Chapter Five

Gabriel 

Arian Macavinta.

The name floats around in my head all through the drive home. Like I expected, Kareena conked out not even five minutes after I drove out of the premises. We'd both enjoyed ourselves and today is a day I'll never forget because even if it was for a few hours, I'd had my reprieve from Lucille.

She'd not called or texted to ask me where I am except the one where she told me she had a photoshoot and wouldn't be home until tomorrow.

I flex my fingers on the steering wheel and frown when I still feel the lingering aftereffects of touching Arian's hand. It had happened only once and that was twenty years ago when I first met Kareena and stole her first kiss. 

I'd have remained single and searching for her if Lucille had not spoiled my plans by making me sleep with her and getting her pregnant. Even if I were to finally meet Kareena after so many years - still be in love with her after so many years - I wouldn't be able to do anything about us because of Lucille.

I hit the steering wheel in frustration at this thought as I realize that I would never get my happily ever after. I'm more than stuck forever with Lucille because in her dictionary - there is no divorce.

I shiver as my mind travels back to three years ago when I asked Lucille for a divorce.

"You want a divorce?" Her voice had come out strange. "From me?"

"Obviously. Who else am I married to?" I drawled.

"Why?" She asked.

"I don't love you. You claim to love me but you don't see how unhappy I am with you, how unhappy Kareena is because we're together." I told her. "We're always fighting Lucille. Aren't you tired of it?"

"No couple is perfect, baby." She said, "There'd be something wrong if they never fight."

"Do they really have to?" I mused. "Can't they just be happy?"

"I'm happy with you.You're not happy with me because you don't love me." She walked over to me and sat down on my lap. "Love me Gabe and you'll see just how good it'll be between us." She attempted to kiss me but I turned my face away and bumped her off my lap.

"I can't love you." I informed her in a deadpan voice. 

"Because you don't want to." Her voice took on a hard edge. "I've been meaning to ask you who the unlucky bitch is."

"Who?" I frowned.

"The one who's fighting a war with me that she can't win." She spat.

"There's no one fighting any war with you Lu." I rose to my feet. "My heart doesn't want to love you and I can't force it."

"Bullshit!" She raised her voice. "Give me a fucking name Gabriel Cruz!"

"Don't yell." I ordered. "Kareena is just in the next room."

"I don't give a flying fuck." She seethed. "You're cheating on me right? That's why you want a divorce."

"No." I said. "I don't have to cheat on you to want to divorce you. I just can't stand being in this relationship with you anymore and if you're really honest with yourself… you'll see that I'm right."

I watched her strip naked and stand in front of me. I am a man and not having had sex with my wife for three years and then seeing her stark naked should have elicited a response from me but nothing happened. If anything, I became angry.

"What's with the show and tell?" I demanded, looking irritated.

"Tell me you want me." She ordered.

" I don't." I said, my face devoid of any emotion. "Do you see me growing hard and wanting to fuck you?"

"Gabe…"

"You're making my eyes bleed." I turned around. "Put on your clothes."

"You really want to divorce me?" She asked after several long minutes.

"Yes. I know for a fact that it'll be in our best interests if we get a divorce." I replied.

She didn't say a word as she dressed and then left the room and I took her silence as acquiescence. Two days later, while I was in the bathroom, she walked in holding a gun and threatened to kill herself if I didn't take back my words.

Thinking of her display as nothing but childish antics, I made to leave the bathroom when she decided she wasn't playing around and pulled the trigger. 

Thankfully... She'd not been stupid enough to actually kill herself that time but I decided that if she were to die - it'd not be because of me.

Three years later and here I am, still shackled to that insane woman with no way out of my personal hell. 

~~~~~~

"Good afternoon Mr Cruz." Gabi's secretary Joyce greets me immediately I step out of the elevator.

"Afternoon. Is your boss in?" I ask.

"Yes sir. You can go right in." She smiles.

"Thank you." I say and make my way to Gabi's office. I knock twice before opening the door and poke my head in, catch my sister at her desk and walk right in shutting the door behind me. "Hey sis."

She looks up from her laptop to smile at me. "Hey you." She gets up from her seat, skirts the table and walks over to hug me. "I'm surprised to see you here."

"It's been eons since I last saw you." I tease.

She laughs. "You saw me yesterday."

"Briefly." I remind her.

She takes my hand and pulls me over to sit with her on the sofa. Her office layout is exactly like mine except the paintings on the wall and the color scheme.

"You look tired Gabe." She remarks. "Haven't you been sleeping?"

"Not really." I answer. 

"That's not good." She says. 

I shrug. I try to sleep in a separate bedroom just to avoid Lucille but all to no avail so I lock myself in my home office and sleep on the uncomfortable sofa. If I could come to work during weekends too, I would but then Lucille would probably drop by the office to make my life more miserable.

"How's Kareena?" Gabi asks.

"She's good. I want to hire a nanny who'd take care of her when I'm not home. I know Theresa is a wonderful person but she can't be a housekeeper, cook and nanny all at once."

"That's a good idea." Gabi says. "Do you have anyone in mind?"

"Nope." I shake my head. "I'm mentally, physically and emotionally exhausted."

"You should go on a vacation one of these days. Go to Italy or Rome.... even Korea."

"Lucille's tantrums are worse than a five year old's." I tell her. "I can't deal with that."

"At the expense of your mental health? I say fuck her and go anyway." Gabi seethes.

"Kareena has school, remember? I can't leave her with Lucille." I say. I know Lucille would just dump Kary with her mother and go on her own merry way. 

"She can stay with me or with mom and dad." Gabi tells me. Her eyes narrow suspiciously. "Are you looking for excuses not to leave?"

"No. I just have so much to do." I sigh. "I have a fundraiser to attend in two weeks, your new online game launch and so many other things."

Gabi rolls her eyes. "Fine." She grumbles. "At least let me help you look for a nanny for Kary."

"Why do you think I'm here?" I shoot her a smile.

"I'll have Joyce put an ad on-line today so we can get started." She says. "Should I still do the honor of interviewing them?"

"Sure. You and Kary can do that. Just send me a list of the names of the applicants so I can review their applications." I cover my mouth as I let out a loud yawn. "I'm so sleepy."

"Lucky for you, I didn't turn dad's office bedroom into a storage unit or something so you can go make use of it." She smiles.

"I have a meeting in an hour. Please wake me up when it's time."

"Sure." She beams.

"Thanks sis." I rise to my feet.

"De nada." She grins.

I walk out of her office and make my way to the elevator, press the button to call it and once it arrives, I step in and press the button for the thirteenth floor and the doors close.

My phone rings in my pocket and I let out a loud sigh, take it out and check the screen then answer the call. I press the stop button and the elevator stops moving.

"Cruz." I rumble.

"Good morning Mr Cruz. This is Doctor Leonard calling from Heritage Hospital."

"Okay?" I drawl.

"It's about your wife... Mrs Lucille Cruz. She was involved in a minor accident and she's here in the emergency ward. She gave me your number to call you."

I cover the mouth piece of my phone and groan loudly, exhale and put the phone back to my ear.

"Is she okay?" I make sure to sound concerned.

"Yes. She just suffered minor injuries but she'll be fine in a couple of days."

"Has she been discharged?"

"Yes."

"You see doctor, I'm not in Lagos right now so I can't come to the hospital to pick her up. I'll send a car for her." I lie through my teeth.

"Oh, I didn't know that. I'm very sorry for disturbing you sir."

"It's fine." I say. "Thank you for letting me know." I hang up, send a quick text to Micah, one of the family drivers to get her from the hospital and then I put my phone on silent, press the button to let the elevator continue its ascent and then I lean against the wall, close my eyes and think of a pair of beautiful honey brown eyes.