Hard to love

Vanessa stepped out of her Bugatti divo and lifted her long dress to walk down the long grass to a certain penthouse in the woods.

A man was tending to his flock of sheep when he heard the rustling of leaves. He looked up and sighed heavily, his face full of regrets.

"Don't even think of coming closer," he warned.

"PJ, we need to talk." Vanessa inched closer despite his warning.

"It has been fifteen years ever since I lost everything all because I was so stupid to believe we had something beautiful...it never was."

"No, you're wrong. I loved you PJ."

"It was never love when you chose your husband over me, you were selfish wanting your cake and eating it too. Brave enough to kill our child, that was not love. I was just an option when your incapable husband was stuck in the office."

"I was left with no choice...."

"You had a choice Vanessa but since I was a nobody, it didn't matter to you what I had to say about my child, your reputation of course had to come first." PJ said without remorse.

"Darling! The chicks need food. Where the heck are you?" A woman's called out for PJ.

"Is she the other woman?" Vanessa retorted, burning with envy.

"No, she's my wife, my everything. Someone who I wish I had met earlier before letting myself loose to a wreckless woman like you. You know what's good for you, leave! Don't even think of coming back." He glared hard at her.

"There you are," a woman wrapped her arms around his waist and asked, "Darling, who's this?"

"She's got lost while looking for her puppy. I guess she now knows her way out." PJ mocked Vanessa and she smiled briefly before turning to leave.

"Hun, what were you saying, I didn't hear you."

"The chicks need food, come on let's go." She took his hand in hers and they walked away. Vanessa staggered out of the woods, crushed and shattered. She never expected him to move on after all those years. She returned to her divo and buried her head on the steering wheel.

"It's all that lowlife's fault! I won't spare her." She hissed and wiped the tears that she dreaded might be her worst fear. She never showed any sign of weakness to anyone let alone her family. She was always composed but rotting inside.

She took out her phone and dialed a number waiting for the other person to receive.

"I thought you'll never try to contact me ever again. Well, her she goes, the queen of evil. I'm dying to have you in my arms you know, I can't seem to forget that night, me and you...."

"Rocco, this is strictly business. I have a job for you and be assured of eight digits in your bank account when you're done." Vanessa played with her fingers impatiently because the latter was intimidating her. The duo had an history way back in highschool. Rocco was a serial killer and a potential drug lord, one who killed without leaving any traces behind for the police to be on his trail. A jack of all trades with twenty children from different women, he got it all. He knew who he could trust with his shady deals and who to contact when emergencies evoked.

He snorted loudly and said, "It's a tempting offer, why not?"

"I'll text you all the details and don't even think of betraying me or else I'll beat your ass to death!" Vanessa warned him..

"You and I know that, that's not the way to threaten someone especially after one good moment in the shower. Honey, you were so obedient back then but I don't know what changed, you suddenly became skeptical and feisty. I'm sure you miss me so badly and you're in dire need, so much need. The need your husband can't certainly comprehend. I'd love to see you crawling back to me like before." Rocco blubbered sweet nothings to Vanessa who had already disconnected the call.

Getting back to the Griffins' mansion, Vanessa hurried to the mini bar to grab a strong drink as usual.

"Can't wait to drain your sorrows and woes, I wonder what it is this time." Almond who had his hands on the grand old piano that belonged to his father muttered.

"And you, why are you interested in that piano for all I know it has been decades since you last laid your hands on it."

"I'm doing a favor to someone special." He smiled wryly making Vanessa snort inwardly. She didn't bother much about him and his little secrets. She couldn't be surprised if he had another woman in his bosom. She strode to the bar stroller and took one of the finest Golden grain and opened it without a stupor and drank one go until it spiked her up. Almond watched her in silence and continued playing the piano.

"You're hard to love Almond. I don't know what's keeping me here. You never loved me, did you?" Vanessa sauntered to him.

"What do you mean to say?" Almond avoided her touch and covered his nose from the stench breath of alcohol.

"Oh...I... can't believe you're asking me such. Oh really now? Almond...the sweetest husband ever hahaha!" She laughed out loud.

"Ingrid!! Take her away." Almond called out for his nanny.

"You see? You don't want to touch me...how did...how did I even get married to such a hard headed man. A cold stone right Ingrid?" She slurred in her speech as Ingrid was standby to take her away.

"What did I say Ingrid? Take her away!" Almond almost yelled at her.

"Ma'am, let's go. I'll prepare ginger tea for you. You also need a nice warm bath." The nanny coaxed her.

"No nanny, this man here is supposed to take care of me. I don't need that warm bath, I need his warmth something he has never ever given me. Have we ever showered before? Oh no! He's always busy, can't you see? He's even pleasing some young shitty brats out there....tell me nanny, what did I ever do wrong huh?"

Vanessa lost all her control and shed tears in front of Almond for the very first time. He stopped playing the piano and looked at the fragile woman throwing tantrums like a child. Those eyes held something like pity perhaps, it was hard to tell how he felt with all her baseless accusations and woes.