Fractured Loyalties

6SIX

"Major! Let your brother go!" I heard Vanessa yell. I was finishing getting dressed for work as I chuckled at the commotion.

"Emmanuel, stop it! I'm not going to tell you again- Put it down!" She continued.

"3...2....1-

"CYNTHIA! Come get your children!" She finally called. I chuckled shaking my head as I glanced into the mirror again.

I sighed making my way out, seeing the boys tussling.

"Knock it off!" I called, startling them. They quickly pulled away from each other and glared at me.

"I see two faces that better straighten up, right now!" I scolded them. They stood still with their frowns and arms crossed.

I scoffed shaking my head, and looking to Vanessa. She was also glaring at me.

"What?" I asked confused.

"I've been out here for ten minutes trying to get them to stop fighting and they act as if I'm invisible, then you come in and say one thing and it's over-"

"Ness, please not this again." I roll my eyes turning and walking back into the room. She followed behind.

"Why not this again Cynthia?" She asked walking into the room. "I'm their mother too, yet they act like you're the only parent here! My words mean nothing to them."

"Baby that is not true-

"It is true, they act as if I'm just some, step mom or something. I refuse to be one of those parents with disrespectful little shits running around." She snapped.

"Vanessa, I think you're overreacting." I sighed.

"Of course you do. They listen to you."

"Babe, they're three. Right now they're in a stage where they want to test us. You just have to know when to pick your battles." I explained.

"I know but it just seems like it's getting worse." She breathed.

"Well it is getting close to your due date...maybe you should rest." I suggested.

"Rest? Baby I do nothing but rest all day. I'm sick of it." She groaned.

"I'm ready to go back to work." She started.

"What?" I asked in shock.

"You heard me. I can't do this stay at home mom, bullshit." She answered. I shook my head.

"No no no. Baby, this is what we agreed on. I work, you're here with our babies." I told her.

"I know Cyn. But I can't do this shit, I'm going crazy in here." She explained.

"Baby, if we both are working who's going to be here with the kids? Especially when I start traveling-"

"You're still going to start traveling?"

"Ness I am the CEO of a company, it's part of my job. You know this already! We've talked about this many times before-"

"You asked me if I was okay with it and I told you I was not-"