Three Nights In A Row

Cynthia

I didn't sleep after my birthday party.

I sat on the floor of my bedroom in that stupid pink dress, holding that box of Genesis diet pills Robb gave me in front of everyone.

At 2 AM, I got up. I needed water. My throat was dry from crying.

The house was dark and quiet. I walked down the long hallway toward the kitchen. Our mansion is huge.

As I passed the guest wing where Robb was staying, I heard a noise.

A soft laugh. A woman's laugh.

My heart stopped. I know that laugh. It's Shae Collins.

I stopped walking. The guest room door was open a tiny crack. Just a sliver of light coming out.

I told myself not to look. My brain said walk away. My heart said look.

I leaned down and looked through the crack.

I wish I didn't.

Robb was on the bed. He was not wearing a shirt. Shae was on top of him, wearing only my white silk robe. The one I left in my bathroom yesterday.

She was kissing his neck and laughing.

"God, I hated seeing you have to hug that cow downstairs," Shae whispered. "The pink dress worked perfect. She looked like a giant pig."

Robb laughed. He grabbed her waist. "She is a pig. I can't even look at her anymore. After next week, I won't have to."

"What happens next week?" Shae asked.

"Her birthday signing," Robb said. "On September 15th, the stupid bitch finally signs the full transfer. Her father's whole company, the estate, everything Miles Industries owns, becomes mine. Legally. She already signed the early papers blindly last month. She didn't even read them. She trusts me that much."

My hands started shaking. I signed papers last month. Robb said it was just tax forms for the house. He said "Just sign here, babe, I will handle the boring stuff." I signed them without reading because I loved him.

"I can't wait," Shae said, giggling. "Then we can finally kick her out. Or better, send her to that mental hospital your mom found. Then this house is ours."

"Our house," Robb assured her, kissing her. "And the company. And the money."

I couldn't breathe. My chest felt like it was going to explode.

I pushed the door open hard.

They both jumped. Shae screamed and tried to cover herself with my robe.

"CYNTHIA!" Robb shouted, standing up, his face red.

"YOU BASTARD!" I screamed. My voice was raw. Tears were already falling. "In my house! In my father's house! With my best friend!"

Shae stood up, tying the robe. She looked annoyed.

"Cynthia, calm down," she said in that fake sweet voice. "You're misunderstanding. We were just talking."

"Talking? You are naked in my house!" I yelled. "You gave me that dress to make me look fat! You laughed at me!"

"You ARE fat!" Shae snapped back, her sweet face gone. "Everyone thinks so! Everyone laughs at you! Robb is disgusted by you! The only reason he stays is your money, you stupid, fat cow!"

Robb walked toward me. He didn't look sorry. He looked angry that I caught him.

"You need to lower your voice," he said coldly. "You are acting crazy again. Just like your mother before she died."

"What did you say about my mother?" I whispered.

"You heard me," Robb said. "You Miles women are all the same. Paranoid. Fat. This is exactly why we are sending you to get help. You need a psychiatrist, Cynthia."

I slapped him. Hard.

My hand hit his cheek with a loud crack.

For a second, there was silence.

Then Robb's face turned dark. He grabbed my wrists, twisting them.

"Don't you ever touch me again," he hissed in my ear.

At that moment, I heard footsteps running down the hall.

It was Evelyn Kennedy and Agatha.

Evelyn saw me and Robb struggling, and Shae half-naked. She didn't ask what happened. She looked at me and her eyes were ice.

"I told you she was unstable!" Evelyn said to Robb. "Lock her in the guest room. Call Dr. Croft in the morning. We will have her committed. Before she ruins the signing next week."

"No! This is MY house!" I screamed as Robb dragged me by my arms down the hall.

Agatha ran after us. "Mr. Robb! Stop! Let her go!"

"Stay out of this, housekeeper!" Evelyn snapped.

Biscuit, my golden retriever, came running, barking loudly, trying to bite Robb's leg.

Robb threw me into the guest bedroom and slammed the door.

I heard a click as the lock turned from outside.

I threw myself against the door, pounding with my fists.

"ROBB! OPEN THE DOOR! THIS IS MY HOUSE! MY FATHER BUILT THIS HOUSE!"

I could hear them talking outside the door.

"We will tell them she had a breakdown," Evelyn whispered. "No one will question the papers she signed."

Then their footsteps faded away.

I slid down to the floor, my back against the door, sobbing. My wrists hurt where Robb grabbed me.

Outside the small window, I saw a black SUV parked far down the long driveway, near the main gate. Its lights were off. But I could see a faint red glow inside, like a camera light.

It had been there for three nights in a row.