Where Loyalties Lie

  “Well, I don’t know what kind of work you do, but if you’re interested in high end retail my job is actually hiring,” he told her.

  Jessica did have some retail experience and she actually liked the work.

  “Really? You think you could get me an application?” she asked.

  “I’ll put in a good word for you,” he said with a wave of his hand, like he owned the place.

  “But excuse me ladies, I have to tinkle,” Marcel said, excusing himself before heading toward the bathroom.

  “It must be contagious,” Olivia said before following behind him.

  Jessica subtly looked over her shoulder and turned back around when she could no longer see Olivia.

  “So, Nina, how long have you known Ollie and Darren?”

  “A few years now.”

  “Are they happy?”

  Nina frowned.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Are they happy? Does Ollie seem to be happy? Does she complain about him? Do they argue a lot? Is he a good man?”

  Nina was quite uncomfortable with Jessica’s line of questioning. Of course she’d noticed things about Darren and Olivia’s relationship that she didn’t really like, but was it her place to share those observations with Jessica?

  “Umm, they seem to be happy. I mean, no one’s happy all the time, but I think they have more good days than bad.”

  Jessica nodded her head while sipping her water. Darren had initially come off as a great guy but after seeing that bruise on Olivia’s arm Jessica had to wonder what he was hiding.

  “Has he ever hit her?”

  Nina swallowed hard and frowned.

  “Of course not.”

  Chapter 11

  “Darren’s not having dinner with us?” Jessica asked as Olivia set the table for two.

  “He has a big case coming up, so he’ll be at the office pretty late,” Olivia replied.

  “Does he work late often?” Jessica asked.

  “A couple times a week. Those are the days that I don’t have to cook and I eat the leftovers from earlier in the week,” Olivia said happily.

  Jessica matched her friend’s smile but she actually felt sad at the thought of Olivia sitting and eating leftovers all alone while Darren was more than likely working on his secretary.

  “Well, warm up those leftovers,” Jessica said, glad that she wouldn’t have to listen to Darren’s ignorance while she ate.

  “Let’s watch a movie,” Jessica suggested once they’d finished dinner.

  “Okay. You pick out a movie while I clean up in here.”

  Jessica did as she’d been told and went into the living room to check out the DVD selection. After scanning through what had felt like a thousand movies she decided on Step Brothers, hoping to get Olivia to relax and to genuinely laugh.

  She turned the television on and listened to the news for a few moments.

  “Victims are robbed and stabbed to death, usually right in front of their homes. This is the fifteenth robbery/murder of its kind in less than six months. Police are urging everyone to take caution and to park inside of your garage if you have one.”

  “Ready,” Olivia said, joining Jessica.

  ***

  Jessica sat up and looked around at the dark living room as she heard a door slam shut. She and Olivia had both fallen asleep about halfway through the movie. The movie had ended by now.

  Darren walked past her and up the stairs, his tie loosened. Jessica checked the time. It was almost eleven o’clock and he was just now making it home?

  She woke Olivia and they both dragged themselves up the stairs.

  “See you in the morning,” Jessica said before disappearing into her bedroom.

  Chapter 12

  Jessica looked around at the dark bedroom as she heard muffled yet loud voices. She picked the remote control up from the bed and pressed the guide button so that she could see what time it was. She sat up in bed, trying to hear better after seeing that it was after 2AM.

  “…And whose fault is that?!” Darren yelled.

  It sounded like Olivia was saying something but Jessica couldn’t make out any of the words.

  “I don’t know what’s wrong with her, but you know better! My business is my business!” he yelled, shaking the walls.

  “I’m sorry,” Jessica heard Olivia say.

  “What’d I tell you about being sorry?” he asked before Jessica heard something that sounded like a loud slap.

  Jessica immediately became upset and had half a mind to march into their bedroom and slap Darren’s ass.

  “You will respect me in my house and that bitch will too!”

  Who the hell is he calling a bitch? Jessica thought, becoming even more upset.

  “How in the hell do you think it looks, her asking if you’re happy? Are you happy?” he asked, his voice booming again.

  “Yes!”

  “You sure haven’t been acting like it lately.”

  Jessica heard another slapping sound and balled her hands into fists. She could have walked into their bedroom and killed Darren at that moment. Who was he to hit a woman, especially her Ollie?

  She felt that this particular argument was her fault for asking Nina those questions, but why had Nina told him? Was she Olivia’s friend or his? Maybe his husband is Darren’s friend or colleague, she reasoned.

  Either way, the rat-faced bitch was out of line for repeating their conversation to anyone besides Olivia. It took all of the self-control that she had to stay in the bedroom and Jessica felt a sense of relief when she heard Darren tell Olivia to go and clean herself up.

  It was really hard for Jessica to fall asleep again. She felt sick to her stomach as she thought about all of the abuse that Olivia must have endured at Darren’s hand. She hated him and there was nothing that anyone could do to change that.

  Chapter 13

  Jessica woke up later than usual but was glad that she had. Darren had already left for work and she had to confront Olivia about him.

  The moment she walked into the kitchen her questions were answered and she didn’t like the answer. Olivia had done a flawless job on her makeup that morning but there was no hiding her swollen lip.

  “So, he did hit you,” Jessica stated.

  Olivia didn’t reply and she didn’t look up from the counter that she was wiping clean.

  “Ollie, look at me,” Jessica demanded, fighting back tears.

  Olivia continued to wipe the countertop, which was gleaming like a freshly waxed floor. Jessica walked over to her friend lifted her face until Olivia was looking into her eyes.

  “You know that you deserve better than this,” Jessica said, the tears she’d been fighting rolling down over her cheeks.

  “Jess, you have to stay out of our business. You shouldn’t have asked Nina those questions,” Olivia replied.

  “I’m sorry, Ollie, but that doesn’t excuse this. How long has this been going on?”

  “You don’t understand,” Olivia said, turning her face away.

  “Oh, I understand. I understand that that bitch Nina isn’t your friend and that Darren deserves to be killed.”

  “Don’t say that!” Olivia snapped.

  “You have to leave him,” Jessica told her.

  Olivia shook her head from side to side.

  “Yes, you do.”

  “Just mind your business, Jess,” Olivia said before heading down into the basement.

  Chapter 14

  Jessica had been skipping dinner and avoiding Darren at all costs, which meant spending a lot of time in the guest bedroom. That’s where she was when she received an unexpected phone call.

  “Hello?”

  “Hi. My name is Gabrielle and I’m the owner of Fever for Divas,” the woman on the other line introduced herself.

  Jessica had no idea who this woman was or why she was calling and her silence made that pretty apparent.

  “Marcel won’t stop raving about you, so if you’re still looki
ng for employment, I’d love it if you’d come in for an interview.”

  Jessica had the urge to scream, but didn’t. She’d been putting in applications all over town and this was the first place that had called her for an interview and she hadn’t even had to fill out an application.

  “That’ll be great. When is a good day for you?” Jessica asked.

  “How’s Monday morning?” Gabrielle asked.

  “Perfect.”

  “Good. I’ll see you Monday. Have a good weekend,” Gabrielle said before hanging up.

  Jessica hung up the phone and bolted down the stairs, like a kid on Christmas morning, almost missing the last step.

  “You all right?” Darren asked, looking up from the TV.

  It had sounded like a stampede was coming down the stairs.

  She looked over at him lounging on the couch and fought the urge to roll her eyes.

  “Yeah. Where’s Ollie?” she asked.

  “She ran out to the store. What’s going on?” he asked.

  Jessica didn’t want to share her good news with him but she decided to be polite.

  “I just got a call for a job interview,” she said nonchalantly.

  “Just?” he asked, a smile spreading across his face. “That sounds like a reason to celebrate,” he told her.

  “I’ll celebrate after I get the job,” she said before turning to head back upstairs.

  Darren jumped off of the couch and rushed over to the stairs. He grabbed her wrist and turned her back around so that she was facing him.

  “Is something wrong?” he asked, looking down at her.

  Jessica wanted to tell him that plenty of things were wrong, but for Olivia’s sake she didn’t.

  “No, everything is fine,” she replied, the words leaving a bitter taste in her mouth.

  “Have you been avoiding me?” he asked.

  “Of course not.”

  “It sure seems like it.”

  “Just trying to stay out of your way,” she said, pulling away from him.

  “What if I want you in my way?” he asked, pulling her body up against his own.

  “Get off of me,” she said as she tried to push him away.

  “Be a nice girl and you might even enjoy it,” he told her.

  Jessica was revolted.

  “Move,” she told him as he reached for the drawstring on her sweatpants.

  “You need to learn to be submissive if you want a husband,” he told her, forcing his hand inside of her pants.

  “I don’t want a husband if he’ll be anything like you,” she spat.

  Darren laughed while trying to get his hand into her panties. Jessica fought him with all she had. He was stronger but she wasn’t giving in to him. She was relieved when she heard a car door slam shut just outside.

  “Don’t even think about mentioning this to Liv,” he warned her. “I mean who do you think she’ll believe anyway? You know, with that whole Mitchell thing,” he said with a smug smile.

  Jessica hated the fact that he knew that she’d done that but she was glad that she was no longer that woman. She watched as he swaggered back over to the couch and flopped down just as Olivia came into the front door.

  Jessica no longer felt the urge to share her good news with her friend but instead felt like she needed to take a shower. She felt so dirty and violated. She wanted to tell Olivia about what Darren had tried to do to her but like he said, who would Olivia believe? Her or him?

  Chapter 15

  Jessica put on a smile as she walked into Fever for Divas boutique. She’d been there for a couple of weeks now and had started to really like Marcel.

  “Hola chica!” he greeted her with a big smile.

  “Hey,” she replied before he embraced her in a hug.

  “You are looking fierce, as usual,” he complimented her.

  “Thanks. You’re looking pretty good yourself,” she replied.

  “Oh, you know that’s right,” he said while snapping his fingers.

  “Thanks again for getting me this job,” she said as he followed her into the back of the store.

  “If you thank me one more time,” he teased.

  “You don’t know how grateful I am,” she told him as she hung up her jacket.

  The job was laid back and it paid well, which meant that she’d soon be out of Darren’s house.

  “I do, and it’s not a problem. I’m just glad you didn’t make me look bad.”

  “Never. But, do you know of any affordable apartments in the area?” she asked.

  “Not really. I mean my place is a steal, but I’m subleasing so… But, you know, Nina might be able to help you out.”

  Just the mention of her name made Jessica sick to her stomach.

  “She in real estate?” she asked.

  “Yep. You should give her a call.”

  “I will.”

  Jessica followed Marcel back out front. The store was empty so they continued to chat.

  “So, she’s in real estate and her husband does what?” she asked, hoping she wasn’t being too transparent.

  Marcel chuckled.

  “That bitter bitch wishes she did have husband,” he replied. “But she’s as single as a one dollar bill.”

  Jessica laughed.

  “Why do I get the feeling you don’t like her?” she asked.

  “Because I don’t.”

  “Why not?”

  “I just never did. Something about her is off, I just can’t put my finger on it.”

  Jessica was briefly happy to have someone in agreement about Nina, but she quickly remembered that Marcel had known Nina longer than he’d known her. After blabber mouth Nina had run her mouth to Darren she had to wonder if Marcel was just trying to get her to bad mouth Nina so that he could run and tell Nina about it later.

  “She seems all right to me,” she lied.

  “You haven’t known her long enough.”

  Jessica had more questions about Nina but had to pause the Q&A when a small group of women walked into the boutique.

  “Good afternoon. Welcome to Fever for Divas, Divas,” Marcel greeted the potential customers.

  The women laughed as they all returned his greeting. The women browsed but didn’t buy any of the overpriced items, which was fine by Jessica. She wanted to get some more information on Nina.

  “Can you write Nina’s number down for me?” she asked, hoping that Marcel would volunteer more Nina related information.

  “Sure thing. Just don’t call her tonight,” he told her as he jotted the phone number down on a piece of receipt paper.

  “Why is that?”

  “She claims to have some sugar daddy that she sees twice a week. Usually on Tuesday and Friday.

  Jessica unconsciously frowned. Those were coincidentally the same days that Darren seemed to have to work late.

  “Must be nice,” she said, forcing up a giggle.

  “He’s probably some old, fat, blind guy,” Marcel replied.

 

 

  Chapter 16

  Jessica never did call Nina, but she quickly found an apartment. It was further away from Olivia than she would have liked, but everything in Olivia’s neighborhood seemed to cost an arm and a leg and she had a pinky finger budget.

  “I’m proud of you,” Olivia told her as Jessica packed the few belongings she’d accumulated since moving to town.

  “Thanks for everything Ollie.”

  “Anytime.”

  Jessica placed her things onto the back seat of the 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix that she’d recently bought from an old white woman. It was old but it ran well, and that’s all she needed at the moment.

  She was torn about leaving Olivia in the house with that monster that she called a husband, but she planned to prove that he was having an affair with Olivia’s so-called friend. Hopefully that would be the final straw and Olivia would finally be strong enough to leave Darren.

 

  Chapter 17

  “What a
re you doing tonight?” Marcel asked as he locked the door to the boutique and flipped the sign around so that it said closed.

  “Nothing much,” Jessica replied.

  “Are you sure?” he asked with a big smile.

  “Yeah. Why?”

  “Because you now have no excuse not to come out with me.”

  Jessica couldn’t tell Marcel what she had planned for that night and she immediately regretted telling him that she didn’t have any plans. He’d been asking her to go out with him and a couple of friends and she always had an excuse.

  “Maybe next weekend,” she told him, placing her hand onto her flat stomach.

  “What’s your excuse this weekend?” he asked.

  “I’m bloated. Don’t act like you haven’t noticed,” she said, poking her stomach out as much as she could.

  “Ummm hmmm. I’m gonna keep asking until you give in,” he told her.

  “I know.”

  ***

  Jessica checked the time on her cell phone as she sat across the street from what she assumed was Nina’s house. She’d followed Darren there from his office. It was almost eleven o’clock and she hoped he’d be going home soon. She was cold and sleepy.

  She sat up in her seat and pulled up the camera on her cell phone as the front door of the house opened. She snapped pictures one after another, not even sure what she was taking a picture of. Her heart started to pound harder as adrenaline coursed through her body.

  Darren was standing on the porch and kissing someone. No matter how she craned her neck Jessica couldn’t make out who his partner was. She’d just about given up on getting a picture of the other woman but she remained in the doorway as Darren walked to his car, which was parked in the driveway.