Deception Read Online Free PDF Page B

cleaning or working my ass off to serve him every second of the day, he likes to make me feel guilty about it.
    “Did you want something?” My annoyance shows even though I try to hide it. I can’t help it, I’m peeved off. “I need to start the cleaning so I can get it done in time for school pick up.” Hopefully this information will appease him.
    “Are you complaining? You’ve got it pretty easy Roxanne. I wish I got to sit around and do nothing all day. Just remember you stupid bitch, you’re living a life of luxury off my money. Quit the attitude and do what I say.”
    The irritation I already felt, skyrockets to a completely new level. I wish I could get up every day, go to work and not have to worry about anyone but myself, not to mention coming home to a cooked meal and relaxing before bed. Instead, I get up, clean, budget, pay bills, run errands, grocery shop, cook; the list is endless. 
    My hand shakes with resentment and I grip onto the phone so tightly, I wouldn’t be surprised if it broke. Not that I care at this point in time. “Please don’t speak to me like that.”
    “Excuse me?” He thunders through the line, giving me a fright. I should have expected it though.
    I close my eyes a moment and blow out a breath.
    “Answer me,” he demands.
    I can’t stand when he gets like this. When he thinks he can order me around just like one of the employees at the company he manages. The power trip he’s on, is completely out of hand.
    “I was only asking...” I start to say.
    “Forget it. I know what you said. Now you listen to me,” his voice has lowered, but I can still hear the rage in it.
    I slide down to sit on the floor, feeling weak, defeated. My hand loosens around the phone. He’s impossible to reason with.
    “You need to remember that I’m the head of the house.” He has the same mentality from the fifties, as his father, only he’s a lot harsher about it. “You’ll treat me with respect, or I’ll teach you a fucking lesson. Do you understand?”
    Unable to answer, I just nod.
    “You better be there when I get home and the house better be clean. I’ve invited people over for drinks and a barbeque this weekend and I won’t have them thinking we live in filth.”
    I need to get out of here. Need to take Ricky away from this.
    “Don’t even think about leaving,” he seethes, making me wonder if I voiced my thoughts out aloud. “Cause I’ll find you and make you regret it.”
    Wrapping my free arm around my knees, I rock back and forth, attempting to subside the uncontrollable trembling that’s taking over.
    “Are we clear?”
    “Mmhmm,” is all I can manage. Although, the only thing I’m really clear on is that I need a plan to escape. Somewhere to go where he won’t find us, money to live off of, it’s all so overwhelming.
    “Good.” He hangs up without saying goodbye and I don’t even care. I curl into a ball on the cold tiles, holding myself together. His threats ring in my ears.
    What the hell can I do?
    *****
    A fter being treated like that repeatedly, it takes a while to drag myself up off the floor, and to keep going on with everyday life. What other choice do I have? None of this crap is going to disappear. I need to maintain some semblance of normalcy for Ricky, until I figure out a way to get out of here.
    I glance at the mountain of washing sitting in the laundry. It’s so daunting that I’m tempted to pretend it doesn’t exist and read a book all day instead. If I escape in a story, I won’t have to think about anything. The small luxury isn’t worth the hassle I will get tonight if I don’t clean, so I head upstairs, ignoring the washing pile and begin cleaning in the bedrooms.
    The monotony of my days adds to my depression. It digs its claws in deep and drags me into the depths of hell. The smallest everyday tasks overwhelm me and I want to give up, but I can’t, not when I have a child relying on me. So I keep climbing back up, out of the