I didn’t know whether to ignore it or just go on to open the text message, nevertheless, I took the step and did open it. It was a video recording.
I told myself that this might just be another of Michael’s sex tapes, it was obvious that it just had to be it. The moaning sound that began from this fifteen-minute-long video as I pressed play was enough to turn it off but I didn’t, I watched it to ensure that Michael’s face was shown, and believe me when I say that his face was clear as day, I couldn’t even recognize the woman as it was blurred out.
I didn’t know what to do, this was too much for me to handle, how much was I going to keep hanging on like this, I don’t deserve this from him. I couldn’t it for long as I immediately texted back, “Name your price,”
My heart raced because this was the first time this had gotten to me, I hate that I have to sort this thing out for Michael but what more can I do? I can’t have my family fall apart or I will be gossiped like the others are.
“Name your fucking price!” I texted again, growing impatient, biting my lips and pacing around.
“Five million dollars,” the strange number finally answered.
I laughed at the unbelievable amount, “You must be mad to think that I will throw away five million dollars to you,”
“I am not the one who would have her family’s ass to the public, I will get my bit of fame when this gets revealed, and while you will have a miserable life, make sure to reply to me when you are ready, I am giving you just 24 hours,” The strange number sent.
I continued replying, cussing out on the phone though I didn’t get a reply back. I became frustrated and through the phone on my bed making it bounce and fall face flat to the ground.
“Ahhh… Michael, what have you done to me?” I sobbed within me as I sat at the edge of my bed. There was a knock on the door but I didn’t bother answering, I didn’t have this strength.
How could this have happened to me this very early in the morning? The strange person was right; she had all the balls in her court while I had nothing, absolutely nothing.
I knew someone who could help, someone who would help me trace this number and have this person dealt with but I didn’t want to go through that route until I was very desperate.
I wore my robe and went out to get the kids prepared for school, wearing that big smile I always tried to put on so no one would suspect a single thing.
Carmela was the first person I saw at the table as she was about to have her meal, “Car—” I tried to call to her but as soon as she sighted me, Carmela got to her feet and said while directly staring at me, “I think I have lost my appetite,” she grabbed her school bag and went out.
“Carmela! Carmela!!” I called after her as she went towards her car so she could leave for school, “Answer me when I call you woman,” I chased after her in my nightwear.
“Leave me alone, I don’t want to talk to you. David, open the door,” Carmela ordered her driver and I eyed him not to as he stood still, “I have hands,” she grabbed hold of the door handle but it didn’t budge, “David open this damn door,”
“He won’t be opening anything,” I said to her, “David hand over the keys,”
“Yes ma’am,” David placed the keys in my palms
“What the hell is your problem?! Why can’t you fucking leave me alone!” Carmela yelled at me.
I was angry, “Don’t you dare use such foul language at me? Don’t talk to me like that!”
“Then leave me alone!” Carmela screamed. Just then, Michael arrived from work, I didn’t even notice he hadn’t been home since yesterday.
“Carmela please tell me, what have I done wrong? Let me apologize,” I pleaded with her, I am a mother and I can’t continue to watch as my daughter constantly pushes me away.
“Everything! You are the reason Virginia lost her job, you sent her away, didn’t you? Just like you did with the others, I hate that you are my mother!”
“Carmela!” Michael’s voice resonated as he joined us, I no longer felt apologetic that Carmela felt this way, she was angry because I fired most of her nanny, and why? Because all those loose women can’t keep their legs in one place, not my fault.
I wish I could scream to her that it was all her father’s fault but knowing Carmela, she would rather blame me than blame her father.
“Don’t speak to your mother like that,” Michael said in a firm tone which Carmela immediately abided by. “Go to school, when you return, let’s talk,”
I handed over the kids to David so he could take her to school.
“Aren’t you cold?” Michael asked me and I stared down looking at how open my nightwear was but burning anger was able to keep me warm even as everyone had paused whatever they had been doing to watch us.
“I will go have my bath. How was work though?” I asked him as we walked inside after Carmela had left for school.
Michael shrugged, “As it has always been. I might head over to the new site later today, got a few things I need to work on,”
“Oh, alright”
“And how was the women’s meeting yesterday?” Michael asked me.
“It went great,” my response was short because I had other questions I had in mind instead but I ignored it, he just returned.
“Where is Leo? Has he gone to school? Forgot to tell you that he will be taking extra lessons this summer, he wanted to do it and I agreed, I guess we would have to cancel that trip,” Michael said and I told him that I already knew and had canceled the trip. “I will go shower then,”
My mind raced as I held my phone in my hand, the screen was slightly broken but it still functioned properly, I was waiting for the stranger’s next message so I could calculate my next move but I got nothing.I watch till sunset and still nothing.When it was fully evening, there was a bit of discomfort I began to feel, and I only knew a walk around the outside of my precious household would help greatly. Basking in that cool breeze and feeling its romance with my skin was just what I looked forward to.“Are my kids asleep?” I asked one of the maids that were working.“They are, ma’am. Leo is currently studying but Carmela is asleep,” The lady answered before she left.Knowing that well, I went ahead to enjoy the outside, sniffing into the air, I wasn’t expecting to have a cigar stench sting my nose like that. Someone had the audacity to smoke in my garage.I traced the smell and you just couldn’t believe who it was.“Why are you smoking around my house?” I questioned Seth from behind
I couldn’t sleep, having restless has been a thing of mine since I found out my husband was no longer faithful to me, it is crazy, I know but there is nothing I can do about it. I cried my eyes out hoping when my eyes gets tired they would sleep off and it work.The following morning, I slept at the corner of my bed awake, but my mind, body, and soul were simply elsewhere.“What are you thinking of?” Michael as he stepped out of the shower“Nothing,” I answered sitting up from my bed, “I will go check on the kids,”“Are you sure there is nothing wrong?” Michael asked as he dried his damp hair with the towel he was with.My rage was rising by the mere sight of him but I still choose not react even as I tried to head for the door, “Scarlett…”“What! I already said there is nothing wrong Michael, what else are you expecting me to say huh? Are you expecting that I tell you that each I cage myself in this marriage I am suffocated by your constant mistreatment, everyday I wake up there is a
Seth exhaled. He looked in Brianna's direction and back to me, his face bent sideways. He was clearly annoyed, but who cares? Whatever I want, I get.“I need you back here before…” I checked the time on my phone, “Two, my friend will need a ride home,”“I am not going,” Seth replied defiantly with angst in his eyes.“What do you mean by you won’t be going? You work for me and anything that I send you, you must do,” I said making sure that each word sunk in.Seth closed his eyes as if infuriated by me, he breathed out, “Ma’am, this is not in line with my job, you can… you can send anybody working for you but I will not be doing it,”“Seth, I am sure you are aware that you are walking on thin ice, if I tell my husband about your attitude…”“I thought you said that you would, why haven’t you? My problem here is that this is my lunch break and I need to rest, if you had asked politely like I said yesterday, maybe I would have done it but here we go again,” Seth said and then walked away.
“What is it about?” Michael said as he loosened his tie and fling it on the bed before proceeding to take off his shoes.“It is about the Levines,” I replied, setting the mood for discussion as I picked up the displaced tie and shoes he scattered all over the place, “Apparently, they will be returning back to the estate, I think this is our chance to finally get closer with them,”Michael paused as he was about unbuttoning his shirt, “Why?”I can’t believe is this slow, “For obvious reason baby, you want to run for Mayor and they have the influence, your father and my father’s backing you up for this position might not be enough to get us there,” I explained, “Listen, with the strong backing of the Levines, we can easily win the poll without any stress,”“And where did you get this information that they will be coming? Brianna?” Michael guessed, his expression
I felt as though everything around me was spinning, nothing felt normal or was I being delusional or am I overreacting? A knock on the door was enough to snap me back to reality but didn’t get rid of the misery and anguish I was feeling. Remembering I had sent Seth to bring my shopping bags, there was a high chance that he might be the one at the door.One, two, three... I counted my breath, reached for the door, and unlocked it with the keys.“What took you so long?” Michael asked as he got in, he began taking off his suit and proceed to remove his shirt, “I have a game with the guys by—” he paused to check the time, “Oh shit! It is almost four,” he hurried with removing his shirt before staring at my blank face as he asked, “What is wrong with you? Why are you being quiet?”I thinned my lips as I bit the tip of them, controlling the anger burning inside of me.“Michael, what did you do?” I asked my voice already matching my anger.Michael looked utterly confused at my distress, “Sca
Seth drove for a while, my phone rang several and every call was from Michael, “Aren’t you going to pick it?” Seth asked as he looked at me from the rear view mirror, “It has been ringing,”“None of your business,” I said bluntly, turning off my phone completely and dumping it on my side. Seth has been mouthy since I asked for his help, an help that I shouldn’t have to ask for, at least I shut him up now.Since he spoke earlier, Seth said nothing again, which gave me time to reflect on a lot of things as I looked out the window. We went around the same place for about four hours, and the sky had gotten darker before he made a final stop. He was still quiet when he dropped me off at a club and came out of the car.I was still in shock as he pulled out a lighter and lit his cigarette. I immediately got out of the Car and went all bonkers on him. “Did I tell you to stop?”…He opened his palms to me, revealing the key in it. This was Seth subtle way of telling me to go drive myself, of co
Louisa’s tone was low and a bit shaky, was she afraid that I had seen her in a club, that can’t be the problem because Brianna ex husband, Miles, actually has a club of his own which he makes profit from and spends an alarming amount of time away from her those times they were married.I stilled myself as I answered back, “How are you, Louisa?”“I am healthy and doing well, what about you?” Louisa continued.I was bored of this as I snapped, “Cut to the chase Louisa, what do you want?” the tone of my voice changed, even I think Seth noticed as he eyed me through the mirror.“Right, there is no need for all of that. What were you doing at the club? I know you were there,” Louisa laid down in a serious tone.“Do I have any reason not to be at the club? Or you think I can’t have fun,” I retorted harshly.“That is not the problem. The problem here is what did you see?” Louisa voice said in a crack, she cleared her throat acting as if everything is alright.I know something was up form the
The following morning, Michael and I reconciled, and we decided to have a whole family breakfast together with our children before they headed for school. “I told you they fought,” Carmela murmured as took a bite out of her toast.I pretended like I didn’t hear her and continued with the breakfast, I was doing so much to impress her but she was bent on not accepting anything that I did.“Leo…” I called my precious baby who was reading his book on the table, “Please can you drop the book, you can do it after, I won’t bat an eye if you were to fail one subject, you are not a thing that I should brag to my friends about, you are my son and I wouldn’t mind if you enjoy life like every other children your age, you only have the teenage life once,” I said referencing the statement my beloved daughter made last night.Carmela scrunched her nose as she tried to mimic silently.“I will be heading somewhere, would you like me to drop you off at school?” I asked.“We have our Cars, Mom, you don’