Was I expected to ignore whatever was happening in front of me, only across the room? The perfectly shaped champagne flute wine glass in my hand felt heavy, the sparkling liquid in it tempted me and before I could account for it, I had downed more than four rounds. I wished I could ignore what was happening and turn the other way, act oblivious but I could feel the pitiful gazes of everyone in the room. They knew just like I did, and they pitied me.
I motioned for one of the waiters to refill my glass and continued to burn holes into my husband’s perfectly ironed suit. Only but a year and a half ago, I was the one that stood beside him with his arm around my waist with the attention of all in attendance on me. If I spent another second staring at my husband’s arm around another woman, the glass in my hand would have shattered. I took a deep breath, placed the glass on a tray carried by one of the workers and walked out of the huge hall.
I walked down the hallway until I found an empty room and plopped on the door. Every day and moment had become exhausting and I also failed to understand why I suffered through this misery. My fingers traced my scalp even though there was no itch, I was only irritated and filled with negative emotions.
Ashton and I had been okay. We were perfect and dubbed the perfect couple, but it all changed so drastically, so much that I still could not believe it. How could someone change so terribly with no remorse? I asked myself every day what it was I had done wrong, and what I had not done. Why would my husband seek warmth in the arms of another woman? Had I not been enough?
“Madam Stetson?” The door opened and I raised my body to look at the intruder. “Would you like anything?”
I scowled at the woman at the door in the white and black uniform of the workers in the hotel. She stood by the entrance, too timid to fully enter the room.
“If I needed something, I would have called for room service.”
Her already uncertain face crumbled into worry and fear and a part of me relished in it. Despite everything I had lost over the past three months, I could still make people squirm and I still had the Stetson name at the end of my name.
“I’m sorry ma’am…I thought I could be of assistance.”
I rolled my eyes and stood from the bed. “Assistance? How could a mere employer such as yourself help me?” I chuckled dryly and glared at her. “You’d be assisting me if you left right now if you got lost before you lost your job.”
I exhaled after the girl muttered ‘I’m sorry’ nervously before disappearing and closing the door behind her. I walked out of the huge glass doors that led to the balcony and breathed in the night air. I could not even relax despite how many times I would inhale and exhale. My life and everything I had invested in had gone to ruins and I had no clue how to fix it.
My hands clenched around the railings of the balcony and I looked down at the height of the building. It was busy just like any other night but it felt like the universe was mocking me for thinking I had gotten a happy ending. Ashton and I had gone through a lot together but this was more heartbreaking than anything.
A year and a half into our marriage, he decided to show me why everyone had persistently argued that I should not marry him after only eight months of knowing him. I had felt the wiser then.
I took a step away from the railing and sat down. So many memories of when it was “perfect” flooded my mind, tears rolled down my face and the influence of the wine started to kick in only making my emotions tenfold.
A sigh of irritation was released from me when I heard the door of the room open once more and footsteps approached the balcony. I scratched my left eyebrow and looked up.
“Can a girl not wallow in self-pity with no disturbances?”
Ridley chuckled and made himself comfortable next to me. “What kind of brother would I be if I did not relish in my brother’s fumbles.” He mused with a small smile.
“Go away Ridley, I have too much to worry about, a spiteful brother ready to sleep with his brother’s forgotten wife is not one of the problems I want to add to my worries.” I closed my eyes, half expecting him to actually leave me alone to my thoughts.
“Oh Janelle,” He said in a sing-song manner. “Dorothy can’t be the reason you’re out here with liner rolling down her face like a terrible clown.” I glared at him and he raised his hands. “Don’t yell.”
“Ridley please,” I begged and his smile widened.
“I do not understand why you let my brother treat you like this…”
I sighed and rested my back in the seat and looked at him. “Ridley, I love your brother—”
“Probably the only person that does.” He intercepted and I tossed him another nasty glare to shut him up.
“He’s just confused and soon he will realise that Dorothy is a bitch that only wants him for his position.” I voiced out, trying to sound as confident as I could. Ridley laughed and stood up.
“Continue lying to yourself sister-in-law and before you know it, you’ll be signing divorce papers—”
“Rid—”
He raised a finger in the air to shut me up. “You know it and so does the entire world, my brother has tossed you out like an old flavour of ice cream and soon he’ll do it officially. Stop being pathetic, unlike you, my brother has people on his end, you were only a mere clerk in his company.”
His words hurt more than I would have liked to admit because they carried weight, a very true weight. Before Ashton, I was also a mere employee, but somehow, we stumbled upon each other and it felt like I was a Disney princess, like I was living through the cast of a romantic movie with a happy ending except I did not get my happy ending.
I could feel more tears building up and I looked down. Ridley was right, I had no one. I had no family and I had grown distant from the only people I considered my friends all because I thought I had it all and nothing could go wrong.
More tears escaped my eyes after Ridley walked out of the room and I heard the door close. I learnt the hard way that nothing was ever fully secure, I had thought I was living a life possible only in fairytales but I realised why fairytales were exactly that, tales of fiction.
I do not know how much time I spent on that balcony but I remember picking my shattered self and heading to the inside, seeking the warmth and comfortability of the bed after suffering through the harsh night weather.
When I woke up the next morning, I found myself in the huge room back at home that Ashton and I once used jointly. I felt even more terrible than I felt the night before and my head pounded against my skull. My hands went up to my temples and I groaned just as the door opened and Florence, the head maid walked in.
“Good morning, ma’am.” She greeted me professionally while her gaze judged my state. “The younger Stetson told me to bring you some painkillers and water when you wake up.”
“Ridley is here?” I asked with half-open eyes and scrunched eyebrows.
“No, but he did bring you here last night in your stupor.” She responded and set a cup of water and medicine by the bedside.
That sounded right, Ridley hated being anywhere near Ashton’s house. I was grateful that he took the time to take me from the hotel and back home. I took the painkillers and gulped down the entire cup of water.
“Is Ashton downstairs?” I asked her after drinking the water and feeling less disoriented.
Florence looked at me sadly before answering. “Just like every morning madam, Mr. Ashton is not here.”
My fists clenched at my sides, every single morning I asked her if Ashton was here and having breakfast downstairs like he used to do before. I still could not get my mind to accept that so much had changed over the last few months with no warning.
“Thank you, Florence,” I said with the little energy I could muster and stood from the bed.
“It’s my job madam. On that note, what would you prefer for breakfast?”
I shook my head and wore my slippers. “It’s okay Florence. I’ll have my breakfast out.” I grabbed my towel and went to the bathroom. I had this huge entire house to myself but the one I was supposed to enjoy it with had barely even stepped through the door for a month or more.
After showering and dressing up, I got into one of the cars and made my way to Stetson Hotel. I had to talk with “my husband”. It was starting to feel like I was wedded alone and made the vows to myself. There was only so much neglect I could take without breaking. Everyone around me saw me as nothing but a joke and someone to pity, and worse off my own husband was the cause of this.
The Stetsons had made a name for themselves with multiple hotels within the city and many more branches around the country. The amount of wealth was enough to get the two Stetson sons media recognition. When I started dating Ashton despite his notorious reputation, I believed so much that he had changed, Ridley was the brother who came off as spoilt and stupid to me but after the last few months, I realised that they were both the same…immature and heartless.
I made my way to the fifth floor of the Stetson Hotel headquarters which had all the offices for the board members, including Ashton. Everything was as I remembered from a year before when I was an employee except for a few modifications and new décor. I went straight to Ashton’s office which was at the end of the hallway. I knocked on the door and entered after hearing a muffled ‘come in’.
“Janelle?” He looked shocked when he looked up from his computer screen. I took a moment to take in the sight of him, something that I loved so much even now as he treated me like the worst scum at the bottom of his shoes.
“What are you doing here?”
I moved closer to his desk. “I came to see you,” I replied softly.
Ashton exhaled and removed the round-framed spectacles that sat on his slightly crooked nose. My eyes wandered to his hands on the desk, his hands were still as veiny and manly as I remember but the watch, I had gifted him at the beginning of the was missing from his wrist. I sighed, reality hit me in the face quite harshly once more.
“I’m busy, you can’t just come here as you please.” He looked at me with a dead look, as though the entire sight of me bore him. “What do you need? Jewellery? A new dress?” He continued and ignored the hurt look I gave him.
“Is that all you think I need from you?” I could feel my tears forming and my throat growing tighter. “I need my husband, you haven’t been home in a long time. Do you expect me to keep quiet as you parade around with Dorothy by your arm?”
Ashton groaned and leaned back into his swivel chair. “You came all the way here for this Janelle? I’m too busy to be having this conversation with you right now, I have work.”
I scoffed and crossed my arms despite wanting to fall to the floor in a ball and cry a mess. “Every time I wish to speak with you, you’re busy Ashton. Should I just sit and act like my marriage isn’t falling apart because of another woman?”
“Dorothy isn’t another woman Janelle.” He interjected and I gave him the most dumbfounded and hurt look. He could defend Dorothy but not our marriage.
I laughed incredulously at him. “You can defend Dorothy but not your wife’s honour when everyone is looking at her with pity and disdain?”
“No one is looking at you like that,” He replied in a way that made it seem like I was blowing the situation out of proportion.
“Ashton, You’ve been moving around with her in the public eye as though I don’t exist. Everyone knows it at this point. Why don’t you just tell me that you’re bored of me?”
Ashton stood up, walked around the desk and stood in front of me. “What do you want me to say, Janelle? Hm?” He arched up an eyebrow. “Firstly, you can’t just come to my workplace ready to argue like a little high school girl. I’m very busy and have things to tend to you other than your childishness.”
My heart crumpled in my chest because of the pain his words were causing me and my throat felt even tighter and my eyes were hot with tears.
“Secondly, what I have going on with Dorothy is none of your concern. You should be glad that I have not chased you from my house.” He added and snickered when he saw my tears.
“Go back home.”
“Ashton—”
He raised a hand and picked up his phone and a file from his desk before walking out of the room. I stared at the open door in hurt and dumbfounded awe. Is this how drastically people changed within a few months? To me, it seemed abnormal and I was almost certain that Dorothy had put someone else in place of my Ashton and the real Ashton was hurt and scared somewhere waiting for me to find him. But that was just the delusions that kept me around, hoping that he would realise that I loved him truly.
“Janelle?”
I looked up and met Ridley’s green eyes staring at me questioningly before it turned into worry. “What are you doing here? Where’s Ashton?”
Without a second thought, I wrapped my arms around him and sobbed like an emotional “high school” girl. After a short while, Ridley unwrapped my arms from him and stared at my face with concern.
“What did that ass do now?” He asked and I shook my head. Ridley was just as terrible as Ashton, getting him involved in my personal matters would not solve anything and he would only have another reason to ridicule his older brother.
“It’s okay, thanks…I’m sorry.” I muttered and wiped my cheeks with my hands before rushing out of the office.
CHAPTER TWO (2 and a half years before)I was beginning to think my life was terribly unfortunate, I was a double orphan and had no one to rely on. Even my job was only contractual and could end on any day, the only person in my life that I could consider a friend was my roommate and even she did not seem too keen on having me as a friend. My only interactions with my roommate were silent greetings and simple and short questions. As for my workmates, they avoided me and only called on me when there was something to be done.Perhaps my last foster parents had been right and I should not have pursued a career in hotel management, I only ended up on the second floor of a huge company with a small desk in the corner of the room and my seniors forcing me to do their workload, not that I could reject. I was just a mere and unimportant employee while the hotel management knew them.I stretched my legs as far as I could under my cramped desk with files under it. This day had gone on longer th
CHAPTER THREE Ridley sat in my house a little too comfortable, as though he belonged which was crazy because for the period I had known him, he avoided his brother’s house like the plague but this was the second time her was here in only a week since the last time. I watched him silently as I stood by the archway that led to the kitchen. He was seated by the dining table with his leg crossed over the other and a glass of water in hand. It was terrible and mannerless of me to mention but he looked stunning, all those magazines and articles had failed to capture his true essence.“I admire a good stare but you’ve been staring for far too long, should I be convinced that you want me and not my brother?” His cocky voice brought me back to reality and I was reminded of the stupid narcissist he was.“And lead me towards more heartbreak? I’ll pass.” I answered before walking to the table and taking out a seat that was opposite him. “Why are you here?” I asked.He smiled his usual playful sm
CHAPTER FOURI groaned as I parked my car in the underground parking lot of Stetson headquarters and stayed planted in my seat for another five minutes trying to talk myself out of the absurdity I was about to do. I scratched at my scalp and moaned in regret. This was not bound to be a good idea, it was a rushed decision and I kept telling myself to put my car in drive and leave but somehow I could not bring myself to do so.The image of Maria entering my office and trying to put up the front that she was better than me kept playing in my mind and ending up like her seemed like the path that was laid out for me if I did not act quickly. Perhaps not even a trophy wife, I would probably only end up as the bitter forgotten wife with the rate at which Ashton was making public appearances with Dorothy. That was a fate I did not want for myself, to end up worse than Maria.My hand went to open the car door but I shook my head when I thought of who I was going to see. Sure, Ridley had put fo
CHAPTER FIVE (2 and a half years ago)My hands moved animatedly as I clapped for yet another undeserving employee of the month for our department. Yet again, it was another female with a blessed bosom and a face that deserved to be on an advert for the hotel, not behind one of the managerial desks. The employee of the month, Margaret was a beautiful woman that was rumoured to be in a secret relationship with one of the directors. I was not one for workplace gossip as most of my colleagues shunned me anyway but it was pretty clear that Margaret was letting one of the higher-ups have their way with her.Margaret smiled brightly and tried to put up a fake front as the bouquet of flowers was being handed to her, but it was pretty clear that this was not a surprise to her. I was not self-righteous or entitled but I believed I deserved the title of ‘employee of the month’ more than her—perhaps even employee of the year. She did the least work in the department and spent most of the time in
CHAPTER SIX (TWO AND HALF YEARS AGO)Lou, my roommate sat in the seat that looked straight to the door of the apartment and cocked up an eyebrow just as I entered the apartment. I could feel and hear her judgement from the distance between us. She hummed while her eyes followed me throughout the apartment, tracing every movement of mine.“What is it?” I asked when I could not stand her stare anymore.“Another shiny and expensive car dropped you off today,” She acknowledged and I gave her an incredulous look.“So?”“It makes the neighbours and I wonder if you are a…how do I put this?” She leaned forward and looked into my eyes. “…a corporate whore.” She finished off.Over the few months I had lived with Lou, I had grown to accept that she had a frank and rude tongue, with no regard for what she said. The more her words rang in my head, the more offended I felt.“Excuse me?” I said calmly but maintained a vicious glare.She leaned back and raised her hands in the air. “No need to get ma
CHAPTER SEVENThe ice in my drink slowly melted, and my patience ran thin. My eyes darted towards the entrance of the café and I sighed. Ridley was messing with me and if I did not need him as much, I would have left when five minutes had passed our agreed meeting time. I looked down at my watch and groaned, more than twenty-five minutes…I had been waiting for more than twenty-five minutes. That was unacceptable, no matter how much I needed his help, I did not appreciate looking desperate or like a fool.One last gulp of my cool drink and I stood up, ready to leave. It was safe to say Ridley had either stood me up or forgotten that we were supposed to meet up. I could not believe he did this to me, it had taken all my courage and ego to get my phone and dial his number just to ask him to meet up.After paying my bill, I walked out of the café and went to my car in the parking lot and just as I was opening the door, I heard Ridley’s voice calling my name and I turned around.“Hello, de
CHAPTER EIGHT My head felt lighter than it had in months, and I had managed to get a full night's sleep as well. Every fibre of my being looked forward to this day. The day had finally arrived, our plan was being put into motion, and even though I dreaded the public's reaction the most, I had to admit that imagining the looks on the faces of people like Maria Stetson had me excuted; she did hate both Ridley and me. I wore one of my best pant suits, a teal blue one and paired it with black stillettoes. Leisurely, I ate the breakfast that Florence prepared and took the key for my car once I was done. I was walking out of the house when Ashton's black Mercedes came through the gat and stopped right in front of the house. I almost smiled to myself, clearly knowing why he was here so early in the morning but I put up an oblivious face and stood quietly, feigning surprise. Had he not called last night, I would have genuinely been surprised and happy to see his car pull up in our driveway
CHAPTER EIGHT My head felt lighter than it had in months, and I had managed to get a full night's sleep as well. Every fibre of my being looked forward to this day. The day had finally arrived, our plan was being put into motion, and even though I dreaded the public's reaction the most, I had to admit that imagining the looks on the faces of people like Maria Stetson had me excuted; she did hate both Ridley and me. I wore one of my best pant suits, a teal blue one and paired it with black stillettoes. Leisurely, I ate the breakfast that Florence prepared and took the key for my car once I was done. I was walking out of the house when Ashton's black Mercedes came through the gat and stopped right in front of the house. I almost smiled to myself, clearly knowing why he was here so early in the morning but I put up an oblivious face and stood quietly, feigning surprise. Had he not called last night, I would have genuinely been surprised and happy to see his car pull up in our driveway
CHAPTER SEVENThe ice in my drink slowly melted, and my patience ran thin. My eyes darted towards the entrance of the café and I sighed. Ridley was messing with me and if I did not need him as much, I would have left when five minutes had passed our agreed meeting time. I looked down at my watch and groaned, more than twenty-five minutes…I had been waiting for more than twenty-five minutes. That was unacceptable, no matter how much I needed his help, I did not appreciate looking desperate or like a fool.One last gulp of my cool drink and I stood up, ready to leave. It was safe to say Ridley had either stood me up or forgotten that we were supposed to meet up. I could not believe he did this to me, it had taken all my courage and ego to get my phone and dial his number just to ask him to meet up.After paying my bill, I walked out of the café and went to my car in the parking lot and just as I was opening the door, I heard Ridley’s voice calling my name and I turned around.“Hello, de
CHAPTER SIX (TWO AND HALF YEARS AGO)Lou, my roommate sat in the seat that looked straight to the door of the apartment and cocked up an eyebrow just as I entered the apartment. I could feel and hear her judgement from the distance between us. She hummed while her eyes followed me throughout the apartment, tracing every movement of mine.“What is it?” I asked when I could not stand her stare anymore.“Another shiny and expensive car dropped you off today,” She acknowledged and I gave her an incredulous look.“So?”“It makes the neighbours and I wonder if you are a…how do I put this?” She leaned forward and looked into my eyes. “…a corporate whore.” She finished off.Over the few months I had lived with Lou, I had grown to accept that she had a frank and rude tongue, with no regard for what she said. The more her words rang in my head, the more offended I felt.“Excuse me?” I said calmly but maintained a vicious glare.She leaned back and raised her hands in the air. “No need to get ma
CHAPTER FIVE (2 and a half years ago)My hands moved animatedly as I clapped for yet another undeserving employee of the month for our department. Yet again, it was another female with a blessed bosom and a face that deserved to be on an advert for the hotel, not behind one of the managerial desks. The employee of the month, Margaret was a beautiful woman that was rumoured to be in a secret relationship with one of the directors. I was not one for workplace gossip as most of my colleagues shunned me anyway but it was pretty clear that Margaret was letting one of the higher-ups have their way with her.Margaret smiled brightly and tried to put up a fake front as the bouquet of flowers was being handed to her, but it was pretty clear that this was not a surprise to her. I was not self-righteous or entitled but I believed I deserved the title of ‘employee of the month’ more than her—perhaps even employee of the year. She did the least work in the department and spent most of the time in
CHAPTER FOURI groaned as I parked my car in the underground parking lot of Stetson headquarters and stayed planted in my seat for another five minutes trying to talk myself out of the absurdity I was about to do. I scratched at my scalp and moaned in regret. This was not bound to be a good idea, it was a rushed decision and I kept telling myself to put my car in drive and leave but somehow I could not bring myself to do so.The image of Maria entering my office and trying to put up the front that she was better than me kept playing in my mind and ending up like her seemed like the path that was laid out for me if I did not act quickly. Perhaps not even a trophy wife, I would probably only end up as the bitter forgotten wife with the rate at which Ashton was making public appearances with Dorothy. That was a fate I did not want for myself, to end up worse than Maria.My hand went to open the car door but I shook my head when I thought of who I was going to see. Sure, Ridley had put fo
CHAPTER THREE Ridley sat in my house a little too comfortable, as though he belonged which was crazy because for the period I had known him, he avoided his brother’s house like the plague but this was the second time her was here in only a week since the last time. I watched him silently as I stood by the archway that led to the kitchen. He was seated by the dining table with his leg crossed over the other and a glass of water in hand. It was terrible and mannerless of me to mention but he looked stunning, all those magazines and articles had failed to capture his true essence.“I admire a good stare but you’ve been staring for far too long, should I be convinced that you want me and not my brother?” His cocky voice brought me back to reality and I was reminded of the stupid narcissist he was.“And lead me towards more heartbreak? I’ll pass.” I answered before walking to the table and taking out a seat that was opposite him. “Why are you here?” I asked.He smiled his usual playful sm
CHAPTER TWO (2 and a half years before)I was beginning to think my life was terribly unfortunate, I was a double orphan and had no one to rely on. Even my job was only contractual and could end on any day, the only person in my life that I could consider a friend was my roommate and even she did not seem too keen on having me as a friend. My only interactions with my roommate were silent greetings and simple and short questions. As for my workmates, they avoided me and only called on me when there was something to be done.Perhaps my last foster parents had been right and I should not have pursued a career in hotel management, I only ended up on the second floor of a huge company with a small desk in the corner of the room and my seniors forcing me to do their workload, not that I could reject. I was just a mere and unimportant employee while the hotel management knew them.I stretched my legs as far as I could under my cramped desk with files under it. This day had gone on longer th
Was I expected to ignore whatever was happening in front of me, only across the room? The perfectly shaped champagne flute wine glass in my hand felt heavy, the sparkling liquid in it tempted me and before I could account for it, I had downed more than four rounds. I wished I could ignore what was happening and turn the other way, act oblivious but I could feel the pitiful gazes of everyone in the room. They knew just like I did, and they pitied me.I motioned for one of the waiters to refill my glass and continued to burn holes into my husband’s perfectly ironed suit. Only but a year and a half ago, I was the one that stood beside him with his arm around my waist with the attention of all in attendance on me. If I spent another second staring at my husband’s arm around another woman, the glass in my hand would have shattered. I took a deep breath, placed the glass on a tray carried by one of the workers and walked out of the huge hall.I walked down the hallway until I found an empty