5. A thorn by your side

Wade

I was in the room, patiently waiting for Maria to come back and explain to me what the fuck had happened while I was gone.

And how the hell she was being transferred out of the headquarters. This was a race and if she still wanted to be in on it, she needed to be at the headquarters.

I know that Maria had a tendency of wanting the best out of the whole company which is her passion but this is going a little too far.

And especially not a time like this damn it!

And did she have to give her work to Cynthia? I have a special dislike for her, ever since she spat into my coffee.

I had only taken a small sip but it was enough to make me throw up.

I didn’t throw up because of her saliva but because her intentions and memories were enough to make me eject all the contents in my stomach.

And now, I was slowly working myself into an anxious worry. This wouldn’t do.

I stood up and moved to the door, ready to find Maria and drag her back in here for her explanation when the door handle twisted and Maria walked slowly into the room.

It was the heavy line of defeat that showed on her slumped shoulders that managed to stray my tongue. I looked at her more closely. She was barely keeping the tears in.

When she shut the door and moved to the wardrobe area to change her clothes, I allowed her. I moved to the door to lock it so no one from the outside could open it.

Another lesson I learnt here earlier on.

“What happened, baby?” I asked softly as I slowly approached the wardrobe where she was changing to her nightgown.

I shouldn’t be getting distracted by her body but heaven’s knows that I couldn’t help that reaction.

“What else could have happened? Cynthia got her way again, stealing my hard work and presenting it as hers.” Maria shrugged like she was not hurt at the action.

“Why did you allow it to happen?” I demanded as she shook her head before she turned sideways to look at me. On her lashes were evidence that she was still struggling not to cry.

“What could I have done? Argue it and have the rest of the family back her up about the fact that they were aware of the stupid deal we did. I haven’t even done any deals with her since five years ago when I still stupidly thought that I could fight. I tried to stop this from happening and Antonia was already glaring at me.

“And then I confronted her just now only for her to threaten me with my father. My. Father. And the threat worked because apparently he is more inclined to believe her words than that of his own daughter,” Maria finished ranting with tears running down her face.

I did the only thing I could do. I crushed her to my chest as her sobbing started shaking her shoulders with the effort she was putting not to allow any sound out.

“It is okay Maria, it is okay,” I hushed her as I patted her hair with one hand and the other holding her waist rubbed her back in a soothing pattern.

“It is not okay. She is now aware that I will even allow her to steal my hard work if she has the right threat. She is going to be an even bigger nightmare and I would have no choice but to allow her win because I am spineless.”

I kept my lips shut now. No matter what I would tell Maria this night, she would not believe. She thinks she has to carry the burden of her family alone.

Something which is no longer true.

When her tears reduced, after a while of standing in her room, I smoothed her silky nightgown into place and led her to the bed where she laid down.

After changing myself, I went back to her in the now dark room, thinking that she had cried herself to sleep but when she spoke I realized that she was still awake.

“Am I even right trying to win this thing? I don’t even have a chance of survival if this continues, why did I think that I will allowed to win? I should have never started,” she whispered softly, her voice was weighted down with enough sadness that I could feel it.

“You are completely in the right and you are not going to be allowed anything. You will take it and demand your rightful place. They are not enough to take away what should be yours.” I replied.

“I am tired,” she confessed in a broken tone.

“You will be okay. I promise you that.” I rolled to her side of the bed before kissing her check.

Her tears touching my lips made me feel as if I was flying once more. I could sift through her intentions.

All she did want was the best for everybody, including her demonic siblings.

She is a better person than me, that part was certain, because I wanted nothing more than to see the worst happen to them.

But it was okay. She is the good one between us. I have never had an issue playing the bad cop and I think it is time that these people see the extent of just how far I can go being just that.

******

Coming down the stairs the next morning after waking up and going to the kitchen to brew coffee for me and Maria turned out to be a chanced meeting with Cynthia since she was also up and was the only one present.

Good, I wouldn’t have to seek her out just to tell her what’s on my mind.

“You couldn’t sleep? Were you consoling your poor little wife?” She smirked at me as she took another sip of her cup of coffee.

Ignoring her, I moved to the coffee machine and dump the pot of coffee which she had already made before starting another pot amidst her complaints.

“Imagine if I inform my mother that you are being wasteful.” She clicked her teeth with her tongue. “Another point against Marianna, especially since you are not being productive to this household.”

“Oh, you don’t have to worry about that much longer, my very dear in-law. I would be going to work in the main company and then I would be productive.” I smirked as I turned to look at her while resting against the coffee machine. She rolled her eyes.

“As if you being there is going to change anything. Fun fact, it won’t.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at her naivety. Well, she would definitely eat her words before the end of today.

“That is where you are wrong Cynthia. You pushed the nice one out and now, you will get to deal with me. I am nothing like my wife. While she is calm and willing to allow you to get away with certain actions, I won’t do that. In fact, after this stunt of yours, you can bet that I would be more focused on you, I will be a thorn at your side which you cannot dig out. You want her project? I will see how you would get to make it work.”

Cynthia face was no longer smiling.

“What do you mean by that?” she demanded.

“Nothing, just that I helped Maria to create that project. Something that I think you should be aware about.” I turned back to the coffee machine and took away the pot then after taking me and Maria cups in my hand, I left the room.

With a seething Cynthia.

And she hasn’t even seen the nasty surprise I have hidden in the project just yet.

Nobody gets to play with my wife and gets to go scot-free. Not on my watch.