53

53

Michael.

“Today drained me,” I muttered to myself as I got out of my Maserati, i’d just gotten home from dropping Betty off, and I went straight to my room sinking into the soft mattress shoes still on but I didn't care, I kept reminiscing on Betty and our short conversation, the way she smelled, and how she stared at me. 

Perhaps all hope wasn't lost, yet.

I grinned lying on my back, my gaze fixed on the white ceiling. She might try to drive me out of her life but that wouldn't work. We are locked in forever, I said smiling before I knew it, sleep came fast, and the next thing that hit me was the darkness and silence of night.

My eyes flew open and the sunlight almost blinded me, I couldn't believe it was morning, how fast time flies. I stretched, yawned, and dragged my feet lazily to the bathroom. 
I turned on the sink as I brushed my teeth, I stared at my reflection, the eye bag evident on my face a reminder of how poor my sleep routine had become, well I’ve been reading all night and the only night I  truly rested was because I’d taken Betty home and not drank to a stupor in some bar.
I chuckled, perhaps she saved me from a brutal hangover.
After brushing, I strode to my father's room. I needed to know that he was fine and doing perfectly well. Even though I had left him in safe hands, yet, I wasn't satisfied. I needed to see it for myself.

I observed the quiet mansion, I barely saw the staffs during daytime, they had mostly cleaned every nook and cranny of the house even before I woke up and now they were in their usual position, but before I could place my hand on the doorknob of my fathers room, one of the old house staff, a man in his mid fifties approached me, his countenance nervous, like I was stepping into somewhere I shouldn’t be. He stepped right in front of me like a guard securing a treasure. 
“I’m sorry sir, Mr Bolton gave  strict orders  not to be  disturbed.” He said his gaze fixed on the floor, every word sounded like he was giving out his birthright.

I scoffed, my lips turning up in surprise. This was the first time a staff member had denied me entry into my father's room, was he even alright?
I scowled. “Why? Isn't he feeling  well?”
“Umm… no sir… he is… he is… “ he clears his throat like the words were choking him. “ He's just with his wife, Mrs Heather.”
“Busy doing what, if I may ask?”

He bit down on his lower lip, his eyes averting from mine. Then I heard a loud thud like an object crashing inside the room, followed by a scream. “Fuck me…. Yesssss….. harder…”

“Oh, I see,” I said flatly, “They are making love…. They’re doing the very thing that landed him in a coma, that’s perfect.”

His cheek had flushed and I dismissed him immediately, he'd been embarrassed already. I strode to the kitchen pouring myself a glass of bourbon, yes, I needed it to quench the irritation gnawing in my throat. 
It was barely nine am yet I needed it. 
Betty's face resurfaced in my mind and I smiled.  
Her beautiful smile, and the way her eyes shimmered in the dark.
Maybe she was all I needed to be fine.

I took another sip looking out the window wondering if she was up making breakfast or in bed sleeping like the beauty queen she was. Of course, she would still be in bed, she was too drunk to stay up to do anything meaningful. I thought.

Just then, I heard a familiar voice infiltrating my thoughts.

“Hello, Micky.”

I turned to see my father. He stood at the door frame, his hair wet like he had just stepped out of the shower, his robe clinging to his body like a second skin. 
He wore that satisfied grin like someone who’d just made history, probably the record for  fucking a woman while still halfway through recovery. 
“I heard you were asking about me.” He said.
“Yes, I was.”

He smirked, walking in and pouring himself a glass of orange juice. “ The doctor says I should drink healthily,” he said in a sarcastic tone then he pulled out a cigarette, lighting it with a smug smile on his face, I rolled my eyes, he never changes, I thought. 
“ So tell me,” he said, puffing out the thick smoke into the air. “ Why are you up so early? You should be in bed, it’s a lovely Saturday morning.”

“I only came to check on you, see how you were doing,” I said, swirling the glass in my hand. “But it looks like you are fine… especially since you were pretty busy with others …. Things.”

A chuckle rolled off his lips as he rubbed his mustache. “ Well, a man’s gotta do what a man does, my son, I’m sure you understand me better.”
“Of course I do.” I dropped the glass on the counter then looked straight in the eye. “Did you know your dear wife tried to take over the company while you were in a coma?”
His smug smile faded.  “Michael, stop saying nonsense.”

I lifted my brow. “ I’m not, why don’t you ask her yourself, after all she is standing right behind you.” 

He scoffed and turned to see Heather standing right behind him shaking like a fowl in the rain.  She wore a silk robe that was as pink as her cheeks.

He took slow strides towards her while I watched in amusement. 
“Tell me, Heather. Is Michael telling the truth?”

She placed her hand on her face looking away. “I never meant to… I didn’t mean it like that, I wasn’t going to take over permanently … I just… I just wanted to step in to keep things in stable hands since you are gone…. Temporarily.” She stutters, stepping back.
“Wow! What happened to teaching Michael the ropes of the company and working side by side with him?  After all, he is the rightful heir and can decide to deny you any property.” He barked and a smile played on my lips. 

This was exactly what I wanted, for him to finally see her true color.

Instantly she fell to her knees, tears welling up. “ I’m sorry husband, I swear I meant well, I only wanted to protect Bolton enterprise from crashing and going bankrupt… maybe I didn’t do it the right way…”

My giggle cut her off. “ Of course, you didn’t do it the right way because you knew exactly what you were doing, father, can you believe she brought in a lawyer, he asked me to sign some documents, do you think I’d easily give away my inheritance to you?” 

“No…. I’m sorry…” she begged. 
Her hands began to shake and I almost felt pity for her but then my father's gaze was as hard as stone. He looked disappointed. I gulped the last contents of my bottle before turning to my father.
“I’ll leave both of you to…. Talk.”

With that I stormed out of the kitchen, mission accomplished, I thought with a wide smile on my lips.  I’m so glad to have exposed Heather to the world, now everyone knows the snakes that she was and no matter how she tries to shed her skin, her true self will always be revealed.

As soon as I reached the foyer I pulled out my cellphone I tried to dial Betty, but she didn’t pick up.  It kept going straight to voicemail. 
And then I kept asking myself; was she still asleep or was she just ignoring me?

“No… I saved her life last night, she is sleeping.” I convinced myself and kept the phone in my back pocket.
“Hey, Michael.”
I rolled my eyes, that voice belonged to Claire. The last person I wanted to see today.
I turned slowly, uninterested. “ How may I help you?”
She smiled at me, her yellow gown clinging tight to her curves but I wasn’t moved by that. 
“I know you are busy… I just wanted to thank you… for not pressing charges against me. I’m so sorry for what happened, I really did a terrible thing.” She said playing with her fingers she could barely meet my gaze.

I tilted my head backward, “Your apologies are accepted. Your sins are forgiven too, I hope you turn a new leaf.”

“Oh my God,” she gasped, “thank you, maybe I could repay you in some special ways, like old times?” She said her voice was filled with so much seduction.
I smiled, pinning her against the cold walls, our noses almost meeting.  

“I’d advise you to pray you don’t get tangled in my business again because I’ll make sure you rot in jail, and tell me… who’s gonna look after your mother when you are spending the rest of your years in a cell?”
She trembled, her face filled with shock and fear as she hurried away like a frightened dog.