. Smack, Smack two sharp slaps across his face cheeks caused his eyes to open and see the shape of his wife standing over him. “Hey maggot I am going to work don’t stay in that fucking bed all day; and make sure this place is cleaned up when I get back”. Her resentment for him had been at an all time low for a number of years now. Her money was keeping both of them as he had long since become unemployable.

It had all been heavenly when they first met; she thought he was Mr, Wonderful. How he excited her with all his plans for a rosy future. He was the rising star at Filberts a financial dynamics firm. He was told on good authority once he settled down with a wife he would quickly become part of the top management team. She admired him so much; an orphan child practically put on the streets when he was 16. How many kids that age and without any family could have made their own way in the world? It was a whirlwind romance and a quiet wedding just the two of them as he wanted it.

The only bugbear being the honeymoon had to be postponed due to forthcoming high managerial talks. He was lodging in a rather run down part of town due to the fact it was owned by one of the bosses relatives. He was waiting for the sale of his house in another town to go through; this would provide them with a considerable sum of money. True to her word she did not tell her family they were married until after the event. They had never met him; and she could not wait to parade him. Instead of being the proudest day of her life however it turned out to be the first day of a living nightmare.

She had explained about the wedding over the phone and they were not concerned about missing it; all that mattered was her happiness. Everything seemed to be going so well as she introduced him to the family. Her parents, brother and sister were very impressed as he wooed them just like he had her. Mother could not resist inviting the neighbours to come in and meet her daughter’s Prince Charming. Needles to say he convinced them he was a catch in a million and way above their expectations. The only person not overly excited by him was their neighbour’s son. He hardly spoke and spent most of his time looking at her new husband in an unnerving way.

Perhaps he held a torch for her and was jealous? Though he had never given her any indication; or even spent time with her despite living next door. The atmosphere mainly though was like a birthday or any happy celebration with food and drink aplenty. She could not help but notice however her sister and the neighbour’s son having what seemed a secret conversation. They then left and she watched them walk across to his house; perhaps they were a secret item? She was listening to her husband as were all the guests; when she seen them both return, He had everyone enthralled as he was told them about how he saved his firm almost $4 million after a telephone failure in Malaysia. “Of course I can not reveal the finer points” he had concluded; everyone nodded with a wink as they pretended to understand. The two were in what looked like serious talk once again, she did not want to ask what it was however and chance ruining the special occasion.

The end of the night came and the taxi cab arrived to take the newlyweds back to what was hers but now their small apartment.