To Live For Once (Set Me Free II) - Episode 22

 

Amaya:

The soft bed of last night feel like rocks under my back as my alarm goes off. It's morning but I didn't sleep a wink. After knocking on the door to the guest room where Rory locked himself last night till my knuckles were sore, I'd dragged my body into our bed and buried my face into the scent of him on his side of the bed where I cried myself till I felt sick.
The alarm goes off again and I groan in agony. The sound is killing my brain cells . I roll myself over to the side of the bed and shut the alarm up and roll back over to hug Rory's pillow. I'm so pathetic. The sudden slamming of the doors downstairs jerks me up and I shoot up on the bed.
"Rory?!" I push my legs into my slippers and run as my weak legs could carry me downstairs. He's up. I need to talk to him. He was drunk last night. I need to know what's up. He surely didn't mean what he meant about last night being the real version of himself. Of course not. He must be having a hard time at work. That's probably it. I try not to fall down the flight of stairs as I hear the telltale sign of a car starting up.
"Rory!" I yell and bolt down the remaining stairs and out the door. His car is just about leaving.
"Rory!" I yell for him

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/to-live-for-once-set-me-free-ii

. His windows are tinted and I have no idea if he sees me. I try to get to the car but I'm too late. It picks up pace and in seconds, it's out of the huge compound, leaving me alone with just one leg of my slippers. I must have lost the other one in my hurry. I release a long sigh.
"He probably didn't see me. I'd just go talk to him at work. Yes. He must have been in a hurry. He would be waiting for me in his office." I tell myself and turn on my heels to get ready for work. After adding an extra coat of pink lipstick just to brighten my look, I grab my back and start out of the room. I make a stop once I pass the room Rory was in last night. I've never been in any other room in this large house and my curiosity gets the better of me. I twist the handle and the door opens. Relieved that he didn't lock it on his way out, I make my way in.
It's almost identical to our bedroom apartment from the size of the bed. It's much smaller. My eyes clock on the neatly folded clothes beside the bed. It  was what Rory was wearing yesterday. I pick them up, meaning to put them in the washing machine on my way out when a small paper falls to the floor.
"What's this?" I bend and pick it up.

WASN'T REALLY IN THE MOOD TO SEE YOU THIS MORNING SO I THOUGHT TO WRITE DOWN THE NEW TERMS OF OUR MARRIAGE. I KNOW MY DUTIES AND I'LL FULFILL THEM EVERY WEEKEND TILL I GET YOU PREGNANT BUT OUTSIDE THAT, I'D PREFER IF WE STAY OUT OF EACH OTHER'S FACE.

RORY.

PS DON'T WAIT UP. BUSINESS TRIP. OH AND MY REGARDS TO YOUR FATHER.

My legs give way under me and I flop on the bed. Business trip? It didn't even say when he was to come back. My head hurt with confusion. I'm racking my brain for how this all went wrong from yesterday morning in his office. I can't come up with anything. New term of our marriage? Doing his duty every weekend till I get pregnant? Is that what this is about? Did he marry me for a child? Is this marriage just a way to continue his legacy?
"God, what's going on." I bury my head into my hands and sob. This is getting worse every single day. I can't take it anymore. I don't deserve a little love? Why does everyone just think I'm a doormat they can step on to clean their filth? I'm a little startled by the vibration in my chest before I realize it's my phone ringing in my pocket. I pull it out to stop the noise but when I see my father's name flashing on the screen, my back straighten up and I quickly connect the call.
"Goodmor--"
"Why is your husband leaving town?!" He yells down the line before I can get a word out.
"What?" How does he know?
"He just left the city. What's going on?"
"Nothing dad." I try to keep my voice steady.
"What do you mean by nothing? He had a woman in his car and he was seen leaving town and you say nothing?!" What?!
"A woman?"
"You can't even keep your husband for a week? Girl why do you always mess things up!" He snaps and I cringe.
"Dad I--" a sob hangs in my throat and I shudder.
"Are you crying?!" He sounds angrier at the thought of me crying.
"N--o no." I stutter.
"Goddamnit don't stutter! Gosh of course he'll leave only after a few days. What a colossal fuck up." He sneers and the line goes dead. I just stare at the white wall of the room for a few seconds before a heart wrenching wail leaves my throat.
"Arggggghhhhhh!!!" I yowl into the room like a wounded animal. The sound sounding so unlike me. I just feel so stuffed up with too much emotion. Loss, pain, anger, fear. It's too much.
"Mommy." I sob and let myself curl into a ball on the bed. It also smells like Rory. It's like torture. He's everywhere.

******

Rory:

"It's beautiful isn't it?" Melissa coos from beside me. I can't help but nod. It really is beautiful. The hot spring in the middle of the property is just marvelous. It's perfect for what I have in mind.
"So?"
"We have a deal." I say. She squeals and hug my arm briefly. I just stand there stiffly. I have to clear my throat when the hug lingers more than I'm comfortable with.
"Oh! I'm sorry. I'm a hugger." She giggles and brush my suit jacket down.
"I creased you a bit." She says.
"That's okay. How soon can we start the project on the property. I need this done before the end of the year." I turn my eyes to hers.
"But that's not even up to four months from now." She points out.
"Are we going to have a problem with my demand?" I ask. She shakes her head.
"Nah. I think we'll do just fine as partners. We can get started before the end of the week but we'll need warrants from the local government office and some other stuffs. We'll have a lot of work to do, we won't be able to be in the city for a while."
"Who says I'm going back to the city?" I ask and she stops her rambling.
"What?"
"Make reservation for a hotel room. If we are going to get this done on schedule, I'll have to be here to supervise everything every step of the way." I say.
"Oh. An hotel room in this part of the town wouldn't be up to your standards I'm afraid. It's just awful."
"I don't care how awful." It's better than my own house with Amaya in it. The look of hurt in her eyes last night, it's embedded in my brain. I can't fucking get the image out. She might be a hypocritical manipulator but the feeling she ignites in me, it's real to me. This is better for my sanity.

Read " Make You Mine(Redemption 2) " by the same author ( Ameh juliet )

. I don't want to do something I'd hate myself for life for. This is the better solution. To stay away from her.
"I have a better idea. There's a cabin at the back of the property. It's small but has all the necessities. It's also free. You could bunk there." She suggests and I smile. Perfect.
"The contract then?" I say and she smiles.
"Of course. This way. I can already visualize this project. It's going to look amazing." She says as she leads me.