TOBY.
"You three seem to be having a very interesting conversation." My Father stated without any humor.
"Yes, we were until we were rudely interrupted." My mother replied to him.
"What is your name, young lady?"
"Yasmin."
"Yasmin who? I don't remember seeing Yasmin when I signed off on the guest list. Who invited you?"
"I invited her, she's my new talent, a model." My mother answered quickly before Yasmin can think of a reply.
"Our clothing brand could do better." He said.
"My clothing brand you mean and she is perfect for the job. Young Influencer marketing is all the rave these days, old man," and they continued their usual bickering. I used the opportunity to get Yasmin away from the situation.
"I said to lay low."
"I was bored." She whined.
"What am I going to do with you?"
"I can think of a few things." She cooed coming closer. "Wait, are you wearing makeup," she said,looking at me weirdly.
"It's a long story."
"So that's a yes," she chuckled, "I'd love to hear your long story tonight when we are done with other activities of course."
"I don't think I can come tonight."
"Why, so you'd rather be with the fatty?"
"Of course not but we need to be careful."
"Is that why you left me all alone last night? You can sneak into my room when it's late, no one is going to notice."
"A lot is at stake here, our future is at stake. We must be cautious."
"I know but that doesn't mean we can't have a little fun. Last night was so cold and long without you."
"We should return to the party now, mingle with other people. Us being together like this will raise suspicion."
"Fine!" Yasmin said before walking away from me.
After a long day having business discussions and networking with our guests, I head back to our suite eager to take the make-up off my face, not something I ever thought I would do. Thankfully, Aiden was able to get the marker remover delivered for me. I fetched it from the front desk before heading back to our suite. I decided to give Ruby the silent treatment. She would have expected yelling or a few tantrums from me but I decided to give her the bigger person act and strike when she least expected it.
I could tell she was nervous as I went about my business, I washed my face in the bathroom and then sat on the bed to read the instructions behind the marker remover. It said to massage the product on the affected area, and leave it in for thirty minutes before washing out.
RUBY.
Toby had embarrassed me times without number throughout our marriage so I thought to return the favour. Using a permanent marker on his face while he was sleeping was a bit juvenile but at the time, it was funny. I had it all planned out, running out of the room before he found out and it was so funny when I heard him yell my name, the satisfaction I felt was unmatched.
Now, watching him rub the creamy substance on his face so calmly is sucking the fun out of the whole situation. I was nervous about his reaction but the last thing I expected was this. His calm facade was making me feel guilty and a little scared because what could he possibly be planning to do next? I didn't think I could sleep with my two eyes closed tonight but I settled under the covers anyway. Toby emerged from the bathroom freshly showered and dressed for bed with a clean face and a saintly look on his face, he was definitely up to something.
His calmness transcended into the next day, as we had brunch with our families and prepared for our departure. When we are alone, he did not say a word to me but when we are among company, he gave the usual loving couple performance. Well, two could play that game, my silent mode was on for our trip back home. After brunch, my father cornered me before I could escape to my room to pack.
"When will you stop being mad at me?" He asked.
"I'm not mad at you."
"Yes, you are." He stated.
"I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed," and that was a fact. "How could you sell me off like this?"
"This marriage is for your own good too. You have more to benefit than the rest of us." Was the only lame-ass excuse he could come up with.
"Oh, please save me the excuses."
"Will things ever get back to the way they were?" He asked sadly.
"I don't know," I answered truthfully.
*********
Immediately after we got back home, I headed straight for my room to unpack, rest and prepare for school the next week. I had some assignments to be submitted and some fine tuning to do on Aiden and my project. After working for almost three hours, hunger drove me out of my room to the kitchen with thoughts of warming up my leftover pasta on my mind.
"I know you lack simple human courtesy but someone should have told you that you don't walk into someone's home and raid their fridge," I said to Yasmin who was sitting on the kitchen counter, eating the leftover pasta I had planned to microwave and eat. This was food I cooked with my own two hands, I was beyond livid and her silence was heightening my anger. Without a second thought, I slapped the plate on the table and it landed on the floor with a thud.
"How dare you? This is my man's house so it is as good as mine and I can decide to eat anything I find in the fridge without being harassed by some whore!" She yells.
"Between the both of us, who is the whore? Please judge for yourself."
"I only see one whore here, forcing herself on someone who does not want her and it's not me." She answered coming to stand face to face with me.
"Reality check bitch, I'm the married one here and you my friend are the mistress. Like mother, like daughter, I guess." She answered me with a slap and I lifted my hand to slap her right back but my hand never landed. A furious-looking Toby held my hand up standing between us.
"Move out of my way, let me fuck this bitch up," Yasmin yelled from behind Toby.
Toby turned towards her, holding her in a strong embrace as she tried to rush toward me. I tried to act tough and stand my ground but deep down I wanted to run.
She kept up the struggle for a few minutes before giving in to his embrace and breaking down in tears. At that moment I pitied her, maybe I went too far by saying that but then, she's not a saint and she has said worse things to me, we were all victims in this situation.
"You know what, I'm sorry I said that, I shouldn't have brought your mom in even though you speak trash about mine severally. I should be the bigger person and not stoop so low. So I'm sorry, but Yasmin, learn to stop riling me up, I'm not the Ruby of before that you can say all sort of Mena things to." I simply said as I walked away, leaving her in Toby's tight embrace as they both looked at me like I was a devil.
Talk about people who can't take what they dish out.