Behind The Mask

Chapter 15

Michael’s POV

I have to refrain myself from proving Anouk that I do have a rich vocabulary of curse words. At this critical moment, when she was opening up to me....when I wanted to ask her the burning question – if she wants to be my girl – someone has to go ballistic on the door. And I have a sneaking suspicion about the identity of this someone...

“Anouk, go inside the bedroom. I’ll deal with the bi...with whoever is there.”

“It’s Lisa, right?”

I sigh. Why deny it?

“Yeah. I kind of told her off earlier. I guess she won’t take no for an answer the easy way.”

“Then I’d like to stay here.”

Is it a smart decision? Maybe. Or maybe not. Lisa is vicious and vengeful enough to start talking to paparazzi. She’s quite buddies with that Howard Stern character....

“No, Anouk, go in there. This could be nasty.”

“Okay.”

I take a deep breath and open the door. Surely enough, she’s here, almost fuming through the nostrils.

“What’s up, Lisa? Wasn’t I clear enough earlier? It’s over between us. I’ve moved on.”

“Nice...You used me while you needed me, now you’ve moved on. Who’s the lucky one? An underage, underprivileged boy whom nobody cares about? Or one of those barely legal centerfold girls that you kept under your pile of comics right next to our damn matrimonial bed?”

Yes, I’m a man. Yes, I own some porn. Over-18, heterosexual porn. Lisa lies with the ease of breathing. She knows what hurts me most and hurls it in my face. She’s disgusting! Hateful, vengeful, disgusting!

“Leave me alone, Lisa. You make me sick. You know what? Now I’m really glad that you didn’t take my name when we got married. You're not worthy of it. Get out of my life.”

“Listen, you two-faced depraved lying sneak! I am a Presley! I’m royalty! You’re fucked up, Jackson! You fucked up your face, your career, your name, everything! Who wants your stupid name????”

“And who wants yours?”

I turn sharply around to see Anouk marching out of my bedroom. Oh shit! I can foresee an ugly, ugly scene.

“Who’s the tramp?” sneers Lisa.

“My name is Anouk Margritte Zuiders and I can trace a proud line of ancestors until back in the 17th century in Holland. You, on the other hand, only have one drug addicted father who dug or rather ate his way into the grave and who is suspected of fucking his own mother! And who really was into underage girls later on, since he was dating your mother when he was 21 and she was 14. Nice family tree, Lisa. Very nice.”

Shit! Anouk has hit straight on Lisa’s worst pet peeves. I prepare myself to break up a fight if necessary. And not a moment too soon.

“You dirty slut!” shrieked Lisa lunging at Anouk and I really had to use all my force to stop her.

“Let me go, Michael! I have the right to throttle this bitch! I was your wife, I deserve some respect! She’s only a cheap trick!”

“Enough, Lisa! You brought this on yourself. I was done talking to you. You had no business coming here to my room. You have no right to insult my gi...friend!”

 “My children want to see you, but you’d rather fuck this bitch...”

“For fuck’s sake, stop using your children to get to me! When we were married and I suggested adopting them, you flew through the roof. Now you realized that they need a father figure??? Go find Danny, apparently he’s better than me by your standards. I mean it, Lisa, stay away from me and remember this: respect is earned, not given. And you WERE my wife. Now I am a free man and I can bestow my affections on whoever I find adequate.”