Hell on Earth

Dressed in a long black dinner gown, a silver clutch bag and silver shoes, all accentuating her beauty and confident looks, everyone in the room that night can tell that she's in love with the man across the room, the same man she keeps staring at.

He also, throws her some glances and smiles at her when he catches her watching him as well.

In a lady's life, there are many moments where she cherishes and for Ivy Hall, this is one of those moments, where her to be husband Richard Wright, announces their wedding to the world...

He grabs a glass of champagne off a passing waiter and uses his fork to grab attention from everybody in the room.

"Uhm... Can I have your attention please?" Richard announces, standing on a chair so everyone can see him. "I'm sure you all know who I am if you're at this party. Well, I just have an extra good news."

Ivy smiles deeply, her dimples looking deeper through the shadows cast on her face. She holds her purse even tighter to her heart, knowing what is coming her way is something she needs a lot of preparation for so she won't faint out of happiness.

"Many years ago, I came across this beautiful woman. She supported me through all my decisions and stood by me, making sure that I had enough for myself. She showed me all the love she could muster..." He gets off the chair and walks across the crowd to meet her. Standing face to face, he goes down on one knee.

The crowd goes "Ooh."

"Ivy Hall, permit me to make you my wife? I promise to not make you cry, I promise to make sure you're taken care of all of your life. Please say yes?"

Ivy smiles at him, her smile devoid of any doubt in her decision. "Yes."

The crowd erupts into cheers and clinking of glasses of wine and champagne.

Richard stands up and kisses her before turning back to the crowd.

"She said Yes!"

THAT, was the beginning of hell in Ivy Hall's life.

"How many fucking times do I tell you I like coffee in the morning and tea in the evening?" Richard enunciates with every word as he gives Ivy a slap with every syllable.

She just stands there, taking it all. Her face is red from the blows and she has what seems to be a permanent tan from all the slaps she has taken.

Through the pain, she smiles sheepishly. "I'm very sorry. I'll change it to a coffee right now. Just give me a minute."

Richard regards her with every iota of disdain his eyes can muster. "I don't have a fucking minute for you to correct your mistakes."

She tries to hurry up, pouring hot water on her hand in the process but ignoring it, just trying to give her husband his coffee before he storms out and if it does, it means hell when he returns in the evening.

Extremely impatient that particular morning, Richard stands up, grabs his keys and storms out of the house.

Ivy follows immediately after with the glass of coffee in hand but as soon as she reaches his car, he drives off, making her pour hot coffee all over herself.

She muffles her scream and runs inside, splashing cold water over all the angry red spots on her hands and neck.

Exhausted from the morning exertion, she sits on the edge of the bathtub, looks at her face in the water and bursts into tears.

For weeks, she has chosen not to look into the mirror, fearing what she will see in there.

Without removing her clothes, she slides into the bathtub filled with icy cold water and cries.

She cries her heart out in there, remembering what it was like with Richard before they got married and how he changed few weeks into their marriage.

They had met in college.

He had been the college sweetheart and she was just a sweet, humble redhead who kept to herself, until one day when he approached her and asked her to do his assignment which she did gladly, and there, their romance blossomed, it blossomed so much that she couldn't go a day without hearing from him.

She made sure he didn't miss her before she made her appearance and then finally, he proposed to her and she very happily said yes...

Suddenly, the alarm in the living room rang and she sprang back into reality and back into work, making his breakfast so she can deliver it to him at work.

In about thirty minutes, she's done with the cooking and it's all packed.

Choosing to go casually and well covered since she's covered in red burn marks, she opts for a gray turtle neck top and black jeans, then putting a long coat over it all.

She uses a little powder to make her face look slightly presentable at least, doing it without using a mirror.

She uses her eyes to give her body an overview, and she smiles contentedly at how well covered she is.

She grabs her car keys and heads out.

In twenty minutes, she parks her car in the underground parking lot of Richard's humble but we'll off company.

Trust Financials.

She locks the car after grabbing the box of food off the passenger seat and takes the elevator.

She smiles as she sees people bustling around their offices, remembering when she once wanted to be an office worker herself but Richard kicked against it, saying he won't have his wife slave away under someone.

It had seemed so convincing then, but now, she wasn't so sure.

The doors open on the tenth floor of the building, she exits, greeting everyone who comes her way.

On her way to his office, she sees his new secretary isn't at her desk and shrugs. She doesn't need permission to go into his office anyway.

She's been wanting to meet the secretary anyway, today's her first day on the job.

She pushes the door open and the box in her hand falls, the contents spilling all over the rug.

There, on her husband's work table, lays Arielle, his new supposed secretary, her best friend and Richard, both half naked and grunting to their rhythmic movements.

They look at the door at the same time.

Arielle tries to scramble off but Richard keeps her in place, meeting his wife's eyes that has started to water.

"Richard...?" She starts and looks at Arielle, who's flat on the table, her skirt pulled up and her panties somewhere on the table. "Ari...?"

Richard just head nods to a corner on the table. "You can leave the remaining unsoiled food over there. Just to appreciate your effort."

Arielle tries to wiggle out again but Richard keeps her firmly in place.

Ivy looks at the box on the floor through half lidded eyes and leaves the room, leaving the door open behind her.

She runs for the elevator so nobody will see her eyes.

After meeting Richard, and leaving her family for him, she made a new best friend, Arielle. Beautiful and outgoing, always having a calm word for her. Arielle is the only person on earth who Ivy ever told the story of her being abused and Ari had only ever told her to keep calm, that he'll stop someday.

She always said the patient dog eats the fattest bone.

And now... She's on the table with her husband, eating his 'fattest bone'.

Rushing out, Ivy bumps into someone on the way, a man, taller than her as she hit him right on the chest.

"Hey..." He starts.

"I'm sorry." She quickly apologizes without looking up and just runs for the elevator. She manages to get on it before it closes.

As soon as it closes, she starts to sob, hiding in her long coat.

Reaching the parking lot, she enters her car, sees the best friend forever small cutesy necklace she shares with Arielle hanging down from her rear mirror, she yanks it off, throws it out the window and drives away, not wanting to see anything that will remind her of Richard or even Arielle at that particular moment.

*

Richard continues with Arielle, who, although she momentarily felt bad for Ivy, cannot ignore what's happening at that moment with her boss and friend's husband, Richard.

He keeps pounding into her until they both reach the climax.

Richard, gasping and out of breath, shrugs back into his trousers, assuming the role of the boss, once again.

Arielle, blushing, wears her hot pink panties and adjusts her skirt. "That was so nice sir."

"Trust me just like my company."

She chuckles. "Ah...Ivy..."

"Ignore her. She can't do anything about it, she's just my wife for decoration. You're what I really want. Why do you think I fired my last secretary? Or aren't you happy? I've wanted you since I set my eyes on you."

Arielle giggles like a little girl. "Come on, stop flattering me like that."

"Don't you want more...?"

Outside the office doors, a man in a suit and long black coat, fumes but turns around and aims for the elevator, hoping to find that weeping woman before something happens to her.

Or before she does something to herself, something she will regret.