The News

The News
MIA
The smile that had plastered itself on my face would not come off and I didn't think I wanted it to. This was going to be another issue but I didn't realize how much I missed waking up beside Jared.
I couldn't remember much of yesterday but I knew something had happened between us both and it was really nice. I wish both brothers would let me be with them together.
A woman having two husbands was unusual but not forbidden.
"Where have you been?"
The familiar voice finally succeeded in wiping off my smile, the old hag.
Slowly, I did a turn to face her. I'd intentionally ignored her presence on one of the sofas while her face was glued to the television, hoping she'd ignore me as well.
"Out." My response was bland.
"Jerome called you all night and this morning."
"I already told him where I'd be." I knew how to deal with Jerome, if only Martha would butt out of it.
"Yeah, of course." She sneered.
"What are you watching the television for anyways, you're better off in your room." I coldly spat.
"If you were sensible and smart, you'd know what today is." She retorted, pulling her wrinkly sick face in look.
I hissed at her blatant insults but held myself back.
"Today is election day." She gave me a cold glare, then turned up the volume, something that had become a little chore for her due to her sometimes trembling fingers.
I wish she would just die and leave me to be in peace! I thought hatefully, ignoring her to go upstairs.
"Not interested." I threw at her, heading for the stairs.
"...the candidate for the senatorial position with the highest votes of fourteen thousand, two hundred and fifty five valid votes is Mr. Jared Johnson, the CEO of Johnson Investment Company..."
"What?!" I pivoted and hurried back down from the stairs I'd begun climbing. "He won? How! He's not even part of the candidates, he was removed."
I could see the disbelief and shock on Martha's face as well but at my statement, she cast me a spiteful look. "It pays to get a good woman by your side."
Understanding the meaning behind her words perfectly, I shot back. "Exactly. I guess that's why your husband died untimely."
Her face went red, the shade of beet. Anger and shame, I didn't care for the anger but the shame? I wanted her to feel it. "How dare you?!"
I quirked a brow. "Hurts to know how much we have in common, doesn't it? Maybe that's why you fought so hard for Jared to be with me." A wicked chortle escaped me.
"...One can only wonder how the new senator-elect, Mr. Jared Johnson's name managed to find its way into the ballot box. But the people seem to be happy over the results despite the circumstances and scandals surrounding Mr. Jared Johnson in the past few weeks." The reporter's coolly professional voice sounded from the television.
My mother-in-law and me were involved in a heated stare down, none of us ready to give up.
"Ma'am, it's time for your medication." A maid walked in, oblivious to the tension and conflict.
"Now be a good mother-in-law and take your drugs." A smile that was anything but concerned and empathetic appeared on my face, crooking a corner of my lips.
The maid dropped the tray on the table, now obvious to the tension and acted warily around us both.
"Bitch!" Martha cussed.
I taunted her with my laugh, not wanting her to have the last satisfactory act, then with a shrug I retorted. "This bitch has both your sons in her corner."
I saw her face scrunch in hatred, but before she could spit out another word, I left her annoying presence.
Halfway through the steps, I turned on my heel to ask the maid. "Have you seen my mom?"
"I saw her leaving yesterday, shortly after you left." She answered.
"And she's not back yet?" A frown appeared on my forehead.
"No, ma'am. I don't think she returned yesterday." Said the maid.
My frown deepened. This was unlike mom.
"While we try to solve the mystery behind Senator-elect Jared Johnson's win at the polls, there's another mystery that has gripped the interest of the public..." The newscaster continued her information-sharing. "...A popular five star hotel in New York has just discovered the body of a woman in their hotel."
My curiosity piqued as the hotel came onto the screen, that was the hotel I'd just left with Jared. Who had died?
"...The police and forensics just arrived at the hotel where the murder had taken place and the body was seen lying lifeless in Suite 406." News continued.
"I was to clean the room about an hour ago." A young guy who looked to be a worker in the hotel spoke with few recorders in his face. "I knocked and when no one opened the door, I got a spare and got in. That was how I found her lying dead."
Ambulance was already in front of the building, medical personnel were caught in camera wheeling a body out of the hotel and zipping the body bag it was already in.
"Her purse was found and we were able to identify her as Priscilla Pillax, the wife of Philip Pillax."
"No!" My steps wobbled as my knees almost gave away.
"What the fuck?!" This was from Martha.
Even the maid paused in her duty to stare at the television in disbelief and shock.
A strange feeling washed over me, making my screams sound far away to my ears. My vision blurred, I shook my head in denial. "No. That's a lie."
Kicking off my heels, my phone in my grip, I made a beeline for the door. My mother couldn't be dead, they were mistaking her for someone else.
I needed to go see for myself. My phone rang the moment I strapped myself to the driver seat. I checked the caller ID.
Jerome.
I picked, wiping tears. "Hello." I could hear the tremble in my voice.
My mom was my support system, I couldn't believe this had happened to her. Ever since my best friend travelled to South Korea to pursue her career, I had no one else to talk to.
"You bitch!" The deep-toned accusation had me blinking.
"What is that supposed to mean, Jerome? See, I'm not in the mood right now. I..."
"Shut up!"
That single, cold command had me clamping my lips. What was wrong with him? "Why are you yelling at me?"
"Where were you last night? And why am I seeing a video of you fucking my friend?!"
"Y-your friend? Which of your friend?" He knew? But why was he saying friend instead of brother?
"Don't play dumb with me Mia! Don't!"
"I don't understand what you're saying. Which friend? I..." I'd fucked Jared not his friend... whoever this friend was.
"Why do I have a video of you fucking Christian Baldwin?!"