The Secret Life of Him

8. Accused

"Urgh! Finally!” Roxane exclaimed as she entered the room. She hurriedly sat in a chair opposite the vanity mirror. He placed the branded bag she was carrying on the floor and leaned back in the chair. "Please turn on the air conditioner. It's hot!" he ordered his companions.

One of Roxane's companions quickly followed and turned up the air conditioner.

"How long is it?"

Roxane's PA, Carla, tasted it. “This will take up to three hou–”

"Three hours?!" Roxane sat down properly and looked at Carla in surprise. "Why didn't you tell me about it? I wish I didn't go!"

Carla winced. “M-Ma’am, I told you last week about it. I even gave you the program details and othe–” 

“So, are you saying that I’m a fool?”

Carla’s eyes widened. “What? No!” She shook her head. “I-I’m sorry, Ma’am. But we need you here. Everything is already set. If you won’t be here, the network will be affected.” 

Roxane rubbed her forehead and waved Carla away. “Fine! Whatever. Where’s my makeup artist?” 

“She’ll be here in a minute.” 

Roxane grunts. “You mean she’s not here already? Are these the people Dwayne paying, huh?! You all are lazy!” she said angrily. She couldn’t believe that she was earlier than her artist. “Tell whoever it is that she is fired! I don’t want her!” 

“But ma’am? It will be hard now to find–” 

Roxane grabs Carla’s collar and looks her eye to eye. Her eyes narrow and she makes sure that Carla feels intimidated by her. “Do you want to lose your job too?” 

Carla shook her head. “N-No, ma’am!” 

“Now do your fucking job before I fire you too!” 

Roxane let go of Carla and sat down again. She sighed and looked at his face in the mirror. She immediately smiled and calmed herself down. She arrived at the place early in the morning but it turns out that everything has not been fixed yet. If only she had known that this was going to happen, she would have gone by noon. Annoyed, Roxane leaned back in the chair. If it wasn't for Dwayne she wouldn't be here. She couldn't stand those poor people any longer! She was done being poor!

Roxane looked to her side and saw Carla still standing there. “Why are you still here?” 

Carla looked at Roxane in shock. She quickly bowed at Roxane and said goodbye. When she got out of the room, she was the only one who could breathe freely. She sighed and shook her head. Where can I find a new makeup artist?

Roxane shook her head when Carla came out. "What a fool!" she said annoyed. She decided to just pick up the cell phone and leave a message for Dwayne. Her boyfriend is now in Korea for a new project that they will partner with a popular TV network in that country. Roxane snorted. She begged him to take her with him because she had never been to Korea just for a vacation. But he said that she is more needed here in the Philippines for programs and activities that require Dwayne's presence. She stands as his representative because she is his fiancee.

At first, it was fun for Roxane. She enjoyed the attention she is getting. But as the day passed, it was exhausting for her. When she became Dwayne’s fiancee, she thought that she could live her dream life. The luxury life she always wanted. 

“Roxane.” 

Roxane's eyes narrowed when someone called her by her name. “Didn’t I tell everyone not to call–” She gasped and stood up when she saw Floyd at the door looking at her. She noticed that he locked the door as he got near to her. “Floyd?! How did you enter this place?!” 

Floyd puts his hand in front of him like he was taming Roxane. “Roxane. I just want to talk with you.” 

“We are done already, Floyd! Get out of here!” Roxane shouted. 

Floyd suddenly panicked. He hurried to the girl and took her by the arm. He immediately pushed him as if she was scared.

"Roxanne, stop! Let's talk!”

“We have nothing to talk about, Floyd! We are done! I'm engaged with Dwayne already! How hard is it for you to understand that?!” Roxane was beating the man's chest.

"Calm down! Will you?!"

Floyd glared at Roxane. That's when she seemed to come to her senses and stopped moving. She pushed Floyd away and straightened himself. She breathed deeply.

“What do you want?!” 

“I just want to know why Roxane. Why are you doing this?” 

Roxane's eyebrows arched. She crosses her arms at her chest. “Floyd, you know why! Dwayne is much better than you! He can give me everything I want!” 

“But I will give you everything you want! I gave you everything! I work hard for it just to give it to you! Isn’t it enough?” 

“But I want more, Floyd! I can’t wait any longer! At least Dwayne has everything. And now that we are engaged, I can have all I wanted now!” she said proudly. “How about you? Can you give it to me? What do you have? Floyd! We have been living with each other for ten years but you still have nothing! We are okay now. So leave us alone!” 

Floyd looks at Roxane disgusted. He never expected Roxane to be like this. When they were together, he never saw Roxane complain to him about the things he could give to her. Yes, most of the time, she complains. But not like this. Floyd took a deep breath and looked directly into her eyes. 

“You want it? Fine! I will give you everything. House? I will! Cars! I would die just to give it to you, Roxane! But please, don’t do this.” Floyd tries to touch Roxane but she turns it away. “Come back to me. Don't take our son away from me.” 

“Floyd. Miguel is okay now. He is already enrolled in the most prestigious school in this country. He has his own nanny and has a lot of friends now. He has everything too that you cannot afford to give. Can’t you just be happy with us? Move on!” 

“But I can’t!” Floyd said frustratingly. “I can’t move on or continue without you and Miguel at my side!” Floyd's tears started to fall down. He bends his knee and hugs Roxane’s waist. He doesn’t care anymore about what he was doing. What is important to him is to get his family back. “I-I’m begging you! I need you, Roxane!” 

Roxane looks away and tries not to feel sorry for him. She knows how eager Floyd is to give her everything. But it is not enough for her. It was never enough until she met Dwayne. Whatever happens, she is choosing Dwayne over Floyd. Roxane holds Floyd’s shoulder and tries to push him away. 

“Stop, Floyd! Have decency for yourself at least! Just go away and move one! Because no matter what you say? I will never go back to my life with you!” 

Words of Roxane are like a knife piercing Floyd’s heart. He started to sob like a child again. He didn’t let go of her no matter how she pushed him away. He tried to beg her no matter what. 

“Roxane, please!” 

“Let me go, Floyd! Someone might see us!” 

Floyd shook his head. “No! I won’t let you go! I will not allow you to marry him!” 

Saying this, Roxane felt annoyed. She slaps him hard. Floyd was shocked by what Roxane did and let go of her. He looked at her surprised.

“Wake up, Floyd! We are done! Move on! I don’t want to see your face ever again!” Roxane shouted. “And don’t you ever try to stop me because you will not like what I can do, Floyd. While I still have respect for you as the father of Miguel, go now!” 

Floyd stands up and wipes his tears. “Roxane. I love you so much. I can’t go on with my life without you. Please–” 

“I don’t care, Floyd!” 

“B-But–” 

Knock! Knock! Knock! 

“Miss Sandoval? Are you okay?” 

Roxane's eyes widen when she hears a voice outside. She clenches her palms and glared at Floyd. No one can know that Floyd is here. Dwayne shouldn’t know about this! 

“Ma’am? What’s wrong?” Someone tries to open the door but it's locked. 

Roxane immediately took Floyd’s hand and used it to slap her face. Floyd was stunned when Roxane did it. 

“W-What are you doing, Roxane?” 

“I will not let you ruin me, Floyd. Not now and never!”

Roxane uses his hands again to hurt herself. Floyd tries to stop Roxane but he was more surprised when she started to ruin her clothes. The dress she was wearing had a tear in the skirt. She also tore different parts of her dress and her cleavage and shoulder were seen. 

“S-Stop it, Roxane! What are you doing?!” Floyd said confusedly. 

“Who’s there?! Open this door!” 

At that moment, Floyd feels like he is suffocated. He doesn’t understand what Roxane was doing but he started to feel like he needed to get out of that place. 

“Help! Help me!” Roxane cried. She went to Floyd and pulled him closer to her. She puts Floyd’s hands at her waist and bum. 

“S-Stop it, Roxane!” 

Floyd tries to resist. He was about to push Roxane but the door opened and two guards went inside. His eyes widened as the two men went after him. They push him aside and pin him down. 

“Help! He is trying to rape me! Help me!”

“N-No! It’s a mistake! I didn’t–” 

“Stop!” Someone punches Floyd’s face. 

“Help me!”