. Soon she lifts her head sighing, "I appreciate your kindness. I want us to make it but I'm sure this marriage will never last. ...Are you married, Mr. Duffy?"

    "Yes, seven years now?"

    "Are you happy?"

    "Some days." I chuckle.

    "Do you possess any secrets?" She whispers.

    "Pardon me?"

    "What's your secret? I'll share Mr. Black's if you share one of your secrets."

“This is a bizarre proposition. I'm slightly tempted to hear what she wants to reveal about him but I pause then say, "My secrets are so frivolous you'd probably laugh at me. Plus, you're upset with him right now. Once he returns and you make up you'll regret you ever exposed his secrets, trust me."

Smiling, she says, "You're a good person Mr. Duffy. Thank you."

    "It's okay I-"

    "Alex, I've been looking for you for over an hour." Tristan interrupts. He then turns his focus towards me and extends his hand for a shake.

    "Tristan Black."

    "Yes, Mr. Black, I'm Blake Duffy. I'm an engineer at The Black Corporation. Extremely honored to meet you, sir!"

He returns a friendly smile saying, "Honored as well Blake."

"I notice his hands are filthy. His nails have dirt underneath and he has scars all over them. Seeing my staring he chuckles, "I'm not a "behind the desk" man. I like to test my strength often." 

Somehow his comment made me ashamed of my now girly, manicured hands. Right away, I glance towards Alex who sat gazing out into the ocean, never making a sound. 

    "Well let me tend to my beautiful wife," Tristan says. I smile and then walk away.

"Once I'm in the lounge, I discreetly watch them through the windows displaying the beach. Alex begins arguing. Soon she starts pounding his chest but he stands and takes it. She then leans her head on his chest, crying. For a brief, he hugs her then leans her head back and kisses her. They then walk into the hotel. He's hugging her as she walks with her head buried in his shoulder.

That same evening we had a conference meeting. Tristan is well groomed, looking very professional and dapper. I'm seated only a couple of seats from him and his scared hands are now immaculate. When I look up I notice he's watching me. I give an exaggerated smile and then return my focus to the speaker. Tristan's personality is so engaging. He's a big ham but very likable. Our meeting was to last until ten in the evening but he instructed them to end the meeting at eight.

    "Yes, this is business, but people want to enjoy themselves as well. Enjoy your evening." He announces.

"Everyone's excited and shaking his hand as they exit. Once I get into the hall, I see Alex standing by an exit door nervously smoking a cigarette. It's fairly warm tonight but she's wearing a full cream jumper with a summer sweater laying across her shoulders. Tristan continues conversing with the people as she observes from a distance. I have gone the opposite way but I'm spying on them from around the corner. As soon as the last person leaves, Alex rushes over to Tristan demanding, "I'm going with you tonight!" 

    "No, you're not!"  Tristan gnashes, but she begins kissing his face, and neck and tries to remove his jacket. He stands poised as he restrains her. By now her sweater has fallen and I notice her back and arms have scratches and bruises all over. When Tristan grabs her she flinches from pain. I'm thinking, did he beat her? But from her lack of fear and desire to be with him, I assume not. He gently pushes her off of him and then begins heading my way. Immediately, I pretended to be on my phone.

    "Yes, I miss you too baby! I finished my meeting and then took a tour of all the conference rooms. They have some really large ones!"

While I'm engaged in this make-believe conversation Tristan stands in front of me until I finish. 

     "Hey babe, Mr. Black just approached me. Love you bye. ...Hi Mr. Black."

    "Call me Tristan. Who's that your girlfriend?"

    "No, I'm married!" I chuckle.

    "I know. It's a joke." He says smirking. 

Alex is standing behind him peeking over his shoulder at me when he says, "Please, join my wife and me for a late dinner."

"We ride in his car to a nice restaurant. He sits in the middle of Alex and me in our booth. Alex is now a different person. I guess she's excited to be with him tonight. The night's going very well then Janay FaceTime's me so I say, "Excuse me." But as I try to leave Tristan grabs my arm saying, "Let me meet your wife." 

"As soon as he asks to meet Janay, Alex jumps up and storms away. This woman is insane I think to myself. I press the accept button, but it's Jade. I laugh asking, "Jade why are you on Janay's phone?"

    "Your so-called insensitive wife is crying because she misses you. You haven't called her today so she's traumatized!" Jade laughs.

Soon I hear Janay in the background yelling, "I hate you, Jade!"

"Janay eventually gets on the phone and tells me she loves and misses me. I apologize for not calling her yet. As I'm laughing and being mushy I notice Tristan is staring at my phone with a faint smile. Once off the phone, I giggle, "Sorry, my wife's a handful too."

    "So Alex is normal?" He teases. I simply laugh hoping he doesn't realize I lied about calling Janay earlier.

    "Pretty wife."

    "Thanks."

    "You must be the man if she's that excited to hear from you only an hour or so later!" He winks.

“I go to explain but he lifts his hand stopping me. He's gesturing and shaking his head as if to say there's no need to defend why I lied. His face still holds this understanding smile when he asks, "Who was the attractive woman who placed the phone call?"

    "That's Jade. She's a friend from church."

    "Have you two ever...?"

    "Excuse me? ...OH! Oh no, never! She's like a sister to me!"

Stretching his neck, he chuckles, "I'd love to meet Jade. Will you introduce us?"

    "Uh, well if I can be honest sir, I don't think that's wise. You're married and Jade's a devout woman of God. She wouldn't appreciate me even thinking of introducing her to you."

    "I understand, but I won't be married much longer. Don't judge me, but we only got married as sort of a barter. I'll do this if you promise to do that, you know?"

"Although I'm thoroughly confused, I still nod yes. He continues, "After my divorce is final promise me you'll introduce us? I promise I won't destroy your relationship with Jade. Deal?" He extends his hand.

    "Tristan, I don't mind introducing her, really I don't. One thing about Jade she can handle any situation. However, I see how Alex behaves. Promise you'll respect Jade and then we'll have a deal."

"Glaring at my extended hand, he then lifts his eyes to look directly into mine. Now shaking my hand, he whispers, "I promise."

"Three weeks later Sal informs me they were legally separated."

Coming out of his thought, wide-eyed Blake looks at me saying, "That was a year ago. I hadn't seen or heard from him since that day. No one had. Jeffrey started calling him the invisible man."

    "Well did you find out if he put those bruises on her?" I ask.

    "Oh yeah, that. Supposedly, a cleaner witnessed them very aggressively doing it."

From embarrassment, Blake drops his head as he turns red. Toni laughs out loud saying, "Well, send my picture to him! Maybe he'll want to meet me!"

    "I rebuke you, Toni." Blake frowns.

    "Sorry, forgive me, Minister Duffy," Toni says dignifiedly, then sticks out her tongue. Soon we're all laughing together. Our fellowship ends well then we head to our homes.