I don't know how long I lay there sobbing last night, even long after Jason had left the room and I heard his car driving off into the night. I had thought last night with the dinner and all that he was starting to see reason and know not even knowing that he was cheating on me

Cheating on me

I choked down a sob as I applied mascara to my face to cover all the bruises that Jason had inflicted with his whole hands, while I was disappointed I still couldn't help but feel like this was my fault why could I not give him children? Was it that hard? 

I couldn't even call my parents and tell them what was going on because they are going to do anything to keep me married to Jason. After all, his family paid mine in millions who the hell was going to stop wanting to be benefiting like that. Well that left me with one person I could trust.......Rhea.

Rhea was my best friend back in grade 4, and we have been best buddies ever since. We were practically inseparable, even now she was the one I trusted with my problems. Maybe if I go to her she would have a good advice for me, Rhea was a therapist and relationship expert, I haven't told her about Jason and I. I liked to keep what happened in our marriage private, between the two of us but after what happened yesterday I couldn't hold it down anymore.

I picked up my expensive hand bag and headed to the garage. My driver Roberts was already waiting for me, I lowered my head hoping he didn't see the bruises on my face or that the mascara covered it up.

"Good morning Ma'am" he said.

"Good morning Roberts" I said raising my face and his brows furrowed. He opened his mouth to say something but he just nodded and opened the door for me. I sighed in relief, I didn't want to many questions and I didn't want to explain how Jason had beaten the shit outta me then publicly announce that he wanted a divorce.

Gods, could the week get any worse.

Roberts drove in silence, with one or two glances at the rearview mirror. It looked like he had one or two to say .

"I heard you and Boss arguing yesterday" he started and I laughed boss? Funny

"There was nothing Roberts" I said and he raised a brow, as if that was an obvious lie, as if my mascara covered bruised face didn't hide it well enough.

"If you say so, I heard something about a divorce" he countered softly and I scowled, angry at him for reminding me, angry at Jason, angry at life at fate.

"Just drive Roberts, thanks for letting me know that you were eavesdropping" I shot out and he nodded solemnly. I felt guilty talking to him like that Roberts was nice and always wanted to k ow if I was doing okay but for now I was in a mess and I needed to talk to my best friend, she was the only one who could get me out of my mood or give me an advise something I needed so much right now.

The car stopped in front of the familiar house and I stepped down and turned to go in.

"Should I wait outside for you ma'am" he asked and I shook my head.

"No need Roberts, I will be fine thank you" I said and he nodded and drove off. When I knocked on the door it opened instantly and I grinned when I saw her, her eyes lit up.

"Jesus Vee, long time. What are you doing here?" She asked and I smiled at her.

"Just in trouble and I need your help, like old times huh" I smile at her and jiggled her boobs, "Besides you owe me you vixen" I added and she shook her head.

"Girl you don't let go eh? Come on in, bacon is on the gas" she said and we walked in. She stared at me and she suddenly frowned.

"Vee?"

"Umm yeah?" I answered and she cocked her head to the side.

"What happened to your face?" She asked and I looked down. Suddenly the urge not to tell anyone what was going on in my marriage nagged at me again.

"Nothing Ree, nothing" I said and Rhea eyes narrowed and she frowned.

"You have a black eye, I know makeup well enough to know that, and you suck at mascara" she retorted and glared at me. 

"I said it's nothing" I snapped and he chuckled.

"Since when did you defend a black eye?"

"It's not a black eye" I ground out and she nodded I sighed in relief, then;

"Did your husband give you that?" Sha asked and I froze, why was she always damn right.

"No, why would you say that, and I don't have a black eye" I insisted. Rhea stared at me like she wasn't convinced then she nodded, she stood up and pulled open a fridge and poured me a glass on wine.

"Here drink up, you look like hell" she said and I nodded my thanks. She got up to answer a phone call while I stared around. She wasn't with anyone and she looked to be doing okay, I suddenly wondered if I really even needed a marriage but I kept thinking of Jason, I couldn't leave him. I still loved him even after all he did last night.

Something caught the corner of my eye and I raised a book on a shelf and slipped out the photo underneath and my blood ran cold.

In the picture was a recent photo of Jason and........

Oh my God

Rhea

Rhea was the one Jason was cheating on me with.

My hands trembled as I stared at the photo, my vision blurring with tears. Jason's arm was wrapped around Rhea's waist, their lips pressed together in a kiss. The date scribbled in the corner was from just last week.

She knew.

Rhea knew everything. She knew how Jason treated me, how he hit me, how he blamed me for not giving him a child. and yet, she was with him. Laughing with him, loving him, fucking him

The glass of wine slipped from my fingers, shattering on the floor.

"Vee?" Rhea's voice came from behind me. I turned slowly, the photo clutched in my shaking hand. Her eyes darted to it, and for a second just a second I saw the guilt. Then it was gone, and in its place, cold indifference.

"How long?" My voice was barely a whisper.

She sighed, rolling her eyes like I was some annoying child. "Does it matter?"

"YES, IT FUCKING MATTERS!" I screamed, throwing the photo at her. "You're my best friend! You were supposed to !"

"Supposed to what?" she cut in, crossing her arms. "Care? Please. You think I don't know how Jason treats you? How pathetic you are, begging for his love like some desperate dog?"

Each word was like she stabbed me a knife. I staggered back, my chest burning.

"You... you knew?"

She smirked. "Of course I knew. He tells me everything. How he hits the fuck out of you. How you cry, how you still crawl back to him like you deserve it." She stepped closer, her voice dropping to a cruel whisper. "And guess what? I don't care. I never did."

The room spun. My legs gave out, and I collapsed onto the couch, gasping for air. This wasn't happening, this couldn't be real.

Rhea just watched, her expression bored. "You should leave. Jason's divorcing you anyway. No point in dragging this out."

I looked up at her, tears streaming down my face. "Why?"

She shrugged. "Because he wants a real woman. One who can give him what he wants and let's be honest, Vee... that was never you, he even said you were so stiff and boring in bed like a sex doll."

That was it, no more.

I lunged at her, nails raking across her face. She shrieked, stumbling back, but I didn't stop. I grabbed her hair, yanking hard. "YOU BITCH! YOU FUCKING TRAITOR!"

She slapped me hard and I reeled back, my bruised face throbbing.

"Get out of my house," she hissed, wiping blood from her cheek. "Before I call the cops."

I wanted to hit her again. I wanted to scream, to break everything. But what was the point?

She had already won. No use dragging this out like she said earlier, this was all for nothing

I turned and ran, slamming the door behind me. My hands shook as I fumbled for my phone, dialing Roberts.

"Pick me up. Now." I said immediately his line rang, and thank Goodness he didn't ask any questions

---

Jason's office building loomed ahead, huge and imposing meant to show the world it's worth. All sleek and cold........just like him. I stormed past the receptionist, ignoring her protests.

"Mrs. Calloway, you can't just !" She started and I whirled around, giving her my most deadliest stare and she backed up

"Watch me." I shoved open Jason's office door. He looked up from his desk, annoyance flashing across his face. He didn't even have the decency to even hide the fact he hated me so much.

"Veronica. What the hell are you doing here?" He said and I choked down a sob

"Rhea." My voice cracked. "She's the one you're cheating with, isn't she?" I shook my head about to cry, "Rhea, Jason. She's my fucking best friend you knave!"

For a second, he hesitated. Then he leaned back, smirking. "Yeah. So?"

The casualness of it broke me. "SO?! SHE WAS MY BEST FRIEND! AND YOU YOU'RE MY HUSBAND! HOW COULD YOU BOTH DO THIS TO ME?!"

Jason sighed, rubbing his temples like I was the one causing him pain. He gave me a warning glare and he looked like he was going to walk right over and punch me.

"Veronica, stop being dramatic. You knew this marriage was over. You can't even give me a child. What did you expect?" He said brutality and I stared at him, my heart scattering into tiny pieces

"I expected loyalty! Love! Not not *this*!" I yelled and he rolled his eyes and pressed a button on his desk.

"Alright" he cocked his head to side "Security." He said to the comm and two men appeared instantly, grabbing my arms.

"No! Jason, PLEASE! We can fix this !" I cried but his eyes were dead cold, devoid of even one atom of emotion.

"Throw her out," he said calmly, turning back to his computer.

They dragged me, kicking and screaming, through the office. Employees stared, some whispered and I heard others laughing.

I was nothing to them, nothing to him.

The last thing I saw before the doors closed was Jason's back, already moving on. Roberts found me curled up in the backseat of the car, sobbing. I tried to hold it back, honestly. I tried telling myself that it wasn't worth it but I couldn't hold it back anymore

"Ma'am...?"

I didn't answer.

What was left to say? My husband hated me. My best friend betrayed me, even going as far to be in his bed behind my back. I had no one left, no one to turn to, no shoulder to cry on. My parents would kill me if they found out that my marriage was in shambles.

As if it was my fault

My mom would berate me for being a goody two shoes and not able to please him in bed, Dad would have called me a disgrace, saying something like I wasn't worthy to be his daughter if I can't keep a marriage with Jason Calloway. Soon the media would be hot on my ass. I sighed and cleaned my eyes. I tapped Roberts on the shoulder.

"Take me to Frisk Bar and Lounge, Roberts"

The bar was dark, or maybe it was just my eyes being puffy from crying. I had to make sure Roberts didn't follow me because he had insisted that the bar was too rough and dangerous for someone of my status I knew he meant to say personality.

Well I didn't care anymore.

If my husband and best friend could join forces and betray me, why should I care? I sauntered over to the bartender and flashed a smile.

"Vodka please" I said and he stared at me, tilting his head to the side.

"You alright miss?" He said in a British accent and I rolled my eyes.

"Give me the damn drink" I snapped, and he nodded and pulled out a glass and vodka bottle. I grabbed the bottle and the glass.

"I'll pay for the bottle, be ready to give me more if I ask" I said and he stared at me in surprise. I guess it wasn't everyday he got a female customer in an expensive dress demanding for a drink like a sailor.

Not that I care......at least not now.

I headed over to a dark corner and settled down. A lot of interested eyes followed me, men licking lips, some were openly staring which made me wonder why Jason would ever do that to me. For a moment the emotions came flooding back and my eyes watered.

No, no. No tears

I sucked in my breath and cocked open the bottle pouring a glass of vodka in the glass cup and chugged it down my throat. I gritted my teeth a bit as the sharp taste filled my senses and I sighed. My head felt a bit light and the chatter around me suddenly felt dim.

Good.

This felt like peace, I poured a glass again and raised it to my lips.

"Miss" someone with another British accent called and I sighed..wonderful, now I was being admired by British men, why are they so much here anyway or was my head playing tricks with me.

"Yes Brit" I said and he smiled, he wasn't bad looking but not handsome either and his eyes were a rough blue and from his face I could tell he was a proper hooligan, but for some reason, or rather for a reason I didn't seem to care.

"Can I sit?" He asked indicating to the chair across mine and I grinned at him.

"Of course Blud" I said faking an accent, "You can" 

He smiled at me as he sat and poured himself a drink without permission and I just smiled.

"Vodka" he said simply, inhaling before drinking. "Good drink"

"Yes it is" I said, sipping mine. I stared at him, "Why are you here?" I said, I never would have asked bluntly on a normal day but things weren't normal with me right now.

"You're beautiful, sexy, everything a man wants" he answered simply and I chuckled bitterly.

"Everything a man wants?" I said, trying so hard not to be hysterical, "Are you fucking with me?" I said dangerously close to annoyance not at him but for everything that's happened.

He leaned forward and not even backing down.

"Yes, I would fuck you now if you would let me" he said and at first anger was my reaction, then I was reminded of my loyalty to Jason but I stopped. Why should I remain loyal to the man who had no right to deserve my loyalty? Why should I even refuse a man who really wanted me, thug or not? And this was my chance to forget all that had happened, maybe sex is all I need.

"Alright" I said with a drunk grin as I took another sip, the drink going straight to my head.

"Alright?" He echoed and I smiled at him, suddenly happy.....the damn drink.

"Alright, I'll let you do it, what's your name?" I said and he raised a brow then he grinned.

"Good girl. The name's Tom" he said, he stood and pulled me up. He started to lead me upstairs but suddenly our path was blocked by a...

Oh my God was I seeing things.

The man in front of us was tall, maybe six foot eight, his green eyes looked like a mini stormy sea. He was well built and there was his face, in my drunken state I could register it but I was very well aware of how handsome he was....very handsome.

"I want that one...." I slurred and the man in front of us, frowned.

"She's drunk mate, let her be" his voice was soothing deep and I closed my eyes as it ran through my bones.

"Why, so you can fuck her yourself?" Tom asked and the man in front of us didn't even react.

"No, not like you Tom, like I said...Fuck off" he said and Tom scowled gripping my hand or tight it hurt.

"Or what?" he growled and the other man laughed. He reached for his waistband and Tom's eyes widened and he dropped my hand, and raised his.

"Whoa I am sorry mate" he said backing up, "I'll leave now"

"Scot" the man said and Tom ran off. He watched Tom go then he turned to me.

"Hey baby" I flashed a grin and he didn't even smile back, he picked me up in his arms and headed outside the pub.

I groaned and thrashed in his arms, "Hey my drink, I need it please" I said and he shook his head.

"No"

"Please" I begged, near tears. "You don't understand, I need it or......" I stopped and his green eyes suddenly rested on mine and even in my bold drunken state I looked away suddenly shy.

"Or...?"

"Or I'll remember" I said and he nodded. I could see in his eyes that he knew what I was talking about or had an idea.

"Alright let's take you home" he said and I stared at him in surprise.

"Home?" I asked and he dropped me in the backseat of his car.

"Shhh" he said and without warning covered my face with a bandana, I felt myself going weak and my eyes widened.

"You....." I started and he pressed harder and suddenly I went limp.

"Night night" he said before my world went dark.