It had been hours since I’d been forcibly taken from my job, charged and arrested. The officers gave a list of serious charges and told me that an anonymous tip had been placed, leading them to search my apartment and find my “stash”. But I had no stash. I could never do drugs after seeing first-hand of it did to pops. The man went from father of the year to a doped-up junkie in the span of three months. He had become a zombie version of himself with nothing to look forward to - other than his next fix.I may have had a bad gambling rep but I had finally gotten my life together. I paid my debts off and decided to get a good job with decent pay. I moved into a cozy one bedroom apartment and I even met someone: Starla. I wasn’t well-off by any means but I was happy. I had finally pulled myself out of the trenches and I felt good about it. I was able to finally be present. And now, I’ve been framed. Back to the trenches I go.I call Claire and beg for her help. I knew she’d believe me.
We go through security and search and are brought to a private room where we’re instructed to knock on the door twice if we want to end our visitation early for any reason. Leo pulls out my seat for me as we both sit and wait to see my brother. I see Matthew being brought in, chains fastened to his hands, feet and waist. An overstatement in my eyes. Matthew was no danger to anyone other than himself. And lately, he had turned his life around and was doing so well for himself. It saddened me to see him here after all the work he’s put in to become a better person.I watch as they carefully remove his chains and cuffs and close the door, leaving just and Matthew to speak. “I’m thankful that you came Claire. And thank you for accompanying her, Leonardo. I know this must be hard.” He says quietly as if she’s ashamed of himself.“What happened, Matthew?” I ask as I place my hand over his to redirect his eye contact to me. “I got up in the morning and got ready for work. And about two hou
We spend the rest of our time congratulating Matthew and asking him about Starla. It was the only way to make light of the conversation we had previously and I could see that it did that for Matthew. His eyes lit up at the thought of her and becoming a father. An opportunity I never got to experience. After a few minutes, a guard arrives. “Time’s up!” He says abruptly. I see Matthew lower his head and rise to his feet to be chained back up and returned to his cell. “Matthew.” I say as I jump up to hug him. It pained me to see what he had to go through. “I love you, Claire and I’m sorry for everything I put you through before.” I didn’t know if it was his current position that made him vulnerable or if that was something he just never had the courage to say but it broke me. I hugged him tightly. He was my baby brother and as his protector, I had failed him. The guard instructs me to release him and I stand there - watching as they take him away. Every fiber of my body was tinged wit
From the moment we sat down, I could tell that Claire was emotionally teeter tattering on the edge of a breakdown. She was clammy, fidgeting, hyper-focused, distant and she was silent. Not quite - silent. I hoped that seeing Matthew would stop her from tipping over the edge but I saw the way she looked at him when he was brought in wearing those chains. Matthew didn’t know Claire had been pregnant when he mentioned about his becoming a father. I was happy for him. He finally had something positive in life. Something important enough to change him and I know Claire was happy for him.Claire almost crumbles at the word: pregnant. I don’t think she’s made any time to cope with the loss of our son. She’s kept herself engulfed in work to avoid the thought entirely. I squeeze her thigh as Matthew talks about his growing family. As much as it hurt Claire, it hurt me as well.My actions led to Claire believing I didn’t want a child and hiding her pregnancy. My beliefs led me to accuse Claire
After witnessing and enjoying the mayhem transpire with Matthew. I accompany Francisco to his home. A promise was a promise and no sense in celebrating alone. Leo hadn’t kicked me out of his home like his mother had advised but he hadn’t been home much either. He’s been too occupied with the same wretched peasant that I’m trying to rid him of.After a bit of a drive, we arrive at this ginormous mansion with a gate and I watch carefully as he types the code onto the keypad out front. This house was easily double the size of Leo’s. It almost seemed like a ploy for me to think he was more enticing than my current love prospect and it would have worked if he wasn’t in the mafia. But then again, if he would’ve had nothing to offer me, I would have no interest in him whatsoever.Francisco may have money but he was not a renowned, successful man who I could flaunt. He was a thuggish businessman whose rough and rugged sex appeal was enticing for short-term enjoyment only. I live in a high so
As soon as Claire and I retrieve our identification, I place a call for a old friend of mine named Mason. We had gone to school together as children and he was the leading detective detective and sheriff in our county. I watch Claire through the window of the corrections center as I wait for him to answer. “Leo? It’s been such a long time, man. How the hell are you?” His chipper voice responded after the second ring. “Hey Mason, I’m doing alright these days. I wanted to talk to you about something really important.” Pleasantries were important in most settings but this was dyer. “What’s going on, buddy? Does this have anything to do with Charlotte’s father?” His tone changed to serious. “No. Not at all. I need help clearing my wife’s brothers’ name. He was arrested for drug possession, intent to sell and opiates, his names Matthew.” I wait for a response as the line goes silent. “It was good bust, Leo. I promise it went by the books.” He answers in his defense as he had been the l
I answer the phone with caution and press 5 to accept the collect call. I hadn’t found him a lawyer and his carefully thought-out plan of financial support from Leo’s father had crumbled. “Charlotte, I haven’t heard from you.”his tone was daunting. He was furious.“Hello father, I’ve been busy trying to find you an attorney but none are willing to represent you at the moment.” I lie about being busy. I had looked and contacted about every attorney in the state and not one was willing to work on this case.“What about Leo’s private team of attorneys? Surely, he could lend them to you in an effort to save your father.” I hear his cold sardonic voice and catch my breath.“They’re not willing too and Leonardo’s mother has made haste in sharing her opinions of me to him. She’s asked me to leave.” I admit to my father - in front of Francisco.“How dare that vile woman try to pry you from our financial safety net!” Safety net? Had he forgotten Leo was the love of my life when he created thi
I watch from the window as Leo speaks on the phone with the leading detective of Matthew’s case. The conversation seemed like it went on for hours as I waited in anticipation. I check the clock as I hear him hang up. Seven minutes. It had only been seven minutes.Lei opens the door for me and motions for me to accompany him to the town car. He opens the door for me and we sit in the parking lot for a moment. He hadn’t wanted to tell me the results of his call in public. This couldn’t be good.“Claire, I spoke with my old friend Mason and he says there’s a lot of things that don’t make sense about this case. The first is that the anonymous tip was very specific, the second is that the drugs amounted in over one hundred thousand dollars, and lastly; Matthew never touched those drugs. There’s no evidence to prove that he ever has.” He states as he places a hand on my thigh to keep me grounded.“So they’ll let him go?” I ask desperately. Matthew would be a father soon and he’s changed. H
I hear a car door just outside and rush to the front door as it opens. Leonardo and Julia step inside. “Leonardo needs his wound to be checked.” Julia announces as I rush to Leo’s side as I see blood stained onto his suit that looks as though it were cut. He seemed defeated.“Oh my god, Leo! Are you okay?” I say as I pull him to my bathroom where I keep a first aid kit.“I was wrong.” He murmurs as he removes his suit jacket and sits on the toilet lid. He begins unbuttoning his shirt with his head held low and I help him pull it off carefully.“What happened?” I ask quietly as I assess the cut on his forearm. It was three inches long but not very deep. “Charlotte attempted to attack Julia. But Julia overpowered her and defended herself and it threw Charlotte into a rage. Julia recorded everything for you.” He keeps his head low.“Why are you so sad? Are you in pain?” I ask as I get saline water to rinse out his wound.“You were right. Charlotte is a danger to you, our boys and mysel
I take the staged call and head outside. It wasn’t a contractor, it was Claire. She wanted to see how Charlotte would respond to Julia while I wasn’t around and Julia felt confident that she could handle herself.“Everything is going well. Charlotte is alone with Julia now.” Julia seemed very brave.“Don’t leave them alone for too long.” She instructs.“She’s recording the entire conversation from her phone. There’s nothing to worry about. I’m going back inside now. Okay?” “Okay, be careful.” She said before hanging up. I turn to go back inside and as I enter the restaurant, I can see Charlotte is angered and has a knife. I decide to watch her actions as Julia seemed completely calm and in control of the situation. I listen closely to their conversation.“You think Leo will make an honest woman out of you? You’re just French whore in a nice dress. I’m sure you laid on your back plenty of nights to afford it.” She seethes as her grip remains firmly on the knife.“Wrong again, Charlot
I step out the vehicle as Leo opens the door for me. I can see Charlotte through the window of the restaurant as I drape myself on Leonardo’s arm. “You should look at me and laugh as though we’re having a nice conversation. Laughter is often mistaken for chemistry and your audience is at the window.” I say as I smile and laugh. He laughs softly and plasters a light and natural smile.“Good eye.” He replies as he opens the door for me. We step inside and give the host Charlotte’s name. We are then instructed to follow him to the table where we’d seen Charlotte from just outside. She’s reading the menu as we appear and looks up. Her face turns from a face of excitement when she sees Leo to a face of confusion as her eyes land on me.Charlotte was not as pretty as I anticipated. Francisco has disappointed me. He ran to be in the arms of this woman?“Leo, it’s so good to see you.” She stand to greet him and I feel him tense. “And who is this?” “This is Julia. We’ve been seeing each othe
“Well that was quite a show. I didn’t expect that from Nathan.” I say as I stand there while Claire sits down.“Celeste is a piece of work. She’s always wanted Nathan for his money and he’s not wrong. I don’t think that’s his child. I think it’s Jordan’s.” Jasmine might be onto something there.“He does look like that smug little con artist.” I sneer as I think of his smug and crooked face.“We shouldn’t get involved. It looks like Nathan has things handled.” Claire says softly as she rubs her belly. “I just hope he’s okay.”“What do you mean?” Why wouldn’t he be okay?“He’s always wanted kids and I don’t want him to be let down if he finds out that the baby isn’t his. His dream was sitting right in front of him.” She motions to where they sat on the couch. Claire was always very empathic to others but for some reason, I always felt uneasy about her empathy towards Nathan. It just seemed like they were getting too close and I didn’t want any man that close to my wife.“I think he’ll b
The last person I expected to show up at Jasmine’s front door was Celeste. After I had found out about her and Jordan, our tumultuous divorce proceedings and pointless mediations, I expected to never see her again. Yet, here she is with a little boy and she’s certain that he’s mine. He has brownish black girl like hers and brown eyes. To be frank, he truly looks nothing like me.Even though, I know I shouldn’t. I find the words escaping my mouth before I can take them back.“Is this really my son?” I felt it when the air shifted in the room. Claire and Leonardo stood there silently, Jasmine walked in and froze and time felt frozen. Let me clarify a few things, Celeste never wanted children. I always tried to convince her otherwise but she would refuse, saying that a child was nothing short of a distraction from us living our best lives together. And now, after we’ve divorced and she’s gotten the house, moved a random man into it and a small percentage of my company shares, she’s back
Claire and Jasmine listened closely to the conversation I had with Charlotte on the phone. They felt triumphant as I played my part. “Well she seems convinced.” Claire smiles as she sits down on the couch beside me. “Now, we just have to get Julia and Leo ready to rub it in. The letter said six o’clock, right?” Jasmine confirms.“Yup. I already texted Julia and she said she is getting ready. She wants to make sure she is dressed for the occasion.” Claire seemed a bit nervous but she did it well.“You brought your nice suit, right Leo?” “I did and before you ask, it’s black.”“Good, that means it’ll match with Julia.” Jasmine smiles as her need for color coordination is satisfied.“How do you think Julia will act when she’s faced with Charlotte?” Claire asks quizzically.“I’m not sure. But I should get changed. Julia should be arriving in the next thirty minutes to debrief before we head out.” I stand and leave the room to change. It felt odd to be going to dinner in the company of
It’s late morning when I awake from my nap. The medication they gave me was great at silencing my dead mother but horrible for my energy. Every dose I’d taken had driven me to a long deep rest that encapsulated my hours. I grab my phone and see blog and tabloid notifications - my favorite reading material as I was able to read about myself multiple times. Although, I was glad for my absence in these apps as of recently. The last thing I wanted was to be paraded around as a lunatic.I open the first app to read about today’s events and see Claire is plastered on the front page.“Billionaire’s wife trades high life for loving longevity?” I continue reading as the article names a ‘Nathan Carter’ as Claire’s new love interest and describes their poolside manner as romantic and intimate. Did she really trade Leo for this guy? He wasn’t nearly as handsome as Leo. I look up his net worth isn’t even in the same caliber as Leo. How stupid of her. I continue to look at the photos and I’m struck
I watch the movements of Charlotte’s ankle monitor and to my surprise, it hasn’t move at all from the primary residence. I checked its connection and gps settings. Only to find that everything was working perfectly.Leo informed me of his and Claire’s plan to seem separated in the blogs to make Charlotte more confused and less hyper-fixated on hurting Claire and for some reason, I feel like it might’ve worked. Claire hadn’t had a run in with Charlotte and she hasn’t left to see Leo either. Did her psych hold have something to do with this?I ask the officers providing surveillance at Charlotte’s residence to check in every two hours, just in case. Charlotte wasn’t a dumb woman. She was cunning, fast and maniacal. If she were planning something then I needed to be top of it before anyone got hurt. Surprisingly, the only alert I’d been given was a visitor to Dahlia. The view was partially obstructed but they believe it wasn’t friendly as the woman left without entering and Charlotte sla
I grab my phone and lay on my bed, face the ceiling and try to distract myself. My monitor meant that my moves were recorded and that meant no late night surprise visits to Claire. I had no army, no freedom, an injury to my arm and no opportunities. I wonder if Claire had even seen my letter. It couldn’t be a violation if she were to meet with me in a public location. I wouldn’t have followed her or threatened her, technically. Or did technicalities not count in this situation?I begin scrolling through today’s blogs on my phone, not out of interest but sheer boredom when I see it. Claire seems to be cuddled up with a young man who wasn’t Leo. Not only that, but she’s pregnant in these pictures. Had my plan worked already? Did Claire move on without my knowledge? I scroll through the pictures and notice a Rolex and decide to check out who this guy was. A quick search proves telling as I see his name is Nathan Carter. A newly-made millionaire who had done contracts with Leo in the past