Marital Confrontation

I felt a very unfamiliar but heartbreaking feeling wash over me, but I couldn't stand in front of his office door showing weakness neither could I enter in there to confront them for two reasons; I was afraid of how much seeing them in a such situation would hurt me and I had no right. I was the contract bride after all. 

I immediately turned to leave but slammed against Sam who was coming down the hallway. "Hey!"

"Hi, Sam. I have to go," I darted past him back out of the building, almost running, tears stinging my eyes. I found Martin waiting by the car with a cup of coffee, he stood up straight as soon as he saw me. "Mrs Numero, everything alright?" he asked with concern in his voice.

"Take me home, Martin. To our house, not the mansion,"

"Mrs Numero… I don't think that is a good idea…,"

"Now, Martin. It's not up for discussion," I got into the car and let my tears flow. I know I had no right to be angry with him, I was nothing more than an accessorial bride, there for him to look good. I was there for him to secure his position as CEO. Gwen was who he wanted but it was becoming too much for me to bear. 

He spent our entire honeymoon with her and now, in his office. What would people take me for? 

When I got to the house, I had only been in for one day, I sat on the sofa and cried. A few minutes later, I heard the door slam and Richard walked through it, his face stormy. 

"Do you have a death wish, Nita? Why the hell would you leave the mansion, we haven't scaled up the security here yet?"

I crossed my arms, knowing Martin must have called him. "I needed some air. I thought I could come see you but you were … preoccupied." I emphasized the last word. 

His brows furrowed. "What's that supposed to mean?"

I tilted my head, "Oh, nothing much. Just that your office door isn't exactly soundproof. Might want to look into that."

Richard blinked, his face shifting from anger to confusion, then to realization. His jaw tightened. "You were at the office?"

I shrugged, "Is that what I have to get used to when I start working with you? Am I going to walk in on you and your mistress every time I walk into your office?"

He pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering something under his breath before stepping closer to me. "Nita, !... It's just been a difficult few days and she came around, I couldn't resist."

"Don't." I held up a hand, stopping him mid-sentence. "I don't want to hear the excuses. I get it. I have no right to question your dalliances but have you thought of the effect your actions may have on me. I am your wife. What will people say? What will people think? Our ruse was supposed to be secret, tell me what excuse did you give your mistress? Did she ask you why you would spend all of our honeymoon with her? You're Richard Numero, the man every woman apparently wants to moan for. But I'm your wife—fake or not—and I deserve some respect."

His eyes narrowed. "You're overreacting."

"Am I? What would you do if you walked in on me with another man? You are a fake husband as much as I am a fake wife. Tell me, what would you do?"

There was no response for a few moments. "Nita… I didn't think how my actions might reflect on you but I have needs. It's stupid when I say it out loud. I cannot spend one year self-pleasuring myself,"

"Then do it to me!" Where the fuck did that come from? Yes, I wanted him but I didn't think I would be able to say it out loud. 

His confusion was almost comical. "Do what to you? I don't understand. What are we talking about here?"

"I want to be the one you… have sex with," I blurted out, feeling my cheeks heat up.

For the first time since he stormed in, Richard was speechless. His lips parted as if to say something, then closed again. Finally, he managed, "Come again?"

"Don't act like you're stupid. It's hard enough for me to say it already,"

He rubbed the back of his neck, his face a mix of amusement and incredulity. "Nita, are you seriously—"

"Yes." I got up and stepped closer, "But I have conditions. One: you're with only me. No Gwen, no mysterious office moaners, no one else. Got it?"

"Okay?" he murmured, though he still looked like he was trying to process the situation.

"Two," I continued, "you teach me."

"Teach you?" His brow furrowed. "Teach you what?"

"How to… you know… have sex" The words came out in a rush, and I wished I could crawl under the couch and disappear. But there was no turning back now. "I've never done this before, Richard. And when this year of charade is over, I want to be able to live a normal life like every other woman out there,"

"No!" that wasn't the response I was expecting to hear.

"say what?" 

"No, Nita. I want to, believe me, I want to like you wouldn't even begin to comprehend. But I am not going to let you throw your innocence at me like some kind of business deal."

"Richard…"

"I'm done talking about this, Nita. And I will hear nothing of it in this house anymore," he finished a finality to his voice that told me he was serious. "I can tell you this though… I spent only our wedding night with Gwen. The rest of the time, I was here," he said and walked away.

He was here? He chose to be alone than be with me during our honeymoon. Did I repulse him that much?

*****

Richard had been avoiding me since our last conversation, and honestly, the silence was deafening. A man I once despised and now I couldn't stand the cold shoulder. Our interactions had become fleeting conversations like good morning, I made dinner, good night with nothing in between. I wasn't sure if I'd offended him or embarrassed him. 

By Saturday, I decided I couldn't spend another in the house, waiting for Richard to man up and speak to me. Thank God, I was resuming work on Monday. So, I texted Mrs. Numero and asked if I could visit. She responded enthusiastically, sending me her driver to fetch me before I could protest.

The moment I arrived, she greeted me with her usual warm embrace. "Nita, my darling," she said, guiding me to the couch, "you look... tense. Marriage troubles already?"

"It's not that," I admitted, 

"Oh, come now. I was married for decades. I know when one wants to strangle their husband,"

"Well," I admitted hesitantly, "he's been distant lately."

"Well, I know that you have little to no experience with men but I just assumed your mum would have tutored you. Men don't respond to long speeches, they respond to actions. You want him to pay more attention to you, flirt with him. We could go shopping for some bedroom outfits," she finished with too much enthusiasm.

"Oh God no! I never want to go shopping with you again in this life or the next," 

She laughed loudly, "To think, I never took you shopping when I had to shut down the store, oooh, I have the time of my life,"

We were mid-laughter when the front door slammed open, making both of us jump. Richard stormed in, his face thunderous.

"Mother," he snapped, "Remember when I told you every decision you make puts people in dangerous and uncomfortable situations,"

"Hello to you too, Richard," she said dryly.

"You never think… do you? You don't care how what you want messes up my life?"

"Excuse me? Do you realize you're speaking to your mother?"

"Which is why it's so shocking," he said, his voice rising, "years later, Rachel's death is still fucking up my life!"

The air grew heavy, and I could feel the tension crackling between them. "What's going on?" I asked, breaking the silence.

"Richard—" his mother started. Her voice shaking, it was obvious that the mention of Rachel's name had gotten to her.

"Rachel's boyfriend was the one who shot at you,"

"Why? What did I do to him?" I asked, my curiosity piqued even more.

Richard exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "Rachel fell in love with him but he didn't measure up to Mum's ridiculous standards,"

"Ridiculous?" Mrs. Numero interrupted. "He was a jobless delinquent!"

"He loved her," Richard shot back. "And she loved him. But you wanted someone good enough for YOU,"

"I didn't ask her to get an abortion Richard, I would never," her jaw tightened, her eyes minutes away from tears.

"You didn't have to but still she died because of you,"

Mrs. Numero's face crumbled, she got up and stood toe to toe with her son. "I did what I thought was best for her. Just like I did for you and you don't seem to be complaining. But you are too pigheaded to tell me thanks or to admit that you love your wife," she finished and stormed out of the room, the tears flowing freely now. 

The room fell silent, the weight of Mrs Numero's words sinking in.

"Richard…" I began, but he held up a hand and walked out of the house. Every family is dysfunctional even if you have all the money in the world.

*****

I love the garden in the Numero mansion. It was a haven of peace. I sat on the stone bench and stared at the bright red rose flowers. 

Richard's sudden departure and Mrs Numero's breakdown had left me feeling weird. I know she was wrong about one thing though; Richard didn't love me. I was more like a close friend that is a means to an end. 

"Well, if it isn't the latest Numero princess," came Sam's voice from behind me.

"Hi Sam," I said turning slightly to acknowledge him. "what are you doing here? Richard's not here," 

He stepped closer, standing a few feet beside me. "Yeah, I know. I wanted to check on the latest source of the Numero drama,"

"What is that supposed to mean?" I shot back, realizing that he didn't come for a friendly visit. 

He held up his hands in mock surrender. "Easy, Nita. I come bearing news. The shooter is still on the run. We haven't been able to find him, so you still need to watch your back,"

"Great. Let me know when you have something concrete." I said, my tone laced with anger. 

His eyes narrowed, and he tilted his head, scrutinizing me. "You have done a lot more damage than good since you came into his life, you know that right?"

"I don't understand the reason you are still speaking to me?"

"In a few short weeks, you have made him the joke of social media, an adulterer and you managed to put a target on his back. You're not fit to be a Numero," The words hung in the air, sharp and cold. I blinked at him, unsure if I'd heard him correctly.

"Excuse me? Did I put a target on his back? Did you run out of things to blame me for and decided 'Oh, I'll just throw another one in there'"?

"You don't have what it takes to stand by someone like Richard. You have no style, no connections, and no backbone. You're weak, Nita. Always have been."

I stood, my fists clenched. "You've got some nerve."

"It is the truth," he said, shrugging. "Even back in board school, you were always too scared to fight your own battles."

I raised an eyebrow, "I think you feel threatened by me, Sam. I think the attention has shifted from you to me. And it kills you to realize that that weak little thing has got your bestie all to herself. You're pathetic. You've got no life except what the Numeros offer you. You have always been his sidekick and you always will be,"

His jaw tightened and I could see that I had hit a nerve. "I see you have grown a bit of backbone. But that doesn't seem to stop Richard from running into the arms of another woman,"

"Now run along to your boss, Sugar. I am sure he may need a cup of coffee anytime soon. Go on, shoo," I made a shoving gesture with my fingers and felt so satisfied as he huffed along. 

I just figured out my first antagonist in the Numero household. One would think it would be the mother-in-law, or maybe the father-in-law, but it turned out to be a useless cousin who glorifies himself as a best friend. Pssh.

And as for Richard? I was done waiting for him. I refuse to be insulted with his escapades by his stupid sidekick.