Chapter 8

Jennifer

I sat silently on my seat as I watched the car move on the silent, dark road. I kept my eyes out of the window as he drove in utter silence. I made sure to keep my eyes glued to the window, not to spare a single glance to Mike. The way to home seems never ending. As if we were driving on a road that doesn't take us anywhere.

Our destination wasn't far yet I felt like I was in the car for hours, slowly suffocating from inside.

I felt wordless unable to speak at all as I felt my voice box shatter along with my fragile heart. A feeling which made me gasp for air and beg my heart to cooperate with me, beg for it to stop this pain and give some relief to my burning soul.

But it was too hard. I wasn't able to stop the ghost tear that slipped out my eye and down the cheek. I turned my face further towards the window to shield my face from his sight. I didn't want him to see me like this.

I forced myself to suck in a breath and close my eyes. My mind continued to replay his words over and over again till I was begging for it to stop, wanting to forget about them just for one second. But it was surely impossible.

“What if I refuse to follow back your words? What if I refuse to apologize to them?” I dared him

 “Then forget that you have a husband named Michael Patterson. We both will be over from this moment, because I don’t need a wife who can’t stand by my side in my needful times. I will be waiting for you outside. You decide what you love the most, me or your so-called ego.” He stated. 

"I am really sorry Mr. and Mrs. Williams for my indecent manners. I have realized my mistake. Please don't punish my husband for my stupidity. He has worked really hard for this deal. And please accept my apology for my unethical code of conduct." I bow down my head in shame. 

" Good job Mr. Patterson. I am impressed. You very well know how to play your cards. You don't worry our deal is still on. I am not going to let any dumb bitch ruin your hard work. And you little slut, never ever cross my path again. Understand?" She smirked at me while I continued to blink, forcing the tears away. I couldn't cry in here, not in front of them.

I opened my eyes, finally turning my head to glance up at him. Mike's eyes were hard on the road, not even sparing me a single glance. He looked least bothered , unaffected from his words and least concern from what happened today. It was as if nothing happened a few moments ago, as if his wife wasn't molested by his business colleague, as if he didn't force me to bow down in front of those people, as if he didn't insult my love and dedication towards him for some dollars. 

He was unaffected, completely the opposite of me.

I must have been staring at him because eventually he met my eyes in a single glance, making me immediately avert my eyes away from him. 

After a moment, I sucked in a breath and closed my eyes in order to steady my breath. I opened my eyes, as soon as the car brutally came to a stop, jerking my body forward that would have flew out of my seat if my seat belt wasn't securely wrapped around me. I turned to Mike to see him stare hardly at me, a look which made my stomach turn. 

I glanced to see us parked in front of the house. I must have been spacing off for a while to not notice that we were near. Sucking in a breath, I opened my side of the door. "Are you coming?" I asked softly, avoiding his eyes as well. 

"No" He didn't utter anything else. I avoided his eyes not questioning anything further as I got out of the car, closing the door behind me and walking away. 

I stopped in my track the moment I heard the car drive away, leaving me standing there in the cold night. 

I didn't know what happened but it was like the moment I got out of the car everything I was holding in, came out and demanded to be released. Tears flew out of my eyes, blurring my vision and wetting my cheeks.

I sucked another breath and stepped towards the door. I opened the door and walked in, thankful that I didn't meet Emily as I didn't want her to worry about my state. Anyone who would see me would surely know that something happened to me.

I dashed to my room, entering it and slamming the door behind me. I walked towards my bathroom, looking myself in the mirror. A wife looked at me, looking through my soul.

I took a step in the mirror, looking deeply at myself. I hated how I felt, I hated how I looked miserable.

I immediately changed my dress and  turned on the sink, splashing the water on my face. I looked back at the reflection and sighed out, wiping my face with a towel.

Why did you do this Mike? 

Was your project so important that you traded my dignity for it? 

Am I so cheap in your eyes? 

I wasn't able to hold the sob that escaped my lips as my mind kept replaying his words.

I wiped my wet cheeks another time, rubbing my eyes as I inhaled a large breath. I walked out of the bathroom, and led down on the bed, placing a hand on my lips, I tried to muffle the sounds of my cries. I didn't know how long I cried like that. My soft cries disappeared soon turning into fast breaths as I tried to regain my strength. 

"I wouldn't cry anymore. I have to be stronger than this, not this weak girl, whose only solution is crying" I told myself at the moment and closed my eyes as I felt my eyelids getting heavy with sleep and tiredness.