THE OTHER WOMAN

Chapter 9

Isabella quickly gained her equilibrium and without any warning she flung herself at me, screaming obscenities. I almost stumbled backwards but I held my ground, standing to my full height and looking down at her. I had been half expecting her to come here and seeing her full of rage made me smile inwardly. It only meant one thing, she was feeling the heat of my actions.

She attempted to slap me but I held her arm firmly and twisted it until her face screwed in agony. I let her go and she slumped on a chair cursing and screaming at me.

"You f****d up witch! What the f**k is wrong with you? Why can't you leave us alone?? Its been a year. A whole f*****g year! Move on and leave Jack alone you jealous whóre!"

She was getting hysterical. She took a paper punch and hurled it at me. I moved quickly and it hit the glass wall behind me, denting it a bit. I had had enough. I picked the office phone, I was going to call security before I was tempted to tie her up and beat her to pulp.

She rose up and wrung the phone out of my hand, slamming it on the desk. I eyed her coldly, a small mean smile playing on my lips. Seeing her mad and out of her mind because of me was a wonder to behold. She was practically breathing fire.

I was fighting hard to keep calm and I fisted my hands tightly to keep myself from slapping her across her face. I let her rant to her fullest.

"Look at you! Can't you accept that Jack doesn't want you and leave us alone? Why are you so f****d up? What are you, a f*****g b***h-witch??"

She paced the office, slamming everything she could lay her hands on on the walls. I looked at her with little interest. I wanted to say the Lord's prayer, since the gods seemed to be favouring me.

"If you want to hold a conversation with me you better stop acting like a psycho. Take a seat, or get the hell out of my office." I spoke calmly, calmness that I didn't feel deep within. I was seething with hatred and bitterness.

God, I hated her!

"Who do you think you are to order me around? Who the f**k do you think you are? Huh??? Don't you dare tell me what to do. Do you hear me?" She screamed while moving towards me. I was tempted to slam my fist into her belly but I didn't want to jeopardize my plan.

"Sit down Isabella," I stood and looked at her straight in the eye, my gaze unwavering, staring her down and she cowered a little. I pushed her into a chair. she tried to protest but I gave a warning look.

She stopped struggling. She just stared at me, tears streaming down her face. It was a pretty sight to me. My inner demons were having a party, toasting and quacking over the silent desperation in her eyes.

I moved to the cabinet and poured myself a drink. I thought of offering her some but quickly decided against it. She didn't deserve it.

"Julie, why are you doing this to us? You have everything anyone could ever want to own. Why?" She asked quietly, crossing her hands over her lap and staring at me.

I looked at her for a moment before I turned to my window and stared at the city below, sipping my whiskey slowly.

The streets below were busy as ever. Cars honked noisily and I felt loneliness and emptiness engulfing me. I envied the people on the streets below. They were happy and contented in their daily hustles.

I was not.

I was a mere shell, angry and broken.

I knew why Isabella was here. I was slowly executing my plan. I wasn't going to back down. I turned around to look at her and an image of her invading my wedding, wearing a wedding gown identical to mine and daring Jack to marry either both of us or none of us came unbidden to my mind. My thoughts went back to that fateful day when I ran out of the church, barefoot, crying, my gown sweeping the ground behind me.