Twenty-Seven.......Sister-in-law

Flashback.......Riley's POV

I arrived at work and went straight to my desk. I had a new project that I was the only one working on. Paloma and Parker had been given new projects with new partners.

Apparently, Paloma had complained to Martina.

"Hey there.", I heard and turned to see Parker.

"Oh Parker, how are you and how's your new project?", I asked.

"It's fine.", he shrugged. "Though I wish you guys were still my partners.", he said.

"You guys? I thought you now disliked Paloma?", I asked.

"Dislike? I could never. She means so much to me but I guess she thinks the opposite.", he said and I saw the sadness in his eyes.

"Wanna talk about it?", I asked

"Nah. I'm cool. Thanks though.", he said and took a seat at his desk beside me. "Anyways how are you? You look quite dull and I'm sure you would wanna talk about it.", he said and I smiled weakly.

"It's just my sister-in-law. The one I told you about.", I said. I had once discussed Angel's behaviour towards me with Parker and Paloma. So they knew how my relationship with her was.

"Oh you mean, Angel. What did she do now?", he asked sounding concerned.

"Last night was her sister's engagement ceremony and I went. I didn't see her until later and when she greeted me she poured her wine all over my white dress.", I said and he made a sour face, but he looked so funny that I laughed.

"Then she said mean stuff about me. Me being me, naturally, I won't have bothered, but the fact that she said it in front of so many people was what embarrassed me. And to top it off my heel broke while I was running away. It was as if the universe was just against me.", I said.

"Yesterday must have been pretty bad for you. Sorry though, but you already know that's how she is, she will just keep upgrading. Honestly, if I were you, I would stand up to her one day and tell her you really love her brother and she should deal with it.", he said.

I would say that, but the reason why I married him still stands and it's still a terrible one and she could always use that to her advantage.

Present Day

It had been two days since I went to Blaire's family diner. She and Parker seemed closer and Paloma looked miserable but she did a good job hiding it.

I hadn't asked Parker if he had thought about what I said but we were still on good terms. I also had in mind when to tell Paloma. She seemed so sad I almost forgot she was in the wrong.

She didn't know of my time at the diner, so she still talked to me and I carefully avoided anything involving Parker or Blaire.

I had now arrived home. Ansel had texted me to be home ASAP. I was stuck in traffic so I arrived later than usual. I got down and it was until I entered that I heard Natalie's voice.

"Riley! Finally, you're home.", Ansel said.

"Yeah, I was stuck in traffic.", I said and when he came closer he pecked me.

"She's in the dining room, along with Angel.", he said.

"She's here?"

"Yeah, my mum was the one who forced her to. C'mon.", he said and we went.

I greeted Natalie and she seemed very warm, as usual. Angel, on the other hand, didn't utter a word to me.

"Angel, aren't you going to greet your sister-in-law.", Natalie said pointedly. Angel looked at me with a cold look.

"Oh, hi.", she said.

"Riley would you join us for dinner?", Natalie asked.

"Oh yes, let me freshen up and I'll be down soon.", I said warmly.

"So we're gonna wait for her?", Angel asked.

"Yes Angel we will wait for her.", Natalie replied.

"I'll be back soon.", I said and left. I tidied pretty quickly. I didn't want to keep Natalie or Ansel waiting. Angel could wait for all I care. She was still gonna be rude even if I came down anytime, soon or later.

I came down in a casual top and khakis and soon we started dinner.

"Mum, it's already late, you both can't go back today.", Ansel started.

"Oh yes, we're not going now neither are we going tomorrow.", she said and we all looked at her.

"We came intending to stay for some days.", she said casually. Then she looked at me and Ansel. "I hope it's not gonna cause any discomfort for you both?", she asked.

"Oh no." "No problem.", I and Ansel said.

"And what of me mum? I can't stay here for some days.", Angel said.

"Why? It's your brother's house.", Natalie said.

"W... well yeah but I have things to do, I...."

"Oh really.", Natalie interrupted Angel's stuttering and stopped eating to look sternly at Angel.

"What things do you have to do, 'cause last I heard you were fired for your, as usual, rude behaviour. And might I remind you, that means you're jobless and you don't have anything to do, so now might just be the time to stay at your brother's house along with your mother whom you gave a heart attack.", Natalie said raising her voice. She stopped and took in a deep breath.

"Mum, calm down.", Ansel said and held her hand. She took in two deep breaths but didn't say anything else.

The air was tense so I decided to break.

"So Natalie how is Anika?", I asked.

"Oh yes, Anika.", she said and smiled. "The one daughter out of two who makes me proud.", she said to herself.

Then to me, "She's fine, though she travelled. I wished she was here. She would be happy to stay here.", Natalie said and started talking about Anika the topic then changed to her preparations for the wedding.

We kept on talking and soon even Angel joined in on the conversation. I looked at Ansel and he looked at me smiling. Then he mouthed a thank you. I smiled and nodded.

The night ended somewhat eventful with I and Ansel snuggling and then having a little fun, as he called it.

The next day was Friday and it was the same routine. Though today was very stressful.

First, I arrived late and was scolded by Martina, though it was more of an embarrassment. I had a fallout with Olivia over some trivial issue, I had even forgotten what it was about.

As if that wasn't enough, Paloma somehow found out about my evening at Blaire's diner and she took it the wrong way and now she wasn't talking to me.

She had spent the whole day at Olivia's desk and the fact that they kept whispering about me just pissed me off.

My phone had also died, so I had no idea how to tell Ansel I was in terrible traffic and would probably be home late. I had even almost dozed off at some point and was woken by someone's blaring horn.

I came back very late and the first thing I saw was Angel watching TV. I walked past her towards the stairs hoping she wouldn't notice me but unfortunately for me, she did.

"And so the wife finally graces us with her presence.", she said and I didn't want to be rude so I turned to face her.

"I don't have the time to deal with you right now.", I said.

"Oh really.", she said coming closer. "You should have just spent the night at the place you're coming from.", she said.

"Well I can't really spend the night at my office 'cause there is a closing time.", I said, I was beginning to get agitated.

"I know that, but according to Ansel, you closed around five which was what..", she paused to look at the clock. "Six hours ago."

"The traffic was terrible, I wasn't using the subway you know.", I said.

"Yeah just use the traffic as your excuse.",

"I am not...."

"Yeah yeah. Whatever. Don't try to lie to me. I know exactly where ladies like you come from when they arrive so late. I know you don't love my brother, you only love his money. So that's why you end up spending almost every night at your lover's place.", she said.

I didn't know when my hand had hit her face, but gosh it felt so relieving.

"Don't you ever say that? Ever again.", I said and she looked over my shoulder, then she went past me, shoving me out of the way to meet Ansel.

I turned around and I could see he was very angry as she sobbed into his shoulder.

"Riley, go upstairs.", he said.

"Upstairs? Did you hear what she..."

"I said go upstairs.", he boomed and I flinched for a second. I recollected myself, took my bag and headed up. This day couldn't get any worse.

After freshening up I decided to give Angel a piece of my mind. For once I was gonna take Parker's advice and tell Angel how I felt about Ansel.

Ansel was in the room, and as I was about to leave he called me back.

"Where are you going?", he asked as he came closer. He still seemed pissed. But that was his business, I couldn't care less. He didn't even listen to me while I was downstairs.

"To give Angel a piece of my mind.", I said.

"You still want to create a scene.", he said.

"A scene?", I said incredulously. "Did you..."

"You had no right to hit her.", he said and I know he was angry, but the fact that he was so one-sided about this pissed me off.

"Hit her? Did you hear what she said to me.", I yelled.

"What did she say?", he yelled as he stepped forward causing me to step back. "Huhn. What did she say?", this time louder and I stepped back till I hit the bed and fell to sit on it.

"There is nothing, Riley, nothing that I know Angel can say that will justify your actions. She is my sister for crying out loud. My sister! I have sworn to protect her and Anika from anyone, I always made sure they were safe ever since my father died. You had no right to do that!", he yelled then calmed down

A tear dropped down my cheek. "I thought you were going to be nice to her, I thought I won't have to worry about you and her.", he said calmly. "But no! You just have to do this.", he said sounding disappointed.

I didn't know what hurt more. The fact that he didn't find fault with Angel or the fact that he chose his sister over his wife.

That night Ansel didn't sleep in our bed.

Hey there amazing readers. I just want to appreciate you for checking out this story, it means a lot. So what do you think of Ansel's reaction? Was it too much, not enough, or just the right amount?

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The Sparkling Authoress

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