“Okay,” I whispered, taking a deep breath.One day at a time, I thought.
Mr. Woods didn’t move right away. Just stood there with me for a few more seconds like he knew I needed to breathe before I could move again. Then, with a small nod and a brief smile, he stepped back and gave me space.
After he and I discovered that Moses was long gone, I made my way to the first floor, where my bodyguard and driver awaited me. Fear was the last thing on my mind concerning Moses. I knew he would never harm me. But I was certain he would try to get me to talk to him, and that was completely out of the question.
“Mrs. Mikaelson, can you tell us what prompted your decision to file for divorce?”
“Mrs. Mikaelson, how are you coping with everything?”
“Is there a chance this divorce will turn ugly, Mrs. Mikaelson? We saw that Moses was escorted out by security. Can you elaborate on that? Is there any violence we should be concerned about?”
“What is the real story behind your separation?”
Ignoring the paparazzi swarming outside and their relentless questions, I settled into the plush seats of the Maybach. All of this attention was new to me. It seemed like the more hits Moses’s artists dropped, the bigger he was becoming.His plan had always been to make his money and stay behind the scenes. However, because the world had never seen talent discovered out of Melrose before, people wanted to know who was responsible for it, giving him an equal share of the spotlight.
“They just don’t give a damn about what a muthafucka is going through. But I’d be wrong if I ran their asses over.” My driver, Joe, said, shaking his head at how rude and intrusive the paparazzi could be.
I managed to laugh despite the turmoil in my heart. “Yeah…it’s messed up. But don’t run anyone over, then we will really be making headlines.”
We both shared a laugh, lightening the mood for a moment as I got comfortable in my seat. “Can you please turn up the radio, Joe?” I asked, hearing my favorite song come on from my playlist.
“Of course. You know I got you.”
Soon, the car was filled with Mariah the Scientist’s distinctive voice as Joe pulled away from the curb. This record did something to my soul. The lyrics resonated with me deeply, like she had tapped into the melody of my heart.
I was still trying to get used to my new reality. The fact that I was headed for divorce, and that I had killed a woman because of my husband’s treason. All of it was hard to digest. If you had told me years ago that I would do such a thing, I would have laughed. Being Moses’s woman had strengthened me in ways I did not even realize until I pulled that fucking trigger. I closed my eyes and let the music wash over me. That was until my bodyguard, Sav, interrupted my moment of peace.
“I take it things did not go well?” He asked, sitting across from me and sipping Lean from a Styrofoam cup.
I shook my head. “The nigga wouldn’t sign. We will have to go to court.”
He chuckled. “You shouldn’t be surprised. I’m not.”
“And he cursed out both of our attorneys, Sav.”
This time, he laughed harder. “Don’t trip. You know Casper means well, at least when it comes to you. He’s just hurt and does not want to lose you. That’s all.”
“Yeah, well, he should have thought about that before creeping with another bitch.”
Sav fell silent, taking another sip from his cup. I could sense his internal conflict. He was close to Moses, but over the years of working for me, he had also come to care for me too. I could tell he wanted to offer advice, yet he was hesitant to cross any lines or take sides, so he chose to remain neutral.
“You hungry? I can get Joe to stop at your favorite spot and pick you up a wing dinner and some Kool-Aid before dropping you off.” He quickly changed the subject.
I couldn’t help but smile. Sav often tried to feed me when I was feeling low, knowing that food was normally the cure for my unhappiness. At forty-five, he had a remarkable ability to be whatever I needed him to be: a friend, a big brother, and even a second father.
“Nope, but thanks.”
“You have to eat, Mary. You only had a shake for breakfast.”
“I hear you, but food ain’t the answer right now, Sav. I just need a good, long nap. Don’t worry. I’m sure my mama will cook me something later. You know she won’t let me starve.”
Ever since I left home, I’d been staying with my mama. With the money I have and resources, I could easily find a new place in no time, but I knew what that would entail. Moses would find me. I was far from stupid; I knew very well the kind of man I married. As long as I was in my mama’s presence, he wouldn’t dare disrespect her by continuously showing up. She was my saving grace at the moment. Once the divorce was finalized and his emotions cooled down, I’d move into my own place.
“Alright,” Sav raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.
I resumed swaying my head and singing along to the record as we glided effortlessly through the back roads. Joe was excellent at finding alternate routes, ensuring I had as much privacy as possible. It was also for my safety, a small comfort in Moses’s dangerous world. Unfortunately, those back streets couldn’t shield me from the chaos that awaited today. We had made good progress from the mediation office when suddenly, pandemonium erupted.
The screeching of tires jolted my attention, forcing me to focus on the street ahead. We were at an intersection, and the only two vehicles in sight were ours and a custom-wrapped Yukon that had deliberately cut us off. My heart sank at the sight of the unfamiliar vehicle. Because of Moses’s lifestyle, there was no telling who might be trying to get me to use against him.
