Chimon - This Moment

Chapter 28

With their mobiles firmly attached to their ear, Cheryl and Kimberley glued their eyes to the telly as the coverage began, both of them holding their breaths in tandem as their hearts pounded wildly against their chest. 

*****
"So, Ashley, how did you find out about the love affair?" The interviewer asked with intrigue, crossing her legs before her.

Ashley slumped his shoulders and heaved a heavy sigh. "I guess you could say that I always kind of knew. From the very beginning, ever since she started The X-Factor and all of that, it was always in the back of my mind." He explained slowly, fumbling with his hands. "We didn't talk like we used to and she was always at work with Simon. It's strange innit? When a wife spends more time with her boss than with her husband? And that's when I knew."

"I see. So are you merely insinuating an affair, or did you actually see something happen between them?" The interviewer inquired intently.

"I visited The X-Factor studios quite a lot when Cheryl was filming, and I just knew that something was going on with them. He couldn't keep his hands off of her and she did nothing to stop him. It made my skin crawl, and when I questioned her about it, she would just brush it off like it was nothing. Then she would get all worked up and defensive, telling me that I wasn't being a good husband and that I wasn't being supportive of her career."

The interviewer nodded her head in understanding. "So she was turning it around on you?"

"Yeah, I suppose you could put it that way. She doesn't acknowledge her faults even when she knows she's wrong." Ashley explained austerely, his face hard. 

"And is she wrong a lot?" The interviewer asked gently, completely absorbed by his words.

"More than she'll admit." Ashley responded brusquely. "But even though she makes mistakes, I still support her one hundred percent because that's what I believe a husband should do." He answered convincingly, drawing on his skill of deception

The interviewed nodded her head fervently. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but you mentioned earlier that you went to see Cheryl to try and fix your marriage, but Simon was there as well. Is that correct?"

"Yes."

"Can you tell me what happened?"

Ashley closed his eyes and released a deep sigh. "I walked in on them while they were snogging, and from the looks of it, they were just about to get even friendlier with each other, if you know what I mean." He said suggestively with a lift of the brow. "I was just in absolute shock. I mean technically we're still married and..." He paused briefly and cleared his throat, shifting his weight uneasily in his seat. "And I was just at a lost for words really. In fact, I can't even find the words to explain it."

The interview leaned forward in her seat and clasped her hands together. "I see some bruises on your face." She pointed out with a slight wince. "Is that at all related?"

Biting his lip, Ashley lowered his head for a fleeting moment before looking up with a glint of distress. "Unfortunately it is." He breathed solemnly, looking as if he were about to cry. "Obviously I was mad as hell, understandably so, but I didn't want to stir up any trouble. I asked calmly for Simon to leave so I could talk to my wife in private, but the man just completely lost it. We had a scrap and I tried to stop him but he just kept thrashing about. He was completely out of control."

"And what was Cheryl doing during all of this?" The interview asked with concern, her eyes gleaming with profound sympathy.

Without any hint of hesitation, Ashley lifted a finger and pointed it to his black eye.

The interview widened her eyes in shock, her mouth agape. "Are you telling me that she did that? She hit you?" She asked in astonishment, clearly captivated by the surprising turn of events.

"Yes. I really thought that she would defend me, but instead she pulled Simon to the side and punched me square in the face." Ashley explained despondently, shaking his head in dissapointment. "And that's when she finally confessed their love affair."

"So what you're saying is that they've been having an affair for years now behind your back?" The interviewer insinuated, looking for affirmation.

"Yes. Again, I always kind of knew about it but I was in denial. I love her so much so I tried to convince myself that I was just imagining things, but after hearing it straight from her mouth, I realize that I can't deny it any longer." He answered solemnly, looking utterly dejected.

The interviewer nodded her head and averted her eyes, taking a few moments to rummage through a pile of photographs that rested on her lap. "I know this isn't going to be easy for you, Ashley, but I have some pictures of Simon and Cheryl that were taken from the past few days. Quite telling photos I would say."

Ashley leaned forward in his seat and nipped at his bottom lip, remaining completely silent and stoic as the interviewer presented the pictures one by one.

"This one was taken at the doorstep of your Surrey home just a few days ago." She stated while lifting a glossy photograph. "Here's one of them at a shopping center." She continued slowly. "This one was taken right before they closed the bedroom curtain."

For the next few moments, the interviewer continued to present pictures successively. By reason of dramatization, the camera zoomed in on each one momentarily and darted back to Ashley's face every so often to get his reaction on film.  

"Is there anything you would like to say about these photographs? I know they must be very hard for you to look at." The interview declared with unreserved compassion.

"There's nothing much to say. I think the photographs speak for themselves." Ashley commented gravely, a look of sadness etched across his face.

"I understand." The interviewer said with a hint of remorse, reaching forward to place a warm hand on his knee. "So tell me, Ashley, why are you opening up about this now?"

Ashley raked his hands over his face and closed his eyes, exhaling deeply into the silence. "Because I want the nation to realize that things aren't always how they seem. I'm not here to criticize Cheryl. I still love her and I would never want to do that, but I just feel like people need to know the truth."

"And what is the truth?"

"Don't always believe the papers." Ashley answered with a small laugh. "A lot of things happen behind closed doors and people shouldn't be so quick to judge."

"I think that's without question." The interviewer responded with a firm nod of the head. "All right, well thank you so much for coming in, Ashley. Before we leave, is there anything else you would like the nation to know?"

"Again, not everything is how it seems. I just want everyone to know that I have made mistakes, and I admit to the public that I have wronged Cheryl on occasion. I know it wasn't right, but what everyone needs to understand is that it takes two to tango. My mistakes don't define who I am; I'm defined by circumstance." Ashley concluded with dynamism.

"Thank you again, Ashley. I'm sure the nation heard you loud and clear."
*****

When the exclusive came to an end, Cheryl and Kimberley continued to stare at their telly in disbelief, both of them verging on the brink of tears without the slightest idea of what to do. Above all else, Kimberley was fuming at Ashley for having the nerve to twist everything to salvage his reputation while throwing Cheryl to the dogs. Even though she knew that everything he said was completely fabricated and untrue, the media seemed to dig up enough "proof" to make his story seem credible.

"Kimba." Cheryl said in a barely audible tone, drawing in a deep, shuddering breath. "I'm ruined." She continued, her voice wavering.

Kimberley bowed her head in a token of assent. Although she didn't want to admit it, she feared for the time in her life that Cheryl just might be right.