Chapter Three

She would not allow it, enough is enough, if Michael doesn't know what he was doing, she knew, didn't he realized that their marriage was having problems? And his bad friends, coupled with his own bad behavior were some of the causes of the problem? Michael had always lived a carefree life, like someone who was not married, without any regard for her or her opinion.

Deep in her heart, Sophia knew what she was doing in the presence of the maid was wrong, but what else should she do? She has been tolerating and overlooking for years, but it seems that style didn't seem to work because Michael seemed to be getting worse.

This was not what he promised her when she agreed to marry him against her family wish, he had promised to love her and to make her happy all the days of her life, although he had fulfilled the promises only for some months into the marriage, but soon she began to notice the changes in him, he had become very impatient and shouted at her alot.

Sophia was no fool, she had decided that she would do more than tolerating all his attitude, Michael was not the soft and easy type, he was hard and strong, these qualities had drawn her to him when they met, but now she'd had enough of them, they now irritated her.

Maria looked worried and perplexed, she glanced at Sophia, appealing to her with her eyes to let her go with Michael.

Michael almost could not believe what Sophia had just said, " Maria come here" he repeated firmly, daring Sophia.

"Maria stay" she said, equally firmly, she was ready for her husband, she had allowed the previous maid to buy those strong alcoholic drinks for his friends, and now he was calling Maria to start doing the same, for how long will they continue like that? She would not allow Maria do it.

Michael was very shocked at his wife's reaction, never had he imagine Sophia making these utterances to him, " are you out of your mind? How can I ask the maid to come and you are telling her to stay?" He asked, his eyes blazing.

"Iam not out of my mind Michael, you are the one who is out of control, you don't seem to know what is right from what is wrong anymore!"

Maria was still looking at them with that troubled expression, her perplexity greatly increased, she was shocked at this hot exchange of words between husband and wife, she hoped she was not leaving the frying pan for fire by coming to live with this family.

Sophia spoke again, " I have told you several times Michael, I don't want to see that man in this house again, let him keep away!" She told Michael, lowering her voice so that Larry would not hear her.

She never liked Larry, she believed he was a bad influence on her husband, she thought he was irresponsible and lousy and had only been tolerating him before she married Michael.

The thirty- something years old unmarried man had four kids by three women, about two years ago when Sophia went with Michael and his friend to a party, Larry had been boasting that he sometimes dated more than one woman at a time, he told everyone who cares to listen that he was not ready for marriage, in his words, as a multi-millionaire, marriage was a form of bondage, it brought trouble and torment with the woman controlling her husband, turning his head around and ordering him.

Sophia could still remember the look on Larry's face as he talked that day, ' only a fool rush into marriage' he claimed, laughing at Michael and another man at the table who was also married, since then she had decided that Larry must stay away from her husband, he was definitely a bad influence and she would discourage her husband from going with Larry to club 2.