TO HAVE AND TO HATE

CHAPTER 23

I have just stepped out of the bathroom when an angry Darius walks into the room. He has a bouquet of flowers in his hands and a small box, pulling the note from the flowers, he drops them to the ground and starts to read what is written in it; ‘For a beautiful woman. May your day be as bright as these flowers. I hope the ring is your size, Penny.’

When he reads the note, he goes on ahead to open the small box to reveal a diamond ring.

‘Are you going to stand in front of me and still deny that you don’t know who is sending these things to you?’

‘I have said this a million times and I will say it one last time Darius, I don’t know who is sending these things. What do you want me to do? How am I supposed to find this person?’

‘Have you been cheating on me? Penelope, have you been cheating on me?’

‘What sort of insensitive question is that? Have I given you any reason to doubt me the last eighteen years? I have been faithful to you and the vows we made before God and man; I will not accept the disrespect.’

‘I don’t care what is going on Penelope, you need to find this person and fix this. I will not tolerate this kind of disrespect; I can’t have men sending my wife these kinds of gifts. First it was flowers then lingerie and now a ring? Fix this.’

I decide not to respond because what can possibly say? Nico is set to destroy my marriage; I don’t even know what to do about him anymore. This was supposed to be a one-night stand. How in hell did we get this far?

‘You should fix this!’ he says again before walking out of the bedroom. He slams the door so hard behind him it makes me jump a little. I stand frozen for a moment, various thoughts spinning in my head.

I need to sort this out. But how?

I get my phone and dial his number. He answers in one ring.

‘My darling Penny!’

‘What in God’s name are you doing? Do you want to ruin my marriage?’

‘I miss you. I need to see you.’

‘Are you out of your mind? What games are you playing? Why would you send me an engagement ring?’

‘I want to marry you, Penny. That ring is part of my proposal. So will you marry me?’

‘Are you crazy?’

‘No, I am not. I am serious, I have videos and photos that will implicate you. We wouldn’t want that to happen now do we? So, I will be waiting for you this evening, I will send you a location and you better show up my love,’ and with that he ends the call.

Bastard!

I quickly pull-on jeans and a t-shirt. I don’t even bother with makeup- just some mascara and lip gloss. I don’t even feel like facing the outside world today but I can’t stay cooked up in the house. I need to fix this like Darius said.

I finish off with spraying myself all over with perfume body spray. After that, I grab my bag and walk out of the bedroom. I find Tessa in the living room, pressing her phone. She looks up at me, ‘Good morning.’

‘Hey good morning baby. You don’t have class this morning?’

‘No, I don’t.’

‘Has your father left?’

‘He has. He looked really angry and didn’t even eat the breakfast I prepared. What is going on between you two and please don’t say because you have been arguing a lot lately. I am not a child mum; I am able to tell when things aren’t okay between the both of you.’

‘We are just having a few issues but we will sort them out soon.’

‘I don’t like it when you two argue.’

‘I know baby, I will sort it out. I promise.’

‘Okay.’

‘Let me have some breakfast and I will be good to go.’

‘You have class this morning?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Okay. I head into the kitchen, pour myself some coffee then I make myself a few slices of toast, half buttered, half with jam. A knock sounds at the door as I start eating and Tessa says she will get it. I continue eating wondering who could be at the door this early, I am not expecting anyone, maybe Tessa is.

‘Someone brought you this,’ Tessa hands me a box. It is wrapped in purple paper with a white bow.

‘For me?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Okay. Just put it there. I will check what it is after breakfast.’

She places it in front of me and stares at me, I expect her to leave but she doesn’t. she opens her mouth as if to say something but quickly closes it again. Only a moment later, she opens it but snaps it shut once more.

‘What do you want to say Tessa?’

‘These gifts you have been receiving. It’s the reason you and dad have been fighting right?’

‘Tessa…,’

‘Who has been sending you these gifts mum? No offense mum but have you….,’

‘Have I what?’

‘It’s okay, let me not meddle in your issues.’

‘Where are you about to ask if I have been cheating on your father? You too?’

‘That’s not what I said.’

‘It looked like what you were about to say Tessa. I am disappointed that you would even allow such a thought to cross your mind. I love your father and I have been faithful to him. Even if I was cheating, would I do it in his face?’

‘I am sorry, I didn’t mean to disrespect you.’

‘Well, you already did,’ I rise to my feet and grab the box, ‘I just lost my appetite.’

‘Mum, I am sorry.’

‘I have to leave; I will see you later.’

I walk out of the house and get into the car. My heart is boiling with rage, all this is Nico’s fault. He is bringing confusion in my life and now my daughter and husband think I am a cheap cheat.

I unwrap the box to find a black lace lingerie set with a note beneath it that says, ‘I can’t wait to see you in this. Radisson Blu Hotel, 8 p.m.’

‘Damn, damn, damn,’ I smack the steering wheel. ‘Damn!’ I sit there for a moment then reach into my purse for my phone. ‘You need to stop sending things to my house,’ I type out the message and hit send before driving out of my compound.

*

EllaB

ForeveryourAugustGirl

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