I stood right in front of her, watching her as she let the tears roll uncontrollably down her face. I knew what she was trying to do. She wanted to get MD pissed off with me for making her cry. But, seriously, I didn’t care anymore whether MD got angry or not. But I knew that no matter how pissed off MD could be, he won’t ever forget the fact I hold all the aces..the heir to his business empire my son!
“Anita, what is wrong with you? How can you possibly be talking to my wife like that! How dare you disrespect her right in front of me!” MD raved and ranted, his eyes glowing with anger.
“But you heard her when she called me a slut!” I retorted with anger in my own voice too, matching his gaze at the same time. The man was shocked. He had never seen me in that state before. I had to act that way. I had to let them both understand that I was not a baby, I deserved to be treated with some respect and accorded every right they expected to get from me. This was not about me, it was about the future of my son.
“But, Anita, she is your senior, you have to show her some respect….”
“Even when she insults me?” I interjected before he was done talking. “So, even when I am being insulted and called a whore and all kinds of names, I am expected to just keep quiet and watch her do so, right? Is that the kind of wife you want me to be?” I shot at him.
“Yes, Anita, I want you to be a respectful young lady to my wife, you have to respect her if you want you and me to have a union together,” MD replied, raising his voice at me. I got the message.
“Oh, I see…so, is that a threat?” I’d thrown at him. “You will stop playing your role as the father of my son, is that what you’re saying?”
He didn’t respond. I continued. “See, MD, if you expect me to roll over on the ground for your wife to trample all over me just because I’m a young girl and the second wife, I’m sorry, but that is not going to happen!”
“Richard!” she called him by his name, “where did you find this girl? How could you have had anything to do with a girl so rude and mannerless!” Aunty Elizabeth said behind me. I could see some of the domestic staff peepings from the curtains, watching the drama unfolding right before their very eyes.
“Did you hear?” I turned to MD. “Did you hear her call me rude and mannerless? You have nothing to say to that, right?”
MD turned to his wife. “Darling, calm down and let me handle this, please…let’s not make things get any worse…”
“So, am I the one that is making things get worse now?” she shot back at him, the tears still coursing down her face. To be honest, I felt bad that I caused her so much pain. But it was necessary, they had to know I was no longer a child…..
From the way his eyes suddenly turned red, I could tell he was very angry with me. This whole family get–to-together idea was no longer looking like a good idea. But at least, I have been able to achieve something, which is to tell them that this young lady is no longer a small girl. It was important that I did what I did otherwise, my place in MD’s family will not be guaranteed.
“I am very angry with you right now, Anita, I didn’t expect this kind of attitude from you to say the least….” MD turned to me, seething inside with rage.
“But, MD, tell me, what am I supposed to do when she called me rude and mannerless? Am I supposed to simply stand and watch?” I retorted but with restrained anger this time.
“But still, she is still older, you should’ve accorded her that respect. Besides, this may be your home too but she is the woman of the house,” he explained. “Now, please, do the right thing and apologize to her,” he demanded of me. I knew it would come to that and I was ready for it.
“No problem, MD, I will apologize to her only if she takes back all of the nasty things she said about me,” I said to him as a matter of fact.
“Oh, my God!” Aunty Lizzy exclaimed. “MD, can you hear her? Where did you bring this useless and arrogant girl from? Somebody that does not even respect you how much more than me? Is this what we will be tolerated from her simply because she has given you a child? Is this what we will suffer from her?”
“MD, can you see now what I am talking about? Useless and arrogant, did you hear?” I said to MD, ignoring his wife’s ranting.
“Keep your mouth shut for a minute, Anita, and behave yourself!” MD barked angrily at me.
“I asked you to do something and you are giving me condition before you can do what I asked you to do, I won’t take that from you, Anita! Do what I asked you to do right now!” he barked further.
I smiled wryly. “Okay, MD, I have heard you,” I said to him, a contemptuous smile on my face. “If that is what you want, then I will oblige you. But note that if she does not take back all the names that she called me, I will take my son and leave this house tonight, no matter how too late in the night; it is for me to do so. So, what is it going to be, should I go ahead and offer my apology as instructed and pick up my son and leave here this very minute?”
…to be continued
