“Anything wrong?”
“I suggest you speak with Madison. I don’t mean to be rude, Adrienne, but I was in the middle of a workout.”
“I understand. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Sure,” he said before hanging up.
I’m not going to be the one to tell your family we’re not together, he thought in his head. How long will your little charade work now?
He frowned because he knew how important it was for Madison to save face with her family. He left his workout room and went and took a shower. While in the shower, he thought of a way to get Madison back. If she would only talk to me, I know I can get her to see things my way.
He dried off. After putting on a pair of boxers, he picked up the phone and dialed Frederick’s number.
“Freddie, I need your help,” he said after Frederick answered the phone.
“Your wish is my command,” Frederick responded.
He talked over his strategy with Frederick and felt much better after speaking with him. He knew it would be hard to convince Madison to forgive him, but with Frederick’s help, and he hoped Charlotte’s, his plan might work.
***
“Who was that?” Madison asked Charlotte after she had just ended a phone call.
“That was Frederick,” Charlotte answered truthfully.
“He sure had a lot to talk about. Could it have waited until you left?”
Charlotte smiled. “No, it was important.”
“I’ve done it again,” Madison stated before going on. “I’ve been so wrapped up in my own drama that I didn’t even ask you how things were going with you two.”
“We’re only friends.”
“That’s what your mouth says.”
“I don’t think Frederick is ready for all of this,” Charlotte joked as she framed her body with her hands.
“I see.”
Madison’s cell phone rang. “Girl, let me see who this is.” She looked at the display. “It’s Adrienne. I’ll call her back from the house phone.”
Charlotte stood to leave. “Let me go. I need to make one stop before going home.”
“Thanks, girl,” Madison said as she walked her to the door, hugged her and locked it behind her.
She dialed Adrienne’s number. Adrienne picked up on the first ring saying, “Girl, where have you been?”
“Hello to you too, big sis,” Madison replied with a chuckle.
“I called you, and Ethan told me I needed to call you on your cell.”
Madison curled up on the couch, turned the TV on and pressed the mute button while flipping stations. “We’re no longer together.”
Sounding shocked, Adrienne asked, “What happened?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Do I need to go over and give him a piece of my mind?”
Madison imagined Adrienne confronting Ethan. “No. I can handle it.”
“Running away from your problems is no way of handling anything.”
“It’s how I choose to deal with it.”
“I told you rushing off to get married was a bad idea. Girl, marriage is serious. You can’t up and leave the first time you have a fight. Whatever the problem is, you need to face it head on.”
“How can I?” Madison asked.
“Take it from somebody who’s been married over ten years.” Madison started crying as Adrienne continued to talk. “I remember when Edward and I had our first big fight. I packed my bags and was about to move back home, but Mama convinced me to stick it out. I’m glad I did. I know I might fuss and complain, but there’s no other man out there like my Edward. I see how Ethan looks at you. He has that same kind of love.”
“I wish…” Madison couldn’t finish because of the tears.
“What sweetie?”
Madison almost confessed to her fake marriage, but couldn’t. “I wish it was that easy.”
“I’m here if you need to talk. Call Pam. She was concerned about you too.”
“I will.”
“Love you, girl.”
“I love you too,” Madison said before they hung up. She dialed Pam’s number and Louis answered the phone. “Is Pam still up?”
“She sure is,” Louis said as she took the phone away from his ear. “Honey, Madison’s on the phone.” He then placed the phone back to his ear and asked, “You alright over there? Your sisters have been on the phone all night talking about you.”
“That’s what I feared. Tell her to hurry up or I’ll have to talk to her later.”
“Here she is,” Louis said.
“Girl, what’s going on?” Pam said after taking the phone from Louis.
“It’s bad, Pam. I found out something about Ethan and I don’t know if we’ll be able to get past the lies.”
“Hold on, Madison. Let me go downstairs so we can talk in private.”
Madison could imagine Louis listening to their conversation. She loved her brother-in-law, but he was as nosy as they come. He was almost as nosy as Owen. The thought made her chuckle.
“I’m back,” Pam said.
“Girl, before I boggle you down with my issues, did you ever confront Louis with your suspicions?”
Pam whispered, “No. I found out he’s been so secretive because he’s planning a Hawaiian vacation as a surprise for me for our anniversary that’s coming up.”
“Wow, that’s great news. I’m glad he wasn’t creeping.”
“You and me both. I feel like a fool for having the thought cross my mind in the first place.”
“Men will do it to you.”
“Yes they will. Now back to you. I’m all ears.”
Madison told Pam more details about what happened. Some things she failed to mention. She left out the comments Ethan made to her about being deceitful herself though. “Now you have it,” Madison said.
“You need to talk to him and get his side of the story.”
“I heard what he had to say.”
“When Madison gets upset, she says what she has to say and tunes out the rest.”
“You know me don’t you?”
“All your life.”
She hung up with Pam. She dialed Ethan’s number, but put the phone on the cradle before the first ring.
I’m not ready yet, she thought as she turned the TV off and went to bed.
Chapter 38
When Ethan walked into his office, he was startled to see the back of a woman’s head sitting in a chair across from his desk.
Sarah turned around and Ethan shouted, “What the hell?”
“Good morning to you too,” she said.
He walked to his desk and picked up the phone. “You have one minute to get out or I’ll be calling security.”
She stood up. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you or else everybody in this office will know your business.”
“Sarah, I could care less at this point.”
“If you don’t want me to file charges against your wife, you won’t do it.”
He hung the phone up. “I’m giving you five minutes.”
“Did she tell you about our confrontation?”
“Yes.”
Sarah smiled. “You’re lying.”
“Four minutes.”
“I have to hand it to your wife, she’s got some backbone. She had the nerve to threaten me.”
“With due reason I’m sure.”
“I came over here so that we can work out a deal.”
“You and your lame ideas.”
She stood and waved her hand around. “See, if you agree to my terms, I’ll make sure I don’t press charges against your wife for trying to run over me.”
Ethan laughed. “Now I know you’re out of your mind. Madison wouldn’t do something like that.”
“I have witnesses. So I’ll have my lawyer draw up some papers,” she said as she turned around to head out of the door.
But before she could reach the door Ethan said, “Sarah.”
“Yes.” Her hair swung
over her shoulders as she stopped and turned around.
“Go to hell.”
Sarah turned her nose up, and walked rapidly out of the room, bumping into Joyce.
“What was she doing here?” Joyce asked with an attitude.
“You don’t even want to know. Hold my calls. This is going to be a long day.”
***
Madison kept a low profile while at work. She re-read the memo she wrote the day before. She printed it off and was on her way to the copier when she saw Sarah walking through the door. She glanced at her watch and thought, It’s after ten and here she comes strolling in like she owns the world. She pretended that she didn’t see Sarah, but to no avail.
“We need to talk,” Sarah stated.
“I said what I had to say yesterday,” Madison said flatly as she kept walking. Sarah came up behind her and put her hand on her shoulder. Madison jerked back. “Don’t you ever put your hands on me.”
People began staring. Sarah tried to talk low. “We’re both professionals and we don’t need everybody in our business.”
“You don’t want everybody to know you’re a lying trifling b-” Madison said loudly.
Owen pulled Madison to the side. “Girl, calm down. You’re making a scene and this is so unlike you.”
“Move, Owen, I’m just getting started up in here,” Madison said.
“No, Madison you don’t want to do this,” Owen assured her as he took her by the arm. They began walking away. Madison could hear Sarah say something in the background. She turned around and sneered at Sarah. She and Owen continued to walk away. Sarah ran up behind her. Before Owen or anyone else could intervene, Madison did a karate move. She grabbed Sarah’s hand when she placed it on her shoulder and flipped her to the floor.
“I’d advise you to keep your hands to yourself the next time,” Madison said after brushing her hands together.
Sarah was about to launch at Madison, but Owen stood between them and said, “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
Onlookers gawked but didn’t try to control the situation.
“Come on, Owen. I’ve had enough of this cow,” Madison said.
As they walked away, Sarah yelled, “Go ahead and walk. You can run, but you can’t hide the fact your husband is my baby’s daddy.”
Madison refused to cry in front of Owen or anyone else. She pretended she didn’t hear Sarah. As soon as they got outside in the hallway near the elevator, Owen put his arms around Madison and hugged her. She couldn’t control the tears and they streamed down her face.
“Maybe you should take the rest of the day off,” Owen suggested.
“I don’t know,” she hesitated.
“Our manager is out of the office today, so it shouldn’t be a problem. I’ll cover your accounts.”
“Thanks, you’re a godsend.” She gave him a tight hug and released him.
“I’ll go get your stuff and meet you downstairs,” Owen said.
“I won’t be able to show my face here again,” she said in between sniffles.
“You can and you will. Now pull yourself together, girl,” he said after punching the down button on the elevator.
She dried her face and when the elevator opened up, she stepped on. Just as the elevator door was about to close she stuck her hand out and stopped it. “Owen?” she called out to him.
When he turned around he looked into the apologetic and grateful eyes of Madison and before she could start her spiel, let alone finish it he said, “Don’t even mention it.” With a wink he gave her a reassuring smile as the elevator door closed.
***
Ethan listened to his cell phone messages. He was relieved to hear that the doctor’s office had called. He dialed Joyce’s extension and when she picked up he said, “Joyce, the results are in.”
Before he could hang up with her, she was in his office. “What did he say?” Joyce asked.
“I haven’t called him back yet.”
Joyce ran and closed the door. She walked back over to the desk and pressed the speaker button on the phone. “Dial the number, because I’m just as anxious as you are.”
Ethan pulled a card out of his wallet and dialed the numbers.
“This is Ethan Campbell returning your call. Your message said our test results were in,” he said to the nurse who had answered the phone.
The nurse put him on hold. Joyce paced in front of the desk. He looked at her and said, “You’re making me nervous.”
“Sorry,” she said as she stopped and took a seat.
“Mr. Campbell, can you come into the office tomorrow?” the nurse asked. “We’ll be able to give you the results then.”
Disappointed, Ethan asked, “Is there any way you can give me the results over the phone?”
“For something like this, the doctor likes to talk to the party, or parties, involved in person.”
“What about this evening?”
“The doctor has surgery and has cancelled all of his evening appointments.”
Feeling dejected, Ethan said, “Tomorrow’s fine. Give me your earliest appointment.”
He was placed on hold again. Joyce remained quiet.
“Mr. Campbell, we can see you at eleven o‘clock tomorrow morning,” the nurse said.
“I’ll be there. Thanks.” The phone disconnected and he looked at Joyce. “What do you think?”
“It’s going to be a long night,” Joyce sighed.
He placed his hands behind the back of his head and leaned back in his chair. “Tell me about it. Maybe once this is resolved, I’ll be able to fix things with Madison.”
“Have you talked to her?”
“Nope. She’s not returning my calls, so I decided to go to plan B.”
“What’s plan B?” Joyce stood up and asked.
“I don’t know. I’m still trying to figure out plan A.” A half-smile crossed his face.
Chapter 39
“Pam, I don’t know what came over me. I used one of those self-defense moves and the next thing I knew, she was on the floor,” Madison said as she sat across from Pam at Pam’s kitchen table.
“Sounds like she deserved it, and much more,” Pam commented.
“I could have handled it better.”
“Are you going in to work tomorrow?” Pam asked as she drank her soda.
“Tomorrow’s Friday so I was thinking about taking a long weekend.”
“You have to face the music one day, so I think you should go.”
Madison looked down at the table. “I can kiss my promotion good-bye.”
“For now anyway.”
“Thanks for the confidence.”
Adrienne walked into the kitchen. “Your husband told me you both were back here,” she said.
“I was telling Pam about what happened at work today,” Madison said.
Madison repeated bits and pieces of the day’s events. Adrienne dropped her mouth and said, “Girl, you could lose your job over something like this.”
“I’m not worried. I can get another job, but I refuse to let someone come in my face like she did,” Madison said.
“I’m shocked,” Adrienne commented.
“I don’t know why,” Madison said.
“Because the Madison I know would have walked away,” Adrienne explained.
Madison looked at both of her sisters before she responded, “Well, the new Madison is tired of living her life the way other people see fit. I’m tired of letting people get the best of me.”
“What you should have done was call us and we could have jumped her as she got in the car,” Adrienne said as she tried to lighten the conversation.
They all laughed.
“Thanks, but I got this,” Madison said as she grabbed her collar with each hand. Just then her cell phone rang while she ignored it.
Pam asked, “Aren’t you going to answer that?”
“Nope. It’s probably Ethan or Owen and I don’t feel like talking to either one of them right now,” she answered.
The phone stopped ringing, but it started up again. Adrienne stood up and said, “Where’s your phone? This is ridiculous.” Madison pointed towards her purse. Adrienne unzipped it and picked it up. “Hello,” she said into the receiver.
Madison blurted out, “Give me my phone.”
“No. You didn’t want to answer it, so now I’m going to find out who’s calling you.”
“This is Frederick,” she heard the voice on the other end of the line say.
“Does she know you?” Adrienne asked. She continued to say, “Oh, I remember you now. This is her sister. With everything going on, I had to make sure.”
Madison waved her hands and whispered, “No.”
“She’s right here,” Adrienne said before handing Madison the phone.
Madison sneered. “Frederick, how are you?” She faked enthusiasm. “Uh huh,” Madison said as Pam and Adrienne looked on. “I’ll call you back when I have a little more privacy.” She looked at her sisters. “I promise.” She pressed the end button on the phone and laid it on the table.
“So,” Pam said as Adrienne looked on.
“He called to invite me to their mom’s birthday dinner,” Madison stated.
“Really now?” Adrienne commented.
“Doesn’t she know you two are having issues?” Pam asked.
“Apparently Ethan hasn’t said anything and I’m not going to either,” Madison said, folding her arms.
Adrienne leaned on the table and asked, “So are you going?”
“I don’t know,” Madison said before she chugged down the last of her soda. She looked from one sister to another, hoping to see an answer on their faces. When she didn’t see one, she closed her eyes and held her head back.
Pam reached out and placed her hand over Madison’s left hand. “It’ll work out, Madison,” she offered words of comfort. “It’ll work out just fine.”
***
Ethan was working out when the doorbell rang. “Hold on, I’m coming,” he yelled.
He didn’t bother to look through the peephole. He opened the door and Frederick was standing there holding a bag. Frederick walked around him and scrunched up his nose.
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