by H. H. Fowler
Mrs. O’Grady smiled perceptively, as she’d recognized Sasha’s informal reference to the handsome stud. In her eyes, she believed they were involved in an illicit affair anyway. How incredibly fond Sasha was of Levi, that even her denial was not powerful enough to hide the way she truly felt about him.
“Well,” Mrs. O’Grady grinned. “Your words certainly did have a great effect on the man. In any event, I’m thoroughly pleased with the way things turned out. So, I’ve called you into my office to reward you for your act of kindness.”
“I didn’t do anything for you to reward me,” Sasha said.
“Don’t be so brash, Mrs. Beckford…look at it as a peace offering between you and me, and you can always thank me later.” Mrs. O’Grady handed Sasha a brand new manila envelope. “Open it and tell me what you think.”
Without further protest, Sasha opened the envelope and pulled out a folder of documents. The first thing that struck Sasha as strange was the title on the front cover, “For your eyes only.” She then proceeded to open the folder all the way and there it was in bold display, just about on every page: Anonymous_Eyes. Sasha’s heart dropped to the bottom of her feet. She didn’t need to read anything else to realize that she’d been set up by the principal and not by Levi and Myles, as she’d so readily believed.
“I don’t figure I will need those anymore,” Mrs. O’Grady beamed. “You have obeyed my instructions very well, even getting Levi to come back to Xavier High. God bless your righteous heart…but I can’t help but notice that you seem surprised. I thought you knew it was me.”
Sasha’s gaze landed on Mrs. O’Grady with utter contempt, although the revelation was still taking time to sink it. “I had no idea it was you.”
Mrs. O’Grady tossed her head back and cackled. “All me, darling…well, I had a little help, of course. When that video stumbled into my possession, I knew I’d struck gold. Next time, you and Levi should pay closer attention to your surroundings, because you never know who’s watching with a camera set to record. However, I’m proud to say that my plan was exceptionally executed, don’t you think?”
“You would have ruined my life because of one stupid basketball tournament?”
“Don’t you even dare go there,” Mrs. O’Grady snapped. “I control what happens in this school and there was no way I was going to let Levi resign and leave me stranded without a basketball coach. Do you know how hard it is to find someone as good as Levi on this island? Those boys wouldn’t be who they are, much less have won the championship without Levi’s help. So yes, I would have ruined your life, if I had to. You must know by now that you’re the least of my favorite persons.”
Sasha grimaced. “I see what this is really about…You can’t stand my guts. What did I ever do to you to deserve your hatred?”
Because Levi refuses to pay any attention to me. He’s so head over heels in love with you that he’ll do anything you tell him to do. A hunk like that belongs in my bed, not wasting his time running after your crazy behind. A threesome with Levi in the mix would have made my marriage bed all that more exciting.
Mrs. O’Grady was so close to speaking those words in the open, but instead she settled for a smirk she knew would annoy Sasha even the more. “As long as I live, you will never know the reason. But I can promise you that I will continue to make your life a living hell if you don’t leave this school and take your sanctimonious behind somewhere else.”
“I may just do that,” Sasha said. “But you can bet your life that you won’t be working here either when I report to the police all you’ve done.”
“Be my guest…I didn’t use the screen name Anonymous_Eyes for no reason. You will never trace a thing back to me. Moreover, you going to the police will only trigger the worst for you. I’ve got copies of that video of you and Levi in at least half a dozen places. You mess around, you may just see your personal business plastered all over the media.” Mrs. O’Grady took a deep breath and leaned back in her swivel chair. “Now, I suggest you get back to your classroom and think long and hard about your options.”
Sasha rose slowly to her feet and leaned toward Mrs. O’Grady. Like lightening striking from the east to the west, Sasha backhanded Mrs. O’Grady in her smiling face. Mrs. O’Grady and her swivel chair went spinning in another direction.
“I don’t need to think about my options,” Sasha said. And just before she marched out of Mrs. O’Grady’s office with her head held high, she tore up the incriminating documents and then tossed them at Mrs. O’Grady. “I quit!”
Epilogue
The Smithson Hotel – 9:32 a.m.
Armando almost had a heart attack when his eyes flung open and saw Annalise staring at him. Her gaze was murderous and so was the air surrounding her.
“You’re awake,” she said dryly.
Armando sat up in the bed and rubbed his eyes to make sure he hadn’t come down with a case of a delirium. “Annalise, are you mad? What are you doing out of the hospital?”
“You were supposed to come see me last night, weren’t you?”
“Yes…I had intended to come…”
“Why didn’t you?”
“Because I fell asleep.”
“You fell asleep and your wife needed you. What kind of mess is that?”
“Annalise, you are not well.”
“And you say that because…? My hair isn’t fix the way you like it? I don’t have on your favorite dress? Or maybe I don’t get your juices flowing anymore, like I see Rena has ever since we set foot on this godforsaken island.”
Armando swung his feet out of the bed and said firmly, “Stop it. I’m taking you back to the hospital right now because you should not have been discharged.”
Annalise sniggered. “I wasn’t discharged. I walked out and caught a cab back to the hotel.”
“You shouldn’t have done that, Annalise,” Armando said. “You’ve just lost a baby.”
“I didn’t lose it. It was stillborn.”
“You know what I’m trying to say.”
“No, I don’t. Because if you love me, or had cared anything about your daughter you would have shown a little bit more concern than you are showing now.”
“Why do you continue to toy with my conscience when you know full well that I’ve done everything in my power to protect you and our baby?”
“Whatever. As far as I’m concerned, you haven’t done squat.”
“I’m not going to argue with you.”
“Our daughter is dead!” Annalise suddenly screamed. “And that’s all you’re concerned about? A stupid argument? I bet you were with Rena while I was in hospital, bleeding through my legs. I bet you two had sex in this bed; I can smell the evidence all over this room.”
Armando didn’t respond, because he was aware of what Annalise’s intentions were: to rile him up and make him lose his temper. His composure was the one thing he had over her and she was jealous of it.
“So, my husband of four rotten weeks,” Annalise said, breaking the silence, “I challenge you to be a man and admit that the reason why you didn’t come to see me last night was because you were having too much sex!”
“What do you want from me, Annalise?”
Annalise gave a long, drawn out sigh. “Let’s see…you can start by kissing me and telling me that you’re sorry for not being by my side.”
“When am I not by your side?”
“Are you gonna kiss me or not? You did ask me what I want.”
Armando slipped his legs through a pair of sweat pants and donned a t-shirt. He’d intentionally covered his nakedness from his wife. Without another word, he walked over to her and pressed his lips against Annalise’s. Her lips were cold to the touch, but Annalise encouraged the kiss by forcing her tongue into her husband’s mouth, trying to remind Armando of her expertise in the art of seduction. Soon, the kiss deepened and was about to hit another level, but Armando suddenly pulled away and walked hastily out of Annalise’s presence.
Annalise smiled,
because she realized that she still had much control over her husband. Now that she’d made her point, it was time to turn her attention to the real business at hand. She removed Rena’s gun from her handbag and wrapped it in a towel. As soon as she got the slightest indication that Armando was gone, she would pay a follow up visit to Room 5020.
****
10:15 a.m.
For some reason, Drake was on his knees in prayer longer than he usually stayed. A burden for his family was suddenly upon him and Drake deduced that the Lord wanted him to intercede. His ululations could be heard all the way on the outside. And the morning was designed in such a way that Drake had Hunter’s place to himself. He lay prostrate on the floor, desperately crying out, as the Holy Spirit gave him utterance.
“Father, may Your divine grace and protection be upon this family. Don’t allow the devil to gain the victory over us. We have varying levels of needs and shortcomings that could be exploited by the enemy. So I plead the blood of Jesus over every thought, over every action, over every intention, and I pray that we will use the members of our bodies for righteousness and not as tools for evil.
“I rebuke the stratagem of Satan, in Jesus’ name and release the weapon of confusion against his kingdom. I declare that my family – my mother, my brothers, my uncles, aunts and cousins, will all serve and honor You, Lord Jesus. They will fulfill their divine destinies and make the devil out to be a liar. I pray for Hunter and for Annalise – the women in my brothers’ lives. Bless them, protect them and cover them with Your mercy. Lead them to the cross through Your goodness, working in them the gift of salvation.
“Now Lord, I especially bring my wife before You. Heavenly Father, I plead on her behalf that you would strengthen her resolve. Give her peace where there is uncertainty. Lead her beside the still waters and into greener pastures, restoring her soul and her commitment to you. Cause us to love each other in a more meaningful way. With much gratitude and humility...”
Sasha stood in the doorway of the bedroom, washed away in tears – not in the least saddened by the fact that she’d just walked off her job. It was the presence of the Holy Spirit, which was so alive in the room that the only thing that Sasha could do was weep. She knew then that the secret she’d kept from her husband was about to be unveiled through her own confession. It was either now or never. The minute Drake got up from his prostate position, she would bare her soul to him.
For now, she rested her briefcase on the floor and then joined her husband in prayer by lying next to him, asking for strength to do what she needed to do. She had to trust that God’s mercies would supersede the outcome of her confession.
THE END
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FROM THE DESK OF H H FOWLER
Thank you, my dear readers for sharing this journey with me. Please visit my blog page: www.churchboyz.org and leave your comments about my story, or contact me at: [email protected]. Huge appreciation to all for your support and encouraging words. I always say, without you, the reader, we writers could not be successful.