Behind Closed Doors

Chapter 35: Back To Work

Michael sits back staring at me.

"Yeah, I have a daughter."

"How come you've never mentioned her?"

"I've never met her."

"Oh." I lower my eyebrows. "But still, having a child is a big thing."

"I know, I just don't like to talk about it. I don't have to tell the whole world about the daughter I've never met do I?"

"No..." I shake my head.

He leans forward looking at my lip. He touches it gently and looks in to my eyes. He looks down my body and notices some bruising on my arm.

"Did Marcus do this to you?"

I let out a soft laugh.

"Why do you say that?"

He gives me a look.

"You haven't been at work all week, and he's been acting different. He's been really quiet and looks like he's always zoning out. Tell me. Did he hurt you?"

"No." I roll my eyes.

"Where's the split lip and bruises come from then?"

"I don't want to talk about. I don't need to tell the whole world about my abusive husband do I?"

Michael pulls a face.

"So he did do this?"

I look down.

"I'm staying with my friend. Me and Marcus are just having a break."

"A break?" Michael scoffs. "You don't think you should leave his ass for good?"

"He's my husband and I love him."

Michael shakes his head and sits back.

"Don't give me that look." I lower my eyebrows.

"Do you think he loves you?" Michael asks.

"Well... Yeah, he just has trust issues. He needs help."

"Trust issues?! That mother fucker needs a beatin. Someone to show him what it's like to hurt someone like that."

"Stop it. Me and Marcus will work things out."

"You actually believe that don't you? If you love someone you don't beat them up."

"He does love me!"

"I loved my wife and I never laid a finger on her."

"Like I'm going to take advice from you?" I give him a look. "Your wife, oh sorry, ex wife wants nothing to do with you, and doesn't want you near your daughter. What does that say?"

Michael raises his eyebrows and scoffs.

"You're lucky I didn't show Marcus the video after all. He would have beat your ass and probably would have killed you." He glares at me and stands up.

"Why are you acting all innocent? You forgetting you've actually killed someone?"

"I didn't kill anyone! Why the fuck are you coming at me like this? I came here to find you to see if you're ok, and you wanna throw shit at me that you know nothing about?"

"You obviously came here to see Cindy and harass her. You didn't come here for me."

He gives me a look and shakes his head.

"Really? Fine." He throws his hands up. "Think what you want. I don't give a fuck."

"What? Do you want me to thank you and fall in to your arms or something? Oh you're so caring and thoughtful Michael. You found me. You wanna act all nice now, after all the stuff you've done? Threatening me with that gun and blackmailing me! All that coke is messing with your brain, making you forget all that huh?"