Revengeful Deceptions

by Ursula Dukes

  Dominique sat up straight in the bed, “What? Adam! You can't do that. I need those Adam give them back right now! How could you do? Why would you do that to me Adam, why?” She screamed and sobbed as she pounded her fists against his chest. “You son of a bitch give them back Adam NOW!”

  Adam grabbed her wrists and pulled her close, “Dominique, you don’t need them, they are making you sick honey don’t you see that? Taking those goddamn pills is what’s making you numb to everything Dominique.”

  “No kidding Adam, that's what I want, I want to feel numb now give them back!”

  “You want to feel numb Dominique huh? You don't want to feel anything, is that it? He asked his frustration building.

  “Yes Adam, you're right. I don’t want to feel, what part of that don’t you understand?” Dominique shouted.

  “So maybe I should leave then Dominique, maybe I should go, you said you don’t want to feel anything so am I to assume that you mean me too? You don’t want to feel your own husband? Dominique I have sat here for over six weeks and watched our relationship slowly deteriorate and you have done nothing to help yourself.

  You've alienated your friends, your family and me Dominique, you shut yourself up in this goddamn room every single day. Did it ever occur to you that I am hurting too? You weren’t the only one to lose the baby and we need to be able to talk about that.

  Dominique baby, shutting out the world and those around you isn’t going to make things better. You think by taking those pills you can make yourself disappear? I'm not going to let that happen, you’re my wife and I won’t let you shut me out anymore, do you hear me?

  Now we can get through this baby but you’ve got to talk to me, tell me what you’re feeling and if you won’t talk to me then we'll go to counseling. Please don’t do this to yourself, don’t do this to us, I’m begging you Dominique please!”

  Dominique stared at her husband as if she barely recognized him.

  “Adam, you do what you need to do to get through this and I’ll do the same.”

  Was all she said to him before turning her back to him and closing her eyes. Adam was losing his patience.

  “Dominique get out of the goddamn bed and talk to me!”

  No words or movement came from Dominique as she lay in the bed pretending to sleep. The two pills she had taken earlier had not worn off yet and she was thankful for that. Let him rant and rave she told herself. He isn’t the one who has lost everything.

  “You want to be like that Dominique?” Adam shouted as he yanked the covers off the bed causing a haggard Dominique to face him.

  “Adam, your acting like a child, leave me alone, I don’t want to be bothered with you or your non sense. Get out Adam, get out and leave me alone!” She shouted, annoyed at her husband for breaking into her silent reverie.

  Adam was not expecting her calm reaction; he had hoped that she would get up and fight with him, argue with him, show him that she still loved him and cared about him.

  But instead she simply snatched the comforter off the floor and returned to the bed.

  “Fine. I’ll leave you alone Dominique but remember, when you try to throw this in my face that I left you and I have no doubt that you will, just remember, you’re the one who told me to leave you alone.”

  Dominique rolled over to face him as he sat on the edge of the bed. “You know Adam, in the nine years that I was married to Stephen he never spoke to me the way you just did.”

  “Well than I guess he's a better man than me Dominique, so maybe you should stop comparing me to him then.”

  “Oh believe me Adam, the more I see how you really are, the more I know that there is absolutely no comparison. I really don’t care what you do, you can leave or you can stay but to be honest right now I’d rather you leave, being with you brings me nothing but heartache and loss Adam.

  Ever since I met you nothing but bad things have happened, nothing has gone the way I planned and I blame myself, I blame myself for everything now please GET OUT!”

  Adam moved so swiftly and got so close to her, that for a moment, it frightened her. She had never seen him act this way. Grabbing her tight by the arm he gritted his teeth as he spoke.

  “Dominique, I’m going to tell you this one time and one time only, stop comparing me to a dead man, do you hear me? I am sick and tired of having to live up to what Stephen would have done or what Stephen would have said or that he was the perfect husband Dominique do you hear me?

  I'm sick and tired of it. It's been almost three years and like it or not, he's not coming back. So it looks like you’re stuck with me.” When he released his grip on her, his glare was so intense that Dominique took a second look at him.

  Adam could see the fear in her eyes; it was a look that he hoped he would never have to see in her, especially one that he himself had brought on. He sat stunned at himself for a moment before slowly getting up from the bed. He had never spoken to Dominique like that before but when he saw the cold and icy glare coming from his wife, it scared him. She looked as if she were gone and there was someone else in her place, someone with no heart at all.

  “Dominique I’m leaving,” he said, grabbing an overnight bag and throwing his clothes and toothbrush inside of it. “But this isn’t over; I’m not giving up on us, I’m not. I'll check on you in the morning,” he mumbled as he walked out the door.

  “Don't bother,” she whispered and crawled back into the bed.

  Muriel and Adam sat in the kitchen of the penthouse sipping brandy. “It's those goddamn pills!” Muriel fumed while Adam told her about the argument that he and Dominique had.

  “It wasn’t really an argument mom, you need to have willing participants in order to have an argument. No, this was more like me asking her to talk to me and she telling me to hit the road and she said it with such clarity that it makes me wonder if it was the pills or if it was how she really felt.”

  “Adam honey, that woman loves you with all of her heart, but she's just been through a traumatic experience. You have to realize son that she's been through what most people go a lifetime without having to deal with. She's lost her husband and two of her children Adam and she simply can't recover from this on her own. You’re going to have to get her some help and the sooner you do it the better.”

  “I will mom, I just want to give her a couple days to herself. I want her to know that I can give her the space that she needs. I'll give her some time and if nothing changes, I’ll bring her to a doctor.”

  “That's fine son you do that, but if it's all the same with you, Molly and I are going to make it a point to check on her every day. Just to make sure she's alright.”

  “That's a good idea mom, I'm sure she'd rather see you than me right now anyway.”

  While Adam gave his wife space, someone else was trying to move in closer to him. His ex-girlfriend Renee had been calling him at the office for quite some time now and leaving several messages for him. None of which he returned. Although Adam had no idea of why she was calling, he did admit to himself that he liked the attention that she was giving him.

  He would rather the attention be given to him by his wife, but she still wasn’t returning his calls and when he went to check on her she was either in bed or on the sofa, it was like she was letting life pass her by completely. So even if it was attention from his ex, it was attention none the less.

  Adam remembered seeing Renee several months ago when he was at a lunch meeting with a client at Mistral's.

  “Adam, Adam Caruso is that you?” Adam turned to see the very attractive brunette headed their way.

  “Adam? Oh my god it is you,” she said while giving him a kiss on the cheek. My god how have you been? I was just thinking about you the other day.”

  “Hello Renee, how are you? Adam turned back towards his client and politely excused himself as he spoke to Renee.

  “I'm with a client Renee, is there something I can do for you?” He said coldly. Renee ignored his question; as usual she ma
de it all about herself.

  Adam sighed.

  “No hug and kiss hello Adam? What is it; don’t tell me you've lost your magic touch now.” Adam stood frozen, he had no desire to hug let alone touch his ex-girlfriend, the very woman who cared nothing about him except for his money.

  “Well if you won’t hug me, I guess I’ll have to hug you.”

  Renee put her arms around him and pulled him into her embrace.

  “Stop it Renee, I'm involved with someone now,” he said as he pulled away from her.

  “Yes Adam, I heard something about you having a girlfriend, but I didn't want to believe it.

  And here I was thinking that you'd be pining over me forever.” When Adam made no attempt at a response, she continued. “Well you take care of yourself Adam and if you need anything, anything at all you know how to get in touch with me,” she said as she gave him another kiss on the cheek. This time she lingered and let her cheek brush against his before walking off.

  Running into Renee seems like a life time ago, he told himself. If I told Dominique about my running into Renee all those months ago, she could probably care less, he sighed.

  As the days passed, Dominique was slowly driving Adam away.

  She knew she had hurt him by telling him that Stephen was a better man than he, but she just didn’t care.

  I should have stuck to my original plan, she told herself. I should have kept my heart and hormones out of it and gotten my revenge on them all. Now Brandon is walking around free as a bird and Adam doesn’t seem to be doing anything about it. Maybe it’s not too late for me to take care of Brandon myself. For the first time in weeks, Dominique began to feel a glimmer of hope, she had somewhat given up her pursuit of Brandon because she was pregnant. Brandon took care of that so there is no need for me to forgive and forget. She thought to herself as she sat up in bed and began to think. “Maybe I can get my revenge after all,” she whispered and got out of bed.

  Brandon was sick and tired of lying low, although he knew that it probably wasn't a good idea to go about his old ways, he still felt as if he was being taken out of the loop. His old man had given him a solid alibi the night of the fire, and even though the police had backed off, DiNunzio told his son that he was forbidden to do anything that would to draw attention to him. “I don’t care how long it takes, but you let this whole thing die down Brandon. That means, no deliveries, no shake downs, no partying nothing Brandon, and I mean nothing. Do you understand that?” His father asked sternly.

  “Yeah, yeah I got it,” Brandon nodded and when his father was out of earshot mumbled, “Stupid old man, you got another thing coming if you think you can tell me what to do.”

  Dominique had decided not to tell anyone about her plan, she had hardly known what she was going to do anyway and she knew that if she even so much as hinted to Adam that she was planning something, he'd worry and put a stop to it.

  Or maybe he wouldn’t. Things hadn’t been going so well between the two of them, Adam had all but moved back in at his parents place and his once daily visits had turned into weekly ones and when he did show up very few words were exchanged between them. Dominique wasn’t sure what she could do to fix it.

  “I'll tell you what you’re going to do,” Muriel said to her during a phone conversation, “You’re going to go on a weekend girls retreat with me and Molly, that’s what you’re going to do.”

  “That sounds nice Muriel but I’m not sure I’m up for that alright, not right now anyway. But thanks for asking.”

  “Oh Dominique I wasn’t asking, I’m telling. The reservations have already been made, you’re going and that’s all there is to it. They'll be workshops, massage therapy; it’s the ultimate spa getaway so pack your bags because we leave Friday morning.”

  “Muriel, its Wednesday, you’re not leaving me with much time to get ready,” Dominique grinned, maybe a spa weekend was just what she needed to get out of the permanent funk she seemed to be in. She lost the baby and Dominique knew that if she sat any longer and wallowed in it, she would end up driving herself crazy.

  She even stopped taking the pills the doctor had prescribed her. Maybe after this trip she could come back ready to talk to Adam, ready to let him make love to her, she had been feeling so ugly and undesirable since she lost the baby. Dominique didn’t share that with anyone, not even her best friend Pam, she didn’t want anyone judging her or telling her lies in order to make her feel better.

  “I hope they have a gym there.” She told Muriel as she reached for her overnight bag.

  Muriel told Adam that she and Molly were taking Dominique on a weekend trip with them.

  “What are you going to do to occupy yourself while we're gone honey?” Muriel asked.

  “I'm sure I’ll find something to do mom, don’t worry about me.”

  Adam had been contemplating taking Renee up on her offer of dinner, it's just dinner, and he told himself, nothing more, and nothing less. Dominique won’t be around and so far she's refused all of my invitations to take her out. Besides, I need to get out for a while; Adam tried to reason with himself. It's just dinner, he told himself again as he pulled out his cell and began to text Renee.

  Chapter Thirty One

  “I really needed this you guys, thanks so much for inviting me,” Dominique said, as they settled into their luxury suite.

  “You’re welcome Dominique now let’s see what kind of luxuries this spa provides,” said Muriel as the three headed towards the lounge. “This weekend is all about us girls, no talk of husbands, boyfriends, fiancés, significant others nothing. We are here to concentrate on ourselves ladies agreed?" Muriel asked, eyeing her two friends.

  “Agreed,” Dominique and Molly chimed in.

  It was all set; Adam had made plans to meet Renee for dinner. He told himself that he would keep things short and sweet. They would simply enjoy a good meal and call it a night. He even went so far as to make the reservation for Sunday instead of Saturday.

  For Adam, Saturday was a night for couples, it was a night that he and Dominique used to spend together. It wasn’t a night he wanted Renee to invade. Renee had told him that she just wanted to talk, and catch up. Adam was always a bit naive when it came to Renee, so he was going to have to make sure that talking was all that they were going to do.

  Renee Abbott smiled as she read the text message from Adam telling her that Dominique was out of town until Sunday night and since he was free, he had made reservations for the two of them Sunday evening. But Renee had a better idea, a more spiteful one. She responded telling Adam that she would come over Sunday afternoon and cook dinner for the two of them, after all, they were just friends and that's what friends do. Once she received Adam's positive reply, she set her plan in motion; she only had a day to prepare.

  Dominique let the sweat run down her face as she set the incline to steep on the treadmill. Although it was already Saturday afternoon, they had all managed to get messages, full beauty treatments, and get in a couple of good workouts.

  “This weekend has been perfect ladies, thank you so, so much. I feel like a new woman,” Dominique said panting from the workout. “And I know we made a promise not to talk about men during this trip but I think when we get back I’m going to talk to Adam.

  I have to tell him that I’ll be returning to work thanks to you and Jonathan.” Dominique smiled at Muriel. “And I want him to know how sorry I am and how much I love him. I just hope that it’s not too late and that he can forgive me,” she sighed worriedly.

  “Of course he will Dom,” said Molly who was sitting on a workout bench lifting two pound weights in each of her hands.

  “She's right Dominique, Adam is miserable without you, he loves you so very much, and he'll be more than thrilled to see you back at work. Frankly I’ll be glad to see him go back home. Don't get me wrong, we love him and all but his moping in and around the house is driving his father and I crazy.

  We've been trying to plan for our anniversary party but seei
ng Adam walking around the house all sad and depressed is bringing us down too so please Dominique take him off our hands,” joked Muriel stretching in front of the floor to ceiling mirror.

  “Gladly Muriel, gladly,” Dominique responded with a smile.

  Renee straightened out the short dress she was wearing before knocking on Adam's door. She carried two large shopping bags filled with groceries that she had just picked up at the local gourmet shop. Adam hesitated before opening the door; he had looked out through the peep hole and spied Renee looking incredibly sexy wearing a short sweater dress, and high heel boots.

  “Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea,” he mumbled as he looked at his own reflection in the mirror. He was dressed very casual in jeans and a thermal shirt. A thermal shirt that Dominique told him that he looked incredibly sexy in. “This was definitely a bad idea,” he said out loud as he opened the door to cancel.

  “Nonsense Adam, you have nothing to worry about. And besides, I’ve gone through all this trouble and bought all this food for us come on, invite me in and let's see if I can't change your mind,” Renee said as she pushed past Adam who was standing in the doorway.

  Chapter Thirty Two

  For the first time in a long time, Dominique was excited about something. She had enjoyed her time at the spa with her friends but she was incredibly anxious to get home to Adam. She would call him when they were close and ask him to meet her at the house; she hoped that things would go smoothly from there. As they got closer to the condo, Dominique dialed Adam's number. “It went straight to voice mail,” she said to her friends.

  “I'm sure he's at the house, why don’t you give Jonathan a call, I’m sure he can find him.”

  “Good idea Muriel.”

  Dominique frowned when Jonathan told her that he hadn't seen Adam since the morning.

  “Don't worry Dominique, I’m sure he'll turn up, he may be at the condo picking up some things, you never know.”

  Dominique just nodded her head and gazed out the window. It wasn’t like him to not return a phone call or text.