“Wow! King of cards indeed,” some of the men around the table cheered.
Mason’s nose flared up in anger. He took Maya by her hand, dragging her to a corner.
“You did that on purpose, didn’t you? You made me lose,” he growled, holding her wrist tightly.
“Let go of me!” Maya winced. “I’m not a gambler, and I can’t keep doing this,” she sobbed. Before Mason could reply, a familiar deep, rich voice sounded behind them.
“Is everything alright, Mr. Mason?”
They both turned to see the man they had lost their money to. Maya was relieved he was here; she should ask for his help since she knew her husband was going to abuse her again.
“It’s nothing. I’m just talking to my wife,” Mason replied curtly, his grip on Maya’s wrist tightening.
“How about we play another game?” the man politely suggested.
“What?”
“May I have your wife tonight? I’ll pay you 10 billion dollars and also spread the word that you won me in a card game,” the well-dressed man proposed.
Maya wanted to retaliate, but her husband’s response left her speechless.
“Sure, you can have her for the night. Just keep your word,” Mason agreed.
“What are you doing? Spending the night with a stranger?” Maya questioned, glaring at him.
“It’s just one night, babe. After that, the money is ours. I can even boast about winning the king of cards…” Mason assured, his voice dripping with deceit.
Maya’s hand flew across his face, delivering a resounding slap. Hatred and anger burned in her gaze; however, she regretted her action the moment their gazes met.
She winced as he forcefully grabbed her neck, his jaw clenched tightly.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing, bitch? Are you trying to go against my word? I’m your superior, and you should listen to me. Now go into the room with this man and do your job, or I’ll make your life miserable.” His words sent a chill down her spine. He released her and asked for his payment.
Maya’s breath became erratic, tears streaming down her face as she watched Mason receive the briefcase. He confirmed it was filled with money and faced her.
“I’ll be waiting for you at home.” Mason’s face softened as he held her hand, gently placing a kiss on her knuckles. “I love you, baby.”
With that, he turned to leave while Maya remained frozen.
The man stepped forward, standing beside Maya, his hand casually tucked in his pocket. She was sobbing lightly.
“Ma’am.”
Maya shook her head. “Please, I… I can’t do this. I’ll give the ten billion back to you. I’ll find every means. I can’t do this.”
“I’m from Tatiana. My name is Parker, and god, it’s so hard to pretend to be straight… Tatie,” Parker complained. Tatiana, who could hear him through the earpiece, chuckled.
“Good job, Parker,” her voice sounded.
“Let me take you somewhere safe, shall we?” Parker winked at Maya before leading her out through the back.
Maya spotted Tatiana and immediately ran to hug her tight.
“Tatie. Oh Tatie, you’re here,” Maya sobbed.
“It’s alright now, Maya,” Tatiana consoled.
Maya broke the hug and asked, “The money, I’ll-”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll get it back. Parker will take you to a safe place. I’ll tell you what to do next,” Tatiana smirked.
—
Mason tried to kiss a woman as they entered his room, but she quickly broke the kiss.
“Easy now, big guy. Let’s play a dirty game. I know you like dirty games,” she smirked, making him lay on the bed.
“Great, I’ll be paying you a lot of money, mi amor,” Mason whispered.
“Close your eyes; I’ll do the touching,” the woman whispered, trailing her hand to his bulge just to turn him on. Mason smirked and shut his eyes.
In the next moment, an injection was shoved into his neck, making him unconscious.
“Fuck,” Stacy cursed under her breath, wiping her lips. “Tatie, you didn’t tell me this bastard’s lips taste like rotten eggs. I can’t believe I kissed him,” Stacy complained over her earpiece.
Tatiana snickered over the earpiece.
“Are you laughing at me right now?” Stacy walked to the dresser and took the briefcase.
“I never asked you to kiss him, Stacy,” Tatiana teased.
“I’ll kill you with my bare hands. I’ve got the money,” Stacy said and left with the briefcase.
—
Tatiana headed to Jolene’s apartment and found her busy with her system while shoving some popcorn into her mouth.
“Jojo, how is it going?” Tatiana asked as she sat beside her.
Jolene clicked on the last button. “All set. We just have to wait until tomorrow morning.”
They clicked glasses of champagne together and drank. Both had smirks on their faces.
It was simple: Tatiana was going to use the image Mason cherished against him.
—
[NEXT MORNING]
Mason was busy pacing around his room, his fingers pressing on his temples as he tried calling a number for the umpteenth time.
Finally, the person on the other side picked up the call.
“Maya, were you ignoring my calls? Where the fuck are you?!” he roared.
“I’m just waking up and my phone was on silence. Why do you sound so disturbed?” she asked.
“The money is gone. Someone stole it.”
“What?!” Maya exclaimed over the phone. “How did it happen?”
Mason didn’t want her to know he had bought a whore and that whore took the entire money, so he found a lie.
“I was robbed last night. A strange man trailed me down to the apartment. He struck me from behind and I lost consciousness. When I woke up this morning, the money was gone.”
Maya gasped, and her voice croaked. “So you forced me to sleep with a strange man for nothing?!”
“Chill the fuck out, Maya. I just said I was robbed. Do you have ear problems or something?”
“You liar! All your life, you’ve been gambling away every bit of wealth we have, lying to your father that I was sick and that you’ve been using the money to treat me. You threatened my life, Mason, hitting me at every chance you get. I have bruises on my body, bruises on my face that I use makeup to cover up…”
Mason’s nose flared up in anger. If Maya were right before saying all these things, he would have hit her.
“I’m your husband, your superior, and I can do whatever I want with you. You have no right to challenge me, Maya, no right!”
“Husband, my ass, Mason. Just last night, you bet me away for a mysterious man to spend the night with. What kind of husband does that? What if he’s a psycho ready to kill me?!”
“Then so be it. As long as you are alive, I own you. Your father gave you to me, and he got what he wanted: power and connections. You’re mine. Now where are you? I need to satisfy my fucking urge,” Mason said.
“Go to hell, Mason. I’m done with you.”
With that, Maya ended the call. Mason’s eyes reddened with anger, not believing that Maya had actually said all of that.
The last time she did, she saw hell. Maybe he’d have to double it this time around.
However, his phone rang, and his assistant’s name flashed on his screen. ‘Just in time,’ he thought.
“Hey, Brown, find out where my wife…”
“Boss, we have a problem. Were you speaking with your wife just a moment ago?” His assistant’s question cut him off.
“Yeah, why?” he asked.
“She was live, and every part of your conversation was all over the news.”
Mason’s eyes almost popped out of their sockets in shock. He immediately switched on the television and there…
Maya was on live screen, without makeup and covering clothes. Every bruise on her was visible and clear. Of course, everyone recognized the famous wife of the nobleman Mason.
They just couldn’t understand what was going on.
No, this isn’t happening. Mason shook his head.
He yelled at his assistant, “Make it stop! Find her and fucking stop her!”
Her video was on every netizen’s screen as most of them had just heard the phone call. The media was tense, and the internet was on fire.
All thanks to Tatiana’s scheme.
In his dark office, Cassius, who was silently watching, had his lips curled into a small smile-a smile that hadn’t happened in many years. He was watching her move, wondering how she’d handle it. She was indeed a little rebel.
Maya began, “Hello Australians. My name is Maya Wallington, and here is my story…”