SHATTERED HEART

                                       CHAPTER ONE 

                                    SHATTERED HEART

DENISE' POV

In the bustling city of Las Vegas, United States,  Colin, my husband and I settled at the VIP lounge with a few of his business counterparts at night to discuss a few things about the growth of the family business. 

Our new investor, unlike others, likes to talk business somewhere nothing close to an official environment; he believes people who wear suits in a boardroom don't have the money they propose or appear to have. 

They take loans from the banks or from people like him.

 His money comes from old money, from his club business to say the least. 

Mr Montenegro El Dinero makes fifty million per night, that's if it's a bad day.

“Boring” Mr Montenegro muffles softly at the ebony stripper in front of us—Her skin glows as the disco lights reflect on her body. “Boring! Boring!! Boring!!! 

“Why don't you go up there and entertain our prospective investor” Colin whispered to my ears. He smiles..

“Urrgh!” I expressed in disbelief  like I was dumb like I didn't hear him very clearly.

“Be fast about it and don't make him wait. We have so much to lose. Pull your dress, show him your sexy straight bones. I believe you can do it. Groom your mind and steps as though you have been rehearsing for a long time and don't fuck up he hates imperfection.” Colin instructed.

My palms became sweaty, they kept lurching on the pole. With my corner vision, I caught a glimpse of the investors murmuring amongst themselves. Though I couldn't hear because of the loud music…

Colin adjusted properly on his seat. Here I am with the pole quite confused. My grip is now firm on the pole after wiping the sweat on my G-string. 

“I'm such a novice,” I said to myself and continued.

My legs snaked onto the pool above my head, my upper body below, exposing my breast to the quest I was entertaining. I felt shy again knowing fully well I wasn't doing the right thing but to please my husband. 

Five Hundred Million Euros was a stake for investment to save Colin’ Company from going bankrupt.  Smile plays on the lips of the quests, they let out a loud cheer; liking what they see.

A lady creeps into Colin’s body—caressing his face and body. She started to unbutton his shirt right away. Angelina is her name. Colin’s mistress. The guest began to throw a stack of money at me, distracting my vision as they crowded me.

 I was already entertaining my husband and his mistress–a taboo.

“You did so well. I saw you, it was your first time”. A strange girl of Chinese descent who was fixing her makeup in the restroom said to me… I chuckled with a heavy load of betrayal in my heart. 

“And why did you stop dancing?” Angelina came out of the wings. The audacity. “Colin is still as sweet as he used to be,” she continued. Dabbing her red lipstick on her lips.

“I could not keep up with the rubbish anymore. You slut”. I snapped. Her breath reeked of alcohol.

“How dare you call me that. Do you know I can ruin you?” 

I quickly walked past her, not ready for any shenanigans.  

My legs touched the stairs ready to go home after much humiliation from my husband. To prepare my mind for my future steps. 

Someone pushed my shoulder with force and I rolled from the stairs to the bottom…I didn't know where I was anymore. A few people let out a loud scream. 

The ones who saw me falling; some cared  while some didn't care to help. They let out a loud cheer thinking I was having fun.

Trust everything goes viral these days. People began to pop their phone taking pictures and videos of me.

 My eyes almost closing in death. I had a very blurry vision of someone asking,  ‘Are you okay?’, a familiar voice and face before my eyes closed.  Right on the club ground  half naked, this familiar man  covered my body to save my shame further. 

******

“Is she going to be okay Doctor?” That familiar voice questioned the Doctor. 

“We tried our best in ensuring that the blood clot in her brain was removed. This is a neurological surgery anything could happen. I am sorry.” The Doctor breathes a breath of relief.

“Poor lady”, the familiar voice said.  He turned to look at me—My whole body connected with wires and well intubated. 

“Are you her husband? The second Doctor asked.

“No. Why?” The familiar voice questioned.

“She is currently pregnant and her state of health isn't good for the baby either. If she does not recover early enough,  the baby might die, complicating her life as well and to prevent that from happening we need to terminate the pregnancy” He explained.

“What? Ca..n I do anything to help? He stuttered. 

“Her chances of survival are Thirty-Seventy. We need her family to make a great decision.” The First Doctor continued.

The Doctor’s took their leave. 

*****

“Where I'm i?” I asked in confusion. I began to remove the wires connected across my body.

“Doctor! Doctor!!. Nurse Kim please get the surgeon.  The woman in the ICU is awake.” The Chief Nurse instructed the junior Nurse.

“You'll be fine. Okay! You had an accident a few days ago and that kept you in this critical condition. A man brought you in here. I suppose your husband, "she explained.

“I don't want to see him, I hate him” I spat.

“Don't say that honey. Everything is going to get better okay”. The nurse reassured me.

 

The Doctors walked in… “How are you feeling, young woman?”

I felt a sharp light reflecting into my eyes as the Doctor pulled my eyelids downwards.

“She is recovering fast. We didn't expect her to be this fast. Well, good for her.” He said in excitement.

Few minutes later Colin stepped in my ward and he came with flowers. The sensation in the ward changed. My mood went low. The butterflies in my tummy began to go sick, they were already shrinking. My body and soul could no longer bear him around.

“Get out of this room Colin or I'll call the security guides on you. Help me, a kidnapper is in the room” I yelled.

The familiar man rushed in….immediately he saw Colin, he asked him to leave because my health could get worse if he was still around.” Tears are already trailing down my face. The wave in the  electrocardiogram was going flat drastically. 

“Don't ever ask me to leave my wife. Gregory!”..

Did I just hear the word Gregory?  That is the name of my first love. The guy who left me without a word. My boyfriend, whom  my mother frustrated his effort towards loving me.

“Gregory” I called again …..to be sure if my assumption was right.

“Yes Denise it's me, Gregory” he replied slowly.