CHAPTER 5

On the day before Michelle's wedding, Beverly excused herself from the bustling preparations and took a cab to Logan Square. Jake, an old-time friend rented an apartment there.

"Bev," he said when he saw her. "It's been ages."

Beverly stood on his porch and smiled. "It's just two weeks, Jake."

Jake pushed the door to his apartment open and Beverly walked in.

"Are you here to finally say you love me as much as I do?"

Beverly rolled her eyes. Love was nothing compared to wealth and affluence. "I may have a job for you."

"A job?"

"Yeah."

Jake sat down and watched Beverly.

"I want to ruin a lady's wedding."

Jake didn't conceal his amusement. "A lady's wedding, you say?"

Beverly sat down. "She took the man from me."

"And you want me to help you get your man back? Why should I do that, Bev?"

Beverly placed her hand on his. "Trust me."

He stared into her eyes and it was almost as though he could read every unspoken word. "What happens to me?" he asked.

"Let's make this a success first."

Jake thought about it for a while. "What do you want me to do?"

Beverly smiled at her fortune. "It's easy."

***

Michelle was having her bridal shower with a few friends she knew from college. She was adorned in a velvet satin gown with a sash across her body. Together, they toasted her farewell to singlehood.

Michelle was hoping to retire for the day when Beverly walked into the room with two bottles of alcoholic drinks.

"No!" Michelle injected. "I'm going to have a terrible hangover by morning."

Beverly ignored her and took a spot beside her. "We're going to get drunk together, love. It's your last night with me…and we've come a long way."

All Michelle wanted to do was sleep. "Yeah…but I want to sleep."

"Guess who else is partying all night with his friends?... Yes. Oliver Shane."

Oliver Shane, the man she wanted, the man Michelle had stolen away.

Michelle had never shown interest, even from their first meeting and it amused Beverly how she had stylishly taken him from her. After dinner on that fateful day, Beverly took his business card and kept it hidden from Michelle's reach. Oliver kept to his promise of coming to watch one of her performances. After the show, they dined, and Beverly thought she had gotten a rich and handsome billionaire. Not until the day he came to take Michelle on a date. Beverly hid her feelings from Michelle and hoped whatever was going on between her housemate and Oliver would die naturally. But it didn't.

Tonight, was the only opportunity she would get to set up the right path.

She pushed the uncorked bottle towards Michelle, despite her complaints.

"Just a bottle, Mich."

Michelle resigned, considering Beverly's feelings. She knew Beverly was going to miss her a lot and she could afford to satisfy her every whim for the night.

"Fine. Just a bottle."

Beverly raised her bottle towards Michelle's. "To the future." The glasses clicked and Michelle forced the distasteful drink down.

"This tastes horrible," she remarked.

"Come on, babe," Beverly urged. Michelle took another gulp. Beverly watched her and waited for the effect she wanted.

A few minutes later, she passed out. Beverly swung into action. Jake was waiting in his car outside their apartment. She moved to the window and signaled his entrance. It was easier to undress her off her bridal garment. She was naked when Jake walked in. He took off his clothes until he was left with his boxers. Then he lay beside the unconscious Michelle. Beverly took her first shot.

He positioned himself over her and Beverly took her next shot. After five successive shots, Jake got down from the bed and wore his shirt.

"You owe me big time," he emphasized.

"I will never forget. Thanks for this."

Jake stared at the naked form of the lady he didn't know before exiting the room.

Beverly watched the pictures for any errors before sending them to Oliver.

***

Michelle raised her head when Robert peeked into her small office.

He glanced at the time. "It's almost 7, Mich."

Michelle pushed her back to the chair and heaved deeply. "I'm not done. Mark hasn't got the patience to wait until tomorrow."

Robert walked in. "How many documents are left?"

"Two. His tax records for his Los Angeles and Vegas companies are completely invalid. I'm afraid trying to cover up these will further put the firm in trouble."

"I'll go through the documents tonight. You can start heading home." Robert saw her smile and it warmed him up. Perhaps, that would be enough motivation to stay up at night to finish Mark Grinner's files.

Michelle stood up. "Thank you, sir. I'm sorry I wasn't able to finish this." Michelle was preparing for an upcoming presentation at Washington and Thomas Bernard was seeing to it that she was fully prepared. After hours of detailed narrative on what the event was going to be about, the dignitaries present, and the precise words she was going to declare, she was left with a few hours to face the mammoth files on her desk.

Robert placed his hand on her shoulder. "I understand. Thomas can be unnerving."

Michelle couldn't disagree.

"Have a goodnight, Michelle."

Michelle smiled again and her tired face lit up beautifully. As Robert watched her, he wondered why his friend could not love and respect a woman as beautiful as she was.

Michelle grabbed her bags. "Goodnight, sir."

She was looking forward to going home and meeting the cold atmosphere Oliver created. But her feet walked towards her car and the wheels turned in the direction of Harlem avenue.

***

When Beverly saw the headlights of Michelle's car, she buttoned up her blouse, and walked into the kitchen, occupying herself with an apple on the table. Oliver remained in the sitting room, feeding his eyes with the magazine he had been reading that morning.

Michelle stepped into the room convincing herself that she was returning to a loving husband. She stopped at the entrance. Oliver did not raise his head from the magazine. Her heart sank and she prayed for strength to live another night with Oliver Shane.

"Babe, I'm home," she announced.

Oliver was too pained to respond to her. He thought about what Beverly had told him a few hours ago and the many tales before then.

How could Michelle betray their love?

He barely grunted a response and continued flipping through the magazine. Beverly pushed her head towards the door and watched for a while before she stood up. Michelle was still standing when Beverly walked into the room.

"Bev…" Michelle said. "You came."

"Just a few minutes ago. How was work?"

Michelle sighed. She wished Oliver was the one asking. Then she would have told him about all her fears, stress, and anxiousness. "I had a full day."

"How's the Perry's case going?"

"We're hopeful."

Perry. The name nauseated Oliver because all he thought of was the man sleeping with his wife in Cuba. And the thought angered him even more.

He stood up and walked out of the room. Michelle watched him with a heavy and sinking heart. Fresh tears began to form in her eyes.

"Don't do this, Michelle," Beverly begged. "It's not worth your tears."

Michelle wiped the tears and her voice trembled under the overwhelming feeling of hurt. "I wish he would let me know where I've offended him."

Beverly embraced her. "Just give it some more time, Mich. He'll come around and it will be a peaceful family again."

"It had never been peaceful or happy, Bev. And you know that."

The memory of their wedding night was still freshly ingrained in her memory as though it was yesterday. Oliver had been smiling when he took her hand and made the promises of eternal love, and when the reception was over, Michelle looked forward to the consummation of their marriage. She had taken a light shower and appeared before her husband in a white, transparent, mini gown. Oliver simply looked at her and called her the most demeaning name. Bitch. He never explained the reason why he called her that and every other degrading name months after.

"I'm so sick of these…and I keep holding on because I love him." She looked into her friend's eyes. "Why can't he see that I love him?"

"It's just a phase."

"It's no phase." She plopped down on the sofa and wiped more tears away. She knew Oliver was cheating on her with another woman. It was the woman who was taking away all his affection from her.

Later that night, she slid beside him and backed to him. Oliver stared at the wholeness of her body. He wanted to cuddle his wife and love the woman he saw at the restaurant two years ago, but she wasn't the woman lying beside him.

Michelle waited and prayed for his touch. She longed to hear him call her name. But as the minute hand made a complete cycle, she knew it was going to be another lonely night. Now she let the tears drop and she sobbed quietly under the duvet.