Broken covenant

"Oh clumsy you are,"I said. I kneel down to pick up the broken picture frame. I had accidentally bumped on our wedding picture on the side table trying to turn off the 5am alarm that was waking me up to prepare for work. I drag myself out of the soft and warm sheets.

Tears formed in my eyes as I look at the picture. Emotions paraded me. I looked at the fake smiles that we were both wearing.For once we seemed so happy but to the world. It wasn't like that in my heart. Brian seemed genuinely happy. He has this perfect smile that would melt a hardest heart.

I pick up the broken glasses and I accidentally cut my finger. I moan  softly with pain I put my finger in my mouth to stop the bleeding.

"What are you doing?" he asks. He got off the bed quickly to help me.

"I am fine. I just accidentally cut myself with a broken glass," I say.

The broken glasses was a true a reflection of my broken marriage and a broken heart. I failed to fix the glasses. There was no way to mend the glasses back together.

I went to the bathroom with him. He quickly looked for the first aid kit. He washed off the blood on my finger and bandaged me like a good doctor.

"There you go babe,"he says leaning towards me to give me a kiss.

"If I don't get ready now.I'll be late for the board meeting,"I say pulling back. Escaping from his lips.

I grabbed the towel and he sighed softly packing up the first aid kit. I waited for him to leave the bathroom before I took off my clothes to get into the bathtub. I filled it with water.

I got and leaned back. I closed my eyes for a few minutes thinking about the day I am going to face. How crazy can things get at House of Swank. House of Swank is my first baby. I live and breathe fashion. Fashion is in my DNA. 

My father failed on so many times why I wanted to be a designer. He wanted me to become a lawyer. "Passion doesn't pay bills" Those are his words that he always preached to me. I only went to law school to please him and I pursued my dream of being a fashion designer when a well known designer Gabriel Horn gave a chance to be one of his intern.

I had no fashion degree. All I had was a passion and a burning vision. I worked twice as hard as everyone else who was on the time. I knew it's only by grace that I am part of that team. The minimum requirements of the internship program stipulated clearly that you need to have a fashion degree to apply for the internship program.

Let me not say it was by grace that I got the internship. My best friend Lola helped me to fabricate a fake design degree certificate that I submitted with my application.

The way I was shaking the day I went to submit my application. Being a law graduate I knew I could end up in jail charged for forgery and fraud. I could be sentenced and do time behind bars. 

The amount of wine I took the day I received a call from House of Horn informing me about my interview. I had made it to the top 6 and they only wanted 4 interns. My heart almost burst my chest open when I got the call again after a week I went to the interview that I was chosen as one of the interns.

I got out of the bathtub and let the water run. I wiped the bathtub and filled it with water again for my husband who was diligently making up our bed.

After wiping myself with a dry towel. I went to sit before my mirror to do my make up. I wrapped up my hair neatly and nicely. 

I opened the walk in wardrobe and walked around it looking what I could possibly wear for the board meeting. I was not ready to be seating across the table with Jennifer and sharing ideas with her. The thought of that woman really really repulsed me.

I went to Brian's section of clothes and picked out a suit with a shirt that matched with his tie. I put them on the couch. I got into my dress. He found me struggling to zip it up.

"Let me help you with that my beautiful wife,"he says.

I let him zip it up for me. He kissmy shoulder before he zips it up. He moves his warm hands on my arms down to my waist. I close my eyes as he goes down to my curves.

"Thank you,"I say. I removed his hands on my curves.

"Bree,why are you running away from me?" he asks.

"I don't want you to ruin my make up. I don't have time to do it all over again," I say. 

I pick up my pair of heels and walk out of the room. I kicked my sleepers off my feet and put on my heels. I went downstairs with my laptop bag and sketch book in my hand.

Our breakfast table was already set by our housekeepers with the instructions that they got from our chef. We had a full and prepared menu of what we eat daily from breakfast, lunch and dinner. Brian is the one who usually comes home to have lunch. I hardly come for lunch unless my in-laws have visited us.

"Good morning,Mrs Fischer," she said bowing down to greet me.

"Morning, Dorcas," I say.

I pulled my chair to sit down.

"Is there anything Mrs Fischer would love me to get her?"she asks.

"Just make sure you change the sheets in our bedroom. I don't like the smell of the fabric softener you used on them. Make sure you also change the fabric softener. Who told you to purchase potpourri instead of lavender?" I ask spreading butter on a slice of a toasted bread.

"Mrs Fischer the store had ran out of stock,"she says.

"So you thought it's okay to make a decision for me?" I ask sipping my coffee.

She looks down and keeps quiet.

"You can go back to do your chores," I say.

"Thank you,Mrs Fischer,"she says. 

She turns back to the kitchen. I pick up my phone to check my messages. I smile as I read a text message from Liam Theron. He has sent me one of those funny memes. He knew how to brighten up my day. I could be having one of my worst day but the minute he enters the room he lifts up my spirit.

"Care to share what's putting a smile on your beautiful face?"he asks pulling a chair to sit down.

He sits in on the chair that faces mine. It is our sitting arrangement. He sits on the chair facing the door because he is the man of the house. He had to see what comes in and protect me as my husband.

I put my phone down with it's screen facing down.

"It's Lola. We are talking girls stuff," I say looking into my plate.

"Okay,the Ferreira's have invited us for dinner tonight," he says.

He feels the temperature of the milk from it's milk pitcher with the back of his hand.

"Why are you only informing me right now? Where am I going to get the right dress at this moment?" I ask.

"This milk is cold. Dorcas! Dorcas!" he says.

She rushes in.

"Mr Fischer," she responds bowing down.

"My milk is a bit cold. May you please warm it up for me?" he asks.

"Okay Mr Fischer,"she says. She takes the milk pitcher with her to the kitchen.

"You better be ready by 7pm. The dinner is set for 8pm," he says.

He keeps quiet using his fork and knife to eat the beacon and eggs with toast.

"When are you going to be ready for us to talk about the issue of having a baby? We can be staying in this huge mansion alone without children" he says.

This is the issue that really sent me off the edge. We just tied a knot a few years ago.How dare he brings up the baby issue like it's some casual talk? It's a very sensitive issue. How do I fall pregnant for a man that I don't love? Do I fall pregnant and give birth to a baby that he is going to leave me with alone? I am going to be raising the baby with the nanny. He is hardly home and always away on business trips. 

He got back last night and already he is irritating me. I take a deep breath and look at him. I put my cutlery on top of the plate.

"Oh look at the time. I am late," I say. I grab my laptop bag and sketch book.

"You are going to leave without giving me a kiss?" he asks.

I look at Dorcas and fake a smile. I go back to kiss his cheek. Rather he went for my lips. His warm lips met with mine and the smell of his fresh breath fills my nose as I am choked by the smell of his cologne that I love so much. I am find of his smell of his cologne.

"My wife your driver is not on duty today. He has caught some stomach bug so I'll have to drop you off at work on my way to the office," he says smiling at me.

I am going to be stuck with him. It' is going to be one of the longest drive to work. I am probably going to fall asleep on our way there.

"Okay. Why didn't he call me?"I ask.

"I am the one who deals with drivers not you. It must have slipped my mind last night," he says.

"He is not the only driver. Ask any of the drivers to drive to work," I say.

"I was not aware you were driven by any driver and a bodyguard. What are you going to say if they hijack and abduct you along the way?"he asks.

He is making an excuse to drive with me to work. He wants to be next to me and be seen with me. The world knows I am his wife and why do I have to suffer to pretend to be happy with him? Why do I have to wear the mask?

I sit down to wait for him to finish having his oats.He stands up and gives me his hand to hold it. I hold his hand as we walk out of the house to the driveway where his driver has already opened the door for us.

"Good morning Mr and Mrs Fischer,"he says.

"Good morning, Emmanuel"he responds. 

He helps me to get into the car and he gets in to sit very closely to me. I smile slightly as he rubs my hand in the loud silence as the car is moving with constant speed.

"Are you still upset about the Ferreira dinner?" he asks.

"You have decided. Even if I get upset I still have to show up at the dinner. You don't even care about how this dinner is going to interrupt my schedule," I say.

He looks at me as I abruptly moved my hand from his to fold my arms.

"Bree it's just dinner. No one is going to cut off your limb. Why are you acting like you are going to have a major surgery? " he asks.

" We need to keep thsi relationship with the Ferreira's no matter how much you and Jennifer don't get along," he adds.

I keep quiet and look outside the window. I look at the number of cars that were stuck in the traffic. Gladly we were driving against the traffic to and fro. I could have screamed if it was myself stuck in the traffic.

I saw the taxi driver hitting the hooter impatiently to a car of a woman who did not see that the traffic lights has turned green allowing her to move. I shake my head giggling. Well welcome to the morning drive.Everyone is rushing somewhere to hustle.

"That's a bad driver. Do you remember how bad you were wjeb you started out my wife?" he asks chuckling.

I learnt how to drive very late because I still had fear of driving after the horrible accident I saw when I was teen. I vowed to never get behind the wheel. 

"I had a phobia of driving.It took me years to overcome it," I argued.

I don't like being made a joke in front of.my subjects. These people work for me and I can't be treating them like we are equals. At least that's what my father taught me to never get too friendly with your subjects and never treat them like slaves too. There must that distinction between a boss and his employee. People must be able to spot the difference.

Finally the long walk to freedom has come to an end. The driver opens the door for me after he parks the car in the executive parking lot.

I step out after fixing his tie that it's a bit skewed.

"Make sure you come fetch me around 5pm," I say.

"Okay. May you have a wonderful day and good luck with the board meeting my beautiful Bree,"he says.

I reveal my two front big teeth turning to walk into thebuilding. I walk with confidence to the lift. I get in and he waved at me before he rolls his window up.

I keep that fake smile as the lift closes.

"Hold the lift please!" he says.

I held it for him and he steps in.

"Wow you saved me there sweet Bree,"he says.

"It is a just a lift Liam," I say.

"You don't look sunny this morning. Did Brian hurt you?" he asks.

"The issues of my marriage are private and none of your concern. I am not going to discuss my husband with you," I say getting annoyed.

"Okay he did do something to you," he says.

"Can you believe it? He is forcing me to go have dinner with the Ferreira's. Do you know how much of a cow is Jennifer?" I ask.

He burst into laughter.

"If I knew better I'd be saying that you are pregnant,"he says.

The lift opened and I step out as he remains in the lift. He is working aa a corporate banker in a bank upstairs. They say people in finance are boring but not Liam. He is funny and has a good sense of humor.

I have went out with him a few times for drinks and I had the best time of my life. I got to laugh.

"Here is a cigarette. It will help you calm down your nerves and take your stress levels down," he says.

He put it in my hand and winked at me. I had a wide smile om my face. He made me feel like I am teenager and behave like one. I felt the butterflies in my stomach looking at his bushy beard.

"Thank you.I promise to try it out,"I say.

I put it in the pocket of my jacket.

"Pity you are going to dinner tonight.I'd love to take you out for a round of cocktails,"he says.

"Well with my husband back at home. It will be impossible to go out at night," I say.

"You can tell him you are going out for drinks with Lola,"he says.

"Let me think about it,"I say.

Liam should stop inviting me for drinks. He should really stop. He is going to complicate things for me. He is going to make things to be difficult for me.

I walk to the reception area and take my messages heading to my office. I pull a chair to sit down behind my desk.

"Ma'am I love those bottoms you are rocking today,"he says. He flicks his weave sitting down on the other end of the table.

"What does Jamaica want from ma'am this morning?"I ask busy typing on my laptop.

"Nothing,"he says.

"I know you Jam Jam. When you start to compliment my shoes. It means you want something,"I say

"Okay ma'am. You know I am the sole breadwinner at home, right?"he asks.

"Of course I am aware," I say.

"Things are a bit tight.I was hoping you could give me an advance from my salary,"he says biting one of his long manicure.

I don't know how he keeps such long nails.

Nadia knocks on my door and gets in.

"Mrs Fischer the boardroom is set for your 9am meeting,"she says.

"I am her PA aren't I?" he asks.

"I know you are her PA,",she says.

"Then why do you like taking my job? It is my duty to ma'am know about her meetings. Do you want to take my job away from me?"he asks.

"No.."

"There is a huge difference between a receptionist and an executive personal assistant. Do you have any executive personal assistant experience as you are gunning for my job this way?"he asks.

"Guys please. I had a very bad morning and I can't afford to be dealing with your cat fights right now. Whatever it is sort it out and don't bring it to my office," I say packing my files.

"Is this Indian girl with her chillies,"he says pointing a finger at Nadia.

"Jamaica! Jamaica! Stop it and bringing those files to the boardroom!" I yell.

I snapped and bump into a cup of coffee he had already made for me. It hits the floor and breaks into pieces.