Before I Fall

Chapter Eleven

Morgan eased her body gently into the warm water then leaned her head back unto the folded towel at the edge of the bathtub and closed her eyes. The gardenia scented sud enveloped her body causing the tension to gradually leave her. She was deeply in love with her new luxurious penthouse, she had to admit that Jesse had outdone himself and she'd thank him when she'd go to The Federation. It was indeed fit for royalty and Lourdes would love it when she came over tomorrow. Their previous conversation had Morgan smiling from ear to ear. To say Lourdes was happy about her best friends' return would be an understatement and neither of them could contain their excitement to reconnect.

They spoke about little things while Morgan was on her way to her new home but tomorrow would be the day when they would converse about the new information Morgan received from her granny. To be honest Morgan just wanted to unpack then unwind in her new house and soak up the wonderful view she had. Though the sky was dreary, she still felt on top of the world because she could look down at everyone else from the seventy-eighth floor.

The best part about her new place was her infinity pool with the reinforced glass bottom which was a little scary and thrilling at the same time. It was projected out from the building so one wrong mishap could have her falling to her death and for some strange reason she found it exhilarating.

However, the time for swimming would come but for now she would finish her bath then make something to eat. After rubbing her loofah all over her naked skin, Morgan carefully left the comfort of her freestanding bathtub then scurried to the shower encloser to wash the excess soap from her body. Subsequently drying off with a towel she ventured bare as a newborn in to her room to retrieve a large T-shirt from her suitcase and also the baked cookies and brownies Hillary made then off to the kitchen she went to make dinner.

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Finishing her third glass of red wine, Morgan poured another then took her empty plate to the sink and began cleaning. Her steak was phenomenal, she was pleased with her cooking skills. She heard a knock at the door and wondered if it was Lourdes, she guessed she couldn't wait until tomorrow. Drying her hands and a smile plastered on her face, Morgan swung the door open for her visitor.

"You just couldn't wai-" Morgan's voice stopped mid sentence and her smile plummeted at the person before her. Mignon stood poised in all her majestic glory at her her door with an all-knowing smirk on her face and a protruding baby bump. Shit.

"Ah, so it's true. The lost princess has returned." the Queen stated and Morgan didn't miss the sarcastic tone of her title. Pushing past her daughter clad in a regal black dress, Mignon entered Morgan's domain, her eyes scrutinizing everything she saw. Her face was clearly displeased but that was nothing new for Morgan.

"How did you know I was here, as a matter of fact, how did you find me?" Morgan questioned in annoyance.

"Come come now Morgan, I have always kept my eye on you, you are my daughter after all." Mignon responded now turning that scrutinizing glare upon Morgan, looking at her child from head to toe.

"You've grown fat, much fatter than when you were younger."

"I could say the same about you." Morgan retorted motioning to her mother's baby bump. She dared not hide the distaste in her voice just as her mother didn't hide hers. Mignon knew that Morgan's weight was always a sore topic for her especially her battle with bulimia during ballet school. Smirking Mignon replied,

"Let's get you back to that size two like when you were in ballet schoo-"

"What do you want Mother?!" Morgan asked her irritation growing.

"How's that boyfriend of yours? I see you've returned without him." Mignon gave a knowing look.

"How did you know that I had a boyfriend?"

"Let's just say that little accident in the restuarant seven years ago was no accident." she answered giving a self-satisfied grin that Morgan just wanted to punch right off her face. That's when it hit her, that whole fake scenario that happened when Tarek pretended to crash into her table while she was dining alone causing her red wine to spill on her white dress at a cozy Italian restaurnt all made sense now. Morgan backed away from the creature before her with tears brimming at her eyes, she was no daughter of hers. Tarek was her plant, her spy, no one else knew about that incident.

"You monster! This was all your doing, just a big manipulation all along. Am I a game to you, huh?!" Anger roared in Morgan's belly and dripped in her veins. Mignon gave that full cackle she did when she know she'd won, her beautiful face filled with joy at her daughter's expense.

"Calm down kitten, put your claws back in your purse. I only told Tarek to keep an eye on you, be a friend or confidant, but I guess he wanted a little something out of it in return." Mignon stated, her eyes hinting to Morgan's vagina, thus confirming Morgan's assumption. Seeing both women together they almost looked similar in age but Mignon had over two thousand years of experience in mastering the art of deception. She exhaled evil and was proud of it. Her daughter on the other hand was literally twenty-six years old, a baby compared to everyone else. Morgan turned around and flung the front door open then screamed,

"Get the fuck out of my house!" to which Mignon laughed again. She slowly took steps towards the door, her hand resting gently on her stomach but she paused in front of Morgan when she reached.

"Your grandmother told me about that strange dream she had about you and she's asking for my help in giving you protection. Personally, I think whatever is after you is doing me a huge favour." she calmly stated. After which she leaned in some more, her face getting closer to Morgan's and her voice getting lower with disdain as she stared in Morgan's eyes.

"You have been my greatest disappointment, you are a weak and powerless little skank and I curse the day I gave you life. I have gained nothing but shame since that day. You are useless just like your fucking father and you will get what's coming to you." Plastering the brightest fake smile on her face, Mignon kissed both of Morgan's cheeks then ended with "Ciao, darling." walking off toward the private elevator followed by her guards.

Morgan stood at her door breathless watching her mother leave as tears cascaded down her face. She was utterly lost for words. Her mother wanted her dead. Morgan gently closed the door and then blazed toward the kitchen. She finished her glass of wine in three seconds flat then poured another gulping it down just as quickly. Discarding the glass, she turned the bottle to her her head draining the contents. When that was done, Morgan flung the fully stocked cupboards open searching for something stronger, pulling food from shelves she didn't find anything. Her earlier task now forgotten, she wanted to get rid of those horrific words that now took root in her mind playing on a loop over and over again.

Bingo. She had opened her wine cabinet again and saw an unmarked bottle of something. She didn't know what the hell it was but she'd finish it. Thank you Jesse. She popped the cork with her teeth then began chugging the drink that smelled and tasted like gasoline and sure enough Morgan began swaying from left to right. Apprently, she didn't need to finish the bottle afterall. Her head began spinning and she quickly put the bottle down on the messy counter. She stumbled to the refrigerator and grabbed a pint of macadamia nut ice cream from the frozen section. Jesse had stocked up her kitchen with everything he figured she would like and again she would have to thank him.

She drunkenly poured too much of her liquor on to the icream, grabbed a spoon and slid against the island down to her heated floor. Morgan was going on a bender and she knew it. Whenever she was emotional and felt worthless, she drowned herself in food and booze and right now she felt lower than a worm. The tears weren't stopping as she gobbled up the dessert and she didn't care. This was the life she had lived before her granmother took her away, being constantly berated by Mignon and after all these years, nothing had changed. How could it? Demons didn't change for anything or anyone. A welcome home greeting fit for a princess indeed.