"So where were we?" My husband asks as he rolls up his sleeves and stalks towards me like a predator to his prey.
"Babe, calm down, it's not even what you were thinking". I try to sound as calm as possible but inside me, I am far from calm. I know what is about to go down and my eyes are searching for any and every possible exits.
We have just gotten back from a lunch meeting with one of the men my husband does business with. He had mentioned that he'd be coming with his wife and that was why my husband decided to take me along. He never took me along for his business meetings.
My husband is a very jealous man. I wouldn't say jealous, I'd say possessive in an endearing kind of way. He believes I'm too pretty and he doesn't want to share me with the world which is why I rarely ever followed him out. That is what I believe. That is what I am holding on to.
However, this business meant a great deal to him and it was important that he closed it which was why he decided to take me along since the Mr Crestwood was coming with his wife. He wanted to make a great impression.
"What then happened?" He asks calmly "I vividly remember myself telling you that you were to speak to Mrs Crestwood and to not under any circumstance talk to the men at the table unless you're given permission
"I'm sorry Levi, I just thought… Ahh". The rest of the sentence is slapped right out of my mouth.
The slap didn't register at first, but I remember seeing a flash of white which I wasn't sure if it was because of the brute force of his backhand or because my head hit the wall he backed me into.
I hold my face and count, expecting the next slap but it never comes. I open my eyes that I don't even know I closed at some point and see his shoes walking away from me.
"Be thankful that I secured that deal." Levi says over his shoulder as he starts towards the stairs.
I slowly bring down my hand from my face and my pinky finger brushes the corner of my eye. It stung. I slide down the wall and bring out my phone to check the damage and I see that it is bruised. Shit, he was wearing rings. The damage is not much and it will be gone in a few days. Like he said, thank God he secured the deal. It could have been worse.
I'm going to give myself this one credit though. I believe was a part of the reason Levi secured the deal. I know him acknowledging that fact is the only reason why my punishment was lighter. He only punished me for talking to Mr Crestwood when he specifically told me not to. I was interested in the conversation and only asked him a question. I totally didn't think anything of it since Mrs Crestwood was also conversing with her husband and my husband. I got carried away and asked a question and before I knew it, I was full on conversing with the man and his wife and showing off my knowledge in business. I should have looked out for the signs that Levi was pissed. The way his jaw tightened, the slightly forced breaths he took, the stiffness of his movements; but I was so carried away.
I see a hand in front of me offering to help me up. It is Janet. The personal attendant that was assigned to me. I have tried to be friends with this woman but she keeps her relationship with me strictly professional. She only talks to me when absolutely necessary and I know she reports my every move to her boss, Levi.
I take her hand and she helps me get up.
"Thank you, Janet."
She does not even nod in acknowledgment. There were times like this when I thought I could see cracks in her hard exterior. Moments where I saw an emotion flit through her eyes. I don't know what it is. Maybe it's pity. Pitying me for staying in a marriage I have never enjoyed for one passing moment. It could be judgement. Judging me for not walking away when I literally can. But you never know with Janet, it could be anything.
I smooth out my dress and go up the stairs to my room. I enter my bedroom and like the rest of the house, it feels very cold. Not just the temperature but also the energy. I drop my bag on the dresser and sit on the chair, take some wipes and start quite aggressively cleaning the little makeup I had on for the night. When I am done, I take off my dress, put it in the laundry and walk into the bathroom. I pass the mirror as I am heading to the shower and my eye catch a shiny purpling bruise on my back, close to my armpit. I close my eyes and will the tears that are threatening to spill away. I am not going to cry. I take a quick shower, dry myself, change into my comfiest pyjamas and tuck myself nicely into the sheets. I am out like light before I know it.