Chapter Two
1339 Words
“Sheila-“
Sheila interjected Lionel with a lazy wave of her hand, she was hurt beyond words but chose to ignore it.
“I came for the files Carla.” Sheila announced as she caught sight of it on the table across Carla. She walked past them and snatched the file, taking a sharp breath, withholding her urge to scream and have a meltdown.
She knew it was exactly what Carla wanted and it was just too much to take in so without a word, she made her way out of the room.
“Sheila!” Lionel called after her.
Sheila paused, her teary eyes lit with a glimmer of hope.
“Lionel, come to mama!” Carla called out.
Sheila saw the smugness in Carla’s eyes and Lionel’s hesitance. She turned on her heels and walked away, Carla’s loud taunting moan trailing right behind her.
Sheila burst into tears as she got into her car, she wept loudly, pain cascading her existence. She was hurt, her last chance of having a mate had been sabotaged, just like the first two.
The water washed over her from head to toe in the shower, the memory of the stranger she saved flashed across he eyes, his touches lingered and it soothed her, momentarily.
That evening, she received a text from her father, it was short and concise.
The party is tomorrow evening, don’t mess it up.
**********************
Sheila sighed for the umpteenth time as she covered her face with layers of makeup and her dress kept sliding over her shoulders, she picked out the dress barely a week ago but misery and pain made her look sickly and thin.
‘I don’t want to be here.’ She murmured.
As if on cue, her phone rang and she picked the call.
“Where the hell are you? The guests are arriving!” Priscilla, yelled.
“I’m on my way mom.” Sheila mumbled then hung up.
Fifteen minutes later, she arrived at the venue and spent the first ten minutes ordering the workers around, checking in with the caterer and mentally preparing herself for the night.
“You’re late!” Priscilla barked.
“I’m sorry Mom, I feel sick.” Sheila lied.
Priscilla flared her nostrils and snickered. “You look horrible, are you trying to embarrass me tonight?”
Sheila had no intention of explaining to her mother that the elegant black square neck long sleeve midi chic polyester gown she wore was one of a kind and her white open toe heels cost her a fortune, her mother had a way of belittling her, everyone did.
“I’ll go welcome our guests.” Sheila said, excusing herself.
For half an hour, she transformed into the most welcoming hostess, having to deal with some lewd remarks, passive aggressiveness and insults from some of the guests whom she recognized to be Carla’s friends.
Seeing Tyler walk in, Sheila was infuriated and ready to kick him out but Priscilla walked right past her to welcome him.
“Tyler! You made it!” Priscilla uttered, flashing him wide smiles.
Sheila frowned slightly as he approached her.
“Sheila, can we talk?”
“What do you have to say? She seduced you?” Sheila spat, angrily.
“It’s not my fault we didn’t work out Sheila, I didn’t mean to hurt you.” Tyler explained.
Scoffing, Sheila shot him a deadly glare.
“Can you do me a favor? Could you put in a good word for me to Carla, I really love her and-“
Pah!
Tyler’s words trailed off as Sheila slapped him hard across the face, seething in anger. “How dare you?” She barked.
“What are you doing Sheila?”
Sheila’s fists curled into a ball as she saw Carla walking up to them, hands intertwined with Lionel’s.
“You little wench! How dare you cause a scene, aren’t you ashamed?” Priscilla rushed over.
“Why is he here?” Sheila barked, pointing at Tyler.
“I invited him.” Carla uttered.
Sheila scoffed lightly. “You invited him?”
“Yes, he’s a business partner and your history with him won’t stop us from making money.” Carla inputted, rudely.
“I’m sorry Tyler, apologize to him right away!” Priscilla demanded.
Sheila guffawed. “He betrayed and humiliated me and you want me to apologize instead?”
“It’s no one’s fault you couldn’t keep your mate!” Carla sneered.
“No.” Sheila refused.
“You’re embarrassing us Sheila, you’ve attracted unnecessary attention, apologize!” Priscilla insisted.
Sheila laughed in disbelief then scowled at Lionel. “So you’re with her now?”
Lionel avoided her gaze and cleared his throat. “I apologize on her behalf.”
“Don’t you dare make such apologies!” Sheila fired back, her voice rose an octave higher, drawing all attention to the scene. She was breaking apart, stealthily and didn’t know how long she could bear it.
“Don’t raise your voice at him.” Carla cautioned.
“I’ll raise my voice however I want!” Sheila retorted.
“Sheila, you’re being disrespectful and-“
“Enough, Mom, enough with the lies and charade, can’t you see? Why are you doing this to me? She slept with my first mate, made my second mate leave me and I’m somehow the problem here?” Sheila cried out in desperation.
“It’s not my fault they left you Sheila.” Carla said, calmly yet her tone was laced with sarcasm and bitterness.
Pah! Priscilla slapped Sheila hard on the face, huffing angrily. “You disgust me!”
“Why do you have to be dramatic and ruin things for everyone Sheila? I wanted to announce my engagement and our partnership but you had to ruin it!” Carla called out, feigning innocence.
Lionel tenderly held Carla and hugged her, saying soothing words to her.
“Sheila, I know you’re upset and you have every right to be, I betrayed your trust but I can’t live a lie, I love Carla not you, I’ve never loved you to begin with and we’re engaged so don’t take it out on her, please.”
“There’s no need to apologize to her Lionel, it’s her fault she can’t keep a man!” Priscilla barked.
“How is it my fault when she slept with him, I’m the one who’s being wronged here, can’t you see that!” Sheila yelled, forgetting all sense of demureness. She grabbed her mother’s arm and shook them, desperate for some solace but a strong arm pulled her away and another stinging slap landed on her face.
Shakily, Sheila looked up to see her father, red-faced.
“You’re a disgrace, I wish I never had you!” he spat, venomously.
Sheila laughed loudly like she was rabid and stared at Carla. “I’ll never agree to this union, he’s my mate.” She swore, vehemently.
“You may be his mate but I’m the one he loves.” Carla bragged, subtly.
The murmurs and accusations triggered Sheila, tired of being looked down on, of being hurt by her family, she did the unthinkable, she charged at Carla and scratched at her face, causing a commotion, she clawed and kicked violently at her, pouring out her frustration and anger but she was pulled away by Lionel.
“Get away from her you bitter wench!” Lionel cursed.
“She hit me!” Carla cried out.
Infuriated, Lionel sauntered towards Sheila with bloodlust visible in his eyes. “No one hurts my woman!” he growled, his fingernails were now replaced with claws, his fangs visible and his aura turned deadly, he raised a fist, ready to land a blow on her.
Sheila recoiled, terrified of this side of him and awaited his attack but suddenly, the atmosphere became suppressing, making it impossible to breath and an imposing aura overshadowed his.
“Touch her and I’ll crush your bones into a fine paste.” A masculine vice growled.
- Writer
