3 C.R.I.M.E.S

Chapter 17

Angela POV

Just a couple of weeks ago I felt like I had accomplished something in my life. I helped mend the relationship of two of the most powerful people, not just in the country but the world as well. This was reason for me to walk with my head held high and my shoulders back. The plain old Angela had accomplished something beyond what anyone thought was possible.

Where I walked people rushed out of my way, when I entered my apartment complex all of my neighbours waited for me and greeted me with wide smiles and congratulations. I heard people whisper my name in the same sentence as the mafia leaders names.

That, was my accomplishment.

Not only were things going well with me gaining respect from so many people who didn't even glance twice in my direction before, but the money I was being paid to help my bosses was far more than I know necessary.

But I didn't just do it for the money and the fame, I did it because I wanted my leaders to stay together and I would stop at nothing to make sure that this happened- as would many others who are in the mafia, but I didn't think that it would be this frustrating.

Just when I started to think that we were improving and moving forward. Just when things started to look better and brighter, with them only coming to see me twice a week, arguments were less, and their s*x life was reportedly going well.

As you can assume, I was absolutely devastated and surprised when I heard of the whole "Jacqueline tied her tubes but this wasn't the case because Joseph spoke to the doctor before and they led her to believe that she did but she didn't and now she's pregnant".

I summarised it for you.

We had taken five steps forward but now taken a million steps back.

I sighed, putting on my prescription glasses, looking down at my folded hands and then at my bosses.

"I'm," I began, adjusting my glasses, "not happy about this, I must say," I spoke, trying to keep calm and wash down my irritation towards the pair who were not acting like the two people that I held to such a high pedestal.

I leaned back in my chair, massaging my temples, "I don't even know where I should begin," I admitted, looking at the couple in front of me.

I had respect for them and I feared them as well, but this, this was...absurd and kind of twisted. Like a never ending plot to a teenage series.

They were both quiet as well, sitting silently and away from each other.

"Jacqueline," I began, leaning forward and looking at her, "let's start with you. I understand the part of tying your tubes, let's speak about why you didn't tell Joseph you did it."

"I didn't want to tell him because I was afraid of how he'd react when I did tell him. I knew the consequences of it wouldn't be great, so I chose to delay the process and instead hoped that with time I'd be able to tell him and he wouldn't be so upset," her tone was low. Her usual face which had slight make up on had none today, instead she sat barefaced with her hair braided into two neat rows and her hoop earrings being the sparkle to her relaxed outfit.

"Didn't you think that would make matters worse?" I asked, "that with time he'd want children and it'd frustrate him that you weren't falling pregnant? Therefore this would result in him getting even angrier about your actions when you told him."

She shook her head no, "no, I didn't think of it like that. I thought that with time he'd just get over it and we'd just chalk it up to me not falling pregnant again. It's not like I didn't give him a child, we have Natalya and she can take over after him. I didn't think it was a big deal."

I held my hand up, silencing Joseph who wanted to chirp in and talk. But not this time. It seemed I'd have to put my foot down and help this couple, even if it meant blatantly disrespecting my bosses who could kill me at any moment.

She paused, looking at him and then at my hand that I had raised at him and she simply carried on, "but... I see now that it was wrong, and I apologise."

"You apologise? Jacqueline, you're married, you have a spouse. Any decisions that you make has to be made by the both of you. This is not just something you just say "oh yes, I was wrong, I apologise", no. Joseph and yourself are one, you can't make such a drastic decision without speaking to your husband. That's wrong, and that's not helping you at all right now. How could you think at any point that not informing him about this was okay? This is a marriage we're talking about, not some play by two actors," I shook my head in distaste and disappointment, "apologising won't change the fact that you "tied your tubes"."

I stopped, then turned to pay attention to Joseph, "Joseph, why did you make her pregnant without her consent?"

"I," he paused, "wanted to teach her a lesson."

I tried not to give him a straight face at his answer, "why?"

"Because I wanted children and she didn't tell me about her wanting to tie her tubes so I wanted her to panic and go through all of that stress and panic about how she was going to tell me what she had done."

"So you were enjoying watching her panic and stress?"

He put his hand under his chin, seemingly thinking, "I didn't enjoy it, I...found it amusing."

I scoffed under my breath, I wonder what the difference is.

"When the doctor came to tell you about Jacqueline's request why didn't you do the adult and mature thing to walk into that hospital room and talk to her about this? Why do you have to act so immaturely? Why would you treat this as though this was all a game? Is bringing a child into this world a game? Your wife in that hospital room was vulnerable and afraid because of you. She didn't want more children because of what you put her through. You did not do the right thing and approach her and sit her down and talk to her."

He c****d his head to the side, his eyes watching me and I got no response from either of them and I was glad because all they had to do was say one word and I was going to give them a piece of my mind, not like I wasn't about to do that anyway.

I took off my glasses, looking at the most powerful couple in my country, but just as playful and immature.

"As a woman myself, boss, we experience and deal with a lot, and pregnancy is no child's play. It's a matter of bringing a life into this world. It affects us mentally, physically and emotionally," I said, "so when a woman tells you that she doesn't want to have a child yet, it's your responsibility as a man to understand that and respect that decision because it's not easy. It's hard, it is, and we can't be rushed into things that we don't want to do. Rushing us can result in things like miscarriages, or even abortions."

I took off my glasses and folded them neatly besides me, "are you not understanding what marriage is? Do you two not want this to work? You're breaking your own marriage, your relationship is toxic. Do you understand that?"

It seemed 27 year old, Angela had to pull up her socks and knock some sense into these two. If it was any other time I'd be afraid, and I still am but I had to do something.

"I don't think that you both understand the severity of this situation...things like this can lead even the strongest of couples to a downward spiral towards divorce. This can forever change your relationship and it'll definitely not be for the positive," I cleared my throat, "Joseph, I'm afraid you've really stepped out of line for this one, honestly, going even as far as getting Natalya involved before fixing everything with your wife. That is..."

I stopped, holding my tongue as I looked at the couple before me.

I let out a loud breath, thinking of words to say that could get them to wake up. Thinking of words to say that won't end up with me calling them fools and clowns and then getting a bullet in my head.

"Joseph, Jacqueline," I looked down at their journals which had nothing written since a whole two months ago, "I thought we were making progress, but it seems not. You are in here to make things work between you two. I can't be the one pushing you to fix your relationship, you two need to do that or else with all these mistakes, it seems...this story won't have a happy ending."

"The first thing I spoke about when we came here was communication and it seems you both haven't taken any notes on it, so we're back to square one," I shrugged, "and honestly...I don't know...I don't know if you both will make it in this type of relationship where there is no communication, where there is secrets and where the child is used as a weapon. That's not a relationship, that's just toxic. With all due respect, my bosses, I can't do this if you're not willing to meet me halfway. Your journals are empty, you both refuse to talk, I don't know what to do anymore."

I stopped, taking their journals and giving it back to them, then leaned back in my chair as I fixed the papers around my table and tidied up.

They both were silent which shocked me, I thought by now I'd be lying in my pool of blood.

I felt disappointed in them, disappointed in these people who seemed so great, high and mighty and only for them to stoop this low.

"The fact of the matter is that a child is being brought into this world. It's up to you to decide 3 things," I began, holding up three fingers, "1) to fix this relationship, 2) end this relationship or 3) bring an innocent soul to witness the toxic relationship of their parents."

~~~