Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Damon paced about the living room, livid. He had just come into town the previous night, and was relieved to hear of his child’s safe delivery, but his excitement was cut short when he was informed of the situation behind it. He boiled in anger as he called Rose, demanding her presence in his house, first thing the following day.

He’d paid Scarlett, and had given his staff strict instructions on her welfare and wellbeing, while he left the country for a business engagement. This deal had kept him away for more than four months, and as he returned, he was excited to see his child, the boy whom he’s always wanted.

Scarlett had just one job to do— carry his child for the stipulated time and give birth to him without any glitch. He made sure she was well taken care of, and that no harm came to her. And Rose had the effrontery to go attack her?

He’d always known she could be petty and worrisome. But he didn’t know she could be that cold-hearted as well. And it was all because she was stupidly jealous. What in heaven’s name was wrong with her?

She’d overheard his conversation over the phone a few months back talking about the surrogacy plans with Julian, and she’d confronted him and made a serious scene in the house, and in as much as he had tried to pacify her and explain things to her, she was adamant and warned him to terminate the idea or watch her do something drastic.

And she’d gone ahead to keep to her threat. He wasn’t going to take her nonsense this time.

The door opened almost immediately.

“Hey baby!” she said, smiling and walking towards him, her hands open for a hug.

Damon turned to look at her, his eyes conveying as much rage as it could.

“What did you do to her?” he asked, just as she got so close to him.

Rose stopped dead in her tracks.

“Uh… what are you talking about?” she asked.

“You don’t know what I'm talking about, huh?” Damon asked, folding his hands and giving her a hard stare.

“I don’t, maybe you should tell me.” Rose said, dropping her bag on the table and turning to sit on a chair.

“Don’t you dare, Rose! Don’t you dare sit while I’m still talking to you. I’m not done yet.” yelled Damon. “I’ll ask you again, what did you do to her?”

Rose was shocked at his outburst. “I’ve told you I don't know what you’re talking about. Who’s “her”? What are you saying? Who are you referring to?”

“You don’t understand what I'm saying, yeah? And you don’t know who I'm referring to? Okay, I’ll explain.” Damon said, still maintaining his gaze on Rose who stood still. “What did you do to Scarlett? What business did you have going to that house?”

Rose hissed. “Seriously, babe? You’re all upset because of her? She’s put to bed and she’s gone, so what about her?”

“You’ve not answered my question, woman!”

“Damon, come on,” Rose said, walking towards him and placing a hand on his chest. “You just got back from your trip, and I’ve missed you. Can’t you see that?

She rubbed his chest and cupped his jaw, willing to bring his mouth to hers but he shoved her away and she stumbled.

“Does it look like I'm cracking jokes here, woman? Do you see any smiles on my face? I asked you a question, and I demand an answer this minute!” Damon yelled. He was visibly angry.

Rose got up to look at him. “You’re crazy, Damon. Did you hear me? I said you’re raving mad. You pushed me because of another woman? A woman you barely know? Are you in your right senses? Because I doubt it.”

“I’m gonna show you a bit of that madness right now if you don’t start talking, Rose! For the last time, what did you do to Scarlett? Answer me, right now!”

“I did what I was supposed to do, confront her for trying to take my man. For God’s sake, Damon! You expect me to be alive and watch another woman carry your child while I behave like nothing is going on? I did what I was supposed to do, visited her and gave her a piece of my mind,” Rose said.

“You gave her a piece of your mind, you said? With your mouth or with your hands? You went to that apartment and you attacked a fully pregnant woman, a woman carrying ‘my’ child. Is something wrong with you, Rose? What if something had happened to the unborn child?”

“Like I care,” she mumbled.

“What did you just say?” Damon asked, bending slightly with his hands behind him. “Like you care? Are you actually alright or you’re trying to test my patience? You think all this is a joke?”

“I don’t care if anything happened to her nor your unborn baby, Damon. And I said what I said. You really have no regard for me, and I just observed that. You got another woman to get pregnant for you, while I'm alive? Is that your way of justifying cheating or what?” Rose yelled.

“Rose!”

“What? I’m not lying, am I? You think I'd sit back, fold my hands and watch you toy with me? You must be delusional and sick in the head. I attacked her, and I swear, you’re lucky she and the baby made it alive.”

Damon was disgusted. “Okay, there’s really something wrong with you. Because all this balderdash you’re spilling isn’t from someone normal. Your womb isn’t able to carry a child. And I needed a woman to be a surrogate mother to my child. You threatened to do something drastic and you still went ahead, simply because I chose to ignore you when you said that. Is Scarlett the reason for your barrenness?” He lost it.

Rose raised her hands and in one swift movement, gave Damon a hard slap across his cheeks. “You must be insane to think you can talk to me like some piece of shit.”

Damon held a hand to his face as he looked at Rose, lacking words.

“Get out, Rose. Leave, right now.”

Rose scoffed. “I was going to leave anyway. It’s obvious I’m not wanted around here.”

She picked up her bag, turned on her heels, walked to the door and paused to look back at him. “And since you think you can now do whatever you like and justify it, I think I should do whatever I like too.”

Damon watched her leave and he jammed his left palm and his right fist. “Damn!”

**********

Damon sat at the poolside, sipping whiskey and thinking about his fight with Rose. He indeed might have wronged her by getting a surrogate mother for his child, but it wasn’t his fault, and she knew it. He and Rose had both tried to make babies, but every attempt had been a futile one. Their visit to a doctor later on had revealed that her womb was damaged, and nothing could make her mother a child. He needed a son so bad, and she knew that. And so the only option left was surrogacy. It wasn’t like he cheated on her and had sex with another woman or something. But Rose was a hard nut to crack.

His hands went to his face, and he rubbed the part of his cheeks where her slap had hit, and then he admitted. Inasmuch as he was really provoked, he knew he’d crossed the line. He shouldn’t have spoken to her like that in the first place. He had to apologize to her, before it turned out worse.

He picked up his phone and dialed her number. It rang twice, and then went off. He dialed it again and her phone was switched off. It was Rose, he expected that.

He downed the rest of his whiskey and poured himself another shot. He stared straight ahead and picked up a small stone and threw it into the water. He had to appease Rose, but right now his head was so messed up that he didn’t know how. But he had to do something. He picked up his glass and gulped down the rest of its content, and then got up and went in.

**********

As his car approached the building where Rose lived, his heart pounded as he thought of what he would say. Rose was really difficult, especially when she was hurt. He crossed his heart silently, hoping it’d be less dramatic this time.

As the driver brought the car to a halt in front of the building, he picked the bouquet of flowers and gift bag sitting beside him. He got out and stood for some minutes, taking a deep breath before he walked to the door. He knocked on the door, but there was no response. He looked at the garage and saw her cars parked, which meant she was home. He knocked again, yet no response. Grabbing the door knob, he gave it a slight turn and the door opened.

He stepped into the apartment, looking around the silent sitting room. How could Rose have left her door unlocked? He figured she stepped out to get something nearby and then sat on the chair, dropping the flowers and the gift bag on the table.

Few minutes later, he heard something. He wasn’t sure what it was, but definitely his ears caught the sound of something. He got up and walked towards the kitchen, and stopped suddenly as he heard muffling sounds, coming from upstairs this time. He went up the stairs slowly and listened carefully and the sounds became clearer as he climbed. He got to the bedroom door and slowly opened, and there was Rose, moaning as another man pounded her.

“Rose!!” he screamed.