THE CEO

Scared

I reach the house and immediately make my way to one of the officers standing outside. "Excuse me, this is my home. What's happened?" He looks at me and shouts, "I found her!" I'm confused, "Found her? What do you mean found her?" He turns towards me, "Your husband called us ma'am. He said that you weren't here when he arrived and you're always at home this time of night. He feared that something might have happened to you." I frowned, "Then why didn't he just call me?" I take out my phone and show the officer that I had received no missed calls from my husband. The officer takes my phone and frowns, "That's strange. He said that he's been trying to reach you all evening. He calls Matt over and shows him my phone, "Mister Vanguard, your wife has willingly shown me her phone and there is no record of you attempting to contact her." Matt tries to argue but the officer cuts him off, "No sir. You have wasted our valuable time and resources looking for your wife that was obviously not missing. By the looks of it, she was working late. Don't bother us with something like this unless it's an actual emergency." The officer walks back to me and hands me my phone, "Thank you, ma'am. Have a good evening" I smile at the officer, push past Matt, and head inside. 

Once everyone has left I turn to Matt, "What the fuck were you thinking! You called the police because I wasn't home when you thought I should be?" I pace around our living room while shouting at Matt. He tries to get a word in but I don't let him, " Every night I lay in our bed alone and cold, wondering where the hell you are and what you are doing! Do I ever call the police because you're not home? No! No, I don't!" I can see Matt out of the corner of my eye, he looks uncomfortable. "What?! Why are you looking at me like that?" I shout, throwing my arms in the air. Matt clears his throat, "I - uh," I feel the anger growing inside me, "Spit it out, Matt!" He looks at the ground, "I was worried when I got home and you weren't here. Maybe you shouldn't air our dirty laundry in front of strangers." I frown, taken aback by his statement. Suddenly I notice some movement at the door to our living room. A short blonde walks in, "I'm terribly sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt but Matt I think it's time for me to go home." 

Who is this and what on earth is she doing in my home? I look back at Matt as if to say, care to explain? "Rebecca, this is Amelia. She's my assistant. She came over to help when I couldn't find you." It took every bit of restraint I had not to strangle her on sight. Amelia, the woman he plans on running off with... With my money! "Good evening, Amelia. I'm sorry you had to witness that." She smiles at me, "Don't worry about it. I'm off. You both have a good night." I turn back to face Matt. As if he read my mind, "I'm sorry but I didn't know who else to call." I try and restrain myself once more but I fail miserably, "Me! You could have called me! That is what any sane person would do Matt! Shit! This is the last thing I needed after the day I've had." Before I knew it, my hand connected with the side of Matt's face. Oh no, I slapped him. I don't know what came over me but the moment I slapped him my hands flew to cover my mouth in shock, "I'm sorry" I say meekly. He rubs his cheek, "I'm glad you apologized, or else we would have had to call the police back here to solve a murder." He storms off to the kitchen.

I make my way up the stairs and into our bathroom. I really need a bath. After filling the tub I get undressed and ease myself into the warm water. I lay back and just relax. It's late and I'm tired. The warm water soothes my heartache a little bit and I almost feel better when Matt storms into the bathroom. He runs over to the bath and grabs me by the throat. My eyes are wide with horror as I grab his hands, trying to pull them off me. "Don't you ever humiliate me like that again!" I'm struggling to breathe and the world around me begins to blur, "Don't for a second think that I won't kill you and make it look like an accident you whore!" His hand releases its grip on my throat and I drop back into the water gasping for air. I touch the tender skin on my neck. He could have killed me! I don't say a word as Matt storms into our bedroom. I need to come up with a plan before next week. I need him gone or else he might kill me. It suddenly dawns on me, that if we get a divorce he gets 50% of the company and everything I own, but if I die... He gets everything.

The next day I get in the car with Marvin and he immediately notices that something is wrong. I didn't greet him like I usually do and I NEVER wear a scarf, especially on a day as hot as this one, "Miss Vanguard, is everything alright?" I look up at Marvin, "Oh yes! Everything is fine Marvin. I just barely got any sleep last night." He looks at me in the rearview mirror, "Alright then. We are off to Mr Harringtons' home today. He needs you there." I nod, "Thank you for telling me. Could we stop by the office, please? I need to get some paperwork before we head over." Marvin smiles, "Anything for you."