Her husband was flirty with another woman. A girl really. She looked to be in her early twenties. Beautiful. Tanned. Young.
She didn't envy that little girl much.
But there was a flush of shame that was always there when he did something like this in public. With her right next to him. Her husband, Robert, had finally given up even the little bit pretence of curtsey to her. He was now seducing young girls in front of her very eyes. In front of their families eyes.
It made her want to scratch his eyes out.
She took a deep breath, hoping that not many people detected it. She didn't want to appear flustered, but she couldn't stop her hand from tightening on her wine glass.
They were at a charity dinner. Something befitting the marine life off of the California coast. Or so she thought, she couldn't be sure.
She stared down at the burgundy liquid in her glass. She had been nursing the same glass for the past hour. Not for the first time she wished she was like her mother. Her mother knew how to drown her sorrows in drink and drugs.
Maggie had never gotten the hang of it. Not that she tried. She was too much of a chicken shit coward for drugs and alcohol.
"Margret." Maggie turned her head to look at the smug face of her husband. She hated when he looked at her. He face was set in a look of pompous superiority. He looked like a jackass. Just because he had a little money he thought himself better. He wasn't. He was pathetic.
"Yes, darling?" She asked, knowing that her endearment would irritate him more than anything else. The scowl directed at her confirmed her suspicions.
"It's getting late, and I'm feeling a little tired. I think I'm ready to leave."
"I couldn't agree more."
Her smile was slight, but cheery. A look of anger flashed across his face. Maggie didn't understand why he was so intent on wanting her attention. Why he so desperately sought to get a reaction out of her. He didn't even remotely like her.
He rose from his chair, adjusting his tux jacket in the process. Didn't he look pretty tonight, Maggie thought, appreciating the tall, masculine figure. She had been tempted to sabotage his diet at least once weekly, but his body was one of the few things she had enjoyed about him, so she had left it alone. She still enjoyed going to the gym when he worked out, sitting in front of him and eating ice cream. He had never seen the humor in it.
His blonde hair was slicked back. It shone like gold under the chandelier light. Maggie spared a glance at one of the chandeliers above their table. She had never really liked the form of lighting, it was obnoxiously grand - they had one in every room of their house.
He moved behind her chair and moved it backwards as she rose. She didn't turn around to thank him or to acknowledge the little, tight thing that had held his attention. She moved forward, not waiting for him. He didn't let her go far before he grasped her arm tightly and leaned her towards him. She looked up at him and saw the clenching of his jaw. Oh, he seemed angry. She smiled slightly. He caught the smile and his hand tightened around her arm.
She almost giggled in glee.
They moved forward, stopping once in a while so Robert could say his peace with the other guests. Maggie managed to dislodge his grip on her arm, and instead linked them together. He didn't like this, but he wouldn't protest. Because that might cause a scene and he Robert couldn't abide scenes. She smirked in satisfaction. She stroked under his jacket, beyond his wrists and gently started plucking at the blonde hairs on the back of his arms. He didn't even flinch. She had to admit that she was rather proud of him.
They moved out of the building, their limo was waiting for them. There was no one else around so her darling husband had no qualms about pushing her rather forcefully into the back seat. Her palms connected hard with the leather seats. A rough slap on her ass had her scrambling into the car. When she was fully inside the car, she moved to the end of the seat and righted herself as best she could as Robert seated himself.
He turned to give her a hard look. She pressed herself against the door and tried her hardest not to smile.
He closed the door and looked out of the tinted window. So he was going to go with the ignoring card, tonight.
She would have none of that. Slowly, she scooted closer to him. He had heard her moving but was to intent on ignoring her that he didn't actually turn around to see what she was doing. She kept her body away from his, but moved her head as close as she could to his.
When she was on an inch away from him she whispered, "Bobby."
He jerked his head around quickly, causing their noses to bump. Maggie giggled. "Don't call me that."
"Why not? It's your name... Bobby." She smiled gleefully.
Their faces were close together, she could feel his angry breathing on her nose.
"Don't call me that." He enunciated each word with a hiss.
"Your breath stinks... Bobby." It didn't really. It smelled nice. Minty with a slight hint of fruitiness, probably the wine.
