Page 23 of Room Service
The end of my shift came and went, and now I’m stood outside the house that was my home until last night—as much as it could be a home, anyway. I stare at the door, feeling a little of my determination seep away. Celeste is beside me, and she grabs my hand, reminding me that I’m not alone in doing this.
“Let’s go,” she says softly, and I simply nod at her.
I make my legs move towards the front door, and I push down on the handle as I open it slowly. I can hear the TV on inside as I walk in, with Celeste following me. She stops just inside the doorway, leaving it open and nodding to me. “You’ve got this,” she encourages.
I take a deep breath and give her a small smile. I’m not nervous about this being over, I just can’t be doing with the drama that he’ll probably start when he realises I wasn’t fucking around.
It’s funny how by the time I get to the lounge doorway, I feel like a stranger in my own house. But then, I guess I never really thought of it as mine. It’s never been a place of comfort. It’s just been a place I rest my weary head at the end of the day as I pray my husband doesn’t want to try and fuck me, to which I’ve made excuses for months anyway because I couldn’t bear him touching me.
Derrick is in his usual position on the sofa, slouched, with empty food packets littering the place. When he registers me, he smiles. “Oh good, you’re home. What’s for dinner?”
Christ, he’s like clockwork, and I know him far better than he probably knows himself.
“I’m just here to get my things,” I tell him, my voice calm.
“Don’t be ridiculous. Surely you’ve gotten your tantrum out of your system by now?” he asks, like he hasn’t just belittled me and the way I felt yesterday.
“It’s not a tantrum, Derrick, and I’m not here to argue with you. I’m just collecting my things and then I’ll be gone,” I tell him matter-of-factly.
“For fuck’s sake, Elise, you’re being unreasonable,” he barks as he struggles to get himself sat upright.
“Like I said, I don’t want to argue.” It’s all I say before I turn and walk from the room, making my way to the stairs and passing Celeste as she smiles at me. I quickly get to the bedroom and grab my suitcase from underneath the bed. I’ve packed two drawers before I hear Derrick shout, “What the fuck are you doing here?” He’s never been a fan of Celeste, and that’s probably because she’s a true friend and wants the best for me, something he never has. I then hear his footsteps coming up the stairs and I empty another drawer before he walks in and watches me in action.
“Elise, this is preposterous, you can’t fucking leave me, you don’t have anywhere else to go,” he barks, but I don’t slow my actions. “Your parents will be disgusted with you, you know that as well as I do.”
“I couldn’t give a shit what they think about me,” I tell him honestly, packing another pile of clothes into the case.
“They’ll disown you,” he continues, as if that would make me stop.
“I’m counting on it,” I reply, refusing to show him that a small part of me feels any kind of pain at the thought that my only family will want nothing to do with me, even if they have screwed me over repeatedly.
“What the hell is the matter with you?” he shouts, and I throw another pile of clothes into the case before I turn to look at him, my hands on my hips and my temper climbing.
“I’ll tell you what the matter is, Derrick,” I say, spitting out his name like it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. “This whole marriage has been a fucking joke from the start. I know all about your little arrangement with my parents. I know all about how they guilted me into marrying you and staying with you to keep them secure financially. I know how you all manipulated me to serve your own purposes. And as if that wasn’t enough, my mother then guilted me even more into giving up my dreams to become a fucking maid just so I could support your lazy arse when you got the sack. So, yeah, I know all about how little I mean to any of you, and I really couldn’t give a fuck if I never see any of you ever again.” I’m shouting by the time I finish, my chest heaving, years of hurt pouring out of me.
“You’ll never be anything more than what you are now. A fucking scrubber with no prospects,” he sneers, and I snap. I march a few steps towards him and I slap him clean across the face. The sound ricochets around us, echoing off the walls, as he looks at me with alarm.
“You don’t know me, Derrick, and you never have. You have no idea what prospects await me.”
“I told you before that you’re nothing without me.”
“I’m nothing with you,” I shout, meaning every word. “I’d rather be down and out than spend another second living with you.”
“You spiteful bitch,” he barks, and I roll my eyes. I put a shield around me years ago when his insults first started. It’s like water off a duck’s back. “You won’t get anything out of me. I’ll keep the house.”
“Clutching at fucking straws there, Derrick,” I reply, zipping up my case and putting it on the floor, ready to get the hell out of here. A house is just bricks and mortar, and I have no doubt that in a divorce court, they will see that I have paid more than enough to be entitled to half. But ultimately, bricks and mortar mean nothing to me.
“You’ll regret this,” he says, his voice low as I walk past him and out into the hallway.
“No, I won’t. The only regret I have is marrying you in the first place.” And with those parting words, I make my way down the stairs with my suitcase, to see Celeste holding a couple of my coats that were hung up by the front door. I smile at her as we make our way out of the house and away from the toxic relationship I have lived for so long.
This is the end of my nightmare, and I’m ready to fight for my dreams.
Chapter Twenty-One
ELISE
“Okay, people, listen up,” Hayley barks at us all as she enters the room with her hands clapping to get our attention—as if her voice alone didn’t do that anyway. “We have exactly twelve hours to get this place looking its best. The owner is counting on all of you to have this place spotless, ready for the board members arrival tonight. I expect all hands on deck, no slacking, and no one is to leave until I’m satisfied that the floors sparkle. You will be paid a bonus for working past your shift time to compensate for the last-minute arrivals. Do I make myself clear?”
