Chapter 3 - Blackmail

The most expensive Euclid Ave Estate which had been Mason’s dream became his in a twinkle of an eye even though he had always wanted to buy it after College but he couldn’t afford it even if he were to work for Alex till now.

Beep!

Mason took out his phone and read the message that just entered loudly.

“Lest I forget, you’ll be sleeping over tonight at my place. So get done whatever you need to be done with and…I will see you by 8 pm—Charlie.”

This was becoming too much for Mason, but seeing the huge amount of money Charlie had given him and the huge amount of money he’d be getting after playing her fake husband for just three years—he dashed out of the company hopelessly and went back to meet his mom and his sister Liza in the hospital.

On entering the hospital Mason went to make the remaining deposit of $28,000 and he was given a receipt as proof of payment. Mason heaved a sigh and went upstairs where he saw his mother and sister still sitting anxiously.

Mrs. Reed stood up and approached Mason as she hugged him almost immediately his phone rang. Mason checked the incoming call, frowned his face at it, and ignored it.

“Mom, here is the receipt…I just paid—”

His words were interrupted when a call came in again.

“You know what, your sister and I will wait for you. Whatever you have to say can wait. Go on…pick up.” Mrs. Reed encouraged.

“Mom, don’t worry. It’s nothing important.” Mason answered and tried to do away with his phone.

“Okay…so…” Liza his sister couldn’t finish her words when his phone rang again.

“Just pick it up,” Liza added and rolled her eyes.

Mason picked up the call and spoke in anger. “What do you want this time?”

Talking of the betrayal—It was Judith his girlfriend.

She paused a bit but continued to speak ignoring Mason’s harsh tone. “So Mason, my friend and I went shopping and I saw a gorgeous necklace. It’s going for just $600. It’s not costly and I need you to get it for me.”

Mason clenched his fist and sweats broke out from his forehead.

Mason couldn’t phantom how a lady could be so shameless to the point of asking him for money after banging that worthless being, Alex—his boss in his office.

“Well, if it is not that costly like you claim, why not buy it yourself.” Mason hunged up.

“That’s your girlfriend—Judith? Right?” Liza asked.

Mason was so embarrassed and he couldn’t even look his sister in the eyes.

“You know what, I guess you need to explain some things to Judith rather than you both picking up a fight every time. Is she aware that Dad was involved in an accident?” Liza asked further.

Mason clenched his fist and soon he let go of them “ Liza, I’ve been a fool all these years and I’m tired of being that fool. Judith thinks she can play me for—you know what, if she needs some man to turn into an ATM then I think I’m not that guy. I’m done with her. I just want Dad to be fine and I will do away with that thing.”

Mason tried to fight the tears that were about to wash down his face while the doctors were still in the theatre room operating his dad.

After a few minutes of silence, Mason’s phone rang again. This time around he heaved a sigh and picked up.

“Okay, do not hang up this time. I just got to your office and your colleagues told me you were not in. Text me your address…I wanna see you.” Judith asked.

After a moment of silence, Mason typed some things on his phone and placed the phone on his ear again. “Check your phone… I just sent you my address.” He replied and hung up on Judith.

Mason’s father was still in the theatre room when Judith entered in her heels which was resounding all through the hospital. Upon reaching Mason she didn’t bother to greet his mother or her sister. She totally ignored them like they didn’t exist at all.

“Mason, did you know how bad I felt when all my friends bought the necklace and I couldn’t even afford it? Their boyfriends bought it for them and you…you just…” She stuttered when she noticed that Mason’s countenance had changed.

As in the past Mason would have dragged her closer and begged her, but that was not the case this time around.

“Are you done bluffing?”Mason’s tone sounded harsh. “I Can’t believe you could be so shameless and stand here to ask me for money. Are you for real right now?! You saw my mother and my sister sitting right here and you ignored them. Well, it’s not your fault. But you know what, if I were you I wouldn’t even dare to show up. Why don’t you ask Alex for money instead?!”

Judith almost went off her stance after Mason lashed her with some words that had Alex in it. Could he have known? That is impossible. Judith knows that Alex will never disclose something like that to Mason since he had promised not to.

Mason on the other hand barely touches her phone and doesn’t even know her movement.

“Ma…son!” Judith started with her crocodile tears. “Are you seriously accusing me of cheating on you? What’s the point of being in a relationship if you don’t trust me huh? How can you accuse me of cheating on you with Alex—that is a false accusation. You and I know that I met Alex once!”

Judith's face soon turned red and she trembled as though she was going to pass out any minute from now. Judith was a beautiful and stunning creature and anyone would have fallen for it.

Mason would have begged again, with his knees touching the ground but not anymore. Not after he saw her sex video on Alex’s laptop looking like a whore.

He clenched his fist and gave her an irritating look “We are done okay! I’m breaking up with you Judith.”

Mason left her standing without looking back.

Suddenly a burst of laughter resonated behind Mason catching his attention and that of his mother and sister.

Judith took out her handkerchief and wiped her tears before looking up again. “Well, I demand you pay me a sum of $25000 for emotional damage if you want me to leave you…else… we are…going to have…a very…very…big…problem.”

“You will never get a dime from me! Now, get lost!” Mason charged.

“That’s it. You’ve got nothing, Mason. I can’t believe I stayed with a broke-ass nigga like you for five years! What was I thinking?! And here you are thinking of breaking up with me? Someone like you? Hahaha.” Judith laughed hard. “You know what…hahaha. You are going to die a single pringle! No woman will stoop so low to marry a low-life like you!”

Mason heaved a sigh and dipped his hand into his pocket revealing the marriage certificate he had earlier gotten from Charile’s personal assistant.

“Oh poor girl, I’m married now and I don’t need a whore like you in my life.” Mason flaunts his marriage certificate for Judith to also see his name plastered on it.

Judith's eyes doubled in size when she saw his name on the marriage certificate and her voice mellowed for a second as she watched him return the certificate into his pocket.

“Now, if you don’t mind, I need you to step aside. I've got important things to settle. Loser!” Maso shoved her aside and hugged his mother.

“Mason!” Judith screamed.

“Sorry ma’am this is a hospital and such is not accepted here.” A nurse accused Judith who was barely concerned about her presence and was ready to constitute a nuisance when the security dragged her out.

“No! Leave me alone! You won’t get away with this Mason! I promise!” She hijacked herself and left the hospital.

After Judith left with her tantrums Liza stood on her feet and faced her brother. “You got married? Mom, did you know about this?”

Mason smiled awkwardly before replying “It’s complicated actually.”

He was not expecting a marriage certificate either and this happening—was an unplanned event.

But Judith’s threat wasn’t empty after all—Mason was awaiting her comeback.