The Love Liza Never Knew

The Dinner

I moved around the dining room trying to make sure I had everything set perfectly. Johan is bringing some work colleagues home for dinner. Johan made it very clear this morning that everything had better be perfect or it would be hell to pay. After triple checking, I headed to the master bedroom to get ready. Looking through my closet, I found a silky black cocktail dress with matching heels. I checked the time and it was 6:45, so I still had time to take a bath. Running the bath water, I slowly climbed in since my body was still sore from Johan's rage fit. Once I was out, I looked in the mirror and tears waded in my eyes as I touched my bruised cheek that was still tender from that morning.

I have no idea how we got here. Maybe I was blinded by the charm or maybe I fell so fast that I didn't see the red flags. I was fresh out of law school, I worked my ass off all through school, unlike all the other students, I didn't come from money. I was standing in line at my favorite coffee shop when he approached me. I was in shock. Why would a man that was as fine and built as him be talking to little ol' me? He gave me his number and after a month of texting and talking on the phone, I finally took him up on his offer to go on a date. He took me to a super expensive restaurant and wined and dined me. After that date, we were inseparable. I was consistently at his penthouse. Johan was my first,, so when he asked me to marry him after only a year I thought that all my dreams were coming true. We got married in Paris, a small intimate wedding. My parents were so happy and proud of me. Slowly but surely the real side of Johan started to come out. I will never forget the first time he raised his hand to me. I called my mother to tell her what happened and her first question she asked was what I did to provoke him. She went on to say that I should be grateful to Johan and to keep him happy. That is my job. I was heartbroken by her response. I hung up the phone and from then on I did my best not to upset him, but that didn't stop him from going on his sprees of rage.

I finished applying my makeup to cover my bruised cheek and applied my red lipstick because it is his favorite. Looking myself over one last time, I headed back out to the dining room, lighting the candles and putting out the hot food since everyone should be arriving soon. Around 9pm, I got up to grab my phone and I didn't have any missed text calls and sent him a message.

"Hey baby, it's getting late, is everything okay? Dinner is ready and everything is set".

I text and press send. No response, another two hours passed and I was sitting in front of a table full of food looking foolish. Around 12 midnight, I heard the front door open and in came a drunk Johan.

"Hey baby" he says. "Johan, where have you been? I texted you multiple times.' I asked.

"I went to have drinks with the guys after a late meeting. Why are you questioning me!" Johan yells.

"Baby I'm not, you told me to make dinner and have it done by 8:00. Now all this food is going to go to waste, that's all I am saying".

Johan rushed me and I was now pinned up against the wall and I knew where this was about to go. I closed my eyes and braced myself.

"I'm going to pour myself a drink, get up and clean yourself up. Make sure you put on something I like!" Johan demands.

I pulled myself up off the floor and went to the restroom. Grabbing a rag, I cleaned the blood from my nose and lips, then changed into a silky nightgown. When I came out into the bedroom, Johan was in bed waiting for me. I was hoping he was sleeping because, unlike when we first met, s*x is anything but gentle. I climb into bed and Johan is all over me. I closed my eyes waiting for him to finish. Once he rolls off of me, I climb out of bed and head into the dining room and start to clean up, because I know if he wakes up, the morning won't start off right and it will be another reason for him to go into a rage.

It takes me a little under an hour to get everything cleaned and back organized. I head back into the room and Johan is completely out. I softly climb into the bed and I lay my head down when I start to feel some vibration. I moved the covers back and it was Johan's phone. I grab it and I can't help but to look at it and it says he has a message. I pulled down on the screen and it was a message from his assistant Bethany. "I had so much fun tonight baby. I wish you would just leave that b***h of a wife so we can be together! Love you". I read the message and I can't help but be crushed. I sit at home all day waiting for him to come home to be his punching bag and he's out here with this girl giving her the best version of him! I cry myself to sleep hoping that when Johan gets up he will just leave for work not to wake me.

The next morning, Johan wakes me up to fix him breakfast and coffee. I don't fuss about it, I just roll out of bed and do what I am asked. In the kitchen, I began to prepare Johan a pepper and onion omelet along with some bacon and started the coffee. Once finished, I make his plate and coffee and take it down to his study. I knocked and waited for him to tell me to enter.

"Come in, sweetheart."

Johan yells. I opened the door and he looked down at his laptop. I placed the coffee and food on the side of his desk and turned to head back out.

"Liza" Johan calls in a soft tone.

"Yes, my love" I answered.

"Maddie reached out to me and said that she missed you. I told her that I would give you some money and you guys can go shopping today since I'll be working from home today", Johan states.

My eyes go wide as if he is speaking a different language.

"The car will be here to get you in an hour. Go get dressed and don't forget to fix your face" he said.

I gave him a smile and walked over to him, giving him a kiss on the cheek before turning to leave. The last thing I want is for him to think I was being ungrateful, plus the wait for me to see my best friend is long overdue.

I rushed to the closet, picking out a beautiful royal blue dress with heels that matched. I am super excited to finally be getting out of this damn penthouse. I take my shower, then blow dry my hair since I am going to wear it down today. I do my make-up perfectly so that Maddie won't be able to tell that my face is bruised. Once I am all ready, I hear a knock on the door and Johan lets me know that the car is downstairs waiting for me. I grabbed my purse and my phone and swung the door open. Johan is by the front door waiting for me. He hands me an envelope with money in it and his black card just in case and, for a slight second, it feels like old times. He pulls me into a kiss and tells me to have fun. When I get downstairs, the car door swings open and a screaming Maddie jumps out.

"Lizzzzz Omg I f*****g missed you" Maddie screams as she pulls me into a tight hug.

"I missed you, Maddie, this is long overdue! Lets go" I said, pulling Maddie into the car.

Soon as we got into the car, I sent her a text telling her any girl talk we have to save it because Johan driver will report back everything we say. Maddie read the message and she gave me a nod. We keep the conversation light and I mainly listen to her talk about traveling the world and all the different projects she's been working on. I can't lie. I envy her. Maddie always talked about how she wanted to make a difference in the world. When she found out I was planning on settling down with Johan, she was totally against it. She wanted me to live my life and experience freedom. I would say I have never seen Maddie as pissed as she was when she found out that I wasn't going to take my bar test after going through all the s**t I went through with law school. Johan paid off all my student loans and wanted me to be a house wife and I obliged.

We finally arrive at the shopping strip and the driver lets us out in front of a little boutique Maddie requested to go to. We get out of the car and Maddie grabs my hand and yells.

"Lets go spend your rich husband money!"

We got inside and Maddie was moving around like crazy. I looked over a few things, but honestly, I don't leave the house much, so I have no idea when I am going to wear these things.

"Earth to Liz! I know that's not all you're going to get. Girl, come on with your body. You literally look good in anything. Here, try these on. Come on."

Maddie pulls me into the dressing room and she hands me all these clothes. She's telling me about some guy that she's been dating and how she thought he was weird at first, but he's been the ultimate lay of her life. She's going into details about all the "weird things" they have tried when all of a sudden she stops talking. I was so into her story I didn't think not to change in front of her because of the bruises.

"Liz, what in the hell" Maddie questioned.

"Its nothing Maddie, I fell." I respond.

" Fell my ass! Liz, look at me, has he been putting his hands on you? Is that why you have on all this damn make-up?" Maddie questions.

At that moment, I couldn't talk, the tears just started to flow and Maddie pulled me into a hug and I sat and cried on her shoulder. After a few minutes, Maddie asks me why I didn't tell her sooner. I explained to her that I didn't see the point in telling her. I told her about what happened between my mom and I and what was said and she told me that my mother was wrong, that any man that really is supposed to love me would never put his hands on me. I explained to her that he does love me. He just loses his temper sometimes. Maddie doesn't bother trying to talk some sense into me. She tells me that she's here for me no matter what and if I ever want to get out, she is just a phone call away. I thanked Maddie and we both got up off the dressing room floor and continued on with our day. We went to a few more stores and then out to lunch. I don't wanna press my luck with Johan, so our last stop was the Gucci store. I grabbed two purses and a wallet, I got Johan a new wallet, belt, and a new pair of dress shoes.

Once back in the car, the driver drives me home first. The doorman gets all my bags out of the car and I give Maddie one last hug and she whispers in my ear for me to call her if I need her. I gave her a smile and got out of the car, heading up to the penthouse. I open the door and the doorman places my bags inside the door. I gave him a tip before locking the door and grabbing my things and heading to the bedroom. When I opened my door, I walked into a damn surprise. Bethany is in my f*****g room riding my husband. I dropped my bag and tears instantly came to my eyes. This is why he wanted me out of the house today and why he stayed home from work.

"Johan" I yelled and he popped his head up and gave me a death stare.

" Liza, what in the hell are you doing here? Go to the living room and wait for me to come out".

I stood there still and dumbfounded, wondering if I had thought what I thought I had just heard.

"Liza now!" Johan yelled.

I rush out of the room and go to the living room where the tears start to fall uncontrollably. How could he! Why would he disrespect me and bring this woman into our home? I can't believe what is happening right now. About fifteen minutes later, Johan walks out with Bethany and walks her to the door, giving her a kiss goodbye. I couldn't believe my eyes. He shuts and locks the door and walks over to me.

"Why can't you simply just follow directions?" Johan asked.

"Excuse me? Maybe you should have just told me to stay away all day so you can just screw your assistant in our bed." I rebuttal.

I can see Johan's anger start to flare.

"Johan, if you want her why don't you just leave me and go and be with her?" I questioned.

I guess that was just the thing to send him in to one of his fits. Johan grabs me by the throat and pushes me back, squeezing tighter.

"You listen to me and listen to me clearly. You are mine to do as I please. Don't ever question me again or it will be hell to pay. Now go get changed and get dinner started!"

Johan let me go right before I blacked out. He heads down the hallway, slamming the door to his study. I get up and go change my clothes and grab Johan's gifts I bought him. I knock on his study door and he yells come in. I open the door and walk in and I place the Gucci bag on his desk. He opens the bag, looking at the gifts I bought him. Johan smiles and then gets up, walking around the desk giving me a kiss on the forehead before dismissing me. I headed out to the kitchen and got started on dinner. Once dinner was done, I set the dining room table and Johan came out and we ate. The night ends the same way as always with Johan on top of me before I cry myself to sleep.