As she grabbed her purse from the center table, she headed for the door and spun around to pour out her heart, " listen, I never ever want to see you freaking talk to me, for me, or at me. And for your information, I have moved on as you advised and it is working pretty well for me so far. I have a man now and he loves me unconditionally and without leaving, so Goodbye!" She shouted hysterically and slammed the door with a bang, as she stepped out.
Her days of crippling under his touch or voice were over, and she was determined to keep it that way. As she watched Coraline direct her fiance to come to pick them up, tears trickled down her eyes. It seemed that amongst her clique of friends, it was her who was the least favored when it came to having true love.
" No!" Her subconscious screamed. She was reminded that she had Ethan, who was loving, hardworking, successful, and hot, all the attributes she searched for in a man. But for one reason she couldn't wrap her hands around, and which she most hated, her heart still yearned for Braxton- the cheap bastard who broke her heart and left her crushed.
The car's honking jolted her back to reality, Coraline's driver had arrived at her house. She turned to look at her best friend who had stuck with her through thick and thin and who she owed so much to. Letting her actions express her thanks, she engulfed Coraline in a tight hug, and in her ears, she whispered a quick, " Thank you!"
Meanwhile back at the Goldman house, Braxton smashed the second glass of wine on the floor in anger, the phrase " I have a man and he loves me without condition," kept ringing continuously in his mind as his temper boiled. He wanted to know the man who dared to date his wife. On the other hand, he hated himself for staying away from her for so long. His mind and body engaged in a rigorous emotional battle and as no winner seemed forthcoming he let alcohol be the judge as he planted the wine to his lips and he only brought it down when Matt, who had come home early, intervened.
The latter tried to tame the beast love had awoken his friend but all to avail. He watched as Braxton wailed and screamed Pandora's name as if expecting her to appear that instant. Here was a side of his boss he would never wish on any man, even his worst enemies to encounter.
Braxton had sent him off to make some inquiries and get some words on the men who were looking to bring his father down. Even though he wasn't that lucky with information yet, he had gotten a few addresses and names. Even though he had to give a status report, with the current state of mind his boss was in right now, that seemed impossible.
Braxton was still behaving like a heartbroken truant high school kid, spitting curses on Pandora's boyfriend and begging her to come back to him. With one drunk dance, he landed his intoxicated ass on the sofa and passed out, leaving his assistant to clean up his filthy mess, of which he did.
Matt started by cleaning up the shattered pieces of glass, mopping all the drinks he had spilled at one time or another, packing up the waffle packets he had littered all over the floor while in his drunken state. After he was done, he stripped Braxton of his underwear and laid him on the sofa. When he was done he went upstairs to freshen up.
****
Braxton woke up with a start. As soon as he sat up, he felt a loud bell go off in his head and the pang of pain pushed him back on the bed. This was the first time he had ever gotten drunk in his life so he wasn't that surprised when his hangover came in that severe. He immediately staggered his way to the fridge and emptied the first water bottle he could lay his hands on. The stench that oozed out of his armpit was poignant and irritated him triggering his reverse bowel movement. He scampered over to the toilet and buried all the excesses of yesterday's drink in the basin bosom. Rinsing his mouth in the sink, he wiped off the remaining traces of vomit from his face with a paper towel.
He couldn't believe that a lady could get him this roughed up. He was such a weakling that couldn't stay steadfast and committed. A lone tear swarmed down his right cheek as the events of last night came rushing in like the crashing waves on a beach. While he was drunk, the memories were sweet and sour, bitter and delicious, but now it was a bleak reality.