Righting Another Wrong

"Beautiful place you have here," Mrs. Jackson (Mia's mother), commented after taking her seat.

Mia flashed her a smile but said nothing.

She knew that there was more from whence that compliment came.

Mia coldly hard look back at the mother.

Mrs. Jackson smirked and remarked, "since you'll not say anything, I'll ask. Who's financing all this? I mean, the last time I checked you didn't have a car nor a place to call your own. And, that was three days ago."

Mia was visibly not comfortable.

But Mrs. Jackson was not in a position to let it slip away with her inquisitions going begging.

"I've the whole day," Ms. Jackson advised. "It's either you start talking or we glare at each other the whe day."

Mia cleared her throat, "Mama... someone got it for me."

"Someone?" Ms. Jackson retorted. "A man?"

Mia drowned in deep silence.

"Derrick was home yesterday. He indicates that you broke up with him and that a man now sponors you. Hence all this stuff we're seeing here," Mrs. Jackson established. "Is it true?"

"Is that all he told?" Mia wondered.

Mrs. Jackson smiled, "that's his side of the story. What is yours?"

"Look," Mia opened up. "I was involved with someone else. Derrick cheated. I had to do what I had to."

Mrs. Jackson chuckled. Her sight was cast squarely on her daughter. Displeasure was written over all her face.

"You had to do what what you had to," She registered her thoughts. "Life ain't a dress rehearsal. It's either you get it right, or miss it altogether. You can't be opening doors to other men before ensuring that the one with Derrick is properly closed."

Silence. The room went quiet.

Mrs. Jackson, in her early sixties, was but a pious and straightforward person. She believed in a world that evolves around fairness and the bigger picture. She was the kind would not fire with fire. She was not high on revenge. She was the kind that would turn the other cheek, when slapped on the other.

Mia felt blessed to have as a mom. But that was only sometimes.

On other days, she felt not so blessed to have her around.

She always impressed on Mia what she thought was ideal and acceptable in society.

"Who's the man?" Mrs. Jackson inquired.

Mia, after a careful thought, "Derrick's uncle."

Mrs. Jackson's eyes gaped in disbelief. "Corinth?"

Mia kept quiet. And, her silence only meant consent.

"Poor child," Mrs. Jackson uttered in disapproval. "You mean Corinth Stones, the Billionaire?"

Mia retained her silence.

Mrs. Jackson continued with her utteration. " I get it, Derrick messed up. He wronged you. But going out with the uncle ain't right either. Two wrongs, no matter which angle you look at them, they will never make a right. Besides, that man is too old for you. You can't be intimate with a man who is almost my age."

Mia broke her long retained silence, "Mama... All I got from Derrick was a heartbreak. I saw him in bed with another woman. On the other hand, I got an apartment, a car and a stable stream of finances from Corinth. And, you know the best part? It's all free."

"No child," Mrs. Jackson retorted with an emotionally charged tone. "I've come to understand that, there are no such things are free things under the sun. In most cases, the benefieries are the products where things are purpoted to be free. That man will use you and dump you."

Mia bade to shake her mother off, "But mama.."

"But you can't tell me that a man can give you all this for free. Open your eyes and walk away while you can." Mrs. Jackson interposed. "Please."

Mia kept quiet. Her silence was marched by an equal dose from the mother.

***

Mia walked pulled over in front of Corinth's mansion. She stepped out of the vehicle and walked to the entrance.

She wore a short floral dress.

This was about two hours after the engagement with the mother, Mrs. Jackson.

Mia weaved her way around to Corinth's office.

She pushed the door open and Mia strolled into beautiful office that took pride in expensive and state of art portraits and furniture.

Corinth, seemingly arrested in the cobwebs of the activities on his hands, he kept his gaze on the laptop.

"I thought we agreed that no impromptu visits," Corinth spoke softly.

Mia charged forward and extended two sets of keys to Corinth. They were for the furnished apartment and the mini Cooper he had gifted her.

"Look," her voice mellowed sternly. "I'm done with this."

Corinth made a few more rounds with his fingers on the computer's keypad before glaring at Mia.

"May I know why you want out?" He inquired.

Mia, wagging her head, gave response, "it ain't right. You are just using me for sex. Nothing more."

"What makes you say that?" Corinth wondered.

"I want out," Mia insisted. "I need a stable relationship with a man I can call my owner."

Corinth stood up and stretched out his hand to Mia.

"Alright, that's alright," he spoke while gnashing his teeth.

Mia elevated her hand to give him the keys - but Corinth had other plans.

He firmly grabbed her hand and pulled her to himself.

His left hand circled around her waist and locked her in. His right hand was quick onto her neck with a tight grip.

"Who the fuck do you think you're?" Corinth devilish face screamed with threats. "You don't opt out, unless I say so. You don't walk into my office without prior appointment and permission. Do you understand me?"

Mia was gripped with fear. All she could afford was a nod of head.

"Are you my whore?" He inquired.

She nodded vehemently.

"Now listen and listen good," he admonished sternly. "You're not to leave my life. If you do, there will be dire consequences. And don't ever think of running. I swear, I'll find you and cage you forever."

Mia was still as a rock in silence.