Isaias got into his car and called his father. “Papa, you won’t believe what I just did.”
“What?”
“Demolished Merlin McGrath’s house.”
His father was silent and then gave a loud bark of laughter, “legally, I hope?”
“Yes. His ex-wife approached me and said she had some information for me and in our subsequent conversations, I learned how Merlin screwed her sister and got her pregnant. She got the house as part of her prenup, but he wanted it back. I bought it from her and then smashed it to bits while he watched on. His new wife sobbed like a baby.”
“You sound awfully cheerful for a man who made a woman cry.”
“She’s not a woman. She’s a snake. She makes my poor Liesl sad, harassing her constantly.”
“Your Liesl?”
He chuckled, “she is now. Something else I’m taking from Merlin. His mother commented last night at the art exhibit how Merlin only married the sister to ensure the kid gets access to a trust fund. It seems they expect her to go back to him when he divorces the sister after the kid is born. He’s having to play a part it seems but Papa, I’ll kill him myself before I let her go back to him. She’s too good for him.”
“Wait, Liesl. Isn’t she who painted the painting your mother is raving about? She spent a grand last night on a painting.”
“Yes, one and the same.” He grinned as his father chuckled.
“Your mom really likes her.”
“As do I. She’s funny, witty, and gorgeous. He screwed up and I’m taking full advantage. I want her all for myself and I’m keeping her.’
’She’s a person, Isaias, not an object.”
“I’m aware. Merlin treated her like an object. Made her dress a certain way. Get this, she told me he was so possessive and jealous he stopped bringing her to work events after a colleague hit on her.”
“What?”
“Yeah. All kinds of baggage for her to unpack and I’m happy to hold the suitcase while she unloads.”
“Be careful, Isaias. If she’s come from a terrible situation like the one you’ve described, she could be using you as a rebound. Her heart might not be ready. I don’t want you to get hurt. It’s unlike you to dive headfirst into a relationship with a woman.”
“Dad, you need to meet her. Mom told me last night in the car I should fly her to Vegas and marry her.”
“Well, despite not meeting her, I will disagree with your mother. Do not rush foolishly into anything. Do you remember your aunt? She ended up going back to her loser husband, despite all of us begging her not to. Liesl could.”
“There is no way she is going back to him. He impregnated her sister.”
“Yeah. It’s pretty bad.”
“She told me the sister has been messaging her daily asking her for the house. Merlin took Liesl’s engagement ring back, put it on the sister’s hand and then started asking for the house back.”
“What a piece of shit.”
He laughed at his father’s description. “I know right now she’s riding the high of revenge, but I genuinely like her, and I am going to spend more time with her. I hope things continue the path they are. I strongly feel Merlin McGrath’s failings are going to be my greatest blessings. I simply have a feeling when I’m around her.”
“Tread lightly son, but I feel I’m pissing in the wind telling you to do so.”
He laughed at his father’s words. “I’m heading into the office and then I’m taking Liesl dancing tonight. She said she hasn’t gone dancing in years.”
“Where are you taking her dancing?” his father questioned.
“New York. She doesn’t know yet. Joaquim opened a new night club and has been calling me for weeks to go. I asked him if I could bring a date and he’s set us up in a VIP room.”
“Joaquim is a nuisance.”
“He is your nephew.”
“He is a philanderer. Hold your girl close around him. My sister told me she caught him in his penthouse on the weekend with two women in his bedroom. She stopped by to bring him food and he repaid her kindness with a scene right out of a porno.”
“I heard,” he laughed. “He called me right after. I laughed my ass off.”
“Your aunt is scarred for life.”
“She’ll survive.” He snickered and then looked at his phone. “I have an incoming call from an unknown number. How much do you want to bet it’s either Trent or Merlin McGrath with threats?”
“Bury them,” his father said bluntly. “Call me and let me know how it went. Also, let me know how your date goes and I do not want any details on Joaquim’s adventures.”
He chuckled, “I’ll talk to you later. Love you.” He hung up and answered the incoming call. “Isaias Machado.”
“You son of a bitch,” Merlin’s voice was furious. “Leave my wife alone.”
“I want nothing to do with your wife. She’s a whiny bitch.”
“Liesl. I meant Liesl. This situation is temporary.”
“Is it? I don’t know if her disgust for you will be short-lived. When I did the walk through of the house with her, she pointed out the kitchen where you screwed her sister while she was ill upstairs. I believe hate is more apt a descriptor.”
“You went after her,” he accused.
“Actually, you are wrong, McGrath.” The man’s stunned silence made him smirk with arrogance, “I was dining in my favorite restaurant, and she introduced herself to me. We have talked every single day except one since then. She is interesting, talented, and beautiful. She is a breath of fresh air. I like her very much. I think I’m going to make it, so she forgets all about your sorry ass.”
“She is my wife and she’ll come home to me and do as she is told. She can raise this child as her own, as his stepmother.”
He was dumbfounded for a moment, “you’re kidding me. You want your ex-wife, the woman you cheated on, to raise her nephew as her stepson, instead of having her own kid?”
“She will come around.”
“You’re insane.” He had to be dreaming this conversation. He shook his head in amazement. “Why do you think she’ll agree?”
“She loves me.”
“She loathes you.” Isaias corrected, “if I accomplish anything in this lifetime, it will be to ensure she never returns to you. Even if we don’t work out, I will do everything in my power to keep you away from her. You don’t deserve her.”
“Look, I’ll be the first one to admit I messed up.” Merlin admitted quietly, changing tactics. “Sandy got her hooks in, and I slept with her once. She started threatening to tell Liesl if I didn’t do it again. I didn’t want to lose my wife and I kept giving in. I told her at the wedding it was the last time, but I messed it up and got her pregnant.”
“Yeah, I’m not a priest. Your confession doesn’t mean anything. I’m going to tell Liesl too. We don’t keep secrets. You shouldn’t have fucked your sister-in-law in the first place, let alone, gave her ammo to extort you.”
“She holds all the cards. Keeps talking about abortions and falling downstairs. I had to take the ring back or she’d have an abortion. I had to get the house back or she’d throw herself down a flight of stairs. She’s insane.”
“Good luck with that,” he felt no pity for the man’s situation. “I repeat, you screwed up and I’m going to take full advantage of it. I like Liesl. I’m going to wine, dine and seduce the hell out of her. My mother loves her already.”
“You introduced her to your family?”
“We went to her art show last night. Your father was not pleased to see me.”
“My father knows you two are seeing each other?”
“He didn’t tell you?”
“No. I’ve been avoiding his calls all week. He’s pissed. They hate Sandy with a burning passion and love Liesl.”
“I wonder why. One is very definition of trailer trash and the other is a goddess. Anyway, I must go. I have a date to prepare for.”
“Machado, I’m begging you. Back off. This kid will be born in six months. I’ll be divorced in seven. Let me win her back.”
“I’d rather see her with any other man but you. If she doesn’t want me, I will personally introduce her to all my single friends and their friends too.”
“Good luck to you,” Isaias said as he hung up the phone and shook his head. As he considered the desperation of the other man, he snickered. To the victor go the spoils.
