Joshua
I saw her staring at me, her shocked brown eyes looking right at me. They didn't look so lifeless as I had made them out to be in the past few months. I knew that my actions and my silence had been slowly killing her, torturing her, but I couldn't stop. I had become accustomed to her strained tears; like a sadist I had grown to love her suffering. She had torn my world apart from the evilness in her heart. The woman in whose eyes I had made love blossom was gone, and she had been replaced by the bitterness of a bitch and evilness of a woman whom I had loved.
"Do you think we should leave?" Anne asked from beside me.
The pretty brunette whom I had taken a great liking to ever since I was betrayed had somehow found her way into my life even though we were not permanent or in love. I had had my share of women after having my heart broken. Looking at her, I was brought to the present. I once again looked at Eunice and saw her surrounded by her friends. I could see disgust for me in Shelly's eyes. Alex, her husband, and she herself had tried to stop me, but I wouldn't, not until I took away Eunice's soul and tore it apart like she had done with mine.
"There is no need to." I said politely, feeling my lips twitching.
"Come with me," I said and started walking toward my lovely wife's gathering.
I could see pain in her eyes as she looked past me at Anne, just like I wanted.
"Hello, beautiful ladies," I greeted the small gathering while standing beside where my wife was seated.
"Hey, Joshua. How have you been? Haven't seen you in awhile," Clarisse asked.
"Great, actually. Too busy at work, cracking big deals, building relations, long hours at the office and much more. However, I enjoy it, you know. Success is my key to happiness," I said while looking at my wife through the corner of my eyes; I found her head hanging low, maybe in shame.
"That's great. So what are you doing here?" Shelly said while placing a strained smile on her lips.
"Anne and I were out for lunch, actually. We were discussing some strategy for an upcoming project to see that it boosts our company's image. We ran late so we decided to have a lunch together," I said, looking straight at Shelly and only seeing distaste lurking in her eyes.
"Why don't you both join us? We were just going to order, and maybe we can catch up. I bet Eunice would love your company," Clarisse said while smiling at Eunice.
However, she didn't know how much I despised my wife. If only she knew the truth, then maybe she wouldn't have said the same thing and might not even have sat beside Eunice. Only I knew the real woman behind that façade of my so loving wife Eunice, the woman whom I once worshipped. But no longer; she was gone, and I was too. I let hatred in me and a different side of me had taken over me because she had forced me to be this way.
"I don't think it is my cup of tea. Moreover, I don't want to spoil your afternoon," I said while slipping a sweet smile over my face which was difficult for me with my wife so close.
"Oh come on, Joshua. It's not like we are talking behind your back or gossiping. I think you could bear the torture of sitting with us. Can't you?" Shelly said, looking between me and Anne.
I could see the hidden loathing on her face for both me and Anne, but I didn't care about anyone else's opinion but mine and mine only. I couldn't understand her reasoning for making me stay, but still I wanted to know what she wanted this time. I looked around and found four set of eyes looking at me besides Eunice, who wanted to look anywhere but at me.
"Okay, I shall ask someone to add a pair of chairs to the table," I said and looked around for a waite.
Soon two chairs were added to the table.
"Excuse me, can you put one here and the other one here." Shelly asked sweetly, and now I could see the reasoning behind her push to make me stay.
"Anne, why don't you come and sit here beside me, so Joshua can sit with Eunice. At last we can have a look at the two lovebirds together," she said politely. If she thought that this could change anything between me and Eunice, she was wrong. Much to my dismay, I took the seat beside Eunice and was hit by the very alluring fragrance of lilies and jasmine. That sweet smell of her perfume still drove me crazy and made me remember the sweet memories we had shared. I wanted to lose my resolve of hating her and engulf her in my arms, but I controlled myself. I had controlled this urge to devour her and diverted it to someone else.
Looking at her, my mind was engulfed in the sweet memories we had shared, the ones that had me made me fall for her. We were just mere friends, but then I started noticing her as more than a friend. It didn't take us long to be together; a friendship of more than a year turned into a love that I never wanted to let go of. Just in a span of a month, she had me wrapped around her finger. She enchanted me and bewitched me with her sweet nature, kindheart, soft milky skin, and those eyes. Her entrancing eyes had invaded all my thoughts and senses. I wanted to be something before I could ask for her hand, and in just three months, I had my company set up with Alex beside me as my partner. I was successful and felt that I was worthy of Eunice; that was when I moved forward and asked her to be mine forever. I felt like I was at the top of the world when she said yes to marrying me after four months of being together. She made me happy, content, and at the same time, wild and possessive. However, all that was gone now; she was no longer the same and neither was I. She brought this on herself; she had changed my love into a dark and wicked hatred for her.
I was snapped out of my thoughts when I found something soft touching my hand. I looked down to see that it was Eunice's finger brushing against mine. In an instant, I pulled my hand away from her. Her touch now made me burn in hatred rather than in the flames of love. Looking up, I could see everyone staring at me, but I didn't care at all now. I could feel Eunice's hurt and pain rolling off her in waves of emotion. I looked at her and saw her masking the evident with a smile, but her eyes said the opposite.
"So Joshua, are you going to come to the charity ball this evening?" Nora asked, looking straight at me.
The charity ball for cancer this evening was one of the biggest events which I was invited to with my wife. However, I was going to let it pass as I wasn't willing to go anywhere with my lovely wife.
"No, I won't be attending. I have important matters to resolve this evening, though I will be sending my gratitude through a generous donation," I said confidently so that no one could detect my lie.
I had no work or matters to resolve besides being with Anne in between the sheets. I just didn't want to bear the presence of my wife and pretend to be in love when I loathed her.
"Oh, that's too bad. We were looking forward to it. It's been awhile since we have seen you and Eunice together at an event. Usually you either come alone or with Anne or your secretary. You know it would be good for you to be seen together. Everyone still envies the love you share," Clarisse said. If only she knew the love now we shared was nothing but hatred.
"Why don't you go to the events with Joshua any more, Eunice? You should come; it would be a good change for you," Nora spoke up.
"I just don't feel well enough and the business world isn't meant for me, you know," she said with a small fake smile plastering her lips.
She never knew about any of the parties because I never asked her.
"Enough with all of this. Eunice, you should go. These events might be good for your health. Why don't you come with us tonight?" Nora tried to convince her.
"You should go, Eunice. If I didn't have some business to take care of, I would come with you. Clarisse is right; this might be a good change for you," I said sweetly and saw Shelly look pleased from the corner of my eyes.
She could imagine as much as she wanted that we would get back together, but I wouldn't let that happen.
"That's a really good idea. It would be a good change for you ,and maybe you would be able to persuade Joshua to come too," Shelly suggested.
I looked at Anne, and I knew she felt out of place besides being bored. We were supposed to be alone rather than being in company of my wife, but I would make it up to her tonight.
"I don't think I would be able to make it even if God asked me. I am drowned in too much work," I said, looking straight towards Anne.
Her eyes met mine, and I saw a smirk on her lips. I guessed she knew what work I was talking about.
"Okay, I guess you should come with me, Eunice. I have got to go to this event too and don't have a date to go with. You could be my plus one and I could be yours rather than being bored all alone. You know we both will enjoy tonight and might even find some men to mingle with. I don't think Joshua would mind as he is so engrossed in his work that he doesn't even have time for his own wife," Nora said while raising a brow and looking at me.
I felt a burning anger within me at the thought of Eunice with any other man. I wished to crush any man who dared to touch her. This pure feeling of jealousy burned right through my veins. Hearing my own thoughts, I felt amused. I would dare to kill someone for just touching the woman I despised the most in the world. What kind of sick man was I? What had she done to me? I looked away from them and set my eyes on Anne. One glance at her and I was able to forget every feeling I held for Eunice, leaving only hatred.
"I would if I didn't have this new client who is very insistent and urgent. I really need to satisfy the needs of this client of mine," I said to Nora while looking at Anne from the corner of my eyes.
She seemed so pleased with my answer.
"I understand, Joshua. I know you are doing all of this for Eunice and yourself," Nora said, but she was so wrong.
We ordered our meals while conversation filled the table. Even Anne was enjoying it, but Eunice wasn't. The main reason was none other than Anne. Eunice was long forgotten as Anne joined in with Nora and Clarisse in some gossip. Shelly, on other hand, couldn't stop giving me death glares, but I didn't care about her at all.
"Please excuse me," Eunice said politely and walked away from the table towards the restroom.
The talk only came to halt for seconds. I knew it was torture for her to see the woman I respected more than her.
"Excuse me for a moment," I said.
I could see Anne questioning me, but I just gave her a wink and followed Eunice. I wanted to see the raw pain she felt. I was going to wait for her to come out from the washroom that was when I saw another passage towards a small balcony. I didn't knew why, but I found my feet walking towards it involuntarily. The glimpse of her cream dress made me recognize Eunice standing there. Her dirty blonde hair moved with the wind. I could see her deep in thought with silent tear escaping her eyes. I was supposed to enjoy her misery, but I couldn't at that moment. She felt broken and pathetic. I didn't know what to do; it felt like there was a battle inside of me, good against evil.
"Couldn't you just leave with her?" I heard her ask in a strained voice.
"No, I just couldn't stop myself." The words instantly fell out of my mouth.
"All I have left is my friends, Joshua; can't you just leave me alone? Do you have to take away even the last source of my happiness?" she asked while facing me. Returning to the table, I quietly sat down and saw that our food had arrived. Anne looked furious while Shelly on other hand looked triumphant. I guessed something had passed between them. Eunice joined us a few minutes later, and I found her shifting too much in her seat. I looked at her and saw her looking very uncomfortable. As my eyes revolved around the table, I saw Anne giving her death glare; for a mistress and a good friend, she was really doing wonders to Eunice. After the meal passed in small talk about everyone's life , the time to goodbye came soon. For the first time in a long time, I kissed my wife. However, I found myself wishing to taste her soft lips and softening towards her. It was hard for me to keep up with myself. It was just for show, I said to myself. Just to make people think that everything was alright between us. Then why did I want to kiss her instead of feeling forced to?. Eunice and the others left to go shopping while I and an unhappy Anne made our way towards the office. I didn't care about Anne. I knew how to please her and make her happy. It was possible with a flick of my finger, but I didn't care about her at all.
All the way to the office, all I could think about was that small kiss for show. What was happening to my resolution to make her pay for her sins? I wanted to hurt her, and I would do that. I couldn't let her be happy, and I knew the best way to torture her soul. I knew the one thing that would completely break her and both please and benefit me: I was going to strike her where it would hurt the most.....
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Hello everyone!
I know it's been long but here it is.
I promise to bring you one update a week for sure from now on.
Let me know your views on Joshua and others.
Eunice is suffering and Joshua is enjoying it.
What is Joshua going to do to hurt her the most?
Any guesses let me know.
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Love you all...................
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