2.

Eight Years Later

Present Day

"Oh, my, what a sweet little boy!"

Mikel sipped on her mimosa and carefully listened to her mother titter over a friend's latest picture of her grandson. The woman who was showing off the red-headed little guy practically pushed her phone in Mikel's face.

"Isn't Robinson adorable, Mikel? Sally-Ann is beside herself. So happy in London with her husband. He's a Lord, you know," the woman boasted.

"Oh yes. I remember. I was at the wedding and the christening. Quite delightful it was," she countered with a practiced smile on her face. She stressed the word 'delightful' to remind the woman about the debacle her daughter made on both days. Mikel couldn't give Sally-Ann all the credit; her secret boyfriend played his part well too. She felt sorry for Lord Chaswick. She was by his side while he fumed and drank himself to sleep. It pained her as it pained him because they were close friends; they met each other at Princeton in the most socially awkward way.

Mikel felt at fault for the union of her friend and the society belle. Sally-Ann saw a title to one-up her 'friends' and pursued the quiet Brit when he spent the summer at the Rysdale Estate. Chaswick was captivated by her charms, and though Mikel gave him subtle warnings, he took the chance and developed the relationship.

He kept up the charade of a doting husband after a few red flags. Mikel knew he was planning something and opted to keep silent. Before the christening, he shared his doubts about his son's real paternity. She had her doubts also but decided to let Chaswick do what he planned to do.

It turned out the truth was kept under lock and key thanks to Mommy dearest.

Shocker.

"Ah yes. I forgot you and Chaswick were close. How odd to have a man and a woman be best friends."

Mikel was used to this. The polite insults and scrutinizing eyes, it was her life, after all, as a child in high society. She took another sip of her mimosa, and her large wedding ring glittered in the morning sun as she appraised the elder Mrs. Fromley. "Oh, not odd. It is the 21st-century Mrs. Fromley. It's better to have confidants of the opposite sex; you can't trust your own kind," Mikel answered sweetly.

The woman's face turned red, turning her head sharply to the ever so polished and genteel Mrs. Rysdale. Mikel kept her mother's admonishing stare and thought nothing of it. For years her rebellious streak has been growing. From pierced ears to growing her light brown-blonde hair grow naturally. Monique Rysdale was in love with perfection, and perfection loved her. Bitterly in her teens, Mikel believed her mother loved society more than her father, and she kept with that thought after his death. Her action and words at the will reading confirmed that. Crossing her long-toned mocha-colored legs, she motioned for their waitress, waiting for her mother to say something.

"Sweetheart, tell us. How is Dominic?" her mother asked, putting all the other four women's attention on her. She didn't flinch. Growing up with New York's elite, you have to grow a thick skin. They thrive on vulnerability and shame. One thing one should learn when marrying into this society is never to divulge your marital secrets. Always be aloof about it. Her husband and herself learned from the best—their parents.

"As good as he can be."She answered, not caring for the subject of her husband with these ladies. Their circle's golden boy was her husband of five years. She knew what she was getting into and went along to appease her mother. Thinking back, Mikel placed her compliance with grief. After the grey clouds vanished in her head, she realized she was a little too late. Regret wasn't there. The man was now her best friend, but she wished it was on their terms that they decided to get married. They found something in each other that they weren't looking for. If any of these ladies know the true nature of their marriage, that will be squashed. That particular emotion is a sign of weakness.

"Is he in the city?"

"Our schedules don't run simultaneously," was her answer.

"Probably in a hotel in Boston with some new brunette," she heard a bitter mutter. Oh, how they wish. Dominic was the master of disguise. To them, he was a cheating playboy; to Mikel, he was and is her first love. She had yet to tell him, but somehow, he knew. She can tell by the way his brown eyes soften whenever he says, 'My Mikky.' By his touch, his care for her.

Smiling at the waitress approaching the table, Mikel decided her time was up with these vipers. "Hello. Can you have my order of the vegetable quiche, crispy bacon, and ham croissants made into a takeaway? Oh, and please can you have Douglas mix his famous brew for me," she told the young lady handing her the credit card in the process.

"Certainly, Miss Rysdale. Anything for you ladies?" the waitress asked with a smile.

They rudely dismissed her with a wave of their hands and went on with their idle conversations. Probably someone's downfall. After the girl left, her mother turned a disdainful look at her.

"You're Mrs. Dominic Heath. I do not know why you allow them to call you Miss Rysdale. You are a married woman, an extremely lucky one," she hissed. Her dark eyes were like slits, her expression bland from too many Botox injections. Her brown skin was flawless, just like the tailored skirt suit she wore. No one believes her when she introduces Mikel as her daughter. There was no resemblance, not even by their eyes. She inherited her looks from her father and the many women in his family.

"I don't wish to break their custom. Also, Dominic doesn't mind," Mikel coolly said. Before her mother came back with a retort, her phone chimed loudly in her bag. The women around her watched her with annoyance as she reached for her phone. They didn't like her, and that was evident. She wasn't like their daughters always following the rules. To them, a woman should always be taken care of and marry well even when that husband cheats his way around the great USA. Mikel was headstrong. She grew a backbone when her father died, and Monique Rysdale didn't like that one bit. She had to learn to compromise with her daughter. Monday brunch was one.

She smiled widely when she checked the phone. After accepting the video call, the person on the other side sent her into a fit of laughter.

"Howdy, Miss Priss?" Waving widely into the camera with an identical smile was her dark-haired hazel-eyed beauty of a best friend.

"Kelsey!!"

"I spy with my little eye the most god-awful outfit known to man. What is that? Pastel?"

Mikel laughed uncontrollably, her eyes watering with mirth. "Oh shush you. How are you? Where are you going?" she asked eyeing the waitress coming back to her table. She stood up and grabbed her bag and the to-go package. "Bye, Mother. Ladies. Work calls," she said to the table rushing through the restaurant while maintaining the video call.

"To a building with a gold MR at the front."

"You're in New York?

"Where else is your company building, Miz Rysdale?" Kelsey teased flipping the phone camera to show her the truth. Mikel laughed out loudly on the sidewalk eyeing Hiram coming around the car with a silly grin on his face. "You knew?" she screeched.

"Happy Birthday Mikel," her driver and friend said.

Mikel's face fell. "It's my birthday?" she said checking the days in her head. How can she forget her own birthday? Maybe she should cut back on work.

"Mik? Oh no. I will wait for you in your office." Kelsey said with a worried frown on her face before hanging up. Hiram took her bags and pulled her into a hug. "How can I forget my birthday? How...." Mikel sharply turned back to the restaurant and spotted her mother and her friends laughing at some joke. Her mother picked her up from her home this morning and hasn't uttered a word.

Wow. Mother of the Year.

---

Kelsey watched her friend closely from above the rim of her wineglass. Though she tried to hide it Mikel wasn't happy nor content in the life she somewhat created for herself. It was her birthday and the only ones who wished her birthday greetings were herself, her driver and co-workers, and her husband. Her other best friend Chaswick video-called her and mentioned her birthday gift being delivered to her. Though she enjoyed herself at the surprise party at her office, Kelsey knew better. They have known each other for eight years and can tell when one wasn't right and she knew that look on Mikel's face. She has worn it for years now.

Gently placing her wine glass on the dinner table, Kelsey kept her gaze on her friend.

"You deserve better."

Mikel snorted indelicately, "The society pages care to say differently, Kels. Billionaire heiress. Wife to an equally rich business tycoon. Graces the cover of magazines. The world at her fingertips. I'm living the dream but at a cost. It's a bit better compared to the life I would have lived under my mother's thumb. I got out. I'm keeping daddy's work alive and taking care of my mother." Her laugh was bitter as she bit into her steak.

"Mik." Her name came out softly from Kelsey's mouth. Mikel's shoulders slumped forward. Oh, how she wished both she and Dominic were away from the media's eye. They made so many plans, and even a family was in the talks. They were bidding their time; it was harder than they thought to just up and leave. "No. Kels. Let's just enjoy the rest of this day and go back to the apartment."

 

In all the years Mikel lived in the penthouse apartment with her husband Dominic, they never called it home. Not wanting to upset her anymore, Kelsey changed the subject to the horses she kept on the ranch. As usual, her eyes lit up with their upbringing and the breeding program she began. "Dr. Sampson sends his regards. He wants to know when is your next visit."

Mikel smiled and instantly went to her phone's calendar. "I'm taking my month's vacation in July. Right around the time, the mares should birth and your competition," she reported.

Kelsey squealed in delight. Apart from her late father's support, Mikel has been number one in her corner. She saw this beautiful woman of color as her dear sister more than a friend. Through letters, they bonded, and it was the best thing ever to happen. "He also said to tell you that he's retiring soon and to reconsider his offer," Kelsey said in a serious tone.

Mikel gnawed on her bottom lip, lost in thought. Veterinary medicine was her first love; she acquired her degree and did her internship at the ranch and Dr. Sampson's clinic every spring break and month-long summer since college. Mikel was certified, and everything but the strength to leave her father's company isn't there.

"I..." She was about to say something when her phone rang. Kelsey peeked at the number flashing on the screen and frowned.

Unknown.

Curiously, Mikel answered, "Hello?"

"Yes, this is her." Her brows furrowed in confusion. Kelsey listened to the one-sided conversation. When Mikel dropped the phone, her face became pale. Kelsey knew her friend's life just became much more troubled.