Bianca's POV
Brandon's message flashed in my eyes. Before I could think of a reply, my phone beeped again with his message. "Is it possible for us to meet tomorrow evening? A private suite, just you and I." He added a winking emoji at the end.
I didn't think twice before responding. "Brandon, I'm married. We are friends, but I won't entertain you hitting on me."
Him: Replies with an emoji. I barely understood what that emoji meant, it seemed like it was smiling and upset at the same time. I stared at it longer that I should, unsure which emotion it was meant to show, disappointment maybe.
I placed my phone on the table next to the bed, trying to shut the pain out of my mind. I wondered what I was doing wrong to Steve. Maybe I wasn't beautiful enough. First thing tomorrow morning, I'd head to the beauty spa for a session. I drifted into sleep in a few minutes.
THE NEXT DAY
Before I woke up, Steve had already left the house. I let out a heavy sigh. The behaviour wasn't foreign to me. That was what had been happening for a long while, none of us knew each other's whereabouts.
I prepared the kids for their lesson at the creche. After that, I texted Natalie: Let's meet at the spa.
I left the house and joined Natalie at the beauty spa. She was already there with Sophia and Melinda. Both of them were more of Natalie's friends than mine, although we still got along.
"Just look who's bubbling. I bet you had enough of last night's sugar." Natalie teased. "Now tell us, does his popsicle still feel the same?"
I rolled my eyes at Natalie and took a seat, while placing my legs in the basin as the worker attended to me.
"Come on girl. It was all my idea. At least show me some appreciation by spilling the gossip."
"Ooo. Bianca had a rollercoaster last night." Melinda lifted the cucumber pieces from her eyes and gave me a coy smile.
"What of Brandon?" Sophia chirped in.
I shot Natalie a hard glare. "Did you really have to tell them everything?" I whispered with gritted teeth.
She shrugged her shoulders. "They're still homegirls. If one of us has a problem, everyone solves it."
I exhaled deeply. "It didn't work."
"No way!" Natalie exclaimed. "I told you to buy the sexiest lingerie that he couldn't resist."
"I did." I muttered, my heart felt heavy as I began narrating last night's incident. My eyes began to get glassy, and even Sophia and Melinda turned towards me. I couldn't hold in anymore and burst into tears.
"Excuse us for a moment." Natalie said to the attendants, and they left in a jiffy.
"Damn! That man's a bastard. It's high time you got down with this new dude."
"Brandon?" I widened my eyes at Natalie's suggestion. "You want me to cheat on Steve?"
"Bianca, you're a gem and that man keeps playing you. Brandon gives you attention. Give him a chance, girl!" Melinda advised.
"I can't. I'm probably the problem here." I said, sniffing as I tried hard to control the tears. "If I take better care of my body, I'm sure he'd come back."
"You aren't the problem. You have the most perfect shape among us. Which man wouldn't want you?"
"I'm sure that jerk is cheating on you. That's how cheats behave."
"I'm pretty sure he has another family somewhere."
"Girls just stop it." I said, slightly raising my voice as their insinuations unsettled me. "I won't cheat, I'd fix my marriage."
The women didn't say anything any longer. I called for the spa attendants to return. Afterwards, I had my hair done. My body felt refreshed and smelt divine.
"Bianca, I just want you to know that you're not the problem." Natalie whispered to me as I headed towards my car.
"I can't believe you guys would advise me to sleep with Brandon just because of a trivial issue between me and my husband."
"You don't have to be upset." Natalie apologized. "Me and the girls are going to stay here for a longer while."
"Yeah." I glanced at my wristwatch, it was already afternoon. "I have to pick the kids from creche."
She got back into the building and joined Melinda and Sophia. I got into my car and drove off.
I picked up my boys and as I drove home, I noticed Steve's car packed outside the house. He normally closed from work by evening, so it was quite surprising for him to return in the afternoon.
The boys ran upstairs to their rooms. I needed to do some meal prep for the week, but before that, I had to change my outfit. I headed to my room which was upstairs. Opposite my room was our matrimonial room, although it was now only Steve's.
I didn't have any plans to enter there and meet Steve until I heard a woman's voice coming from the room. I froze in my tracks. That voice, those moans sounded like something I had desired for years. No, it can't be. I opened his room door slowly, and they were naked. The blonde was riding him in a sensual manner.
"Steve!" I screamed at the top of my voice. I rushed towards the woman and pushed her to the floor. "How could you? Home wrecker! You're the one pushing my husband from me!" I slapped her hard across the face.
"Bianca stop it!" Steve ordered.
"I won't!" I shouted and slapped the woman again.
"Steve, I thought you told me you're divorced. Why bring me here to embarrass me?"
"Steve, you need to…" My words were cut short as a deafening slap landed across my face.
"Why would you put your filthy hands on her?" Steve flared up. He advanced towards me and raised his hand like he wanted to hit me again.
The woman stepped between us. "It's okay baby. I'm not really hurt."
He cuddled her naked body in his arms and hugged her tightly. He placed a kiss on her cheeks, then she whispered something into his ears.
"Kneel down and apologize to her." He ordered.
My jaw dropped with shock. "What?"
"Do it now, or this marriage will be over."
I opened my mouth to oppose, but no words came out. The humiliation sank deeper than the cheating. Tears pricked at the corner of my eyes and I allowed them to flow.
I got to my knees. "I'm sorry. It won't repeat itself."
"I got you and your family out of debt and poverty and you have the guts to challenge me. It is because of me that you have food and a roof over your head."
Those words stung deep into my chest. Of course, he helped me and my family, but he had never used it to mock me until today.
"I'm sorry." I muttered again, my knees still pressed to the ground.
"Get out of here." He commanded.
I got to my feet and gave him one quick glance before leaving. This wasn't the man that I knew. I headed to my room and crashed on the bed, crying profusely.
Natalie would know what to do. I dialed her line and she picked it up in an instant.
"I don't think it's my fault. He just hates me." I said in a shaky voice.
"What happened?" Natalie asked.