Maria:
I had one plan, one plan only. Sell the limited edition heels. At least, that would give me a better boost to the medical bills. I got to my new home, and as the doors opened slowly, a wave of silence greeted me. Not the warm, peaceful kind. This silence felt tense, like the house was holding its breath, or was it me? I wanted to do something crazy anyways.
My steps were calm and steady. I didn't want anyone pulling up on me and questioning me, especially not Daniel. The house felt like a place where no one laughed, no one cried. Just rules. Just appearances. I only hope he doesn't find me, or worse, find out I wanted to trade his wedding gift to me for cash.
Was he going to be pissed? I thought.
My judgments were clouded entirely by my weak mother's condition.
Daniel seemed ignorant and heartless, he might not understand. He never talked or got invited by any family member of his, and with the horrible rumors I have heard concerning him, I had just assumed that anything family is off his checkbook.
As I successfully got the master's bedroom without anyone fishing me out that I was home. I carefully opened the closet to get out of the heels. It was mine anyway, but I didn't want Daniel to know that I wanted to sell his gift.
The bigger problem I had was taking the box out of the house. I gently shut the closet doors behind me, and I felt a presence behind me.
" Madam." She called, and I was startled.
I slowly turned around to face Sarah, who was standing with a mob stick. It seemed like she was cleaning the restroom. Shoot, I didn't check the restroom.
Quickly composing myself, I wore a huge smile on my face. " Ms Sarah, oh, I didn't know you were in the restroom. Did I disturb you?" I asked, and she nodded negatively.
" I didn't know you were coming in early. The way you left the house, I thought there was an issue." She continued with her eyes resting on the box.
" Oh, nothing… no issue. Nothing I can't handle." I replied with a quick chuckle.
" Alright, let me leave you to your room. Lovely pairs of shoes, Master Daniel got you. You know, I have never seen him get any woman any fancy gifts." She said, as she walked out of the room, and I was left with my thoughts.
Of course, I was going to sell it and add the money for the medical bills. At least that was the plan. In no time, I was on my way. I had wanted to return it to the store where we purchased the shoes, but it was too risky. The drama from last time was messed up, and I was sure my face was already plastered on the walls of that boutique. If I showed up again wanting to resell the heels, the internet was going to go crazy wild, and Daniel would feel insulted.
He has had enough of the world, and adding mine was not a good face to the public. So I need to make this as discreet as possible.
I have always heard of a very good buyer in the city who goes by the name of El Salvador. Funny, it is supposed to be the name of a country, but somehow the man chose it to be his nickname.
Weird.
Words on the street say he buys something expensive at a very sweet price, and he doesn't leave any trace of a transaction. That was where I was headed. The environment was deadly, and I've heard a lot of harmful things happening around this neighborhood.
People say it is a home for criminals running away from the law. I got to the infamous store and was attended to. It seemed like the big boss, El Salvador, was in the store as the whispers of his name flowed around by some groups of men. Everyone seemed to be on their best behavior and tough in sight.
I tucked my hoodie above my head firmly, minded my business, and showed the man I saw at the counter what I wanted to sell. "I'll sell it for ten thousand dollars," I said, getting straight to the point.
"No, we can collect it for three thousand," the man replied.
I was shocked and staggered at his price. "Uh? What! I haven't even worn it once. I just got it for ten thousand, and you expect me to sell it for three. " No way I am not selling," I retorted.
"Look, princess, we don't take no for an answer. "When you walk into this store with a desire to sell something, you either sell the shit you've brought or you'll end up selling something else," he threatened, tracing a large needle around my wrist.
Okay, this might have been a bad plan.
I slowly swallowed my saliva as a drop of sweat rolled down my face. I have to act tough.
"And what is that presumed to be?" I inquired, folding my hands firmly to my chest.
The man stared at me for a while. "You are Daniel Thompson's new wife, aren't you ?"
My eyes widened in denial. Gosh, I'm busted. " No, no, how? I'm not." I stammered.
My words were failing me.
The man smiled mischievously. " I have seen you everywhere on the news, even here in the underground, that are not for pretty princesses like you. You're the devil's wife." He spoke directly to me.
Devil's wife? I questioned.
" You!" He pointed at a young boy behind me, serving drinks. " Call the boss, look who came to spy on us today, the devil, Danny's wife," he announced, and as he said that, everyone in the store looked sharply at me.
"If it isn't one of Daniel's inventions, you aren't even that smart. " Did you think we wouldn't recognize you?" another hefty man continued.
"Spy? I am no one's spy. " What the hell are you saying?" I asked angrily, my steps pushing back towards the long counter.
I was cornered.
Suddenly, a huge man dressed in feathers walked in our direction. "So you're Daniel Thompson's wife, what are you looking for in a place like this, and didn't your husband tell you not all people are allowed here?!" his voice raged in the air, and I shivered.
He was quite tall, so I had to raise my head to have a complete look at him. "Boss, what are we going to do with her?" Another man beside him asked.
I was speechless. What do they mean by "going to do with me?"
"Sir El Salvador, I just came here to sell these limited-edition heels worth ten thousand bucks. " I don't get what's the big deal here," I said, raising the box containing the shoes, acting tough even though I knew I was in a deep mess.
He bent his head and chuckled dryly. "Sir?" He repeated.
" I am too young to be referred to as a Sir," he said smoothly. He spoke to the man who attended to me earlier. It was hard for me to hear their actual conversation, but they were quick. " I hear it's a limited-edition heel worth ten thousand dollars. Quite alright, but first, I would like to ask why you want to sell your assets when you are now married to a multi-billion-dollar family. "
I fell silent as I didn't know what to say.
" I am asking this because I don't wish for the Thompsons to come for me. And I especially don't need the Rascal one, who happens to be your husband, to be on my throat concerning his little wife. " He continued with a smirk.
I immediately regretted why I even came here. I should have put it up for sale on the internet, but I was impatient. I needed quick cash.
"El Salvador, how do we even know it's hers? Yes, she's from the Thompson family, but that doesn't mean she couldn't have stolen it, probably from Mrs Thompson's senior herself, because why would she want to sell it when they have millions in their name?" they whispered.
El Salvador's eyes widened. "I didn't even think of that," he said.
"What the actual fuck! I didn't steal anything, I have never stolen anything in my life, and again, how is it any of your business why I choose to sell? You don't believe me, I have the receipt for the heels. " Yes, Daniel got it for me and paid in full." I spat as I pushed the receipt to El Salvador's face. I wasn't going to have this accusation.
It eventually dawned on me that I was about to sell a gift given to me by Daniel. Yes, I did need the money, but ain't I wrong to sell it without his knowledge? It was a gift after all.
" There is no problem, then I can't turn down a sweet deal. We will take the heels for six thousand bucks, that's how much we can buy," he said as he stroked his long beard.
I shook my head vigorously, taking the box close to my heart. " I changed my mind. " I don't want to sell it, it's a gift from Daniel, my husband, to me, " I concluded.
El Salvador's face changed immediately, and I could tell he was displeased. "Young Girl, you walked your way into this store with the intention of selling, and suddenly you intended not to sell, huh? How can I trust that you didn't come here for another motive, eh? Mrs Thompson?"
"Looks and sounds fishy if you ask me," the other man from earlier added.
I looked around the store and I noticed that there were all heavy-looking men in the store. I was quite confused about how and why they were threatened by Daniel, and they thought I came here to spy on them. Is this not a normal store? I thought.
"Sir, I don't want to sell; I have the right to choose. I have rights, and I am not afraid to use them." I was fired.
El Salvador was set aback. " I see you are a nutshell to crack. I am extremely amazed at how Daniel found you. You are as stubborn as he is. " I can't help but think about how you both stay together with this same energy, " he said.
"Well, why not come over to the house and figure that out yourself. " I am sure Daniel would love that, and maybe you will clear the intoxicated air you have about him and try not to impose it on other people you think are some way or connected to him", I replied.
"Fierce, I see that now. I see why Daniel still stays with you. Assuming you were not outspoken, I don't think Daniel would have considered you. " He would have probably changed you for another person immediately," he continued.
What?! What's this man saying anyway? I grabbed my box, and as I wanted to take my leave, a group of men blocked my way. "El Salvador is not done talking to you!" One of them ordered.
Startled, I knew these men were not playing. I retreated and cursed under my breath. "What's your name again, little girl? " I want to know where you got all these guts," El Salvador asked.
I sighed in despair. "Maria, Maria Falcone," I replied, rolling my eyes.
He laughed, and the others followed suit. "Like The Falcone, we all know. More surprises, Maria Falcone. What an unusual name. Aren't you the first daughter denied her right to be the heiress, the abandoned one?"
I am so annoyed now. " I've taken enough people in my life, always shoving my life right in my face. "You all find my name so funny, yeah, right. You bear the name of an entire country. Who does that? Even if you want to give yourself a nickname, it should be something that describes who and what you are, and obviously, everyone in this room knows what you identify as."
Everyone in the room gasped instantly at the way I replied to their boss. "My reputation represents the entire country of El Salvador. I bring peace and opportunities for the young ones! Soy poderosa!"
The next thing I heard was a continuous clap. None of them were clapping. Everyone was so eager to know where the sudden sound was coming from. There was a bit of silence as everyone turned behind them to see who had entered the store and started clapping without anyone noticing. "Wow, just wow, what a show."
"Daniel?"