Chapter 5: She is My Wife
1304 Words
Orion took a few steps towards the window and stopped to face me. "What do people like Caspian cherish the most above anything else?'
I pondered over his words, sorting through memories of Caspian and I's short marriage. "It's his reputation," Orion stated.
He walked back to me and sat himself on the bed. "A billionaire like himself cannot afford to have his reputation tarnished before the public eye."
Bitterness filled me as I thought of how the divorce had destroyed mine.
"The best way to get revenge is to drag him down to the mud." Orion went on.
Social mishaps, spilled secrets, a large threat to his business. I listened, picking up every detail of his suggestion as he went on about how those plans could be unfolded.
"Mommy!" Kenny's voice jolted me out of my thoughts.
"Good morning, sweetie."
"Good morning, mommy." He greeted me. Slowly, he pulled the blanket away from him, and a suggestive smile appeared on his face. "Can we eat pizza today?"
"Only if you eat your broccoli," I said and Kenny squeezed his face in disgust, causing me to laugh.
Today was my day off from work and I was going to savor every moment to spend quality time with my son. The thought of my conversation with Orion 4 days ago brushed through my mind again. I was quick to dismiss the idea. Yes, Caspian was an asshole but getting revenge was something I never thought of.
Getting down from the bed, I squeezed myself into the kitchen space to get down to making breakfast. Almost immediately, a knock came on the door.
"How can I help you?" I asked, opening the door as my eyes fell on the 3 people standing at my doorstep; a man and a woman dressed in suits, and an officer behind them.
They exchanged looks between themselves before turning to me, scrutinizing me from my face down to my feet. I shifted uncomfortably. I was still dressed in my pajamas with my hair rolled up into a messy bun.
"What do you want?" I asked again. They remained silent. I could feel my impatience brewing up.
They handed me a piece of paper to answer my questions. "Child protective services?"
"Odessa Cooper, We have reasons to believe that your son is not getting the proper parental support that the regular American child is supposed to have." The man stated.
"What are you saying?" I asked, perplexity slipping into my face, as anxiety slowly followed behind.
It was the woman's turn to speak. "A survey is done every month to make sure that children are being raised properly."
"What we are saying, madam, is that given the pathetic condition of living," She looked beyond my shoulder as her eyes pierced into the studio, a grimace expression forming on her face, "And your inability to provide the necessary emotional and moral support, leaves us no choice but to request you had over your son."
"What?" I asked in utter disbelief. "Is this a joke or something?"
"This house is." The woman added, maintaining seriousness.
"Now, will the little boy come out?" She asked, checking for Kenny who hid behind me. "Come, boy. We're going to take you somewhere nice."
She tried to walk into my apartment, but I pushed her away. "You can't take my son away from me."
"It's in the papers, miss. Just cooperate" She said, her voice building with irritation.
My mind raced with several thoughts, as I held onto Kenny, who was becoming frightened. There was no way they were taking Kenny from me.
"We thought this would happen." The woman pulled back with a sigh. "I'm afraid we'll have to use force."
"No!" I screamed in protest as the officer sprang forward. "Stay back!"
"Leave him!"
Pushing me away, he took hold of Kenny who cried in fear.
"Get your hands off of him!"
I could feel my entire world crumbling down, as they took Kenny away from me. I charged at the officer, yelling at the top of my voice, punching my tiny feasts at his large frame.
The man beside him pulled me away with such force that I went springing across the bed. Hot tears streamed down my face.
My eyes fell on my phone and I took hold of it, dialing up the number of the only person I thought could help. "Orion?"
"Odessa. Is everything okay?" He asked. The despair in my voice was eminent.
"No. Child protective services is here. They want to take Kenny away from me." I blurted out in frustration.
"What?" "Hold on, I'm coming over."
~
"Odessa!" Orion's thick voice rang through my ears as he got down from his car, springing into my driveway. I was still struggling with the child protective services, who were more determined than ever to take Kenny with them.
"What is going on here?" Orion asked. His eyes fell on me. My face was melting with tears.
The woman in the suit glared at him in displeasure. "Sir, I'd advise you not to interrupt us. We're only doing our job."
"You're trying to separate a mother from her child."
"Because the mother in question is unfit to look after him!" She sneered back at him, and my heart sank into my stomach.
"Orion, please don't let them take Kenny away from me." I pleaded, despair filling my voice.
Orion heaved a sigh. "Look, let's just talk about this!"
"There is absolutely nothing to talk about!" She was more adamant than ever. "The only thing that can stop us from taking that boy is if she has a partner to support her in the child's care."
"Which she doesn't." The woman added.
All hope seemed to be lost; they began bundling themselves up in the vehicle, and my heart shattered into a million pieces.
"Wait," Orion said, his voice steady, despite the chaos swirling around. The sneer on her face faltered for a moment and he seized the opportunity. "You think you can just walk in here and try to tear apart a happy family?"
"And who might she be to you?" the woman asked, folding her arms at him, ready to put up a fight.
"She is my wife!” Orion announced. My eyes bulged in surprise. "And legally and emotionally, that makes Kenny my son!"
"So you have no right to interfere in our matters." He added.
A wave of silence fell over the atmosphere. The woman's determination was pinched. She looked between Orion and me, and her eyes fell on the house. "Well, we cannot ignore the pathetic condition of the house."
Orion pulled out a piece of paper and the woman ran her eyes through it. "This is the receipt of my penthouse and she will be staying with me," He said.
Another wave of silence fell. The office and the other man with them all looked at the woman, unsure of what to do next.
"If you try to meddle with the affairs of my family from now on, you will be hearing from my lawyer." His face was more serious than ever, his voice filled with determination.
The woman moved back, fear flickering in her eyes. "leave the child alone." She said.
I ran to Kenny as her colleagues released him, planting endless kisses on his face. I could feel Orion's presence behind me.
"We are terribly sorry for the inconvenience." The lady said, shutting the door of their vehicle.
When they had finally zoomed off, Orion playfully ran his fingers through Kenny's hair "Are you okay, my boy?" He asked. Kenny nodded in response, his fear slowly slipping away.
I stared into his deep brown eyes, a sense of relief and security washing over me. "Thank you," I said, my voice falling into a whisper.
- Writer
