C5 Despairing

Exhaustion overwhelms me, and I drift into a deep sleep. Maybe hours has passed until someone gently wakes me up.

"Mrs. Linda your grandmother came through surgery just fine and is in recovery. They moved her out of the ICU to the step down unit. Third floor. You are allowed to visit her now."

The nurse says.

"Ohh thank God ! Thank you very much for the update !"

I take the lift to the third floor and find her unit. It’s a private suite. Though, she’s hooked up to tubes and is intubated, she looks better than I expected.

"I’m so grateful to see you, granny ! I’ve been so worried about you."

Rosy is not here. The machines whir and beep , which is the only response I get.

"I thought I was going to lose you , just like Mom and Dad."

I take a seat beside her bed in a comfy chair, enjoying the precious peace.

"Please wake up soon, granny ! You can’t just sleep until New Year. I know how much you hate addressing Christmas cards. I was sure you were going to leave me to do it all alone this year."

She can’t talk with the tube in her throat, but I note the corners of her eyes crinkle as they always do with her signature smile. There is a couch in the corner of the room, where I sleep, afraid to leave her side.

Three days later

I am completely dedicated to looking after granny, and I’ve noticed that Riley has sent me a few texts, but I haven’t had a moment to check.

"I think today is the day that tube can come out."

The beautiful nurse says.

"Finally, I’m sure she has a lot of to say. Granny is not one to be silenced."

"She’ll be hoarse for a few days, and have a wicked sore throat, but she’s a miracle patient. Even the doctor was amazed at how well she is doing."

"Nothing keeps a McKenzie down long."

I say proudly.

My granny continues to improve, and things finally seem to be going my way. I actually begin to believe my own words.

"Nothing keeps a McKenzie down, and that includes me."

"I have no doubt you’ll be back on your feet in no time. And take down that bastard of ex-husband and the backstabbing bitch when you do !"

These are the first words my granny has spoken since being extubated and I laugh until I cry.

"Granny, you know always the right things to say, but I don’t know exactly how to do that yet."

"Don’t worry, we’ll come up with something together."

"I don’t know if I should be in awe of you or terrified."

At this moment, my phone suddenly emits a sharp alarm sound. Someone seems to be violently breaking down the gate to my estate.

"What is going on ?"

There have been a lot of people coming and going over my home. They are trampling my plants, leaving trash behind and causing chaos.

"Someone’s running our home ! Those bastard ! I won’t go easy on them this time."

I arrive at my home and find my front gate forced open, and uniformed men are busy loading my possessions onto a truck.

"Are you aware of what you are doing ?"

Two men walk past me with expensive paintings and some antique calligraphy that’s been in my family for generations.

"We’re just following orders."

"Whose orders ?"

They toss the valuable art into the truck like it’s nothing more than trash.

"An Ivy Peabody. She said if anyone had any questions, to take it up with her."

My heart plummets into my stomach. I can only watch helplessly as the guitar my father’s birthday gift to me at the age of 7 , Is violently thrown into the trunk.

While I haven’t managed react, two more workers approach with a family portrait, the last one I have of me and my parents before they passed. They toss it into the truck and I hear an ear-splintering crash as the glass shatters.

"Hell no !"

The workers pause to stare at me , one of them even giving me a challenging stare , as if daring me to say something.

Clearly, they are expecting to make a scene and I won’t give them satisfaction. But this is not over, either.

Granny is right I need to retaliate.

I determine the best approach is direct confrontation and head back to my car, planning to go straight to Ivy’s house.

I halt when I catch a glimpse of my reflection in the car window. I look like a train wreck. Wrinkled, disheveled clothes and messy hair from days at the hospital.

I glance at my front door and the men carelessly hauling my belongings out and know I can’t go in there and change right now.

This is it. Overnight, they took away everything from me , and I become a completely disheveled person.

Just then I spot Rosy lugging a box toward her cottage behind the villa. The place she’s called home for as long as I’ve been alive.

"Linda, give me a hand with this."

I rush to her side and help her carry the box inside.

"What’s all of this ?"

"Just a few things I was able to rescue when they weren’t paying attention."

I glance inside the box and my heart stutters to a stop , then takes off at a gallop. Because inside are my designer clothes, heirloom jewelry and other valuables that have been in my family for generations.

"Rosy, you are a lifesaver!"

"Well, these bastards aren’t about to get everything."

"How did you get them , though ? I thought they took everything."

"They were too busy high fiving themselves to pay attention to the old caretaker."

"Well done Rosy !"

A few minutes later , I arrive at Ivy’s house and close my car door just a little too hard before marching up the front walkway.

The door opens before I even have a chance to knock. She’s holding a toddler on her hip as she looks me up and down.

A smirk pulls up the corners of Ivy’s mouth.

"Well, don’t you look like a breath of fresh air ?"

James comes from behind, still in his sharp suit . But now I know everything, and my gaze could also kill him like a knife.

"You seems especially tired today."

Before I can anything more, the toddler reaches out his arms toward James.

"Daddy! Candy."

"Daddy ?"

I asked shocked.

Ivy puts the child down and pats his rear end. She didn’t seem nervous at all.

"Saphir run along, let daddy and mummy talk to this woman."

I’ve known Ivy for most of my life, how did I not know she had a kid ? And when was she pregnant ?

"Really ? Taking my company and my reputation wasn’t enough ? Now you are going after my family heirlooms ?? What the actual fuck is wrong with you two ? You both need to get some help . This level of hatred is not healthy."

"Oh we are just getting started ! You always portrayed me as the man in our relationship needing to be in charge."

James says.

"Are you for real right now with that patriarchal bullshit ?"

"You diminished me at home, in the company, with our friends. Why do you think, I wanted someone like Ivy? After all these years, as the most dedicated employee of Memorata , I know so much than you. But why is all the recognition going to you ? Why does everyone believe I’m merely benefiting from your success ? I no longer wanted to be known as Linda’s husband ! Memorata needs a strong and powerful leader, like me !"

How could I’ve been so blind and foolish ? How did I never see what monsters these two were ? I’ve loved them both like my family for years.

I’ve had enough of both of them, and my emotions overtake my better judgment.

I slap James hard across the face. The sting in my hand radiates up my arm , but I smile.

"That felt good !"

James grabs my arm and twists me as he yanks me toward the front door.

"Ivy said to get out. You are going down for your crimes."

"Crimes ? What are these imagined crimes you think I’ve committed ?"

"Harming others, illegal entry into our house and more. You are going to jail."

"Oh my God ! You are completely unhinged."

"Well, we will see about it."

He pulls out his phone and dialed a number, then he tells the police he has an intruder.

"Okay fine, I’m leaving but this is not over."

"Listen I don’t know how to manage to get Susan into the VIP. But when you go to jail, I can’t guarantee what she’ll go through."

Ivy says.

"Keep my granny’s name out of your filthy mouth !"

"Oh darling ! She has been a grandmother to me too, I won’t be to harsh on her."

"How did I never know how purely evil you are ?"

"Okay, I’m not the evil one in this story, Linda. That would be you."

The sirens grow gradually as the squad car must be soon to get closer.

"Susan’s mental state is sadly always unstable at the moment, isn’t she ? “

"I’m not playing this game with you."

"Bad luck, sis ! Talk to your inmate."

Just when I went thought I’d already hit rock bottom, someone ripped the bottom out from under me.

I crouch down fearfully, waiting for the police to push me down, while the laughter of James and Ivy in the distance sounds brazen and mocking.

"I didn’t not actually call the police. I just wanted to scare you. You can leave now."

"Great, just when things are started getting better."

As I squeeze out of their home, I’m still drenched in cold sweat, looking pale as if I’ve just recovered from a serious illness.

I take out my phone and finally dial that number.

•Phone call

-Hello !

-Riley. It’s Linda here. I… I might need your help.

I’ve been trying very hard to control my emotions, but there’s still a noticeable quiver in my voice coming through the phone.

-Send me your current location, I will come as far as I can.

With in 30 minutes, he appears. I feel relieved as his hands slowly lift me up from the ground. I look at him very awkwardly, unsure of how to explain the current situation.

"I…"

"I’m getting you out of here. Everything will be fine."

We stand by the roadside waiting for Riley’s driver to approach, and I take the initiative to break the silence.

There is an overwhelming amount of gratitude, and I find myself at a loss for words. Just before getting into the car, it dawns on me that I have no idea of where he intends to take me.

"Where are we going ?"

"Obviously, my home. There’s no more suitable place than there."

I arrive at Riley’s house, noting his diner appears to be on the table.

"I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt your meal."

"It’s fine . I’m done. In case you are angry feel free to take something from the kitchen."

I notice Riley unbuttoning his shirt as he heads toward the bathroom.

I have no way of properly paying him for what I am about to ask. I don’t know if this is what he wants in the end, but… All I have to offer is myself.

Summoning all my courage, I approach Riley, getting close enough to smell his cologne.

"Do you always smell good ? "

My hands tremble as I reach out to help him unbutton his shirt. But he brushes my hands aside.

"What are you doing ?"

The look he gives me is a pure indifference. I had no idea it was going to be this hard. I’ve got nothing left but my dignity. Might as well throw that out, too.

Reaching back, I unzip my clothes and let it fall to the ground, wearing nothing but my underwear and bra.

The indifference is immediately replaced by a look of red-hot desire that gives me the courage I need.

"I need your help, Riley ! Not only do I want to get my company back, but I want revenge, too. The most satisfying kind of revenge."