“I’m not like that, Jaleesa. I would never turn your brother against you or any of his family members.”
She nods and wipes away her tears. “I know now, and I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay, Jaleesa. Don’t think anything else about it.”
“Um, before, I go, I was wondering something. I’m not trying to pry.”
“Yes, Jaleesa, I sleep with other men. Grey makes me.”
She shakes her head. “He’s a monster. You do know he’s crazy.”
“I know.”
“And he will kill you when he’s finished with you.”
I look away. My heart is racing.
“I’m not trying to be mean or break up your marriage, Rachel, but I’m telling you, no matter how much you do for him now, it won’t be nearly enough in the end. He has killed before, and he will again.” She stands up. “Get out while you can, Rachel. I can’t stay any longer. Can you tell me-?”
I stand up and point in the general direction of the stairs. “The second floor and take the hallway on the right. It’s the first door on the right.”
Jaleesa nods and touches my arm. She rushes out of the room. I hear her rummaging around, and then the door upstairs closes. She pads down the steps and is out the front door. I’m still sitting on the sofa.
My mind is racing with everyone I’ve spoken to. Jaleesa, Brennan, Lucas, Jack, and Andrew are right, but what can I do? My mom is everything to me.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
After I finished cleaning up every inch of that living room and kitchen, I move my belongings upstairs to the spare bedroom. I’m not upset. I don’t even cry about it. The only thing I really feel is relief. This move only solidifies just how broken our marriage is. It’ll never be mended. There will never be forgiveness, and I’m fine with that. My love is no longer wasted on a man who doesn’t respect or love me.
I get into the shower and let the water bath me in steaming hot warmth. My shoulders no longer hurt. My bones have stopped aching. My face doesn’t feel so swollen. It’s a moment of solace that beats the stupor of alcohol that I’ve been searching for lately. I stay in it until the water runs cold. I think about crawling into bed naked, but I’m not really sleepy.
By the time I’m dressed and about to comb my hair, the house phone rings. Rarely does it ever. My curiosity is peaked. There’s a phone in the hallway on a small table.
“Hello,” I answer.
“Rachel, this is Joslyn Montgomery. How are you doing?”
I roll my eyes. Now, I wish I hadn’t answered it. “I’m good.”
“That’s wonderful to hear. Anyway, I’m so sorry to be bothering you. Are you busy?” She sounds real fake right now.
“No, not at all. How can I help you?” I return the favor. I can sound fake, too.
“I just called because there’s a problem.”
“A problem?”
“Yes, dear, a problem. I heard about the little public display in the neighborhood between you and Tiffany Wolfe.”
“I’m not surprised,” I reply smartly.
“Well, you know I like to stay on top of everything that happens in Tudor Estates. It’s my job, and I take it seriously. The Ladies of Tudor Estates have an image to uphold. Fighting in the streets is tacky and classless.”
“You act like I started the fight. Tiffany Wolfe came after me.”
“Can you really blame her, Rachel? You were, after all, sleeping with her husband.”
Now, she’s ticked me off. My hands are shaking badly. I’m minding my own business. I haven’t tried to call Russell anymore, and this bitch, who has nothing to do with it, is calling me.
“Joslyn, what do you want?” I ask impatiently.
“Well, I guess I just better say it.”
“Yes, do say it.”
“Natasha invited you to a party they’re throwing for me tomorrow. I believe she gave you an invitation.”
“Okay.”
“You’re…how can I put it politely…uninvited.”
I chuckle. This bitch got some nerve.
“You do understand, right? I just can’t have that kind of drama at my party, especially with the guests that’s coming. The mayor will be there, the chief of police, and of course, Legend and Charli is attending. I just don’t want tens-”
I hang up on her. She never, ever, has to worry about me going to any party she’s throwing. I don’t give a damn who’s attending. Grey really did me a favor when he tore up that invitation.
As I’m about to go to my bedroom, the phone rings again. I know she isn’t calling me again! Is that woman out of her mind?
“Stop calling me!” I yell into the phone.
“Are you sure about that?” Brennan is on the phone.
I let go of an intense sigh. “Sorry. I thought you were someone else.”
“Everything alright?”
“Yes,” I answer. “Nothing for you to worry about. Did you take care of that for me?”
“It’s done.”
I let out a shaky sigh of relief. “Thank you, Brennan.”
“Rachel, if anything goes wrong, it’s all on you.”
“I know. I understand.”
“Alright, I called to let just let you know. Good luck.” Brennan disconnects the call, and I’m staring at the phone as if he’s going to say something else.
I hang up, feeling a little better, but then it rings again, startling me. I look on the display. Joslyn Montgomery is calling again! I turn off the ringer and head downstairs.
I’ve decided to celebrate because I don’t have to sleep in the same bed with Grey. I grab a bottle of wine and plop myself on the sofa in the living room. My stomach is empty, but the alcohol will cure my hunger. I turn on the television and let the alien show take me away while my drunken haze slowly falls into place.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
The last thing I remember watching on television is a rectangular object floating over the Great Pyramids of Giza. A commercial about toilet paper is on now, and Grey is walking into the living room, cussing at the top of his lungs. I have a screaming headache. I get up and head to the bathroom on the other side of the nook and kitchen to get ibuprofen. With my stomach full of alcohol, I’ll probably throw up. But I don’t care.
“Rachel, have you talked to Andrew or seen him?” Grey yells from the living room.
“NO!” I answer painfully.
I’m surprised he hasn’t checked the security system on his phone. It’ll tell him when Andrew’s code was used and the cameras recordings of Jaleesa coming inside.
I turn on the water in the sink and let it run until it becomes lukewarm. I bend over and splash water in my face. It feels wonderful.
Grey sticks his head in the bathroom. “Have you spoken to Jack?”
“I haven’t spoken to him, either.”
“Did he tell you he was taking me to court? I know he said something to you about it.”
“I had no idea. What for?” I try to act completely dumb, but I’m not sure if I can pull it off.
“Nothing,” he says while shaking his head. “Don’t worry about it right now. But are you sure about Andrew? No phone calls from him?”
“Grey, Andrew doesn’t even like me. He has no reason to call.”
“That fuck! Where the hell he at?” Grey turns and leaves me in the bathroom.
When I feel like I’ve done all I can do to get myself together, I walk out back into the nook. The woman from last night is sitting on the sofa. She has on a tight peach dress, and she’s holding a matching purse in both of her hands over her knees. She has long wavy jet black hair, combed and flowing down her back. Her full lips are painted bright red, and her fake eyelashes need their own zip code. Grey really put a pretty penny into her. I wonder if that cop, Detective Rogers, knows about this other girl.
The woman stands up when she sees me and eyeballs me as if I’m trash. A smirk appears on her face.
Grey comes back into the living room, shoving his c
ell phone into his jacket pocket. He blows out and says, “I’ll have to take you over to Bell’s house. When I find that asshole, his ass is out.”
I really want to tell him that Andrew is gone, but I’m not doing it. He can keep dialing and calling for days. Whatever.
“Baby, when are you taking me out?” the woman says as she walks over to him. “I’m ready to go.”
“We may have to cancel,” he says.
“Are we eating in tonight?” She puts her arms around his waist and gives him a sensuous kiss close to his lips. A devilish smile appears on his face, and they begin tonguing each other. She’s showing me that he belongs to her and where I rank in this house now. Little does she know how much I don’t give a shit about him or her. I roll my eyes and head for the hallway.
“Where you think you going?” Grey asks, wiping the lipstick from his mouth.
“Baby, she ain’t shit.” She looks over at me and continues, “She doesn’t belong here anymore. Just let her go.”
I glare at her. Stupid bitch.
“What did I say about running your mouth too much?” Grey remarks, stepping out of her arms.
That woman has no idea who she’s fooling with. Grey likes ass, but he’ll literally kill a piece, too. There’s always some other girl ready and willing to give it up to him. He comes over to me. “Rachel, you need to go get ready for another client. Is your side of the closet cleaned out?”
He knows I wouldn’t defy him. His question isn’t worth an answer.
“Did you hear what I said? Damn, what the fuck is wrong with you lately?”
“Yes, Grey, I moved everything upstairs,” I answer impatiently.
“Should be out of this house if you asked me,” Leila quickly chimes in.
“I didn’t ask you, now did I?” he snaps back at her.
She cocks one hip out and bites her red lips.
I can’t stand to look at those two. I’d rather be fucked by a stranger than be in the same room with them. If she ever gets a hold of him like she wants, she’s going to regret it for the rest of her life. Actually, I’m doing her a favor, and she doesn’t even know it.
Chapter Thirty
Grey is driving me to the next job. I’m in the back seat, and Leila Dunley, his girlfriend, is in the front. The music is too loud. They’re holding hands. Sometimes, she feels on his leg and kisses his neck. Grey is loving her attention. He doesn’t look in the rearview mirror to see if I’m watching. I feel like a big dumb fool. No woman, no matter the circumstances, would put up with what I’m dealing with. Sleeping around, letting his girlfriend move into our marital home while I’m still there, it’s all bullshit.
Ten minutes into the drive, Grey turns off the music and says, “Rachel, I got something I want you to start doing.”
He turns to see if I’m paying attention. I am, but I’m not looking at him.
“Why won’t you say something? I get tired of asking you questions over and over again.”
“You didn’t ask me a question. You said you got something you want me to do.”
“Are you listening?”
“Yes, Grey, I’m listening.”
“Leila will be staying in the house permanently. She’ll be sleeping in the master bedroom…with me.” He looks at the rearview mirror. I keep my mouth shut. Grey continues, “She’s pregnant, Rachel.”
I don’t even blink when he says those words. Her stupidity. I feel sorry for her.
“I need you to help her around the house. Cook her meals. Take her to doctor’s appointments. Whatever she needs, and I don’t want to hear any lip from you about it. I want my son to be born healthy.”
“How do you know it’s a boy, Grey,” Leila says happily. “She might be a girl.”
This is just another way to demean me, to make me feel like a slave, less than a person. I brush it off. Hold my head high as if I’m wearing impenetrable armor.
“I don’t want any problems out of you, Rachel. You’re going to do this.”
“You won’t have a problem,” I remark casually.
“You are something else,” he says to me. “I tell you I’m moving in my pregnant mistress and that I want you, my wife, to take care of her, and you’re sitting there like it’s nothing. Are you even human anymore? You’re not crying or yelling. Do you even know how to feel?”
“Doesn’t do any good to get pissed,” I remark. “Nothing will change, and as for crying, you can forget it. One single tear means I care about you, when truth be told, I don’t.”
He can’t believe how unaffected I am. He turns to get a full view of me and quickly faces forward. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”
“Nothing, Grey, nothing at all.”
“So, let me ask you. You’re not going to be bothered that I’ll be fucking my mistress in our marital bed while you’re in the same house?”
Leila giggles and turns to face me. She’s taunting me, like a damn child on the safe side of bullying.
“I should make you watch,” he remarks.
“Eww,” Leila squeals. “She ain’t watching us.”
I turn to look out the side window. He’s not going to make me lose it.
“Nothing I say fazes you, does it?” he says. “You’re a cold bitch, aren’t you?”
“You ought to know. You made me this way.” I had to say it. I’d burst if I didn’t.
“Rachel, I don’t know what the hell happened, but you’re not going to blame me. I worked my ass off while you was out fucking around with Russell Wolfe. That’s all I thought about was making you happy before I caught you, and it was for nothing. I made you this way? Naw, Rachel, you did this to yourself.”
“I’ll admit I was wrong when I slept with him, Grey, but you have no right to punish me like this.”
“I don’t care about right or wrong. You didn’t.”
“Grey, just divorce me, let me leave. All I ask is that you continue to take care of my mother. You won’t see me again. I won’t call you or write you. I won’t ask for a dime.”
“Yes! Divorce the bitch! Pa-lease!”
“Shut-up, Leila!” Grey has his finger in her face. “All that money she’s making, she ain’t going nowhere.”
“Baby, she ain’t shit. Just get rid of her.”
“What did I say?” He glares at her. Leila turns and flops back in her seat.
“Grey, I can’t keep living like this,” I remark.
“Rachel, there are women who makes a very good living being a whore. They’re doing just fine, and so are you.”
It does no good to talk to him about anything. Andrew was not kidding. When Grey holds a grudge, he holds it. There is no winning with him. That’s too bad, really. I gave him a chance. I’m going to let whatever happens happen because in the end I will be free of this monster.
Chapter Thirty-One
Finally, we arrive at Logan Bell’s home. He is a reclusive millionaire that’s afraid of everyone. He thinks that most people are after his money. So, he never leaves his home. There are three people he trusts. His personal assistant, his cook, and me. Why he trusts me? I can’t begin to explain or understand. I see him about once every two weeks, and that’s all we ever do is have sex. We don’t even pillow talk.
I started coming over because Grey recommended me to Ms. Kelly, his assistant. Mr. Bell wanted to have sex with a woman who did not walk the streets, and he wasn’t looking for commitment. I guess I fit his profile perfectly. My first evening three months ago with Mr. Bell was more of an interview. He had a list of questions, and I had to answer every single one of them. He went through my medical history, in which Grey provided to him. Then I had to strip naked in front of him and stand there while he decides if my body met his approval. Mr. Bell was an old guy, eighty years or more, trying to decide if I met his standards. He had some fucking nerve. He looked like if I blew at him, he’d crumble to pieces or at least, fall over. I found out I passed Mr. Bell’s sick interview a couple of days later, and he wanted me back over to
his house that very same night. I begged Grey to end the craziness he was making me do, but he loved money. Any way it can be made, and better yet, at the expense of my embarrassment, I was going to do whatever it took to bring in the cash.
When I get out of the car, Grey immediately drives off. I go upstairs to the door and knock. The house is a two story plantation style home. I always feel like something unworldly is watching me when I’m in there. The wind wipes through, and the house creaks. When I have to stay overnight, I’m scared out of my mind. I swear that house is talking.
The door opens and Ms. Kelly is standing in the entrance. She is a tall white lady with brunette hair to her shoulders and a medium frame. She has a perplexed look.
“Mrs. Phillips, what are you doing here?” She leans sideways, looking around me.
“To see Mr. Bell, of course,” I reply.
“The appointment was cancelled. Mr. Phillips didn’t tell you?”
“No,” I say, shaking my head.
“I’m sorry, but Mr. Bell is not here. He was admitted to the hospital just this afternoon.”
That son of a bitch. I bet Grey knew this and dropped me off, anyway. “I’m sorry to bother you, Ms. Kelly,” I remark.
She gives me an odd look before closing the door.
I turn and start down the cement driveway. This is really messed up, but I’m not going to worry about it. I’m going to make the most out of my time away from Grey. There’s a bar not even a mile up the road, and I’m going to get myself something to drink.
When I get to the little dive, it has somewhat of a big crowd. Almost every table and booth has occupants. I plant my butt on a barstool and order two gin and juices from the young lady bartender with enough piercings for ten people. I pay her right when she hands me my order, and I start nursing the first one. I sit there for I don’t know how long, sipping on my drink and adjusting my thong through my coat. No one is bothering me, even though I’m sandwiched between door sized men.
In my mind, I’m going through the past six months. I realize right then and there that he never cared or loved me, even when we got married. Perhaps, he did it to appease his mother. She wanted him to have a family. She wanted grandchildren. Jack, Andrew, nor Jaleesa had any prospects of making her wishes come true. So glad Grey and I didn’t have kids. So glad when this is all over. Eventually, that asshole is going to die. He’ll get what he’s been giving, and the whole world will be better off for it. Can’t wait until his ass is gone.
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