Cheater

Conscience

He was petrified that Bernadine was only keeping the peace between them instead of confronting him about her suspicions.
"Bernie?" Michael panted into the phone. It was late back in California, but he needed to hear her voice.
"Michael?" Bernadine asked softly, she was tired, and weary, and jet lagged, but her mind and heart was racing.

"B, how are you?" He asked, trying to gather anything from her tone.
"I'm good," she chuckled, "Any significance to this call?"
Michael's heart dunked to his stomach. Something was up. She knew something.
On Bernadine's flight back, she was talking to her and Michael's accountant, about their finances, and it came to light that a ruby necklace had been purchased by Michael.
$300.00. It had to be the one Shana was sporting, because the coincidence was too much. Also, why the heck were they even in a dressing room alone? It all started to fit together as Bernadine enjoyed her flight back to Cali, and her blood was freezing.

"Yeah, baby. I've been missing you.." Michael's heart was palpitating, and he didn't even know if he could keep it in his chest.
"Really?" Bernadine sounded patronising and fed up, "You've missed me?" She cooed sarcastically as Michael swallowed.

"Yeah, Bernie." Michael mumbled sadly, as his eyes burned. His wife sounded thoroughly tired of the conversation in its small entirety.
"Uh, I'm mad tired Michael. For real.." She sighed as Michael swallowed hard.
"Ok, Bernie. I love you. You know?"
"Mm." She mumbled as death gripped Michael's heart and squeezed. 'Mm'? No giggle? No, 'I love you too'? Michael was dying inside.
"Bernadine?" Michael struggled to hold back his wavering voice.
"Yes. Goodnight.." She sighed as he nodded.
"Goodnight, B. I'll see you soon.." He whimpered as the phone went dead. She'd hung up. Michael didn't even want to go and get lunch, because he felt sick.

He was disgusted with himself, and he couldn't stand to even touch his own hand. Michael vowed there on that bed that he was finished with Shana. He was finished with the games, and he was so very regretful of this situation. Michael wiped away a tear and sighed, staring up at the ceiling in bed.
***
Michael's energy onstage hadn't changed, although he seemed to slump around in his recent appearances. Bernadine hadn't called for a total of four weeks, and it was killing him. He'd rang her each time, and each time she'd given the phone their children.

Michael did not like this treatment at all, and he chastised himself for taking his relationship for granted.
Today though, Bernadine was visiting again, and Michael was fully prepared to woo her. After all, she had no evidence, only suspicions in his eyes, and so he'd erase all the doubt.

Telling the truth wasn't an option now after Michael had seen the way she'd been with him after only suspecting.. So what happens if she finds out?
Shana had initially put up a fight when he ended their affair, but after a good two days, she was thoroughly done with him too, and was sleeping with various band members.

Michael's palms grew sweaty as he watched his wife walk toward him, one foot in front of the other, heels clicking, as he smiled. He couldn't help it. She was beautiful.
Michael began grinning, as Bernie gave him a small wave. His heart jolted again. Why wasn't she smiling? Michael's heart twisted once more.

Bernadine's blood was hot. She was sure, no positive that Michael had some fateful connection to Shana, and she was on flame about it. This was her man. Her man, that had bought another woman $300.00 worth of fucking rubies? No. Michael did not do that.. Not unless he was getting PUSSY.

"God I've missed you," Michael took a deep sniff of her as he cupped her into a warm embrace.
Bernadine said nothing, as Michael tried to peer into her shades to see her eyes.
"Bernie? How was your flight?" He swallowed nervously after a long silence.

"It was long.." Bernadine answered with a laugh as Michael nodded sadly, and took her hand. Michael kissed her, and missed her lips when she turned her head. He caught her on the cheek and felt rejected and black listed.

"Baby? What was that Bernadine?" Michael gasped as she chuckled and pecked his lips reluctantly.
***
They walked hand in hand back to the suite, as a familiar female stood at the door, knocking. She was holding her necklace of rubies in her hand, and angrily pounding Michael's door. Shana.
Bernadine removed her shades, to reveal red eyes. Michael's heart twisted again when he realised she'd been crying. Either that or smoking weed, and Bernie had never smoked anything.

"You got a visitor.." Bernadine whispered as Michael watched his wife nervously. If he looked at Shana, this whole ordeal would be real. He didn't want to confront Shana, and he didn't want to take his eyes off Bernadine, because it could be the last time he holds her hand this way.

"Bernie.." Michael began slowly, as she yanked her hand from his and glared.
"You've got a visitor," Bernadine glared as Michael looked down at her in disdain, "Handle it.." She spat.
"Bernadine.." Michael pleaded.
"Michael, handle this shit. Handle it!" She glared, as he gulped and walked up to his suite door, Bernadine watching closely behind.

"Shana.." Michael swallowed.
Shana turned to him with mad eyes. Her hair was wild, and she was nibbling her lip.
"Take this.." She looked as if she was controlling a torrent of abuse, merely because she was in Bernadine's presence.
"This?" Michael's hand shook as Shana dropped the ruby necklace in his large paw.

"Yes. I don't want it anymore.. I don't need it. It's horrible anyway.." Shana hissed as Michael's face was stuck on stupid.
"Why would you give away your grandmothers things?" Bernadine asked through clenched teeth, remembering the lie that Shana had told to cover herself.

"Because, Bernie," Shana spat, glaring at Michael, "It's not hers.."
"I gathered that," Bernadine was holding back a combo punch and several shrieks.
"Did you? This lying, cheating, scum bag, gave it to me.." Shana spat.
"He did. I know, Shana.." Bernadine giggled calmly, as Michael's eyes began stinging. Bernadine wasn't tearing anything up. This worried him.

"Bernadine.." Michael babbled quietly, "Bernadine I didn't-"
"You did. I saw the transaction. But, tell me more Shana.." Bernadine asked softly as Shana nodded.
"He fucked me. Every single night on this tour. We used condoms. He told me it was just fun. He'd go back to you afterward and you'd never know. He laughed about it, he said it wasn't a big deal.." Shana hissed.
"Really?" Bernadine kept on soaking up the information.

"Bernie, baby!" Michael turned to Bernadine crying as she glared.
"Don't cry. Don't do it. Honey, don't you cry over him.." Bernadine glared at Shana.
"I wish it was that simple. I never meant to hurt you Bernadine. You see, Michael made it seem so easy, and I shouldn't have, I know that.. I just.. It's a shame I'm so in love with him now.. We were like a couple! I gave him breakfast, I did things you do.. I'm so sorry!" Shana cried as Bernadine nodded.
"Couple?" Bernadine turned to Michael who could not control the tears now.

"Bernadine. Bernie, listen. I can explain everything! I can explain!" He spluttered as Bernadine held up a single hand in his face.
Shana took off down the hall, as it was only Bernie and Michael now. Alone in the hall.
"Go after her.." Bernadine mumbled as Michael looked up and shook his head in confusion.
"What? Why? Why, Bernadine-"
"Because she's your woman. She's your girl. That's you and wifey. Go after her. Be a couple.." Bernadine spat as Michael shook his head frantically and grabbed Bernadine's arms. She turned away from him as he screamed at her to look at him and listen.

"Go after your girl," Bernie held back tears as Michael stomped.
"Bernadine! LISTEN!" He growled, wanting to just tell her. Wanting to make the right excuses. He wanted to rewind, "I can explain! I don't want her! I want you!" Michael screamed honestly in her face.
"I don't want you, Michael.." Bernadine held back tears as she removed her ring, and placed it in Michael's trembling hands.
"Bernie!" Michael chased his wife out of the hotel. He didn't care that paparazzi were taking pictures, he didn't care that he was making ugly crying faces.

Michael didn't care that fans were stunned, and worried as they watched Michael chase Bernadine to the taxi bar.
"Bernadine!" Michael shouted after as she carried on, wiping away a tear as Michael grabbed her arm. Michael fell to his knees as flashes blinded her.

"Bernie don't leave me!" His face covered in snot and tears. Bernadine simply turned on her heel, and kept walking.
"I'll send you the papers in the mail.."
"What papers?" Michael spluttered, standing up again, as police had been called to hold back paparazzi and fans.
"Divorce papers, Michael. It's over.." Bernadine sighed, strutting away as Michael followed her until a taxi came. He tried to fight her out of the car, but the driver drove away, so fast Michael's running feet couldn't carry him. He was left panting in the street, crying as flashes blinded him.

He sat on the ground exasperated. He wanted to die.