Chapter 2 Cracks

The Clinton's mansion grew quiet, the only sound was the soft hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen. Tory poured herself a champagne, her eyes looking at the spotless room. She felt a sense of satisfaction, knowing that their facade of perfection was was still intact. As she turned to head back to the living room, Miss Aiesha, the financial secretary to Fredrick walked in as the fragrance of her perfume passed through the air.

****

She caught sight of Tory and goes to meet her. "What's happening?" "Why are you here?" Tory asking with a worried voice beneath her throat. Miss Aiesha goes ahead to hand over a white piece of paper to Tory. They both looked confused and in awe. She signals to Miss Aiesha to go wait for her in the Library as she goes to tend to Phoebe who is busy with her colouring book.

***

Tory rushes back to meet Aiesha as she is filled with so many questions and disbeliefs wondering how could her husband do such a thing and why. As she is about to reach the financial secretary, Christabel and Chris came out of their room. Tory's instincts kicked in and she felt a pang of unease. "What are you two doing?" She asked, trying to sound casual. "Just scrolling through social media mom". The kids were so glued to their phones as they could barely see the lies on their mother's face. "Andare". The kids raised their heads and exchanged a knowing looking as they walked towards the stairs.

***

As Miss Aiesha narrated how she came to find out what happened, Tory began to shiver as she couldn't think of a solution to this problem. She fell on her rough knees thanking Miss Aiesha. "Please you can't tell anyone what you have told me today not even my kids must know what kind of man their father is truly". Aiesha assured her by patting her back as she sympathised with her. Tory walked Miss Aiesha to the door whispering that the paper should be burnt and there should be no copies at all. Miss Aiesha noded in affirmation as she exited the mansion.

***

Hours later, Tory goes to their bar and took some wine. As the kids noticed her strange behaviour. Chris asked if anything was wrong. Tory's mask slipped and for a moment Christabel saw a glimmer of fear but then, her motherly composure returned as she smiled tightly. "Nothing darling, just business stress. Your father's been working hard." "You two need to focus on your studies, not worry about adult thing." As the night wore on,Tory waited for her husband all night with no sign or chance that he was going to make it home that day as she slowly fell asleep with Phoebe in her arms sitted on their spacious black three-seater couch.

***

Christabel and Chris couldn't shake the feeling that they were missing something. What could have been the issue for their mother to drink that early in the morning even though it was common amongst rich people to drink anytime they wanted as long as they could afford it. There was more to the story than their mother was letting on.