The Red Box

Nina sat across Renata. Eyes wide and jaw dropped in disbelief. The living room was silent except the sound that came from the bubbling-water of the aquarium beside the television stand. “He is your father-in-law?” Nina stared at Renata, hoping what she had just said was a lie. “That’s a lie, Renata. The man is bluffing. He can’t be… Santiago’s father,” she shook her head. “I wish… I wish that were it, Nina. But it’s not, he is my father-in-law. I can’t even think straight, sometimes I just wish it was all a dream or I was just hallucinating,” Renata sighed deeply. “Oh my!” Nina placed her hand on her chest as she looked at her friend pitifully. “What do you want to do about it, especially now that he is here and would be staying because of the company?”  “About that…” Renata picked up her phone and stared at it for a while. “I’ve decided to confess… I want to tell Santiago everything, he doesn’t deserve this torture. Not from the same man who abandoned him at a very tender age.” She sniffed back the tears threatening to break out of her eyes. “Oh poor thing,” Nina stood up from where she sat and sat beside Renata, her arms wrapped around her best friend. “It will only make matters worse…” Renata shook her head. “No. What’s worse is that he wants me to warm his bed once a week, under the same roof as Santiago and I can’t… I can’t do that.”  “Are there conditions?” Nina asked. “Conditions?” Renata scoffed. “He recorded our intimate moments that night. That man is a sex freak, this was one of the reasons he had to divorce Santiago’s mother,” She wiped off the tears that trickled down her face. “That doesn't sound good,” Nina shook her head, her eyes on her friend who was helpless. “Well, I think you should do what Domingo wants… at least for now,” she shrugged. “What?” Renata tilted her head to look at her with disbelief. “Isn’t he good in bed?” Nina winked at her. “Nina… you can’t be serious right now,” Renata rolled her eyes. Nina didn’t take her eyes off her and she knew what Nina waited patiently to hear. She sniffed, wiped off her nose with the paper towel in her hand. “I can’t believe I’m admitting to this, but Domingo is better than Santiago in bed… and the man is rich.” Nina stood up from where she sat quietly. She sat on the arm of the chair where Renata sat. “Now… My friend, you see why you should obey him? He is dominating in bed and is filthy rich.” “You want me to let him have his way with me whenever and however he wants? Is that what you mean?” She adjusted to take a better look at Nina, hoping she didn’t mean what she had just said. “I have an idea, Renata,” Nina said, letting out a soft sigh. “Spill.” “You could get Domingo to trust you enough and when that’s done, you steal the videos and destroy them. If he brings up a fresh scandal, then you let the cat out of the bag. Sue him for harassment and that’s huge money in your name.” Nina disclosed, waiting to hear what Renata had to say. “That’s… that’s a good idea but it’s risky. I still have to offer him my body,” she grunted in frustration. The living room went silent. Each is thinking of a way to overcome the dark webs of Domingo Serrano. Renata raised her head slowly as she sniffed the air, she turned to Nina, leaned closer and sniffed her too. “What’s wrong?” Nina asked retreating slightly. “Did you change your perfume? I noticed you had this same scent on the day of my wedding.” Renata stared at her, trying to recall if that was the first time she had perceived the scent. “No. This had always been my perfume.” She rolled her eyes and reached for the glass of water on the table. Renata nodded, arms folded to her chest. “I noticed something which seems odd.” Nina gently placed the glass of water on the table and turned to Renata who stared into space. “And what’s that?” “That night… the night of my spinster party. Santiago didn’t look for me, he didn’t question where I slept that night. Isn’t that odd?” She arched her brow. Nina coughed and quickly grabbed the glass of water again. “Are you okay?” Renata patted her back softly. Nina nodded without saying a word. “You know… I wonder where he was that night, We had plans to do freaky in bed that night. But Santiago was MIA.” “Well…” Nina cleared her throat. “Maybe he slept off at the suite with the boys or something.” She shrugged. “Hmmm… interesting.” Renata nodded at the possibility of that being the case. Just then, Nina’s phone which was on the table beeped. It was a message. “I have to go right now. This is urgent,” she flashed her phone across Renata’s face as she got up to leave. “I’ll walk you to the door.” Renata got up also and they both walked to the door. “Take care of yourself, best friend.” Nina rubbed her arms as she smiled at her. Nina had stepped out of the door when Renata called her attention. “Nina.” Nina froze on the spot. She then turned slowly to look at Renata who leaned against the door frame with her arms folded to her chest. “Where did you say you went this afternoon?” Renata asked. Nina laughed softly. “I went to work to drop a file.” “Okay.”  Later that evening…. Renata lay on the long couch with a jumbo pack of popcorn which she dug her hand into, grabbing a mouthful. Her eyes were fixed on the television as she watched her favourite TV show. As her laughter vibrated through the living room, some popcorns popped out of the pack and spilled over the floor but she didn’t mind, she was carried away by the show. The door creaked open. She looked up immediately to see Santiago walk in with his suit jacket in his hand while his other hand dug at his tie. “Hey baby,” she kept the pack of popcorn away, running into his arms. “Missed me?” His hands wrapped around her waist and his lips were against hers. “I did. You lied, baby.” She pouted. “I’m sorry, it was a long ass meeting. I wish I could sneak out and come home to you,” he smirked as his hands grabbed her round butt. “A text would have been better. I was worried.” She kissed his forehead. They both turned their attention to the door when it creaked open again. Domingo walked in with a white box which had red ribbons tied to it. “Good evening, Mr. Serrano.” Renata feigned a smile. “I got you something,” he stretched the box to her, ignoring her greeting. “Me?” Her eyes trailed to Santiago who was already standing by the staircase, watching them. “Yeah. Have it, it’s nothing serious. Just think of it as a wedding gift.” Domingo said, placing the box in her hand with his eyes on hers. His stare was dark and suspicious, but with Santiago standing there, she couldn’t refuse his ‘gift’. Santiago didn’t say a word nor did his countenance change from what it was when he walked through the door. Domingo took a step closer to where Renata stood with the box trembling in her hands. “I hope you will love my gift,” his hand brushed against her cheek as he winked at her. “Whatever,” she muttered under her breath and walked away, with the box in her hands. She held the silver doorknob of the room she shared with Santiago. She could hear him over the phone, he was on a business call. She stared at the box in her hands. Would it be right to go into the room she shared with her husband with a gift which she had no idea what its content was? “No.” She shook her head and turned to walk down the corridor leading to the room where she referred to her closet. When she got into the room, she placed the box on the bed but recalled she hadn’t locked the door. She ran to the door and clicked the keys in the lock. With her back resting against the door, her heartbeat accelerated. Her eyes were fixed on the box on the bed, her mind rummaging what it contained and why Domingo felt the need to gift her. “A wedding gift?” She bit her lips hard. She walked slowly to the bed and sat on its edge. Slowly, she untied the red ribbons on the box amidst shaky hands. She gulped down a ball of saliva nervously as she carefully opened the lid of the box. “What?!” Her breath caught in her throat.  “What the hell…” The lid fell off her hands onto the floor. She sprang up from the bed with her eyes still staring at the contents of the box. In the box lay a red lingerie which was folded on top, and beneath were toys she had only ever seen online. Vibrators, dildos, even a set of shiny butt plugs. Her cheeks flushed hot, her heart racing, as she quickly closed the box.  “This man is insane,” she whispered, her voice barely steady.