TOXIC ATTRACTION

TOXIC ATTRACTION EPISODE TWENTY

TOXIC ATTRACTION

EPISODE TWENTY

I was nervous, I knew Richard would not take it lightly if he found out that I was there and also it was not going to go well with Nerea and my parents as well. Whatever was between Mark and me was only a fling that was not supposed to last but why did I feel good around him, why did I feel like he should have been the one and not Richard?..

I nervously paced inside Mark's bedroom then stopped and stuck my ear on the door to try and hear what the two were talking about but I could not. I was afraid that Richard had come to confront Mark about what Diana had said but what did it matter anyway. He told me that he didn't love me and he didn't have a choice but to marry me meaning I still had a choice to be with whoever I wanted to be with, why was I hiding and if Mark truly loved me, why did he choose to hide me when Richard showed up?.. I was confused.

I sat on the bed and patiently waited for them to be done. My stomach was rumbling and I was all of a sudden so hungry.

Nerea didn't sleep that night, she turned and tossed in bed and all she wanted was to make sure Robina stayed with Richard. She was going to do whatever it took. The music was loud and Diana and her friends seemed to have a lot of fun, something that bothered Nerea. She wanted to tame her daughter to be like Robina but Diana was already too wild to listen to anyone. She lived in her own world and did everything she wanted to do with her life. After their father died, Diana spiraled and found herself in a dark place. She mourned him and ended up doing drugs and making all the wrong decisions. Nerea was tired of her and so was everyone in the family.

Cleopatra had cooked and she went to get Robert from the bedroom so that he could come to eat his supper. The argument that broke between them and Robina did not make things any better...not for them and certainly not for Nerea. Robert was afraid of what Robina would do with the information she had about Richard's father and the stuff he did for him.

Robert got up and sat on the edge of the bed as Cleopatra stood there watching him. She knew there was a lot going on with him but the way she knew her husband, she knew better than to ask him questions because it would somehow end up in a good beating. Robert was a wife beater for ages and it's one of the reasons Cleopatra never had any more children with him. She did not want to bring more children into the world and leave them motherless and vulnerable when Robert finally threw the blow that would send her six feet under. She was always cautious around him and she knew when to keep quiet. It was however different with Robina. She was never afraid of him but Robert also didn't want Robina to know that he bit up Cleopatra to a pulp. Most of the time he would, Robina was away.

Robert: did you talk to your daughter when I was away, about the abortion?

Cleopatra: no. Robina doesn't open up to me and when I went to her closest friend, she did not have nice things to say about her.

Robert: then she will force me to deal with her the hard way.

Cleopatra: which is?.

Robert: drag her back to her husband and make sure this time she stays there for good. Even if it's the last thing I will do with my life.

Cleopatra: you understand that these choices you are making out of your selfish gains are the reason we are in this mess in the first place?

Robert turned to look at her with not so pleasant eyes. He got up from the bed and she stepped back. He walked toward her and she left the room as they both headed to the living room. She was safe a few steps from Robert.

Cleopatra had already set the table and when Robert sat, she served his food and stood away from him.

Robert: you are not eating?..

Cleopatra: how can I when I don't know where my daughter is, and you? I never truly knew who you are all those years in marriage. You trafficked young girls for money, were you being serious about everything you said?

Robert: don't question my judgment, the last time I checked I'm still feeding you and you only grow fat with no carrier and nothing that can put food on the table. I did what I had to do.

Cleopatra: I think I'll pass dinner. When you are done eating, you can put the plates on the sink so that this fat good for nothing wife will do the cleaning after you.

She left him at the table and went to their bedroom quite upset.

Richard continued eating as he waited for Mark's response. He paused for a second and noticed Mark's eyes on him like he was thinking about something evil.

Richard: I asked you a question bro, did you and my wife...

Mark: I don't know what you and Diana are trying to do but I think Robina deserves some respect. I kept her company because you asked me to and if I knew that would translate to these accusations I would have focused on other things.

Richard stopped eating and fetched the water from the basin. The basin had been placed not so far from his wheelchair. He washed his hands then put the basin down and focused on himself.

Richard: you are right. That was rude and judgemental then besides, Diana has a way of making up things only that I don't know how she would benefit from all the lies.

Mark did not say anything to that. Richard told him he was leaving and he got up to see him off. He helped him push the wheelchair out of the door but before he could go far, Richard stopped him.

Richard: don't worry about me, I gave someone in the car.. he'll help me.

Mark nodded then let go of the wheelchair and stood by the door.

Richard: I'm sorry for showing up and inviting myself for dinner.

Mark: you are my guy, you know you are invited here anytime.

Of cause, he did not mean that, not with Robina becoming a frequent visitor.

He started to wheel his chair away as Mark watched before getting back into the house. He shut the door behind him and took a deep breath then locked the door before he went to clear the table. Robina was still upstairs sleeping on the bed and holding onto her stomach.

Richard got outside the gate, got up pushed the wheelchair towards the car, got it in, and got on the driver's seat. He sat there for a while thinking about him ambushing Mark on a day that could have been a good date night. He felt stupid that he did not find any sign of Robina or any woman at all. Why would Diana accuse his wife of such?

"You are losing it Richie you don't even love the girl"

He told himself as he started the car and drove off.

I heard the door open and when I saw Mark walk in I got up and he sat at the edge of the bed. He looked disturbed but he tried to hide it with a smile that I could read through. He caressed my arm then gently caressed my face and planted a soft kiss on my forehead.

Me: is he gone?

Mark: yes.

Me: what did he want?

Mark: to find out if you are here.

Me: and?.

Mark: I told him you were not.

Me: why, don't you love me?

Mark: I do. You know how I feel about you.

Me: yet you choose to hide me like something illegal.

I pushed his hand away then got up and got out of bed. I picked up my phone and my handbag and then started to walk away but he caught up with me and stood in my way.

Mark: come on baby girl, you know that's not true. Would you have rather I told him you being here or about us?.

He said brushing his fingers on my arms then when I was speechless he pulled me closer to him and held me by the waist.

Mark: if it were up to me, I would show you to the whole world and tell everyone how much I'm in love with you. I find you attractive, amusing, everything I've never seen or felt for a woman. If you want me to claim you in front of the whole world, just say the words love, I will do it.

I took a deep breath and somehow his touch was calming my nerves. He said everything my ears wanted to hear and even though I was mad at him, I wasn't ready to be a referee between him and Richard.

Mark: I'm sorry...

Me: don't be. I overreacted...

I walked back to the bed and sat. He sat beside me and he looked worried.

Mark: I feel like I spoilt a lovely evening.

Me: it wasn't your fault. You had good plans.

Mark: Well, we ate the fish, I had half of it left for you, I also ordered pizza. I know you are hungry.

Me: yes I am.

Mark: Great, let us get that stomach full, I promise to make it up to you...

We left the bedroom for the kitchen to prepare some tea as we waited for the pizza delivery.

Richard opened the door to the room where Santos was keeping Tosh company and Santos was still awake even though Tosh had already slept because of the pain he was feeling.

He got into the room and sat on a chair beside Santos.

Santos: you look like you did not find what you had gone to look for.

Richard: yeah. I don't think Mark would betray me.

Santos: and him. You need to make a decision. Will he be able to keep your secret?..

Richard: I don't know...

Santos: you need to know. With spies coming to investigate your business, you will still do a lot of killings, will he be on board with that?

Tosh: you know your conversation is not private at all.

He said opening his eyes and looking at Richard and then at Santos. He sat up and rested his head on a pillow.

Tosh: I've always kept your secrets, I told you I freaked out and I should not have gone to the cops. I'm on your side and you know that, if I wanted to rat you out to your family I would have done so already.

All the while he was talking, Santos kept tapping the gun on his knee...

The following morning I opened my eyes to Mark's arm wrapped around me. Our faces were so close that I was literally breathing the same air from his nose. I looked at him in his sleep and he looked handsome, I drew his eyebrows with my fingers and he eventually opened his eyes and when he found me watching him he smiled.

Me: good morning...

Mark: Good morning..did you sleep at all or you spent the night looking at my handsome face.

Me: you are so full of yourself. You wish you were handsome.

Mark: I'm not.

He said getting up and tickling me into uncontrollable laughter.

Mark: I'm not handsome huh?..

Me: you are...I swear you are... please stop!

He made me promise not to say that again. He pulled me up and we sat on the bed facing each other. I was in his t-shirt while he was in his sweatpants but bare chested with cubes on his chest. If I didn't know better I'd say it was show off because the last time we were together, he only had a few.

Mark: how are you feeling?

Me: a little light headed because of the wine but I'm good. You?.

Mark: it is not every day I wake up next to a beautiful woman.

Me: a beautiful woman who should get going.

I took my phone from under the pillow and on checking it I had a missed call from Richards' mother. The expression on my face changed. Seeing a call from Nerea sent cold chills because it reminded me of the deal my father made.

Mark: by the look on your face I could tell that you are not so excited about going home.

Me: not home. Nerea called.

Mark: I guess she wants an audience with you.

Me: yeah. I have to go home and change.

I said getting up from the bed, collecting my clothes, and rushing to the bathroom.

Nerea had also called Cleopatra and Robert for the same meeting he called Robina, Richard, and Diana for. She wanted to clear the air and make her demands well known to the parties. Diana was with her at a restaurant chewing gum and scrolling through her phone. She still had the hangover from the previous night.

Diana: how long before they show up mother?

Nerea: it won't be long and today, you need to behave yourself.

Diana: yeah I knew you would say something like that. What happened with my friends yesterday...

Nerea: you don't have to explain anything, I clearly see why no men would look your way...

Diana: you mean like the way no woman would look at your crippled so that you decided to buy a girl for her like some product from the supermarket?.

She said removing the shades from her face to have eye contact with her mother who was already pissed off by her careless words.

Diana: I'm not Robina, stop turning me into her...

Half an hour later my mother, father, Richard, Diana, and Nerea were all seated at one table and I was sitting right opposite Richard who could not get his eyes off me. It was like he was analyzing me than creating reports in his head.

Nerea: we all know the reason why we are here.

Diana: I actually don't. What i'm I doing here?

Nerea: you will know in a minute but first, Robina I'd like to know what my son did to you that you had to leave your home and go back to your mother's house.

Every eye was on me, even Richard's.

Robert: yes, maybe the two of you can tell us what is going on...Robina?.

Me: I was accused of sleeping with another man in the presence of my husband.

Cleopatra: Did you?.

Me: what do you think?

Richard: Diana, where did you get that information from?

She cleared her throat and looked at Richard then at me...I was actually curious to know if she knew the truth about me and Mark.

Diana: well, I lied about Robina sleeping with Mark.

Everyone turned to her

Cleopatra: but why would you make up something like that?

Nerea: speak!

Diana: please mother doesn't act like we did not have this conversation before, listen, Robina, I hate the way my mother keeps comparing me to you, I hate that she sees a daughter in you more than she ever did in me, I got tired of hearing it and decided to make that up but you know what, I'm not sorry. I'm not sorry because you and I are not different, just another gold digger in the making. I still cannot understand why you agreed to be bought.

Cleopatra: shut your mouth young lady, you have no right to talk to my daughter like that.

Nerea: isn't it true, your husband sold her to us like some piece of furniture and so do not scream at my daughter like that...

Cleopatra: or what?..

She got up ready for a fight and both Nerea and Diana got up too. The argument got heated and Diana poured water on my mother and just like that I sprang from my chair and slapped Diana so hard across the face. She came at me and my mother pulled me back and grabbed Diana's hair and hit her before her mother jumped onto mine. Richard watched as my father tried to separate four women who were throwing punches and slaps aimlessly, he got a good beating too before managing to keep my mother glued to him...

Richard: stop it! All of you!..

He shouted and the waiters were already at the scenes ready to throw us out. It was a dramatic morning.