Officer Mike was on the scene in a heartbeat, his uniform crisp, his demeanor all business. "Alright, where's the alleged assailant, Mr. Hum?" he barked, scanning the area.
Rita stood there, her heart pounding in her chest, her mind racing. She was taken aback by how quickly the officer seemed ready to take Robert's side, as if he were nothing more than an extension of Robert's will.
Robert, still nursing his wounded pride and other parts, gave a derisive snort and jabbed a finger in Rita's direction. "That woman right there," he sneered, "she's been trying to get my attention, playing hard to get. When she realized she wasn't gonna get it, she lashed out and kicked me where it hurts. I'm gonna need to get checked out at the hospital. You better not let me down, Officer. Do your job and make sure she pays for this."
"Consider it done, Mr. Hum," Officer Mike replied with a nod that seemed to carry more respect than the situation warranted.
Robert, smirking, turned his gaze back to Rita.
"You know, if you're nice to me, maybe I'll consider dropping the charges. Beg a little; it might do you some good." With those words hanging in the air, he staggered off toward the elevator, leaving Rita to grapple with her rapidly unraveling situation.
Rita's mind was a whirlwind of panic and anger. "This can't be happening to me," she muttered to herself, her voice tinged with despair. "What the heck am I gonna tell the company tomorrow? I need this job. And who can I even call for help at this hour?"
Before she knew it, Rita was handcuffed, escorted to the police station, and locked in a cold, unforgiving cell.
As the night drew in, the chill of the cell seemed to seep into her bones, and she huddled in a corner, her body quaking from the cold and the shock of her predicament.
Tears started to stream down her face as the gravity of her situation hit her. She thought back to her life before—all the luxury, the protection her wealthy parents had provided, the way she'd never had to face any real hardship. She had been untouchable, living a life where privilege was her birthright.
But now, here she was, all alone, her friends and family out of reach, her privilege stripped away. She was left to deal with the harsh reality of her choices, the bitter pill of her new existence, and the cold, hard ground of a jail cell.
Rita's sense of time had warped into a string of endless, fearful hours until the jangle of keys and the screech of the cell door swinging open shattered the silence.
A police officer stood there, a bored expression on his face. "You're free to go," he announced.
Rita's head snapped up. "What? I'm getting out? But I was told... I was told I'd be locked up for the interrogation?!" The words tumbled out in a rush of confusion and disbelief.
The officer, clearly annoyed and eager to move on, waved a dismissive hand. "Hurry up, will ya? Let's just say you've got a guardian angel lookin' out for ya. That's all I know."
Stunned, Rita wiped away the streaks left by tears on her cheeks, her mind racing.
Who could wield enough power to override Robert's influence?
As she walked out of the station, doubt gnawed at her.
Could Robert have had a change of heart? No, she dismissed the thought quickly. A guy like him wouldn't know regret if it hit him in the face.
Lost in her thoughts, Rita barely registered her name being called until it was right upon her. "Rita!" She whirled around to see--Jefferson!
"How did you..." she began, her instincts screaming at her to run to him, to demand answers. But memories of recent revelations about Jefferson's secretive nature held her back. She froze, her gaze icy as she met his.
Jefferson seemed oblivious to the frost in her eyes. He quickened his stride, arms opening for an embrace that never came. Rita's cool demeanor stopped him mid-reach. "Are you okay?" he asked, concern etching his features.
Rita shook her head, a silent dismissal, and turned to leave.
"Hey, Rita. What's the deal? Did those jerks mess with you?" Jefferson's voice carried a mix of anger and worry.
"Why do you care?" Rita's voice was a sharp blade, cutting the air between them.
Jefferson's confusion was evident. "What do you mean, 'Why do I care?' I'm your husband, for crying out loud!"
"But you..."
Suddenly Rita was reminded of Esther's caution not to let on that she knew of his deceit. She bit back her retort and kept walking.
"Hey, Rita, but what?" Jefferson called after her, his footsteps trailing hers.
Finally, he let out a heavy sigh.
"Alright, I'll talk to you later when you've cooled off a bit."
Despite her reservations, when Jefferson offered to drive her back to Lew City, Rita hesitated.
She didn't relish the thought of being alone with him, but the idea of being late for work the next day was even less appealing.
With a reluctant nod, she accepted the ride, sealing the uneasy truce for the journey home.
---
Rita's return to the house was like moving through a silent movie, her every action devoid of the usual spark, her silence a thick barrier between her and Jefferson. He hovered in the background, a silent specter marked by concern, yet he chose not to break the ice that had formed between them.
When bedtime came, Rita lay rigid on the bed, her senses heightened to every creak and whisper of the house. She felt rather than heard Jefferson slip into the room, his presence like a shadow that crept closer. She knew he was inching towards her, and her body tensed, ready for anything. Trust had left the building the moment she'd pieced together the lies.
His hand found her back, and his voice, soft as velvet, tried to soothe her. "Don't be afraid, I'll always be there, wifey." The words, meant to comfort, now dripped with irony, and Rita couldn't help the bitter smile that twisted her lips.
Enough was enough. She swung around to face him, her patience frayed to its last thread. The man before her, once the cause of her heart's flutter, now stood as the embodiment of deceit. She rose like a phoenix from her feigned ignorance, the light switch clicked, and the room flooded with harsh truth as much as light.
Locking eyes with him, she allowed each word to fall heavily into the silence. "What do you exactly want from me?"