Chapter 3 - The Guest of Honor
I went to the door, keeping my shoulders slumped, my eyes cast downward. When I opened it, Camryn stood there, looking like a woman on a royal inspection. She was wearing a perfectly pressed pastel blue pantsuit, her pearl necklace gleaming in the morning light. Her eyes immediately raked over me, taking in my faded dress, my messy hair, and the faint, makeup-assisted shadows under my eyes.
A small, satisfied smile touched the corners of her lips.
“Good morning, Savannah,” she said, her voice dripping with artificial sweetness as she brushed past me without waiting to be invited in. “My, you look... tired. I suppose married life is quite a adjustment for a girl who’s used to running wild at that sports center.”
“Good morning, Mother,” I murmured, keeping my voice low and submissive, closing the door behind her.
She walked into the dining room, where Marvin was sitting. He jumped slightly when she entered, his posture instantly stiffening.
“Marvin, sweetheart,” Camryn purred, walking over to kiss his cheek. She glanced at his clean plate, then at the table, which had been wiped down but still bore a tiny, faint scratch from the night before. She didn't miss it. Her eyes sparkled with a cruel sort of triumph. “I see you’ve had a productive evening.”
“Yeah, Mom,” Marvin muttered, his voice tight. “Very... productive.”
“Have you set up the joint account yet?” Camryn asked, sitting down in the chair Marvin had vacated. She didn't ask me for a cup of coffee; she simply expected it.
I immediately moved to the kitchen, poured her a cup, and brought it to her on a small saucer, keeping my hands slightly shaky. “Here is your coffee, Camryn. Just how you like it. Two sugars, light cream.”
She took the cup without looking at me, taking a small sip. “It’s a bit lukewarm, Savannah. You’ll need to learn to keep the pot on the active burner. But I suppose we can work on your domestic skills over time. Now, Marvin, answer my question. Have you secured the bank cards?”
Marvin looked at me, his eyes pleading. I gave him a microscopic nod.
“Yes, Mom,” Marvin said, pulling my primary debit card from his pocket and placing it on the table. It was an expired card I had dug out from my old files, but she didn't need to know that yet. “I took it last night. Her paycheck will deposit directly into the master account today.”
Camryn picked up the plastic card, turning it over in her manicured hands as if it were a trophy. “Excellent. A man must always hold the purse strings. It keeps a woman dependent, which is exactly where she needs to be to prevent her from making foolish decisions.”
She then turned her sharp, predatory gaze back to me.
“Savannah, come here,” she ordered.
I walked over, standing next to Marvin’s chair, my hands clasped in front of my waist, my head tilted down.
“Lift your chin,” she said.
I slowly raised my head. Camryn reached out, her fingers cold as she gripped my jaw, turning my face side to side to inspect my skin. She was looking for bruises. She was looking for the physical evidence of her son’s obedience to her instructions.
When she saw no marks—thanks to my defensive skills and the subtle makeup I had applied—her brow furrowed in slight disappointment.
“Marvin,” she said, her voice dropping its sweet tone and turning sharp. “Did you do what we discussed? Or did you let her sweet-talk her way out of it?”
Marvin swallowed hard, his knuckles turning white as he gripped his coffee mug. “I... I handled it, Mom. She knows who’s in charge now.”
“Then why are there no marks?” Camryn demanded, her grip tightening on my jaw. “A stubborn girl like this doesn't learn from words alone. I told you, you have to be firm. If you don't leave an impression, she’ll forget the lesson by next week.”
Hearing those words spoken aloud, so casually, in my own dining room, made my blood run cold. This woman wasn't just complicit in her son’s potential violence; she was actively disappointed that he hadn't disfigured me. She was a monster, wrapped in pastel linen and pearls.
“I didn't want to ruin her face for work, Mom,” Marvin managed to say, his voice cracking slightly. “I... I used other ways.”
Camryn finally let go of my jaw, wiping her fingers on a napkin as if she had touched something dirty. “Well, I suppose as long as she’s compliant. Savannah, go get my purse from the entryway. I brought some paperwork you need to sign. It’s the power of attorney forms for the bank accounts.”
“Of course,” I whispered.
May you like
I turned and walked toward the hallway. But I didn't get her purse.
Instead, I reached into the decorative vase on the entryway table, pulled out the remote control for our home audio system, and pressed the play button.
