The Wicked Mrs. Gastrell (English version)

“Ms. Karina, your things are all ready. We’ve loaded a hundred of them into the cars. Is there anything you want us to do now?”

I took a sip from the mug of tea and carefully placed it on the tempered glass center table. Then I stood up and gently held onto the railings of the hotel balcony.

“How about my boxes of shoes, bags, and jewelry?”

“It’s been taken care of, Ms. Karina. It was loaded in a different vehicle with five cars for security on stand by.”

“Good.”

I looked down hoping to see the couple again but I was disappointed. They were not on the same loveseat in front of the souvenir shop where I used to watch them every morning.

“Prepare the car. We’ll go now,” I ordered while staring outside. I felt empty that I didn’t see the two on the day I was leaving.

I owed them the fun I felt for my entire stay in the hotel. I just wanted to say goodbye to them. I’ll thank them for filling my weary days with excitement.

“As you wish, Ms. Karina.”

I returned to my chair and adjusted the black veil on my head and the ankle-length French retro style black dress I’m wearing.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

My feet were comfortably housed by a pair of T-strap black heels which the Chairman gifted me last year. It became my favorite shoes instantly because I believed it gave me good luck.

I crossed my legs and sipped on my tea again. I studied the weather outside. It’s a bit windy. It’s not too cold but it’s better than the very hot days I experienced these past few days. I was a little bit annoyed because I don’t hear the bird chirping and insect sounds anymore that I was used to when I lived here which is one of the reasons why I came back.

“But I still love you, my Cerro Roca. I still do even when you’ve been too cruel to me.”

I sighed hard and continued drinking my tea. I don’t like the taste of it but I became accustomed to it so I learned to include this in my daily routine. The Chairman loves to drink green tea and I drink this as my way of respecting him.

I stood up when I finished my cup and carefully wiped my mouth with a cloth napkin embroidered with my signature.

I traced the outline of my name on the linen with my long painted jet black nails. The unusual low glow of the afternoon sun casts a glint on the batch of gold hand chain bracelets on my right hand.

Mrs. Gastrell.

“Mrs. Gastrell. I’ve always wanted to be called by this name,” I whispered.

I put the piece of cloth on the table and looked at the towering building in front of me. It was like my obsession of Cholo at first. He’s someone out of my grasp, an unreachable star I admire from down below the bowels of the earth.

Who would have thought that I’ll be where I am now? Who can predict that I’ll be able to stand up on equal footing with him?

Life is indeed playful. One day you’re in the mud struggling to get up, and then you’re a member of the most expensive country club, the next split second enjoying a glass of champagne with the one percent population while looking at the wondrous view of the Sierra Madre.

I snapped out of my deep thoughts and touched my hair. I don’t want to go down the memory bank again.

I left the room and took my handbag that Celeste handed to me.

We drove the elevator down and traversed through the hallway. The men in black suits were in front and behind me making sure that there’s no threat around the area.

I can’t blame them though. My presence in this town warrants trouble.

It’s a very flashy sight to behold. Me, in my long black garments and glittery jewelry all over the body while more than a dozen men were surrounding me. Every guest we walked past looked at us with curious eyes.

My personal driver immediately opened the door of the limousine for me when we got out of the building. Before I climbed inside, I looked again at the hotel where our little house used to stand. I uttered a promise before getting into the car. After a while, Celeste is busy jotting in her Ipad the things I wanted her to do.

“Where to, Ms. Karina?”

I put on the shades first and leaned on the leather seat before answering. A smile plays on my mouth.

“To the mansion. To Cholo Gastrell’s mansion.”

“Copy, Ms. Karina.”

She fished out a cell phone and called someone. I looked outside the car. I hate what I’m seeing. I abhor the signs of commercialization of this place I love. They desecrated my sanctuary, my place of birth.

Celeste poured me a glass of wine as the car bolted out into the deserted private road that will lead us to the mansion on the hilltop where the wife of any Gastrell should be rightfully staying.

I still noticed the smooth ten-minute drive even when my mind was flying away to the times when I first set foot in the residence. That was ages ago but I still remember every memory of that event. It’s nostalgic and remarkable.

I only stopped from going back in time when the limousine rounded the horseshoe driveway and stopped at the huge front door of the mansion. The door opened and I slowly walked out, still carrying the half-full glass. I looked up at the giant stone mansion and smiled to myself. It’s going to be fun living here.

The security personnel and other staff have also gotten off from the twenty vehicles carrying my things and are now waiting for the next order. I finished the drink first and then gave the glass to Celeste. Vishen approached me after talking to a security guard of the mansion.

“Ms. Karina, let’s go.”

I adjusted my shades, put my veil in place and ran a few fingers over my hair before I walked into the giant door.

Vishen opened the door for me. I raised my hand at him to tell him that I’m going alone. He nodded and bowed his head.

The first thing that caught my eyes when I entered the house was the huge family portrait on the wall. The whole Gastrell family tree is complete. There’s Mr. Easton Gastrell, Catharine Gastrell, Cholo, and his younger sister,

Charlotte who is currently in Los Angeles.

“I told you to get your ass off Cerro Roca, Karina. I made myself clear last time, didn’t I?”

The man who spoke caught my attention so I turned my attention from the painting to my husband who was standing at the entrance of the spiral staircase and was currently removing the bandages from his hands.

He is topless and trickles of sweat were very visible in his tanned skin. His big buff body with a full pack of abs and very defined arms and legs are on display. My eyes narrowed down to the bulge on his front because his gym shorts concealed nothing. I whistled in my mind.

Pure meat.

“You still box? Wanna spar with me?” I said with a wide smile.

He obviously didn’t like my answer based on the way his browns creased.

“I’m sure you heard me, Karina. Get out of my house.”

He turned back to the kitchen so I followed him.

“Why would I ran away from home, Cholo? This is where I’m supposed to be days ago but I chose to not show my pretty face after what happened at the party. I know you hate surprises, dear.”

He opened the fridge and got bottled water. He opened the lid and drank straight away. Spilled water dripped from his lips down his sweaty chest.

I watched as his Adam’s apple moved in unison to his jaws.

Sexy.

I didn’t take my eyes off his wet body even though he was standing in the middle of the kitchen looking at me darkly. He barely glanced at me.

“What do you really want?” There’s a danger in his voice.

I stared at his red lips. How heavenly would it be to feel his lips against mine once again.

“You. Us. I want you back, husband. I want you back in my life, Cholo.”

He laughed and shook his head in a mocking way.

“Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Do you really think I will still accept you after you play with me and make a fool out of my back? You want money again to finance your lavish lifestyle? You can go back to being a prostitute again Karina. Fuck all the men here in town again.”

If I had been the past Karina, I might have slapped her in anger. But the new Karina now has no trace of the old me. All I have become is a strong unaffected bitch.

“I’ll certainly fuck you again Cholo with all the white juices in me.”

I bit my lip while giving him a seductive look.

“I can see that you have been exercising. Well, let’s continue in bed then. Let me show you the new skill I acquired,” dagdag ko pa.

His jaws clenched in disgust.

“Get out before I drag you away, Karina,” he warned. His voice became lethal.

“You can’t do that. You will never do that to your wife, Cholo,” I said with my raised face.

He crossed the gap between us and held both of my arms very tightly. It would definitely make a mark later but I didn’t do anything to get rid of him. I just let him be. His eyes are burning with anger, so I won’t be surprised if later he spews fire.

“Listen carefully, Karina. I don’t know what your motives are for coming back here but I want you to understand that I don’t want to do something with you anymore. Our past, everything that we’ve shared together, I’ve regretted all of them. I’m regretting why they have to happen. You have become my biggest regret in life. Elizabeth has saved me from the bitter past I had with you. And now that I’m starting to build a life with her, you’ll come back from nowhere telling me you want to be with me again? You are disgusting.”

My confidence is slowly eroding. I’m beginning to get dizzy, my hands and feet are turning into ice cold. A part of me was moved into instant defense.

I sucked for breath while praying that Cholo won’t notice my reaction.

“Did that make you feel better? Did your hatred for me somehow decrease after saying all those things? It didn’t, right? Will it help if I deny all your allegations? Will you believe me? You won’t so why would I waste my time to convince you? You already made up your mind. You believed them. So now, all I’m asking is another chance to be with you, Cholo. I’m asking as your wife.”

He let go of me and turned away. His shoulders shook and his laughter echoed across the mansion.

“See, Karina. You never failed to amuse me. You changed physically but you didn’t even bother to improve in the comprehension department. I’ve had enough of you. Get out of my property.”

“It’s you who refuse to understand. Your academic credentials are impressive. Consistent valedictorian from kindergarten to high school, magna cum laude in college, here and there awards but you can’t even understand a simple logic. I have every right to stay in your house as much as you do because this is also my house because I’m your wife.”

“Stop pushing it. You are delusional, woman.”

He was about to walk back to the living room but I blocked his foot. I reached for my handbag and produced a piece of crumpled paper. I took Cholo’s wet hand and placed the yellowed paper in it. He took it and read it. He looked back and forth between me and the paper. Without warning, he tore it up, and threw it in the trash bin.

“I could get a hundred of thousands of marriage certificate Cholo,” ani ko.

“If that is true then I could get millions of annulments, too. I don’t want my name to be associated with someone like you. No man will ever be proud of having you as a wife, Karina. No man deserves a woman like you.”

He walked away with big strides. I was left with an empty house and an empty heart.