2. You Were Never Mine

Lori 

"You think I wouldn't find out?!" I threw the tablet across the kitchen counter, screen lit up with the transaction logs. Alex didn't flinch, he casually sipped his expresso. Like I didn't just tell him, someone has been laundering money through my foundation.

"That's my name on every transfer," I snapped. "But your signature, Alex. Yours!"

"So?"

"So?" My voice cracked. "It is fraud. It's illegal. That's my reputation!" 

"It is handled," he said icily. "Your charity is cleaner than my shoes. They won't trace it."

I tightened my fist. "My team already knows. You used me, you used the foundation—"

"I funded that foundation," he finally looked up. "Without my money, you'd be holding bake sales." I stepped back like he slapped me. 

*Is this why you are so calm? Because you think I will roll over like I always do?"

"You are acting like a child."

"No, I'm acting like a woman who just found out that we husband was a criminal."

He laughed, shaking his head in disappointment like I said something foul. "Oh please. Don't act surprised."

"You signed documents without telling me."

"I sign everything without telling you. You are a piece of furniture, Lori. You sit pretty and decorate the room. That's your best quality. That's all you are good for."

My mouth went dry.  

"And Ava?" I whispered. "Was she your furniture too?" 

"She's been working for me since day one." His smile was cruel. "Did you really think she's your maid?" 

I stumbled back. "You..."

"She watched you. Fed me your moods. Your complaints. Your weaknesses. She did more for me than you ever did." My hand flung across his face before I think. The slap echoed. 

He touched his cheek, then chuckled darkly. "There it is."

"I'm leaving."

"No you are not."

"I swear, Alex..."

"You leave, I ruin you. " He slipped again. "I've got records, Lori. Fake receipts. Accounts in your name. I say the word, you are a thief and a liar."

My chest tightened. "You'd really do that to me?" 

Alex shrugged. "Don't threaten what you can't handle."

      

                                                              *.*

That night, I waited until he was back from work. Already, I had shoot Ava a text. 

"Leave my house and don't come back." She didn't reply. Hours passed, the house was too quiet. It made my heart thump in fear. 

I heard it again. The sounds returned slowly. The moans. Not from the speaker, not from a screen but from our own bedroom. I stormed up the stairs, threw the door open. There he was, again. Alex was naked. Sweating and gripping Ava's hips like nothing has changed. 

"GET. OFF. HER?!" He rolled his eyes. He didn't even look surprised. I wanted the tiniest glimpse of emotion, of remorse. 

Ava grinned. "You said to leave but he told me to stay. I listen to what the tells me. Especially when he is inside me." He kissed her lips as they chuckled like I wasn't even there. 

"You are disgusting." My face shifted to them both. "Both of you."

Alex flipped Ava off him like she was weightless. He stood up, walking towards me naked.

"I told you not to get involved in my business."

"This is our bed Alex."

He smirked. "Now it's mine."

Fighting back the tears, I pulled the envelope from behind me, slammed it on the dresser. "Sign it."

He glanced at the papers. Divorce Papers. Clean and straightforward. Everything he wants to get rid of me for good. He didn't touch them, stared at them like something forbidden. "No."

I blinked. "Excuse me?" 

He stepped closer. "You leave with my name? My money? my secrets?, I don't think so."

"I will go public."

He grinned. "Like you'd survive. I'd go louder."

"You are a monster?!"

"No." He said. "I'm a man who built an empire while you painted walls and planned gala menus."

I trembled. "I want out. You can't keep me here."

"You should have thought of that before threatening me, Lori."

"You are sleeping with the maid!" 

He shrugged. "She's loyal and efficient."

I scoffed. "She's a tool. She's not your wife. I am your wife?!"

‎“You’re right. She’s not the one who shuts her legs every night and complains about missed dinner reservations.” he began. "You aren't even sure if you are my wife. I guess we lost our spark long ago."

I tried to slap him again but he slapped me instead, harder. Forcefully than he did last night. 

He grabbed my wrist and squeezed it. "Don't you ever try to hit me again."

I yanked free.

"I’ll make sure your friends know what you are,” he hissed. “An affair. The theft. You think they’ll believe you over me?”

‎“I have proof.” the words rolled out of my tongue, I barely believed it.

‎“So do I.” he countered.

‎“You won’t win.”

‎“I already did.” He walked past me, still naked, to pour himself a drink. “You think you’re strong because you caught me in bed? Please. You’re still here.”

‎He grabbed the papers and tore them in half. Then into quarters. Then more. I gasped in shock, watching as the tiny pieces fell gently to the floor. Ava watched the drama with a grin on her face. 

‎“I don’t want your name,” I whisper. “I don’t want your money. I just want freedom.” my voice broke into a sob.

‎“You won’t get it.” he commanded. "Get out. I have a tight pussy waiting for me."

‎“I’ll destroy you.” it was a promise. 

‎He laughed. “Try.”

‎I stormed out, but his voice followed me.

‎“Sleep tight, Lori. You’ll need it.”

‎

                                                             *.*

Later, I curled up in the guest room. Lights off. The walls were too thin.

‎I heard them. Again. Ava’s voice. ‎His groans and cusses. He had never made love to me like that before. It was so raw, my chest tightened even more.

‎I covered my ears. I wanted to scream. Cry. Vanish.

‎But I don’t.

‎I grab my phone. ‎Started typing.

‎To: My Lawyer

‎Subject: URGENT

‎We need to talk. Tomorrow. He refused to sign. I have evidence. Get me out before he buries me alive.

Their moans grew louder and my cries flowed harder, as darkness took over.