CHAPTER FOUR

Lance

I leaned back in my chair and skip through the messages that my mom left in my mailbox. It’s almost a month and yet she still presses me about Kendall and me going on a honeymoon. I’m done wishing Kendall would somehow mess things up and maybe, just maybe the contract will end up being terminated. But no. Change of plans. I’ll drag her through the mud, she’ll beg for my mercy.

Lance Kyle Russo is my name, making people’s lives hell is my game! She thought by marrying me her life will be a bed of roses. That’s what all these low lives, gold-digging whores think. I have every plan in place and starting today I’ll make her shed tears.

I laugh to myself. She pretends to be so innocent, but I know girls like her. They talk soft, they act like they can do no harm when really, they are wolves in sheep’s clothing.

I work hard for my money, and no way will I make her take that. I’m going to break her to a point of no return. But should I? Should I just allow her to live on my money like that? No! Lance Kyle Russo doesn’t like being played. I’ll make her regret the day she chose to be born. She’ll regret signing that deal with my mother.

I tilt my head backward on the headrest. If my mother didn’t decide to try and blackmail me I could have easily gotten out of this situation. But she doesn’t care. That night was a mistake, and for the past eight years, she has been using it against me. But if this ever gets out … I would spend the rest of my life in a cell. I can’t do that. They say karma is a bitch. Maybe Kendall is Karma. But I intend to beat her.

I can never fall in love. People should never fall in love. It’s stupid. Because after you fall for someone, and decide to get married. Five years later, Boom! Trouble in paradise.

I look up as I heard Kendall coming down the stairs. Her hair looked like an old mop that hasn’t been touched in years, and her face, the exact definition of shit.

“Well, look what the devil drag in.” I chuckle. “Your face, that face. It’s worse than a thousand volcanoes erupting altogether. Such a devastating sight my wife.”

“Whatever.”

“You better prepare yourself properly for the party later. Many important people will be there and your face is embarrassing enough. You could do me a favor by covering it with a cloth. Wife.”

“I didn’t have any knowledge about a party” she replied crossing her arms.

“Well, now you know. This will be one of the most embarrassing days of my life”

“Oh trust me. It will be if you don’t stop nagging me”

“And what’s that’s supposed to mean, wife?”

“Oh, you’ll see, husband.”

“You’ll address me by my name”

“I’m having a really bad headache so please, stop talking.”

“The last time I checked this is my house!”

“That was the last time. At this present moment, this is our house. Now shut up” I grip the edge of the sofa as I glare at her. She has the audacity to call this her house! I’ve built it with my blood and sweat! We haven’t even been married for a month properly and yet she’s back talking me. Her duty is to listen and not respond! That’s the duty of a wife.

“Your house? Stay in your lane woman. You don’t want to cross over. You might meet … in an accident”

“You’ve won many competitions, even ones you’ve never entered. But,” she points a finger at my face. “There’s one you haven’t won. You should win a competition for most annoying, stupid, dumb, and let’s not forget. Ugly. I wonder how women go crazy over you. You’re sickening. I wish I had a human remote in order to switch you off”

“I’ll leave, before I do something I’ll regret,” I say getting up and walking out. I got in my car and sped off. How dare her to try to insult me. I am Lance. Lance Kyle Russo. No one insults me!

Kendall

I feel great, other than the headache. Why? I answered back to Lance rude comments. I finally decided I wasn’t going to let him bully me. No! I’m not that type of girl to take disrespect from a man. I’m better than that. I don’t want this relationship as much as he doesn’t want it! He doesn’t even know the reason for this marriage, yet he calls me a whore and a gold digger. Well, technically, I am a gold digger. Somewhat. Maybe a little. But I have no choice.

Why I married him. Is more important than my happiness. I made my way outside to the garden where Cindy was watering the flowers.

“Cindy.”

“Yes Mrs, I mean Kendall”

“Ummm, is there any way you could … get me a dress. Please. In order to attend the party tonight. I don’t really know this area quite well. Or you could give me directions, I’ll go myself”

“No dear. What are you saying? I’ll get you a beautiful dress. But … when you’re free, you should definitely let us go shopping together. Deal?”

“Yes!” I reply nodding. “Thanks a lot” I walk away, and head to my room. Time to start mentally preparing myself, to face all these rich jerks.

Lance

Eight Hours Later

I pull up outside the house and got out of my car. I run my hands through my hair and take a deep breath. I have to prepare myself mentally to walk with my wife in public tonight.

I got out and made my way to Kendall’s room. Women always take forever to get ready and I’m not in for that tonight. I’m already late. I push open the door, At the same time, Kendall came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her wet body. She looks like an old cat soaked in water. I laugh to myself. How can one woman be so distasteful?

“Yes?” She asks.

“You have five minutes to get dressed”

“That’s not enough”

“I care not. Now get ready, or I’ll leave your ass here”

“Really? I know, you know if I don’t attend, then people will talk, and your ego is too big for that. So you’ll wait, and when I’m ready I’ll come”

“Don’t play with me, wife”

“Don’t play with me, husband. Now shoo … I’m sure you don’t want to be late” she says, with attitude in her voice. I walk out without uttering another word to her.

For the first time since we got married, we’ll be seen out in public together, and that makes me sick to the stomach.

I went to my room, hop in the shower, then I got ready and head downstairs. In exactly ten minutes Kendall came down. She was wearing a long royal blue fishtail dress, with a huge split between her breasts. I felt my skin crawl again. I wonder if men actually find her attractive. She looks distasteful. I can imagine all the bashing I will receive from my rich friends.

I got up and stood in front of her.

“Woman, Let’s go the car is waiting outside.”

“So now it’s a woman? And not a wife? Fine. Husband. Let’s go”

For the entire drive to the party, I kept glancing at her. I wonder if she had a boyfriend before because then I would be convinced she was dating a blind man. I love women. I love sex. But this woman is completely unattractive, and I can’t even imagine myself touching her.

After we pull up at the house, I got out and take her hand in mine.

“Remember we are the perfect couple, right wife?” I whisper. “You don’t want the media posting us as a bad couple right wife? Now I know you are not used to all this attention, so “

Bright lights flash across our faces. I gave a fake smile as I walk past everyone holding my darling wife’s’ waist. I feel like cockroaches are running all over my body. I made my way inside, and when we enter everyone’s heads turned in our direction. I roll my eyes at them and made my way over to Broke, the man hosting the party.

“Old friend” I greeted him. I turn to his wife Sheila and give her a hug, and kiss on the cheek.

“This must be your beautiful wife.” He says smiling at Kendall.

“Yes. This is Ken, I mean, Kendall. My beautiful …. Wife … Kendall this is my friend Broke and this is his wife Sheila.”

“It’s nice to meet you both.” She says giving them a sweet smile. Good girl. You’re playing along just fine.

“You girls talk we are going to get a drink at the bar,” Broke says pulling me from Kendall.

Kendall

As Broke and Lance walk away I couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable as Sheila eyesme from head to toe without saying a word. I wonder what’s going on through her head. I could also feel everyone’s eyes on me. This place is definitely not for me.

“As much as you want to pretend that you and Lance have this perfect relationship I can see right through you,” she says interrupting my thoughts.

“Excuse me?”

“It’s obvious, you’re a gold-digger and Lance doesn’t love you”

“You know nothing.”

“I can tell.”

“Sure you can”

“I know Lance type … or choice. In women. Tall, brunette, model. Movie star, not poor and distasteful. So, when I see you with him. I know something … is definitely wrong.”

“Our marriage is a hundred percent real”

“Lies. Lies. Big Lies. It’s so obvious you’re not used to this life. So pl-“

“What life are you talking about?”

“Oh please, you can’t be that dumb. I mean you are not used to the life of a celebrity. You are poor and Lance is loaded. He’s handsome, rich, powerful. Every girl’s dream.”

“Even yours”

“What did you say?”

“Hmmm … It seems like someone has a crush on my dear husband.He’s handsome, rich powerful. Every girl dream. The way your eyes glisten when you talk about him. It tells a story. The story of you being in love with him."

“You’re ta- talking nonsense. You clearly married him for his wealth”.

“That’s not the reason I got married to Lance,” I replied in a stern tone

“Then what is it?”

“Love.”

“I bet Lance is cheating on you.”

“I know your boyfriend is cheating on you. He has been staring at every woman that passes by and I’m sure he slept with most of them.”

“We have an open relationship.”

“As open as your legs to every dog that barks?”

“Don’t ev-“

“Keep talking and I’ll beat your celebrity ass in front of all these people."

“I’d like to see you try.”

“Test me, Mrs. open sesame”

“Nobody disrespects me! You’ll pay for this” She said turning and walking away angrily. I smiled to myself and went to sit on a chair by myself. I watched as everyone danced and enjoyed themselves. I kept praying for the party to be over. Lance didn’t come over once to see if I was okay. He was busy with his friends and flirting with a stupid beautiful woman.

I decided to play my game, and show him who’s the boss. I got up from the chair and walked over to him. I gently place my hand on his back. He turned around and face me, but as soon as he saw my face he frowned.

“Hi dear.” I leaned forward and kissed his cheek. Then I turn to the woman he was flirting with. “This must be the woman You were telling me about. The whore you would try to get in bed, then embarrass her” Lance grip my arm tightly but I kept on speaking. “But,” I raise my hand at her. “Don’t listen to his flirting. You know, he’s mentally ill. Not to mention if you were going to slee-“

“Kendall le-“

“Shut up Lance. When grown folks are talking you shut up” His mouth widens at my words and he looks over at his friends who have the same expression written over their faces. I could clearly see that he felt embarrassed."

“As I was saying. He I-“ before I could finish, he placed his hand over my mouth and gave me a death glare.

“She’s just messing around. As she always does. As m I right Kendall?”

“Wow! You actually know my name.”

“Don’t test me” he whispers through gritted teeth. I turn to the woman in order to finish my sentence but Lance picks me up and made his way to the exit. Everyone stopped as their heads turned towards us. When we got outside he took me to a corner where no one was watching us and he dropped me to the ground. Just like that!

“Are you an insane woman? How dare you try to embarrass me! I will ruin you!”

“Will you? Man. No. That’s too classy. You’re not a man, but a Roach. Now. Watch me spray you with insect repellent. Shhh.” He let out a laugh.

“Oh, you’re childish? But two can play at this game … silly woman”

After we returned inside I went back to sit by myself. I took out my phone and started texting Russell. This party is the worst. It’s full of so many stuck up rich people. I hate these types of people. Lance went back to talking with his friends and I didn’t feel in the mood to embarrass him any longer. I took another champagne from the waiter that pass by and drank it.

As I sent another message,

Someone came and stood in front of me. I looked up expecting it to be Lance but it wasn’t. A medium built guy with brown hair and grey eyes stood there. He wore the most beautiful suit, that matched them.

“Hello, beautiful.” He says smiling. I didn’t respond I just sat there staring at him. He took a step closer to me. I got up from the chair and took a step back. Stop acting dumb Kendall. I mentally scolded myself. Fit in with the rich folks. “I guess you are here alone?”

“I’m here with my husband actually.”

“I don’t see him.” I point in Lance direction, but he didn’t look. “Your husband should never leave such a beautiful woman by herself. Why don’t we take a walk?”

“I … I don’t think that’s a good idea. He wouldn’t like that”

“I can give you millions. Just come with me”

“Again I’ll decline”

“Come!” He barked grabbing on to my hand and pulling me closer to his body. “We would make the perfect couple. Leave your husband and let’s elope pretty lady”

“Let me go!” I shout. No one seemed to hear because of the loud music or may everyone just decides to mind their own business. Selfish celebrities!

“If I take you to my room you wo-“ he was cut short when Lance came out of nowhere and grabbed him by his collar and spun him around. Before the guy could do anything Lance punched him in the face. He managed to punch Lance back and soon both of them were fighting. I tried to stop them but got pushed away. By Lance of course. He seemed even more mad at me than the man. Soon the music stopped and everyone was watching the two of them. Lance was on top of the guy punching him repeatedly in his face to a point where I thought he was going to kill him.

“Don’t you ever touch her again!” He shouted while punching him. Broke managed to get Lance away from the guy. He got a punch in the stomach from Lance for doing so and that made me laugh. Not out loud though.

Lance grab on to my hand and pulled me behind him. Who didn’t have their phones out was staring at us with wide eyes. “We are going home now.” Lance bark.

Upon reaching outside we got in the car. His expression immediately changed and he burst out laughing. I gave him a confused look.

“How was my acting, woman?” I roll my eyes at him. “I had to pretend like we were in a serious relationship baby” he chuckles.

“You are a pig”

“Yet you married me. He opens the car door and got in. I stared at him in disbelief.

We pulled up at his house in twenty minutes. I got out and made my way to the door. As I step inside I stop in my tracks. His mother sat on the sofa staring at us.

“Goodnight Mrs. Russo” I say smiling.

“ Kendall. Lance. I heard about the fight tonight. I’m not pleased”

“Well, mother. I couldn’t let that guy flirt with my gorgeous wife, could I?” He kissed my cheek, then went to sit beside her. An idea instantly popped in my head. I went to my room and take out the first aid kit. Since this us how you want to play, let’s play, Lance. I made my way downstairs.

“Honey, let me dress your wounds,’ I say placing the kit into his lap. He frowned and began protesting but I cut him off. His mother smiled at us.

“What are you doing Ken?”

“It’s Kendall” his mother corrected him.

“Yes, Lance. It’s Kendall”

I poured out some alcohol on the cloth and began rubbing his face like I was trying to get ink out of a piece of clothing. Each time he winces in pain I pluck him in the forehead. I smiled to myself as he clenched his fist.

He wants to play, but I’m a master of games!