2

“So scary” the man mocked then the sound of a gunshot rang out, I opened my eyes seeing the man’s eyes lose their life and blood bubbling from his mouth. Collapsing to his knees and behind him stood Lewis holding a gun, he snickered looking down at the man wiping the blood of his cheek with the use of his thumb like it was nothing. Everyone was staring as Lewis tucked the gun away and walked towards me grabbing my hand and dragging me away.

He pulled me behind a pillar with my back against the cold concrete pillar blocking the view, “what the hell was that?” he asked clearly annoyed and agitated. “A drunk male approaching me” I said bluntly and I could see his nose flaring as he clenched his hand into a fist, “this isn’t a place you can just talk to whoever you want Valerie” he said through his gritted teeth. I snickered back in response and rolled my eyes before narrowing them, “are you jealous that another man can take me?” I asked leaning in closer.

“Darling, I showed you once what I’ll do if a man touches you don’t make me show you again” he growled before squeezing my hip. “Funny you say that but you left me for that Sophia girl and said I was nobody” I said feeling annoyed remembering how he left me in the crowd. “I know what I said” he stated as he moved his face down to my neck, placing my hands on his chest pushing against him. “What do you think you’re doing?” I asked pushing back, “stop pushing” he said and I shook my head and kept pushing until I slapped him. He didn’t react at first but then he slowly turned his head looking down at me, “why don’t you go find Sophia” I said as I stood my ground not budging and he took a step back making the distance between us.

“Don’t be like that” he said and I pushed past him escaping his grasp, “I’m going home” I said firmly and pulled my cell out of my purse to call the driver. “Valerie c’mon just stay here with me” he said and I didn’t budge, “driver will be here in 5 minutes” I said and left the foyer putting my half-filled glass of champaign down to the side and leaving the venue.

Later that night after the driver dropped me home, I ran another bath and removed my jewellery placing it hanging on my jewellery display. Removing my make up and taking out my hair and throwing it up before continuing on removing my dress to get in the bath. I sat in the bath dimming the lights so the aroma was calming and laid there with my head back. The same scent as before leaving for the event filled my nose the scent of lavender body wash. I was in the middle of washing my face when I heard the maids shuffling down stairs and the door close, I wasn’t expecting Lewis to come back at least not till much later when id be asleep and didn’t speak to him.

I finished my bath and got dressed into some comfy clothes and took my hair out of the messy bun before walking into the bedroom. “Back so soon?” I asked and his head shot up looking over at me, “Valerie” he said quickly getting to his feet walking towards me but I held my hand up for him to stop. “Heh and you’re sober too” I said rolling my eyes, “what’s that supposed to mean?” he asked looking confused. “It means I’m surprised you gave a damn to come home sober to your wife” I said mimicking quotation marks with my fingers. “I came home because I was worried” he said hanging his head low, “what worried that I was freaking out after seeing you shoot a man in front of me Jesus Christ Lewis and you seemed friendly with Sophia” I yelled at him.

“That was nothing Valerie” he protested looking at me in disbelief that this conversation was happening. “Oh, I’m sure it wasn’t” I answered sarcastically grabbing a blanket off the side of the couch and throwing it in his face, “sleep in the spare room or on the couch” I said and walked upstairs to go to bed.

In the middle of the night, I woke up to a pair of arms wrapped around me under the bed covers, I turned over seeing Lewis asleep beside me. I nudged him and tried to wiggle out of his grasp, “I made it pretty clear that I didn’t want to be around you” I said still attempting to push him off me. “Stop pushing me” he groaned without even opening his eyes, “out” I said sternly and he shook his head tightening his grasp. He eventually fell into a deep sleep and I gave up fighting, I decided to talk to him about this in the morning.

Eight in the morning I woke up with Lewis still sleeping but I was free from his grasp, I pushed his side hearing him groan. “Wake up” I said and he slowly opened his eyes and looked at me still tired, I glared at him and he looked at me returning a confused expression. “Get out of this room before I physically kick you out” I said and he sat up rubbing his eyes tilting his head looking like a lost puppy, “why are you mad?” he asked and I rubbed my temples and tried to contain my frustration.

“So let me understand this, you say to Sophia or whatever her name is that I’m a nobody then you shoot a man for laying a hand on me. Not only that but you came home expecting what a lovely hug and a kiss from your wife who clearly, you’ve had no issue neglecting for five months. That’s right five months that’s the amount of time we’ve been married” I said in anger as I held up my hand with my wedding ring on it. He lowered his head looking down and fiddled with his hands, “I’m sorry my love” he said and I shook my head. “No and that’s not all Lewis well first of all don’t call me that and second “I’ve spent night after night whether I was next to you or in this room crying” I yelled at him as I choked on a sob, he stood up from the bed and walked over so me. “Why are you so heartless?” I asked wiping my tears and folding my arms over my chest protectively.

“I’m sorry my love” he said again and I pushed against his chest trying to make some distance, “get away from me I don’t want your apology” I cried. He sighed in defeat and walked to the door leaving the room, I wiped my tears and went into the bathroom to clean up and get ready for the day. I needed to get out of this house and get some air, I messaged my best friend Aubry and told her I was going into town for lunch and she gladly accepted coming to pick me up for our girl’s day out.  Washing my face and pulling my hair up into a ponytail before applying light make up, I put on a simple outfit of a tank top and flowy pants with flats.

I looked in the mirror ensuring I looked okay to head in town before looking at my phone on the dresser with a message from Aubry saying she arrived. I grabbed my purse and left the room walking past the kitchen seeing Lewis leaning against the kitchen counter shirtless in just some sweat pants as he had his coffee, his eyes looked up from his phone and met mine as they went wide. I kept walking out the door as I heard his footsteps coming after me, “woah where are you going?” he asked looking me up and down. “I’m going out to town with Aubry” I said and he nodded looking at his phone, I looked at my phone seeing the notification saying that $4000 had been transferred.

“Buy yourself something nice for tonight” he said with a soft smile, wait he smiled. He’s not done that like ever. “Another event?” I asked and he shook his head tucking his phone into the pocket of his sweats, “no I’m taking you to dinner tonight” he said so nonchalantly. I busted out laughing at his words, “you taking me to dinner wow I must be hallucinating” I said laughing so head my belly hurt.

“I’m not joking though” he said and I stopped laughing, “fine I’ll see you at 6pm” I said and he walked towards me and took my hand kissing the back of it. I left the house and met Aubry in the car hugging her tightly as she passed me my usual coffee order and reversed out of the drive way. “I needed that” I said after taking a sip of the iced coffee, “I knew you did” she said driving out of the estate. “let’s go spoil ourselves” I suggested as I put on my sunnies and rolled down the window, reversing out of the drive way and I looked at the window seeing Lewis standing there giving a quick wave.

“How’s cold lover boy?” Aubry asked as she drove behind the wheel to town, “still cold but now he wants to take me to dinner and thinks money will fix everything” I said leaning my seat back and putting my legs on the dash. “Have you told him he needs to change?” she asked as she turned the corner, “yea we fought about it last night” I said as I took another sip of my coffee. “And?” she asked expecting to hear some sort of dramatic action like those novellas have in them. “Our life isn’t a novella” I said laughing taking my legs off the dash, “it could be because your husband is cold hearted.

“Whatever let’s get to the mall so I can spend some cash” I said as I applied some lip gloss in the review mirror and smacked my lips together. Arriving at the mall I saw all the cars parked and of course some females trying to hit up the lads. “Those chicks don’t look like they’ll get far” Aubry said as she turned off the engine and looked in the same direction. “Whatever c’mon let’s go” I said exiting the car and making a bee line for the mall entrance with Aubry following behind me.

Two hours later we both had five bags each as we walked past the stores, I had my dress over my shoulder and some new shoes in a box. “That A line V neck floor length dress you choose suits you especially the burgundy colour it’ll go well with the Black heels” she complimented as she pulled out her iPhone from her purse. I glanced over seeing her replying to her boyfriend Colie who sent her a mirror selfie of him in a buttoned-up dress shirt and pants along with a navy tie around his neck. “Well who’s that handsome lad” I teased making her blush bright like a tomato as she giggled like a teenage school girl replying before placing it back in her purse.

“Girl let’s head back I’m sure you have a long as beauty routine and also send me pictures of the clothes you bought the other day too” she said as she nudged my shoulder followed by a wink. “I am not sending you photos of the lingerie set and besides I’ll probably never wear it” I scoffed, “don’t be so harsh you never know” she said trying to raise my spirits but it wasn’t doing the job. A while later we arrived back and I hopped out of the car with my bags and said goodbye to Aubry to which she reminded me to message her the spicy details once again to which I rolled my eyes and waved her off. I walked up the steps unlocking the front door whilst juggling the countless bags that were falling from my arms.

“Oh babe there you- “I looked up seeing Lewis half way down the stairs looking at me wide eyed, “what is it?” I asked and she took a moment before continuing down the stairs and taking the bags from me. “I can handle it myself Lewis” I protested but he didn’t budge as he took all the bags leaving me with none to hold.

I followed him into our shared room if you even want to call it that, I watched as Lewis put the bags on the bed but his eyes wandered to the laundry bag. “Is that the dress for tonight?” he asked and I just leaned against the door frame. “Valerie?” he asked as he turned back to me, “yes, it is but you’ll have to wait” I said and he audibly groaned. “Why can’t I see it now?” he asked crossing his arms like a child, “excuse me aren’t you taking me on a date well this is part of it” I said with a hidden smirk on my face.