In The Midst of Trouble

Chapter 1

Sometimes I can't tell if I'm living my life or the life of some fictional character in some badly written novel.

Yes, my life is that confusing.

Everything started off normal. I went to UCLA and got my degree in finance. I was going to be a financial advisor, the best there is actually, until one man came along and tipped my whole world over. Not in a necessarily bad way, but in a not so bad way.

All things considered, the man became the best thing that ever happened to me and now we're happily married. Scratch that, were happily married until some months ago, just after our honeymoon in Abu Dhabi.

We both grew up in California but in different cities. I met him at a frat house party, approximately four years ago and we instantly fell in love. He was so dark and mysterious back then, and it's gotten even worse. My parents never liked him, they still don't and so does my older brother. I still married him though, and now I'm kind of regretting it.

I was in such a happy place with him, even though he doesn't want me to go to work. I did argue, but that's a battle I lost. So that brings me to where I am now, laying in my king-sized bed waiting for my so-called husband to come back home.

Where could he possibly still be at 12 a.m.?

 

This had been going on for a couple of weeks now, and it's driving me insane. Should the owner of law firm be staying out this late? Are there any CEO's who stay out this late anyway?

Just when my brain was going to implode, the door creaked open and in he strolled. It's dark in here, so I cannot quite make out his appearance, but I can tell he's utterly exhausted just like every other night. His steps are light and subtle, like a thief's. If I hadn't been awake, I wouldn't have heard him.

A couple of minutes later, the space beside dipped as he descended onto the bed and exhaled lowly.

"Jack," I said softly, causing his head to snap in my direction in shock. He probably didn't think I'd still be awake.

He paused, and then turned on his side to face me. "Why are you still up, Gen?" he asked, as if to reprimand me. If only he could see my eyes rolling at that precise moment.

"I think I should be asking you that, don't you think? Where were you?"

He sighed and outstretched his arm to stroke the side of my face. "You should rest, we both should," he ordered and succeeded in making my temper flare.

I slapped his hand away, turned to switch on my bed lamp and turned back to him. I didn't expect to see a purple bruise on his left cheek bone or a scratch on his eyebrow.

I looked on in horror. "What happened to you?" I almost screamed, leaning over to examine his battered face. "Who did this to you?"

He retracted from my touch and grabbed my hands. "Nothing Gen, I fell down a flight of stairs at work. No big deal," he replied softly, flashing me his dazzling smile that makes my legs feel like Jell-O.

No big deal, yeah right! His black hair is sticking out in random places and his green orbs seem devoid of any emotion. Like he had just risen from the dead. He wasn't the man I love, my Jack. No, the man in front of me was not my husband.

"That's it!" I yelled, rising from the bed to stand. "First, we moved away from Cali and now we're here in Texas. You didn't bother to explain why we did move, and I kept quiet. All day long I stay couped up in this stupid mansion, with no maid-"

He cut me off mid-sentence. "We don't need a maid, it's an unnecessary expense," he quipped coolly.

I blinked. "Jack, this house has like forty rooms! I can't clean them all! And how can you say it's an unnecessary expense if you have four Lamborghinis parked in the garage and who knows how many guards crawling in our yard every second?" I replied in bewilderment, flailing my arms in all directions for emphasis.

He moved back so his body was outstretched on the bed, his arms folded behind his back, causing his enormous muscles to bulge against the flimsy fabric of the t-shirt he was wearing. This is really not the time to be admiring his physique, you're mad at him remember?

 

"Gen, I'm an important man and I have a lot of enemies. The guards are for your protection, believe it or not. I don't want anything to happen to you." he added calmly and shut his eyes. "As for the cars, what can I say? I just love fast cars. If you want people to do the work around here, then that's fine. I'll take care of it in the morning. Can we sleep now?"

I threw my hands up in the air in frustration. "You're a tax attorney, what kind of enemies could you possibly have that require us to be guarded?"

He chuckled. "You'd be surprised, baby. I'm very good at what I do."

I rolled my eyes once again. "Don't start with that. Jack, I don't know who you are anymore. You leave early and come home late every night. Within a couple of months, you've amassed vast wealth that it frightens me...how did you do it? How can you afford all of this?" I inquired; arms crossed.

He groaned. "Gen, can we not do this right now? I've had a pretty bad day and I really need some shut eye. Please, sweetheart, let's sleep."

I clicked my tongue in disappointment, and then started making my way towards the door. "Fine, you can sleep but I'm going to one of the guestrooms. We'll talk tomorrow," I answered nonchalantly.

Before I could open the door, he held the handle from me. How he had gotten from the bed to the door so fast, I had no idea. He's got lightning quick reflexes, and that is very unusual.

"No, there's no need for that." He sighed, pinching the bridge. "Look, I don't know what you want me to say-"

"Tell me who she is."

His face scrunched in utter confusion. "She? What are you talking about?"

"The woman you've been seeing. That's the only logical explanation for your recent surreptitiousness. Tell...me...who...she...is," I asked once again, but in annoyance. Much to my chagrin, he had the audacity to laugh. I took that as my cue to exit but he held the door shut.

"Gen," he began softly, and wrapped his strong arms around my waist. "I would never ever cheat on you, so get these crazy ideas out of that pretty mind of yours. I love you, Genevieve Hanover and I always will," he affirmed and the next thing I knew he was carrying me bridal style.

"No, put me down Jack. You are not off the hook," I said, wiggling in his arms but to no avail. My body made contact with the plush mattress seconds later.

He also got on the bed and covered us with the blanket after turning off the lights. Moments later, his strong arm wrapped around my petit frame and pulled me into his hard chest.

"Just promise me one thing, Jack."

"Anything," he replied sleepily.

"Be there when I wake up tomorrow," I whispered so lowly that I doubt he even heard me.

He shifted closer and whispered back into my ear, "I promise."

I wish I had known that I'd be waking up to an empty space beside me the next day.

________________________________

Hey everyone! We're back in the mix!

This is what I've been working on for the past couple of years...I actually wrote this a while ago and recently I decided to finish it.

So........ how's it so far? Am I in way over my head? IDK guys 🌚🤭

Please do vote, comment and share!

Updates for now will be irregular. I'll give you a schedule when I figure one out.

Love you lots,

~Deetronite ❤️❤️❤️