KARMA

2,555 Days. . .

Chapter 2 - 2,555 days

2,555 days. . .

The measure of a man is what he does with power.

Addison Adrianne Forbes Montgomery-Shepherd found herself helpless in the face of a powerful man.

Power is a force that needs an object. To have power, a person has to have it over something, or someone.

He's not powerful by any means of wealth, status or occupation - oh, no, absolutely not!

He's tall but never stands tall. Not like a Montgomery.

He works in a factory. That's all she knows. She thinks a chocolate factory because he would sometimes bring bags of perfectly edible, discarded candy bars.

She loves chocolate. Dark chocolate. It was an everyday struggle. Emphasising on was. Now, she can't even stand the sight of chocolate.

He's always complaining about how tight money is at the moment and that irritates her because she can't do anything but pretend to feel sorry for him. She can't do anything to get them out of this freaking shoebox.

What can she do?

Nothing.

All she ever does is listen and agree to whatever he's ranting about.

I'm so sorry to hear that.

Yes, of course.

Certainly. You are the best.

Is there anything that I could do?

I understand.

Thank you so much.

Please, I'm so very sorry.

It's rehearsed. All of it. It's fake. All of it. It's what she has to say. All of it. In order to keep him from detonating on her, she has to keep his temper at bay because she's afraid he'll snap and break their promise, taking Christopher away to God only knows where.

Though they made a deal, he's never to be trusted. He snatched her off the streets seven years ago. Tricking her into thinking that he was hurt, that he was a homeless man. She's literal proof of how much of a maniac he really is. His screws are loose. No sane person would ever do that.

Power.

She can take all the beatings, the assaults, the ... whatever - like she has so many times before - but taking her baby away from her, she just can't handle that. Not at all.

Christopher is her everything.

Power.

Those cheap tactics are definitely not the same approach the Montgomery men take.

The language they speak. Upper class.

The suits they wear. Bespoke tailored suits only by New York finest.

The shoes they wear. Straight cap derby in dark brown Shell Cordovan leather with double leather soles

The careers they pursue. Doctors. Lawyers. Military.

The country clubs they go to. Sebonack Club.

The sports they play. Golf.

And of course, the occasional extravagant parties they throw. Parties that are as equally essential and of utmost eminence to the men - though they'll never admit to it - as it is for the Montgomery women. Parties that literally screams"I'm so filthy rich that I let my wife throw these elaborate parties I know we don't need, when she likes and whenever she pleases because I can."