The Husband She Abandoned

Usually, the Grand Queen Hotel was the place to be, one of Larade City's most expensive locations. But today, it looked particularly spectacular with the pretty Chinese lamps and streamers which dotted the hotel's entrance. and gave it a more festive mood

In contrast, Benjamin Hart's shabby appearance cast a sharp contrast against the festive and highly expensive-looking environment.

He avoided the main entrance where the elite of Larade's city were trooping in and went to the side of the building where there was a discreet door used by staff. 

He had on a faded delivery rider's uniform since he had come to the venue straight from the 8-hour delivery shift, all for the $150 bouquet his calloused fingers were holding like a prize.

He knocked rapidly on the door, and a second later it opened with a tiny crack; then, when the person inside saw that it was him, the door widened.

"You're late, man. Your lady has already performed." The guard Benjamin had made friends with earlier when he came to drop Diana off explained.

"My boss made me stay an extra shift," Benjamin explained breathlessly.

"Hurry, go. You know where her dressing room is, don't you?"

He nodded and bowed in gratitude before sprinting down the hallway until he came to a stop in front of a door that had a sign with Diana written in gold letters against a white background hanging on it.

Benjamin smoothed his hair with his hand, arranged the bouquet of flowers he held before shrugging and knocking on the door.

After knocking a couple of times again, and he did not get any response, he carefully opened the door and found it filled with people.

He opened the door wider and stepped inside, ignoring all the snide looks and stinky eyes he was getting from the people in the room.

He headed straight for the beautiful girl who sat in front of a large mirror surrounded by bright bulbs.

"Diana, I am sorry I came late, but I brought you these." He said and proudly presented the beautiful mix of flowers he held.

He had worked all day to be able to afford the flowers; in fact, he had had to put in an extra shift to pay for them.

Diana's face, which had been bright with the sheen of the high from performing for a room full of Larade's elite, changed to displeasure, and she looked from the flowers in Benjamin's hands up to his face.

"Look, the jinx has arrived. What bad luck." A disgusted voice hissed. 

Benjamin stiffened at the familiar voice. He did not need to look up to see who had spoken; it was Barb, Diana's best friend, who was always ready to insult him. He was used to her insults, and as usual, he ignored her.

"Don't tell me you are just coming." Ariana, Diana's sister, asked in a derisive tone. "Look at what he is even wearing."

Her words made everyone take a closer look at Benjamin's clothes, and they snorted at the fading clothes, which had sweat tracks around his armpits and back, and they started to taunt him mercilessly.

"Someone so handsome, you would think he would at least have a decent job."

"I don't know why Diana even puts up with him in the first place. She is on her way to being a superstar. Is this who she will walk red carpets with?"

"Diana's dressing room is filled with the most exotic and expensive flowers from her admirers, and this is what the husband brought? Could he not even spring for a uniform colour of flowers? How embarrassing."

"I am surprised he even had the balls to show up in the first place. How pathetic."

Despite all the insults from everyone around, Benjamin did not pay them any mind. His eyes were on Diana's elfin face, waiting to see what she would do.

Diana glanced up at him and looked guiltily away, then waved at Ariana to take the flowers. Ariana did so with a disgruntled expression, wishing that her sister would join in the insults. 

She snatched the flowers out of his hand and carelessly dropped them on an empty seat, not in vases like the other which were beautifully arranged.

"Let me know when you are ready so that we can go home." He said.

"On what, your delivery bike maybe?" Barb snorted, and everyone started laughing.

"Are you even aware that Diana was called a shining light this evening? After such a remarkable performance, you want her to go with a pauper like you, no way!"

Just as Benjamin opened his mouth to protest and remind everyone that Diana was his wife, of course she was going to go home with him, the door opened abruptly.

A strong, almost choking smell of perfume preceded the newcomer, and Benjamin watched in amazement as faces which had been sour grapes just a second ago suddenly had warm and open, welcoming smiles.

"It's Mr Barry."

"Who is he?"

"He is a member of the Leon family. I heard he is the reason that Diana was able to perform today."

Benjamin frowned at this last bit of information. He had been the one to ensure that Diana's name was included in the lineup of musicians, but because he had not bragged about it, suddenly someone else was enjoying his credit.

"It was an honor to let the world see Diana perform." Barry preened.

Benjamin looked at the cocky-looking man in his tacky suit emblazoned with designer labels and came closer.

"I'm sorry, I did not hear you well. Did you just say that Diana only performed today due to your influence?"

"And what is it to you? Are you going to tell us that you helped secure Diana's place today?"

"So what if I am?" Benjamin refused to back down.

"Who is this?" Barry asked with a sneer, looking up at the young man in his cheap uniform.

"He is nobody," Ariana quickly stepped in before Benjamin could say a word. "Just a nuisance that has refused to let my sister be. Please, ignore him, Mr Barry."

Very few people knew that Benjamin and Diana were actually married. Diana had reasoned that it would be a bad look for her as a wannabe superstar.

It was a proven fact that fans were drawn to stars who seemed to be available. Benjamin had agreed. He was ready to do anything to help her career along.

Mr Barry turned away and placed his attention squarely on Diana. He admired her flawless skin and beautiful body and thought to himself that if he played his cards right, by the end of the night, he would have Diana in his arms. 

He rubbed his hands at the tantalizing thought.

"I came by to invite Diana and all of you to the Celestial room for a celebratory dinner."

Everyone's eyes almost popped out of their sockets.

The Celestial room was the newest hot spot in town; only the truly elite could go, as they had a very strict clientele. 

It was the sort of place that people prayed to set foot in just once in their lives so they could brag about it to their friends; one person's meal could cost at least thousands of dollars.

And if Mr Barry was willing to take all the people in the room, it would amount to nothing less than tens of thousands, easily almost a hundred thousand dollars.

"Mr Barry, I could not impose on you like that." Diana lowered her lashes demurely.

"What my sister means is that it would be a pleasure to come with you." Ariana jumped in quickly so that she would not miss such a golden opportunity.

"What about me?" Benjamin demanded.

"Excuse us." Ariana smiled for Mr Barry's benefit, then dragged Benjamin out.

"You'd better get back home right now, or I will tell mother you are trying to ruin Diana's career." She hissed, then returned to the dressing room.

A couple of minutes later, Mr Barry and Diana emerged. Benjamin noticed that Diana was pointedly ignoring him, while her friends excitedly trooped out after them.

No one gave Benjamin a glance; they just ignored him like he was a piece of furniture.

He walked back out of the hall through the narrow gate he had come through, his shabby reflection staring at him through a window.

Just as he was thinking about how fickle people could be, his phone's ringing interrupted his thoughts.

He looked at the cracked screen of his phone and sighed before answering.

"Yes?"

The voice on the other side answered.

"Boss, the master has been asking when you will return. he say's has already been a year."