Chapter 34
Troy
I yelled Monica’s name again, as if she could hear me, until I watched the cab turn the corner and disappear from view. My breath disappeared from my lungs as if someone had punched me in the gut. I couldn’t shake the look that was on Monica’s face as she stood in my apartment just now. There was so much hurt that it made me ache. I almost hailed a cab to go after her, but I wouldn’t know how to explain what she just walked in on. I didn’t know myself, but I was about to find out.
I looked up at my apartment building, knowing Veronica was on the top floor, and my anger began to pool in my stomach. Anger at her. Anger at myself. It was my fault she was here.
At my parents’ party, she had spilled a glass of white wine down the front of her dress. She made a big scene and had everyone doting on her. Everyone except me. Yet, she still insisted I take her back to my place, which was only a block away, so she could change. I told her no, but she put up a fuss. I didn’t want her taking away any more attention from my parents’ big night, so I gave in.
We walked the block to my apartment, Veronica gabbing away as if she had forgotten all about her ruined dress she had just been fretting about. I remained quiet, and let her own words entertain her.
Up in my apartment, she spun around slowly as if taking it in.
“God, I haven’t been here in forever,” she said.
She had lived there with me when we got married, but I had it renovated since she left. I couldn’t leave the view, but I didn’t want anything that reminded me of her or our failed marriage, so the place was gutted.
“I hardly recognize it,” she said.
“I made a few changes, since—”
“You left me,” said Veronica softly.
“I didn’t leave you. I made a decision that was best for the both of us. It just wasn’t a decision you liked.”
She walked to where I stood near the entryway and draped her arms over my shoulders, her eyes on mine like a huntress.
“We had some pretty good times though, didn’t we?” she asked, pressing her body against mine. I could feel the dampness of her dress seeping against my suit.
“Veronica…” I started.
She stood on her tiptoes and grazed her lips against my ear.
“Like when you could have me any way you wanted,” she whispered.
Her hands trailed down my back and around to my stomach, moving down. Lower.
“You could still have that,” she whispered, her fingers grazing against me through the material of my pants. “I want that.”
I closed my eyes, lost in her touch for a second. It had been so long since I had been touched like that. That I had been wanted. I had been drowning in my loneliness since Monica had come and uprooted my life before leaving it.
Monica.
My eyes shot open.
“Well, I don’t want that,” I said, taking a step back and grabbing her wrists, pulling her hands away from me.
“God, you used to be fun .” Veronica rolled her eyes.
“I’m going to get you some clothes, and then you’re gone. Understood?”
“So bossy,” she said, taking a step toward me. “It’s sexy.”
God, she was relentless.
I turned my back to her and walked down the hallway, listening to make sure she wasn’t following me. Thankfully, there was only silence. I walked into my bedroom and into my master closet. I was rummaging through some old shirts and sweatpants when I remembered I still had a box of her clothes somewhere. I didn’t know why I hadn’t gotten rid of it over the years. I must have forgotten.
I reached up to the top shelf of the closet and pulled the cardboard box down, wiping the dust away. I pried open the flaps and started going through it. I found a sweater and a pair of jeans, amongst some memories I had hidden away, like a Polaroid from our wedding in the little chapel in Vegas. I didn’t feel anything as I picked the picture up. That was enough for me to know that a divorce had been the right decision. I made a mental note to have the box sent to her apartment.
As I walked back to the living room with her clothes, I could have sworn I had heard the elevator doors ding. And that was when I saw Monica standing there. And now she was gone. I wondered if she had even been here at all. It seemed like such a quick flash of a dream. But it was real, and it was more of a nightmare.
As I rode up the elevators now to confront Veronica, I wondered why Monica had been here in the first place. Maybe she missed me as much as I missed her. Any hope I had in that had been torn apart because of my persistent ex-wife.
The elevator doors opened and I stormed in to find Veronica sitting perched on the couch, still in lingerie.
“You’re back,” she said with a smile.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I asked, my voice raised.
She lay back on the couch and arched her back, the lace of her bra barely containing the pink surrounding her nipples.
“Trying to show you how much I need you, Troy,” she murmured.
She grazed her hands over her breasts, slowly working them down her toned torso to where the creamy lace grazed just under her navel.
“Stop,” I said sternly.
“Stop what?” she asked innocently, keeping her eyes on me as her hand trailed lower. Her fingers met the lace of her panties and began swirling slowly. She let out a quiet moan.
“Veronica. Stop.”
“Touch me, Troy,” she said in a breathy voice.
“Fucking stop!” I yelled.
She sat up suddenly and looked at me, her eyes boring into me. “What the hell is your problem?”
“I’ve told you over and over again. I do not want you. Why can’t you get that through your head?”
“It’s her, isn’t it?” she asked, her voice narrowed.
The seduction was gone from her eyes, replaced with a vile hatred.
“This has nothing to do with her,” I said.
“You’re lying,” she snapped.
I sighed and looked down at the floor in frustration.
“Looks like she’s gone now though,” she said with a breathy sigh.
I looked up suddenly, registering the satisfaction in her voice. She had a faint smile on her lips.
“What did you do?” I asked slowly.
Veronica studied her nails as she crossed one long leg over the other. “What ever do you mean?” she asked innocently.
“Why was Monica here?”
“I haven’t the faintest clue.” Veronica shrugged.
Thoughts ran through my head as I tried to piece it together. Then my eyes landed on my phone on the coffee table. Veronica’s eyes followed mine and she quickly reached for my phone, but I was faster. I snatched it from the table.
“Troy…” she said cautiously.
“Shut up.”
I opened my phone and went to my text messages. The most recent thread was with Monica. I quickly opened it.
SOS.
Sent from me almost an hour ago.
I couldn’t believe it. I had been stupid enough to leave my phone here in the room with Veronica, and she had been vile enough to pull something like this.
Monica hadn’t come here to tell me she missed me. She came because she thought I needed her. Probably for a work emergency. The fact she came at all, and at this hour, made this whole thing hurt even more. I couldn’t imagine how she felt walking in and seeing Veronica here, practically naked. She probably thought I invited her over to rub it in her face. I couldn’t bear the thought.
And Veronica just sat here, on my couch, in my home, looking so proud of what she had just done. There was no remorse to be found in any inch of that long body. She was truly evil. I wondered how I could have ever fallen for such an awful woman.
My face flushed with anger.
“How. Dare. You,” I said.
“Oh, come on, Troy. It was just a little joke.”
“Well, your sense of humor is fucked.”
She rolled her eyes and stood from the couch, putting her hands on her hips as she looked at me.
“She isn’t right for you, anyway. She’s a low-life. A personal assistant. She’s not a part of this world,” she said, looking around.
“What world is that?”
“One that doesn’t accept people like her. ”
“Do you even hear yourself, Veronica?” My voice rose at her audacity.
“I did you a favor. You can thank me later.”
“There won’t be a later,” I snapped, storming down the hallway.
“Troy!” she called after me. “Where are you going?”
I walked quickly to my master closet and grabbed the box off the floor. I wouldn’t send it later. She would take it now. She would take it and herself out of my life tonight.
I carried the box into the living room and slammed it down on the coffee table.
“What the hell, Troy?” she asked, jumping slightly backward.
“I want you gone. Out of my home. Out of my life.”
“You don’t mean that…”
“I do. I’m tired of your games. I’m tired of you trying to weasel into my life, by using my mother to do so. Stay away from her. Stay away from me.”
“But—”
“No buts,” I interrupted. “You will stay away from me. If you don’t, I will file a restraining order.”
“You can’t be serious…” she said, her eyes wide.
I gestured to the box. “Take your shit. And get the hell out.”
She opened the box and picked up the Polaroid that sat on top of the pile of clothes and jewelry. She studied it for a few seconds before looking at me. I could have sworn there were tears in her eyes, and this woman never cried. Not when I found out she cheated on me. Not when I filed for divorce. Not even when her own father died.
“Troy…” she started, her voice shaky.
“Take. Your. Shit. And. Get. The. Hell. Out,” I repeated.
She swallowed hard and went to grab the box, but then remembered she was only wearing lingerie. She looked down at herself helplessly before I threw her jeans and sweater at her. Quickly, she slid the sweater over her head and shimmied on the jeans, avoiding looking at me. She picked up the box, struggling to hold it. I didn’t care. I showed no offer of help as she stumbled slightly toward the elevators.
She turned to look at me, blinking back tears. I couldn’t feel anything for her. No remorse. No reprieve. No love. My face remained blank. My lips tightly pressed together. When she saw she was getting nothing from me, she stepped into the elevator and then she was gone. Hopefully, for good.
I walked to the couch and sunk into it, putting my head in my hands as I ran my fingers through my hair. This night had been hell. I had unintentionally hurt Monica, probably irreparably. Any thread of hope of us ever finding our way back to each other had been cut clean by a sharp blade. I doubted I could ever talk my way out of this, even if she did give me a chance to explain. I had lost her. Truly lost her.