Cracking...
1326 Words
Charles Hudson
My mind kept seeing Lana in Mexico, paying that chef Daniel guy to take Josephine from me.
It wasn't possible, Jo was confused.
I couldn't ask Lana about this, she would be very hurt that I would think these bad things about her.
Lana and I had been trying to have a baby. So far we were unsuccessful.
" You ready to go to lunch?" I asked my pretty girl.
" Not quite. I have to get these contracts out by 5pm, our time. Give me 10 minutes or so?" She smiled at me.
I went into her closet to get her shoes and jacket for her. I was starving.
I ran my fingers over the marble counter top, then slid open the drawer that she kept her jewelry in.
Many of these items I had purchased for her.
I rummaged through her items.
Nothing out of the ordinary.
Then I noticed there was actually a panel that lifted to reveal her more expensive items.
Way in the back, there was a black velvet jewelry bag.
I touched it, then lifted it out to open it.
" I'm almost done, can you get my warmer coat, it might rain!" She called to me.
I shoved the bag into my pocket and closed her drawer.
She walked in just at that moment.
" Can you believe Henry, he should have had those contracts ready weeks ago."She said, fixing her gold earrings.
I handed her the coat.
" Didn't you hear me? I said my warmer coat." She smiled.
That little black velvet bag was burning a hole in my pocket.
____________
I took my wife to a little place that served her favorite salad, Salade Niçoise.
I ordered for both of us.
" Charles, you seem a bit distracted." She took my hand.
" You worried about work?"
I took the bag out of my pocket and set it on the table between us.
I saw her eyes widen.
She reached her hand to grab the bag.
" You were in my jewelry drawer?"
I nodded.
I never looked into the bag, she did not know this.
" Oh, I found that bracelet in Mexico. It's just a souvenir really, nothing more."
Our food arrived.
I lost my appetite. Jo said she took her bracelet from her. A souvenir?
I looked down at my wedding ring and slowly twisted it off.
" Here, I think we both know what comes next." I handed her my wedding ring.
" I don't understand, because of a bracelet I found in the sand? Oh, you don't think this is the very one that you gave to Josephine? Oh s**t? I never even looked at it that closely."
How did she know I had given Jo a bracelet.
Her hands were shaking as she opened the bag.
I saw it then, the beautiful gold bracelet I had made for my love, Jo.
She wasn't lying. I thought she was crazy. How could Lana do this?
Lana looked at the inside inscription. There it was CH loves JB forever.
She tossed it on the table.
" We need to tell the authorities, this could be a clue Charles!"
" Enough Lana!"
I handed her my thick gold ring and took the bracelet.
" She said YOU did this to her. I called her a liar. But it's all true isn't it. You paid that chef Daniel guy to take her away, you planned it all out."
" Wait, you've talked to Josephine Brennan?" She was livid.
" I met her in Monte Carlo. She was able to flee her captor. She told me about that day, so long ago."
Lana grabbed my hands.
" No, she is lying. She's setting me up. She ran away with that Daniel guy.
She gave me this bracelet to give back to you, she ran off with him.
I am so sorry that I couldn't bring myself to give it to you, hurting you by her betrayal. I knew you loved her."
" One problem with your lies wife, Chef Daniel is CIA. He was under cover."
I stood and turned, walking away.
" Wait, Charles don't you see. I had to do it. I couldn't compete with her. She had been pregnant with your baby once.
I couldn't take the chance that she would try to trap you again. Don't you see, she's conniving and only wants your money!"
" Lana, she never tried to trap me. She did the opposite. When I didn't know why she was telling me about her pregnancy, she didn't throw it in my face.
She took it all on herself. It wasn't until much later that I put it all together. So no, stop slandering her. She has been through enough.
I suggest you prepare for a long jail term. If you know what's good for you, you will turn yourself in before they catch you."
I left her standing there, I did not hear her screams of anger.
I tried to call Josephine. She did not pick up.
I called Brea.
" Where is your sister, it's urgent Brea?"
" She is with her boyfriend Benedict. Charles, you don't need to contact her anymore. She said you called her a liar. I take great offense to this, to be honest."
" Brea, I have been a victim in all of this too. My b***h wife did this to her, to us."
" Charles! What proof do you have?" She wanted to take Lana down as well.
" I found Jo's bracelet in Lana's jewelry today."
" Charles, I need you to know...Benedict is the man who bought Jo. His former name was Manuel Ortega.
He is now going by Benedict Campbell. They are trying to start over. Charles, she appears very much in love with him...I'm sorry."
I said goodbye to Brea, but something inside of me, an American businessman, a man of a perfect reputation cracked then.
Everything that I had built through the years, all my hard work to build my own empire, meant nothing, not one damn thing.
I made plans then to take what was mine back. I would find Josephine and make her mine again.
I went back to my apartment to clean it out. Lana had not returned. I assumed that she was on the run now.
Packing my bags, I made plans.
It was not going to be easy to take her back, Brea had told me that Manuel had been a powerful and dangerous man who did business for the cartel.
I pulled out my pistol. I was going to kill him if he tried to stop me.
I sent a message to Jo.
Need to see you, it's urgent. Please answer me, you owe it to me as your family's good friend at least.
She responded then.
I don't see what that has to do with anything. I am just a crazy liar after all.
I threw my phone on the bed at her words. I knew I hurt her.
After a few moments, I picked up my phone and typed.
Please Jo, I need you to hear me out, please. It was so hard on me when you were stolen from me.
I knew her, I loved her for her capacity to forgive, to see the real me, the man who always loved her.
Fine, when and where Charles?
I sent her the details. I wanted her close to the airport.
I prepared my pilot for my private jet. I wasn't taking no for an answer.
Lana was calling me then, I let go to voice mail. I called my lawyer to have her removed from my life. I called Prestige and informed HR to have security pull her clearance.
I am done with this charade of hers. Done with waiting for Jo to be mine. Yes a very fine crack was developing in my mind.
- Writer
