Two Sisters

by Leen Elle

  Damn him, I hated being trapped in a corner.

  "So I was thinking about going out for dinner tonight." He said, idly turning the pages of his newspaper. Of course he wasn't reading anything, he was only finding an excuse to be in the same room with me; I wasn't going to get up and leave, so we both decided to stay and see who sat each other out.

  "Good, leave the house, call one of your girlfriends, God you're so annoying." I said. He gazed at me with his stupid green eyes. His hands dug into his pockets and pulled how his cell phone. I went back to reading my magazine. He was messing with his phone, probably going over the numbers of his numerous girlfriends.

  My cell phone rang.

  "You can't be serious!" I shouted. I picked up my cell phone to throw it at him, and I saw the number. He gave me a sly smile.

  "Don't flatter yourself, sweetheart." After so many years, this was the first time I had to force down a blush.

  "Do me a favor and walk in front of a train." I scowled. I answered the called. "Yeah what?" I snapped.

  "Er…this is Eric…" The timid voice replied.

  I racked my brains. "Eric?" I asked.

  "The guy you hired to take pictures of your husband. You never really asked for my name but-"

  "Oh, yes, I met you in the park, how are things, Eric?" I asked, giving off a wicked smile. Excellent, that meant that he had the pictures ready, it was about time. Aaron was staring towards my direction with an odd expression on his face. I glared at him.

  "What? I don't stare like an idiot while you're on the phone." I shot at him angrily. "Sorry, Eric, you were saying?" I asked, coating my voice with enough honey to send the teen rambling.

  "I…uh. You're p-pictures are done…not that I wouldn't be able to get done…I…took m-many-"

  "I knew you could do it, Eric. Do you want to meet up again, the park? Maybe out to lunch?" I asked. I could probably still use him, he seemed useful enough. Aaron rose from the couch, his expression hard.

  "N-No, I'll just mail them to you…" He stuttered.

  I gave Aaron a weird look. It wasn't until he started stalking towards me that I sat up. "You get away from me." I threatened.

  "Who are you talking to, huh? Who's this Eric?" He asked, reaching for my phone, I slapped his hand away. What has gotten into him? Was he insane? He went after my phone again and this time he got it. He wrapped his fingers around it in an iron grip and tore it out of my hand painfully.

  "Hey!"

  "Who's this, who are you! If you come near my wife-!" He stopped and looked at the cell, clearly Eric had hung up. I've never seen Aaron so furious, not since that day I came and threw his things out. He stared down at me with cold eyes and suddenly grabbed me and forced me up from the couch.

  "What the hell is wrong with you!" I screamed in fury.

  "Why are you going around talking to someone like him for? Who is he? Don't tell me he isn't a friend!" He yelled. I stood defiant.

  "No he isn't a friend, he's more than that!" Of course Eric was more than that, he was my ticket to bringing Aaron down.

  "Oh, so you enjoy going around dating other men?" He said through clenched teeth.

  I shrieked in disbelief. "You filthy hypocrite! How can you accuse me of having an affair, when you're going around rolling in other women's beds!" I couldn't believe he thought I was cheating! Not that we had a relationship in the first place, but I don't have the time to do something as pointless as going after men. I never go after them, they usually come crawling to me.

  "That's different…" He said, lowering his voice.

  "Typical man, look at you." I said, looking at him in utter disgust. "You're just like every other man out there, driven by your sex and not here!" I slapped his forehead. "You can't even do anything for your father's company and you think you're man enough to take over? Come back to me when you find what I'm looking for in a man, because clearly, I have yet to see one." That's why I don't bother with men and love.

  They're meant to be manipulated.

  "Eve was the fall of Man." Aaron said angrily.

  "Only because men were stupid enough to follow." I said tersely. His hands went to my throat, while his other hand brought me closer to him. I didn't tear my gaze from him, I stared him down.

  "Well, things are going to change around here; you're mine."

  "I don't belong to you." I hissed.

  He kissed me forcibly. "Think again, sweetheart."

  * * *

  I grinned with satisfaction at the many colorful photos that were spewed all over my desk of my small office at home. So many women, this was better than I expected. Each face was going to be a hammer to Kendra's little heart. I was looking forward to breaking her like the small porcelain doll that she was.

  "Jen? What are you looking at?" Jade asked as she entered the office.

  "Pictures of your father being slick." I smirked, letting her see. Her eyes fell on a provocative photo of Aaron and a young model. I quickly took that one away, not really knowing why I would care if Jade saw something inappropriate or not.

  "Not that one." I said, stashing the photo in a drawer.

  "Wow, he's been busy." She said, scanning the many pictures.

  "Yes, you're father is having a house party. He's inviting many people over so his father and him can mingle among all the important people. I'm sure Kendra is going to be there." I explained, as I began to place all the photos back into the envelope.

  "You're going to corner Kendra and show her the evidence about dad?" Jade asked, sitting across from me.

  "Yes, and I'm going to need your help. Kendra, she's…?"

  "A bleeding heart. She is so nice, but she has a bad temper. I'm sure you'll be able to make her feel sorry for you and help you out of revenge. She's easy to convince, how do you think dad was able to meet all those important people?" She asked.

  "He's using her?" I asked, suddenly intrigued.

  "He uses all of these women, they all hold something he can use, money, power, self image, social status rising. I heard him talking with a friend in his office, he's never felt feelings for anyone. He has yet to meet the ideal woman." She said.

  "Interesting. Well, thank you, Jade." I smiled.

  "No problem."

  I pulled down on my short green dress as I looked myself in the mirror. I turned a little to the left, then decided that I looked pretty enough, but then I remembered I had to look like a heart broken housewife; that wasn't easy to pull off.

  "The hell with it." I said, flinging my hair over my shoulders. My olive green eyes glittered with excitement. When I was pampered enough, I opened the room to my door and ran into Aaron's tall, muscular frame.

  "You should be welcoming the guests." He said, adjusting his tie. I rolled my eyes.

  "Why don't you do it? It's your party." I said, stalking past him.

  "It's your house." He replied. I stopped at his words; it was the first time he ever referred this place as mine. I turned to face him, placing a hand on my hip.

  "I'm not playing maid." I told him.

  "I'm not asking you to, I'm asking you to be my wife." He said. This was the first time he referred to me at his equal.

  "What are you drunk?" I asked, eyeing to see if I could spot any symptoms. His eyes narrowed in frustration at what I said.

  "I'm trying to be civil here, Jasmine, I want to talk this out." He explained, approaching me.

  "About what? You're demented." I turned to leave, but he caught my arm.

  "Listen to me." He said, his voice growing impatiently annoyed. "Let's go to my room." He tried to steer me in the direction of his room, but I pulled myself free.

  "No thank you, that's one place I'm not going to." I made to leave again but he grabbed my arm again, his grip hard. His eyes pictured anger. He forced me down the hall and pushed me into his room. I spun around and glared at him, as he closed the door and locked it.

  "Let me propose something to you." He said, placing his hand in his pocket and looking like
a complete business man. I crossed my arms and raised my eyebrows; this could be interesting.

  "I'm not a heap of stock, if that's what you're thinking." I said acidly. His jaw tensed and I figured if I pushed more buttons, he would explode.

  "I know I haven't been the best husband-"

  "Funny how you still label yourself as such." I cut in, he clenched his fists.

  "Let me speak. You're not the same person anymore. How should I put this…you're different…" He said. I could tell by the look on his face that he was trying to find a way to describe the situation. Damn…Jasmine told me that Aaron had no idea that I was her twin sister, but if Aaron started assuming…

  "Well, I'm only the woman you molded me into. Congratulations, now I hate your fucking-"

  "Stop interrupting me!" He yelled furiously.

  "Then what the hell do you want!" I shouted back. He ran a hand through his blond hair, and I could see that he was trying hard to keep his anger on check. I seriously was growing impatient, couldn't he just tell me and get it over with?

  "Jasmine, I've been thinking that maybe we should mend our relationship." He said. I uncrossed my arms and placed them firmly on my hips. I could see the many headlights of cars coming in through the gates, and coming down the long driveway.

  "Aaron, what the hell are you talking about?" I said in exasperation.

  "I'm saying we should start over. We could stop the fighting, and we can try to work it out, let's work this whole mess out." He explained. It was then that I realized what he was talking about, and I didn't like it one bit.

  "Excuse me? You want us to start up on a relationship you wrecked. I don't even think there was a relationship in the first place. Last time I checked, having a relationship required two people, not one, and I'll be damned if I fall for you again." I hissed venomously.

  A bit of color rose up Aaron's neck. "Yes, I know, but I've never had this big of an attraction to anyone. If you could give me a chance to prove-"

  "You had your chance, remember? I'm not going to be another one of your bimbos, for all I know, this could be some plot to pull the rug from under my feet and watching me fall. Planning to kick me out of the house still? I wouldn't be surprised." I spit at him.

  He clenched his jaw and stood up straight. "Fine…if that's what you decided."

  "Why wouldn't I have?"

  Aaron wordlessly went to the door and opened it. He stepped out and adjusted his collar. "Hurry up and greet the guests, they're expecting you." With that, he walked out of sight, gathering up whatever broken pride he could muster.

  * * *

  Kendra was very pretty, I had to admit, but not quite reaching my standards. Her long brown hair fell past her shoulders in curls, and her large flickering green eyes watched Aaron's form whenever she had the chance. It was sort of amusing, knowing that Aaron didn't want to have anything to do with her anymore, yet she still believed he remained faithful.

  I hid a smile as I raised the champagne glass to my lips. Aaron caught my eye, and he stared at me with a weird look in his eye, but our connection broke when a man walked up to shake his hand. Silently, I slipped from the room unnoticed and quickly made my way into my office.

  "Jen…"

  "Jade!" I cried in surprise. Jade was slightly spinning in my office chair, her olive colored eyes were sparkling.

  "Now?" She asked. I walked to one of the drawers and pulled out the yellow envelope.

  "Now." I replied. Jade sprinted out of the room and I took out all of the photos and spread them all over my desk. I then turned off all of the lights, leaving only the hallway light to illuminate a bit of the office. During the time I was arranging them, I had forced myself to shed a couple of tears. I then proceeded to sit on the floor, and I let out a loud sob just in time to hear Jade's voice thick with fake worry.

  "She's over here, please hurry, I don't know what to do." Jade pleaded.

  "What exactly happened?" Kendra asked in a hurried voice. I saw their silhouette, and added more sobs for good measure.

  "Mom?" Jade asked in a cute enough voice. Such an innocent act for a none innocent little girl.

  "Oh my goodness…" Kendra said in a hushed tone.

  "I w-was so blind…" I cried. I took a photo and tore it up.

  "I should go ahead and get Aaron-"

  "No! No! I don't want him to see me! I don't want him to know…" I cried.

  "Mom?" Jaden's voice was a whimper.

  "Sweetie, why don't you go to your room." Kendra asked. I heard Jade run out of the room and I heard Kendra close the door. She turned on the lights, and she locked the door.

  "If you could tell me what happened, maybe I could-"

  "This! This is what happened! Look! Just look at this mess! Look at what he has been doing!" I yelled, getting up from the floor and throwing some of the photos I was holding in my hand. Her eyes widened and then she turned to see the others on the desk.

  "What-?"

  "He's been having affairs left and right, using them, using me…" I sobbed loudly, I never imagined things would be this easy.

  "This can't be…it has to be a mistake…" She said, clearly not wanting to believe it. I held back a grin.

  "How, how is this a mistake? Look! Look at all these women! Look at you! How could you?" I screamed as I tossed a photo of her and Aaron together at a restaurant.

  "I…He told me you two weren't…I had no idea…" She stammered, her eyes large with confusion.

  "You had no idea about these?" I asked, as I took out a stack of bank receipts. The receipts fluttered all over the floor around us. Kendra picked up a few, and she looked at them in disbelief.

  "He's been sneaking money from them, look! He's been using every woman he's been with!" I shouted. Tears started to well in Kendra's eyes as she looked at receipt after receipt.

  "I can't believe this…"

  "It makes sense now, I mean, he only married me because my father had acres of land and a rich rancher. I knew he was having affairs, but not like this…oh God!" I let out a wail and sobbed some more. Kendra dropped the receipts and ran her hands through her hair.

  "Why would he do this?" She asked, still not willing to believe.

  "Why do you think?" I asked bitterly. "What have you given him, Kendra, what would Aaron want from you?"

  The hurt cut through Kendra's eyes like daggers. She blinked several times and looked at me. "I introduced him to many important people, lawyers, business men…"

  "Now you know…" I turned away from her.

  "I wish I could leave…" I said softly.

  "What do you mean?" She asked. I turned back to her, she was looking at the photos. She took one and crumpled it up.

  "I mean that he won't let me go. I've begged him so many times, but he threatens me, abuses me…" I hugged myself as she looked up in shock.

  "He what? He wouldn't dare-"

  "He has, he threatens to take away Jade, he says people won't even know I'm missing, if it gets to that point that is…"

  Kendra placed her hands over her mouth. "Aaron promised me-"

  "What? Promised you what? Did he lure you in with charming words, sweet kisses, or pretty gifts? If so, you're just another dime, he did the same to me. Oh! I don't know what to do! Aaron is like my shadow, I can't escape…if you still have your doubts, here!" I threw her the photos, and she flinched.

  "What makes Aaron hold you here against your will?" She asked.

  "I'm the only one here that is closest to his sick secrets; he fears my meddling…" I went to Kendra and dropped to my knees. "Please! Please help me! I don't know what to do! I don't know-!" I cried as I clutched her skirt. Kendra stood frozen, but then she knelt down before me and gently pulled me an embrace.

  "Don't worry, I'll help you. He's going to pay for everything he's done to both me and you…" Kendra whispered. I grinned over her shoulder; this whole act turned out better than I expected. "We just need a plan…"

  "Actually, I think I have a good idea on wh
at we should do…"

  Chapter 11: Forest Cabin

  "Good morning, love." I said as Jaime walked in with Scraps at his heel. The playful dog wagged his little tail and started pawing the cabinets. Jaime pulled out the dog treats and held one tightly in his hand.