A Banshee
Chapter 36 A Banshee
M&M FOODS, NEW YORK. “This is unbelievable!” Leila screeched, pacing the office back and forth. Darren remained seated, boiling from intense anger. “Where did I ever go wrong to deserve a moron like you for a son?” He questioned. Asher stood in the middle of the office with his hands to the back like an offending child. After so much pestering from his parents as regards the money he was supposed to collect from Andrea. He admitted to them that his new wife has no dime to her name. They couldn’t believe their reality. “I…I am sorry.” He stuttered. “That must be easy for you to say.” His father eased. “Do you know you have just cost us the company? No banking institution will borrow us money. The money was supposed to buy back shares in case M&M faces a downturn. Yet here we are, penniless and hopeless, all because of a stupid son who couldn’t do himself and everyone else a favor to gather his information right.” “To make matters worse, sales are declining. Why can’t you find a decent head researcher? Your dumb wife can’t even help with anything. At least the former one kept us afloat. Now we are sinking just like the Titanic.” His mother added in utmost displeasure. Asher fixed his jaw stubbornly, refusing to accept the blame. “It isn’t my fault that she knows how to pretend. Moreover, we wouldn’t be in this mess in the first place if you didn’t squander money.” He snorted at his father. “You bastard!” Darren screeched, causing his heart to clench. “Easy,” Leila urged as she caressed his chest slowly. “Don’t let yourself get worked up because of him. Have you lost your mind, Asher?” “No, I haven’t, Mum, and I wish you all wouldn’t keep blaming me. Nina was the perfect wife and partner. But I had to let her go because of you. Andrea can’t even cook to save her life and talks more about doing house chores. How do you expect me to handle those extra expenses to pay helps.” Asher whined. “You have an arm and a leg, don’t you? Get a part-time job, moron!” His mother sucked her teeth. “Why are you two being so inconsiderate? I have been nothing short of a good son to you. Yet everything I do is never enough. I am burning my ass out to save this company. Why can’t you see that?” “We would think highly of you if and when all your hard work comes to reality.” His father jested. “It’s all that witch Andrea’s fault. She is of no use to us. I don’t see any reason why we keep her around.” Leila huffed. “You should get a divorce,” Darren said. “We just got married,” Asher mumbled. Leila snickered. “What does that matter? You would have your lawyers draft the paperwork, and each person signs it and goes their way. Maybe then you can get your actual wife back. I am sure the orphan is drowning herself in pity now.” “And where do you intend to shove me?” Andrea questioned from the door. None of them noticed her presence. “How long have you been here?” Leila asked with no ounce of guilt on her face. “Long enough to know your family harbors a bunch of scavengers. Only associating yourself with me for my money. To think I signed up for this nonsense.” “Shut your mouth, young lady,” Darren growled at her. “We aren’t the ones showing off a lifestyle we couldn’t afford. You show up every time, all decked in luxurious attires, and go on all day to talk about how much your father, who is not yours, spends. Do you think anyone will love you without expecting anything in return?” “But Nina had nothing to offer, not family or money.” She defended herself. “At least she had her brain intact,” Leila responded. “She made our boy look like a genius wherever he finds himself. Since you have no money, is there something else you want to offer?” Silence ensued. The older woman hissed. “That’s what I thought. Divorce it is then.” Andrea gritted her teeth and pointed at them. “If any of you think you can just toss me aside because I am not what you expected, then you are kidding. I won’t just sit still and will make sure that I get half of whatever it is your dear son owns if he ever makes a move to divorce me. You bunch of hypocrites, you should be ashamed of yourselves.” “Andrea, that’s enough!” Asher bellowed. “Do not disrespect my parents.” “Were you deaf to all that they just said to me?” She questioned, faking tears. He exhaled, feeling exhausted. “Mum, Dad, can you give us a minute, please?” “You have the whole place to your pathetic selves. We have had enough drama to last us the entire week.” Leila rolled her eyes, dragging her husband along with her. “Do you not love me at all? Is money the essence of everything we share?” Andrea asked when it was just them. Asher scoffed, giving her a cold glare. “What sort of affection will I have for someone with so much spite inside her? I enjoyed sneaking around at first. But it was only during the first month. I endured the past few years because I tried to make my parents proud. None of them would have guessed something was happening between us if you weren’t insistent on playing nice.” She inhaled sharply. “So what about all of the cold shoulder you were giving Nina? It can only mean one thing: that you never wanted her, right?” He cackled dryly. “Hell no, I just felt too guilty to face Nina. I didn’t want it to hurt too much when she eventually learned about the betrayal. Being an asshole felt like the best way to let her go.” Andrea shook her head, not believing him. “But you didn’t oppose blocklisting her from getting a job in the food package industry. How do you explain that? You even sent her out with your unborn child.” “The last sentence is the reason I agreed to what you suggested. I wanted to let Nina go, but not out of sight. Knowing Nina, she would return stronger if she ever got to work in another company. Not only that, but they will become a competition. When I didn’t catch a glimpse of her, it made me uneasy. However, I know she would do anything to survive. All I have to do is have a sob story to tell her when I eventually get you out of the way. No offense, all of this was transactional.” Andrea clenched and unclenched her fist. The veins on her neck popped so hard it looked like it was on the verge of bursting. “What is it?” She screamed, scattering everything on the table. “What is it with Nina that I do not have? I am prettier than she would ever be. That pauper has no parents and wouldn’t appreciate a Micheal Kors if someone shoved it in her face. What exactly do you bastards want that I can’t give?” Like a banshee, she kept straining her vocal cords. Asher backed down at her hysterical behavior. His eyes rounded like saucers when everything kept flying at the wall, and half of the glasses in the office had shattered. He didn’t realize she had anger issues. “Calm down, Andrea, please.” He begged. Andrea breathed as sweat trailed her exposed chest. A devilish smirk spread out on her face. “Listen to me, Asher. It would be till death do us part between us. If you think I will allow reconciliation between you and Nina, you have something else coming.” She threatened. Not minding the mess she created, Andrea stormed out, leaving Asher to ponder on the trouble he stirred for himself.Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.