Chapter 28 CHAPTER 28: The Fall
Hazel
As William’s car pulled away, I climbed the stairs slowly to my room, wishing I was the one going back to work. The thought of my own desk, the routine of the workday, seemed infinitely more appealing than the hollow emptiness of the house. I missed working as a customer service agent, I missed the challenges, the push, and I definitely missed learning new things. I sighed exasperatedly as I climbed the stairs, one step at a time.
On reaching the stairs landing, my phone rang. It was Adam. My heart sank. We have not spoken since the last time we went out before Williams was discharged. I missed him and most especially our friendship. Before my life got complicated, we spoke daily, and he knew everything about my life and I knew his. I was so far removed from his life and his from mine that he practically felt like a stranger pulling on my heartstrings. I did not know if it was possible to love two people at the same time. I missed having Adam in my everyday life so much that thinking about it hurt like hell. The phone kept ringing while I battled with myself to either pick the call or let it go to voicemail. I could not bring myself to pick it up so I let it go to voicemail.
“Hey Hazel, please call me when you get this message, I really need to speak with you about something urgent before you get wind of it. I miss you so much, and I hope this does not change anything between us”. I listened to the encrypted voicemail twice, trying to decipher what he would mean by it, but could not. I decided to call him back. As I dialed his number, I heard footsteps approaching the bedroom. Phone in hand, I stepped out of my room and came face to face with someone I never expected to see for a while and definitely not in my house. My brow furrowed.
“What gives you the audacity to barge into my home? Why are you in my house and who let you in?” I spat each word laced with venom as I met her cold gaze. Anger bubbling within me.
Emily’s lips curled into a sardonic smile “I came to pick up Williams as today is his first day. As you know, we work together and just thought it would be a good idea to assist him on his first day?” she smirked.
“How did you know he was due to be back at the office today”? I asked
“He texted me,” she replied.
“Why would he do that”? I asked
“Maybe you could ask him,” she replied, smiling wryly, trying to taunt me.
“I’ve had enough of your intrusion, first at the hospital, and now you have the audacity to come into my home. Who let you in?
” I did not wait for her reply before I yelled the housekeeper’s name and the security, but no one replied.
“Nobody is around Mabel,” she said, her eyes gleaming with malice. Then I remembered Mabel had gone on an errand.
My fist clenched at her words and the urge to lash out was overwhelming as she deliberately called me Mabel.
“You know my name you crazy lady” I lashed out. “I’ve had enough of your bull. Leave my husband alone. He does not want you. He chose me and that should be enough for you to step aside. Don’t you have a little self-dignity? Gallivanting around another person’s husband? Are you a pushover? Williams does not want you, you shameless woman! He will never want you, and you had better get that into your thick skull. Get out of my house now before I call the security on you”. I was furious and breathing heavily.
The smile on Emily's lips vanished as her eyes narrowed, her perfectly manicured nails dug into her palms as she clenched her fist till her knuckles turned white.
She sneered and moved closer. “You think I don’t know your little game with your “best friend”, she said with an air quote.
I winced at her words. "Don't worry," she continued, a venomous smile twisting her lips. "Soon enough, Williams will see you for the two-bit gold digger you are. All those hospital visits, the concerned wife's routine – just a well-rehearsed act. He'll realize his mistake in no time." Her voice dripped with a sickening sweetness.
"And then," she leaned forward, her gaze boring into mine.
"Yes, I agree I am pathetic, but William is mine. I'll be waiting. The perfect shoulder to cry on, the solace he craves after your betrayal." She spat.
A wave of anger overtook me and I slapped Emily on the face while she yelped and winced in surprise.
“Bitch! You slapped me?” she yelled, holding her face.
“Get your filthy self out of my house right now, and I don’t ever want to see you again”. I screamed at her face, and made a move to go downstairs while calling on security to throw her out.
As I took a step past her, she grabbed me by the hair and I screamed out of pain. As I turned to free my hair from her iron grip, my step faltered.
On seeing that, Emily let go of my hair and, in a flash of rage, pushed me with a force that sent me tumbling down the stairs. Pain erupted through my body as I tumbled down the stairs, the world spinning around me in a blur. As I lay at the bottom of the stairs gasping for air, darkness threatened to engulf me.
Then I heard some footsteps hurrying away and, after what seemed like ages, a voice cut through my unconscious haze.
“Stay with me Haze please” the voice whispered. I tried to call for help, but it seemed my lips were tied. Through the haze of pain and confusion in my unconscious state, I recognized Adam’s voice, his tone filled with concern and urgency. Then I felt his arms wrap around me, lifting me off the floor. Then I felt nothing, absolute darkness.