-JOANNE-
I was gasping for breath as Anne’s grip tightened around my neck, suffocating me. She was a tornado, twisting me around and smashing me into the table like a ragdoll.
Adrenaline kicked in, and I fought back with everything I had. My fingers clawed at her hair and pushed against her slim frame, trying to gain any kind of advantage. But her strength was superhuman, and her nails dug into my neck like talons.
I had to think fast.
Desperation set in. I lunged at her shirt, gripping it tightly as if my life depended on it-and it did. I pulled hard, forcing her slender form to stumble forward. It was a desperate gamble, a Hail Mary pass to even the odds.
I might’ve been down, but I wasn’t out. Not yet. My heart was racing, my muscles screaming, but I wasn’t about to let Anne win. I wasn’t about to let her take everything from me.
I finally got the upper hand at things, and as I tried to hit her, Ruby came in full charge at me, pushing me to hit my head on the brick wall and causing me to pass out.
Slowly, they all tied a rope around my neck and hung me in the center of a room like a darn pinata.
~
I immediately shook off the terrifying image of Anne’s ruthless assault as quickly as it had invaded my thoughts. With a firm determination, I jerked the door open, desperate for fresh air to flush away the bad images.
The cool, crisp air rushed into my lungs, driving away the choking panic that had threatened to overwhelm me. My heartbeat steadied, and I focused on the present, the here and now. Whatever that nightmarish vision had been, it was nothing but a distant memory. I refused to let it define me.
I needed to stop thinking about the worst that could happen. It could be that these women had no clue about Lisa’s death, and everything could be a coincidence at the end, with no one planning to kill me here.
It could just be that they wanted to throw a nice party for me.
Lisa didn’t even die at the Ale-O house.
She died at home.
So it was a confusing state.
I was stunned to see Anne’s young maid, Ophelia, the moment I opened the door, staring at me with her big brown eyes.
The same girl who had warned me to be careful of the party happening live in front of my eyes.
“Welcome, Ms. Joanne.” She beamed.
“Hi. How have you been?” I asked as she led me towards another path to the party.
I hated that these meet-ups were always so confidential.
Why couldn’t we have bodyguards?
Ophelia led me to a huge room, completely different from the one we used for tea parties. I was instantly gobsmacked by how fancy the room and everyone in it looked.
I was the last person to arrive, and boy, did they give me a welcome.
They all turned their heads aggressively, giving me the once-over. I was like a zoo exhibit-they were checking me out like I was an exotic animal!
The decorations were amazing, but something about a few things freaked me out.
The cupcakes had my face on them-a really bad picture from my first party with Hardy. I looked horrible, and laying on the tiny pink cupcakes made it even worse.
One side of the room had a shimmery banner that read: “Baby soon”
I shrieked at that.
Aneesa rushed up to me, looking as dazzling as ever, and took up my wrist.
“Lady of the hour, here is your corsage.” She beamed, covering my wrist with the leafy bracelet.
“Thanks,” I beamed.
The party didn’t feel too well like a party; it felt like everything I’ve ever had there. We had tea and soft drinks to go with the cakes. Soft instrumental music took over the hidden speakers coming from the wall, rather than feeling joyful or even scared.
I was rather calm and felt sleepy.
I had managed to reject every drink offered to me and only had one or two bites of biscuits being shared around.
Soon, everyone discarded the lame teas, and wines and liquors were brought forth, which I openly declined, using my pregnancy to reject them.
Everyone had agreed with me, but I caught Anne, rolling her eyes from the corner of my eye.
Typical Anne.
The ladies looked like they were enjoying themselves immediately; they became intoxicated, and I have never enjoyed a party with these women as much as I enjoyed this one.
Who knew getting them drunk was the only way to get information from each and every one of them?
I was standing at the edge of the room, listening as they revealed each and every one of their secrets.
Anne looked drunk, but her lips were still tightly sealed as she listened to others talk.
Jane let out a hysteric laugh.
“I can still remember Ruby trying to make a hard impression on Spenser, and she flashed her tits on the go.”
The laughter erupted, and they continued to drink.
“Well, at least my tits bagged me a ring,” Ruby added, and another laugh erupted.
I was enjoying quite a few of a few of the stories, and I couldn’t wait for the party to come to an end.
What I have worried about so much turned out to be a friendly party drinking and sharing secrets.
It wasn’t just about me.
“Oh.” Chloe’s voice was loud. She was the most drunk. “Didn’t Anne beg Hardy to fuck her, but he tossed her off and still wanted Lisa?”
Anne’s face immediately morphed into anger, and she snarled.
“That’s not how it goes.”
“Then how did it go then?” Aneesa asked. Her cheeks are flaming red.
“It was quite the opposite,” Anne said, looking mad.
“Lisa and I were a bit close, you know. She said the same thing,” Jane began. “She said you fucked her husband and tried to bloat.”
Anne looked like she would slap anyone in the face.
And I loved where it was all going.
It looked like everyone had something against her. And it just needed a bit of liquor to activate it.
“I’m pretty sure she’s been doing the same for Joanne too,” Aneesa said. I am now drinking from the bottle.
“Oh, shut your ass up, Aneesa. It’s not like you’re a saint,” Anne pressed. “Aren’t you letting your husband fuck someone else to help you get a child because something about your damn cervix is too small?.”
The room immediately went cold, and Aneesa’s eyes hardened.
“Bitch,” she mumbled.
Anne smiled like she had won.
But the other ladies weren’t ready to make her get the last laugh.
Ruby began. “At least she wants a happy marriage with a child. You’re with Asher, but yet you turn into this nasty lost dragonfly anytime you’re near Hardy.” She paused and turned to me. “Joanne, quick advice: stay away from Anne. She fucks people, husband.”
Anne’s hand immediately landed on Ruby’s face, and the place immediately went silent.
“You bitch!” Ruby smacked her right on the face, and a juvenile fight erupted.
And it felt like the perfect time to leave.
The other ladies didn’t even bother to disgenerate the fight and just watched them pull each other’s hair out.
They’re all so toxic. It was funny.
I moved away from the chaos and pulled out the phone. Theo had handed me to call him.
He picked up immediately and asked.
“Are you ready to leave?”
“Yeah. This place is messed up,” I added.
“Okay then,” he said, ending the call.
I was already reaching for the door when Ophelia stepped in front of me with a smile.
“Where are you headed?” She asked lightly.
“Home..?” I smiled.
She shook her head.
“I’m sorry you can’t leave yet.”
I scoffed.
“Look in front of you.” I beckoned toward the fight scene and the other women laughing at it.
“They don’t look like they’re ready for any more partying.”
“Anne will be mad if you don’t stay till the end of the party since it was for you.” Ophelia was grim with her words.
The transformation was so subtle that, for a moment, I questioned if I was simply imagining it.
But the longer I looked, the more apparent it became that the once-gentle gleam in her eyes had been replaced by a steely chill, as if the light had been snuffed out and all that remained was a well of bitterness and rage.
I couldn’t help but feel a chill creep down my spine as I watched her eyes darken.
I took a step back.
“I don’t give a shit what Anne thinks,” I said, and somehow I surprised her with my words.
“Bu-
“No buts. Do wish Anne a happy night and tell them I really enjoyed the party,” I lied.
Well, it wasn’t entirely a lie since I enjoyed it after they all had a fair share of alcohol.
Ophelia’s response left me as confused as a cat at the vet. One minute she was all smiles, the next, it was like a thunderstorm was brewing in her eyes. I couldn’t figure out what she was thinking, and it was driving me nuts!
But I didn’t waver. Nope, I stayed strong, not until my vision started to get all wonky.
What was going on?
I couldn’t take it anymore. My lungs were starting to fail me, and the room was spinning like I was on a ride at the fair.
I reached for the doorknob, desperate for some fresh air and a clear head.
I didn’t put a single drink in my mouth. So, what was making my head spin?
I caught a glimpse of the young maid in front of me.
“Ophel..
I stopped her name on my lips halfway when my vision became vignetted and I found my body hitting the concrete floors.
Slowly, my senses started to give out, and the last thing I recalled seeing was little Miss Ophelia grinning at me cunningly before my entire world went blank.
–
*