"Leila. It's me."
Charles?
The voice broke through her subconscious. Her screams died down and her eyes snapped open. It was Charles. In flesh and blood and a battered hand.
Anger and a flood of other emotions coursed through her veins. She shoved him. "You were following me, weren't you?" she screamed in his face and pushed him again. "Charles, I told you to stop following me."
"Where I come from, the word is: Thank you." He stretched the phone to her and she snatched it. The last thing she felt in his presence was gratitude. Her emotions were in shambles. "I just saved you, Leila."
"You didn't save me." Her heart was racing fast, she sucked in air through her teeth to get her breathing under control. She didn't trust Charles. She didn't trust that the robbery was all a coincidence. "Stay away from me. How many times do I have to say it?"
"As many times as you can because I'm not going away."
Leila's bag vibrated and she jumped, she needed to leave this place. Charles grabbed her before she could move, holding her hands behind her back, he used his free hand to smoothen her hair. Hot tears stung the back of her eyes.
She would not cry.
She could not cry.
"I'm losing my patience, Leila."
His mouth lowered to a corner of her lips, she closed her eyes when his lips brushed hers. Disgust bubbled inside her. His touch revolted her but she could do nothing. Charles placed another kiss on her forehead and stepped away. As soon as he let go of her, Leila slapped him.
The action took both of them by surprise. She didn't regret it. In fact, this was something she should have done a long time ago. "The next time you put your hands on me without my permission, I'll ruin you."
Leila stormed out of his sight with her chest lighter than before. It wasn't until she was back to the road and among the sea of people going about their evening business that she started breathing properly.
She slapped Charles.
She slapped Charles Black.
The reality dawned on her, she didn't know whether to cry or laugh so she laughed until tears stood in her eyes.
The house was many metres away but Leila didn't want to feel constricted in a taxi, so she began walking. Her feet screamed for a rest but she didn't stop. The evening breeze blew her hair in different directions and she pulled it into a messy bun. She wasn't the only pedestrian on the road and it made her feel less lonely.
A car honked behind her. She didn't look but hurried her steps. One more drama and she would lose her mind. The honk grew more urgent, the flashlights of the car blinked but she continued walked. Someone nudged her and her feet crashed to a stop. She could spot her apartment complex from here. In fifteen minutes or more, she would be there.
"Leila." Kelvin stopped in front of her. They stared at each other, the lights from other vehicles reflecting on his forehead. She was so relieved to see him, at the same time, she was mighty pissed at him. They ended their staring match when he motioned to something behind him. "Get in the car."
Kelvin didn't have to say it twice. She skipped to the car immediately. Once inside, she hugged her handbag to her chest. It was too quiet. The quietness made her think and overthink, she did.
Hours ago she had been in this same space with him, making out. This was all his fault. He should have just kissed and made her feel like a woman.
Tears clouded her eyes, her vision blurred as she looked out the window. They didn't say a word to each other until they were back in the house. Kelvin shrugged out of his coat. He slammed his gloves to the table and she jumped. Leila couldn't deal with his temper tantrum now. She needed a hot bath.
"Where were you, Leila?"
Standing behind the couch, she removed the cake from her bag. It was squashed. Her intestines knotted in hunger, so she did the only thing she could do. She took a big bite from the cake and let out a content breath.
"Where were you, Leilani?"
Her husband's voice sounded distant like he was behind a wall. She was emotionally exhausted. The only thing she wanted to do at that point was eat and she took another necessary bite from the cake.
A scream tore out of her lips when the cake was flung out of her reach. Leila stared at the bits of the cake sticking to the wall, then at the pieces scattered on the floor.
She was famished and he threw her only food.
"Are you insane?" she thundered.
The air crackled with anger, hate and something more intense. Kelvin dragged her by the arm to stand in the middle of their living room. His face was red with fury and his jaw ticked continuously. Leila wrapped her arms around her stomach and a wave of tiredness rolled over her. She needed food and rest, not an argument.
"I won't ask again. Where were you?" He pushed his phone in her face to show the number of times he dialled her number. "I have been calling you. Look at the time."
He was screaming at her again. She didn't like being screamed at. His voice broke her and the walls surrounding her heart crumbled. She stood tall, stiff and straight.
"I was at Freya's house learning how to give you a blowjob." Her smile was too forced, her heart ached badly but Kelvin's expression was the icing on the cake. "You know what happened on my way back? I was mugged. Someone stole my phone and Charles came out of nowhere to beat up the thief. He returned my phone to me." Her lips cracked, she couldn't keep up with the fake smile anymore. "That's where I was, Mr Kelvin McKenna. That's why I didn't pick your calls."
Resignation thickened the air, she moved out of his reach before he could touch her. She wiped the tears spilling to her cheeks. She was a strong woman. She had been through worse without breaking down so this should mean nothing. But Kelvin was always hurting her. He shouted at her. He took her cake.
"Leila."
She shook her head. He didn't get to talk to her calmly now. He didn't even give her a chance. This was not it. This was a mistake.
"I don't want to fight with you, Kev," she said. The day was finally taking a toll on her. "So I'm just going to go now. That's if it's okay for me to even leave."
"Leila. Wait."
She turned away from him. "Goodnight, Kev."
Leila didn't get far before firm arms wrapped around her from behind. Kelvin tucked his head in the crook of her neck. "I was worried about you, Leila. I was worried something bad had happened. I didn't know what else to do."
The tears pushing to the surface broke free. Kelvin spun her in his embrace. "I was scared," she whispered. So many things could have gone wrong. What if the guy had shot her? What if Charles or the thief had raped her? She sniffed. "I didn't mean to worry you. I was just visiting my friend."
"You didn't leave me a note," he pointed out. "You didn't call or text me. Nothing."
"I didn't expect you would be back home early," she replied. Neither did she expect to spend that much time at Freya's house. She wiped her cheeks with the back of her palm. "And I was not even happy with you." She punched him once, twice until she was punching him nonstop. "You didn't take me for lunch and you threw my cake away."
Kelvin chuckled. "I'm sorry. I'll buy you another one."
"I don't want another one." Her husband's thumb smoothed the lines on her forehead, she let him calm her with his touch. "I want the one Freya made. I want her moist cake."
"You said you were mugged?" She nodded. Kelvin lifted her off the floor and sauntered to their bedroom. Her arms locked around his neck. He dropped to the bed with Leila on his laps. "And you got your phone back?"
"Yes. From Charles." She tugged on the hem of her shirt until Kelvin pulled her hand away to lace their fingers. "I think he staged the robbery. He showed up almost immediately and expected me to be grateful."
Their room fell silent, she hid her face in his chest. Kelvin cupped the base of her neck, forcing her eyes on him. He pressed his lips on hers in a chaste kiss and she forgot the moment that happened with Charles.
"I think he's following you, Leila."
Her husband held her gaze and her head bobbed slowly. She was certain he was following her. "I think so too."
Kelvin hugged her. "I'm sorry for raising my voice at you."
"I'm sorry I couldn't tell you I wanted a kiss." She tapped on his arm so he could ease his grip on her. "I'm new to these things. So I get shy sometimes."
Flicking a finger over her nose, Kelvin laughed. "I'm your husband, Leila. You don't have to be shy around me."
"I know." Her gaze lowered to her leg and she flexed her foot. "But I still get shy sometimes. I can't help it. I'll get better."
He pecked her again. "I'm sure you will." There was a hint of seriousness in his voice when he said, "Leila. I think we need to get you bodyguards." Her head was already moving left and right. She didn't want anyone watching her every move. "Just listen to me on this."
"I don't want bodyguards."
Kelvin's shoulders sagged. "Just one. At least for a month, okay?" To put that smile back on his face, Leila nodded. "If he is no longer bugging you after that, we can let them go."
"Okay."
Pushing herself to her feet, she yawned and her husband offered her a half-smile. She wanted to hug him and it was exactly what she did. She hugged him.
"I'll run you a bath," Kelvin said into her hair. "And prepare noodles for you."
Leila took a step away from him. "Can you cook it?"
"I can try." She planted her hands on her hips. The corners of his eyes crinkled, then he sighed "Okay, you will help me."
Her cheeks hurt from smiling too much but her smile only grew bigger. Kelvin excused himself to the bathroom, he returned later to inform her the bath was ready.
"Kev?" she called out to her husband before he left the room. He opened the door without stepping out. Leila pushed one foot forward. "Will you kiss me?"