Chapter 20
1085 Words
I took in my surroundings in the dark, filthy cell. There were four other guys in the room. One of them tried to engage me in a conversation but I snobbed him. I wasn't in the mood for such.
I sat in the darkest corner of the poorly lit room. I was cold and I trembled violently. My clothes stuck to my body and I wanted to get out of the s**t-hole with immediate effect. I wondered if anyone would bail me out since very few people knew about my arrest.
But I really didn't give a f**k. I had nothing to lose.
I leaned on the wall behind my head and closed my eyes in deep thought. An image of my son came to mind. Young, bubbly and sun kissed. He was barely seven months old. It still baffled me that Isabella had gotten pregnant by me.
I remembered that day, when it all happened, when s**t hit the roof.
*********
I walked into my office and found Isabella swinging on my chair, mirror in hand, applying another layer of lipstick on her already sickeningly red lips. She turned to look at me when I entered and smiled. She was the creepiest thing I had ever seen. She disgusted me to hell and back.
"Good morning boss. I like your suit." She had an insincere smile on her painted face. I briefly wondered how Sam, her boyfriend from university, had put up with her. She was a real pain in the ass.
So was he, to be fair. The deserved each other.
"Get your ass off my desk." I took off my jacket and slung it carelessly onto a chair.
"In a minute. I want to show you something." She winked and I knew she was up to no good.
"Isabella, I've had enough of your bullshit. Just get your the hell out of my office." My rage was building at an alarming rate. If she didn't leave immediately, I was going to drag her out.
She stood up and walked towards me, her thighs obvious under the satin dress that she wore. She slipped an arm around my neck and kissed me on the lips. I pushed her and she reeled backwards, barely managing to balance on her heels.
What the hell was wrong with her? She knew that I hated her guts. She was very aware the reason she worked for me at all was because she was blackmailing me.
She stood there, arms akimbo, breathing heavily. She stared at me for a moment then sat down in my chair.
"Look here, Jack. I have enough evidence to send you to jail for life. You are at my mercy."
I eyed her with pure disgust
"I don't know who you think you are but I'm not scared of you. I already gave you a job. Do your worst."
She stood up again and moved close to me.
"I need one more thing. Just one more and I'll leave you alone."
"What do you want?" I snapped at her.
"Tonight, meet me at that new restaurant in the CBD."
"Absolutely not."
"You're at my mercy, Jack. I'm calling the shots here. 7pm. Be there, or your corruption scandal will be the cover of the nine o'clock news."
"I'll take my chances."
"Will you though? I wonder what sweet Julie will feel about this; her one true love plastered all over TV for the biggest scandal in this country yet shortly before the police knock on your door, put you in cuffs, probably her as well." She tapped her chin thoughtfully as she stared at me. "You know how this country runs, right? Guilty by association till proven innocent?"
"On my God, shut up!!!"
"I'll make it look like she was involved. I'll put her away forever alongside you. Don't play with me, Jack. You have no idea what the f**k I'm capable of."
"What is wrong you? What do you even want from me?"
"Dinner. That's it." She walked out, smiling at me over her shoulder. "I'll see you at seven. Wear a suit."
**
At 7pm, I was seated directly opposite Isabella in the said restaurant. I was very uneasy, especially at the thought of keeping this from Julie. I had toyed with the idea of just telling her the truth but in the end, I decided that was simply out of question. Julie trusted the s**t out of me. She adored me to a fault. To her, I was the most wonderful man in the world, and the idea of breaking her heart with the truth simply ruined me.
I knew she would freak out if she saw the damning videos. She would clobber me, then dump my corrupt ass. Probably call the police on me. No way I was going to risk that.
I looked at Isabella in distaste and she smiled. She knew she was going to win.
And she did.
Not only did I drink myself silly just to bear being in her presence, I also woke up in a hotel room, naked, with a splitting headache and a smug Isabella lying beside me.
The details of that night always eluded me, but that was the worst day of my life.
I loathed myself for it.
*****
(Back to present day)
Two days after I was locked away in a cell, I was brought to the present when a police officer opened the door. He stared at us with mean eyes for a moment.
"Who is Jack?"
My heart skipped a beat. What was he up to?
"That's me."
"Stand up."
I rose up timidly.
"Get out."
I walked outside and he locked the door and led the way. We walked into the OCS's office and the officer walked out, leaving me with the fat balding guy.
The OCS smiled, a crooked smile. His teeth were brown and his eyes bloodshot.
Huge smoker, I supposed.
"There is a lady who wants to talk to you."
I raised my eyebrows in surprise. Was that allowed in police stations? He seemed to read my unasked question because he answered quickly.
"She's like super rich, very popular. We're just doing her a favour." Then he winked.
Whoever she was, she must have bribed him with a fortune worth a bag of diamonds. His phone rang and he checked the screen before handing it to me.
I received the call and cleared my throat.
"Hello?"
"Jack."
Shit. Unbelievable. It was Julie's voice.
- Writer
