Her Favorite Letter
The definition of a woman changes from person to person. To Mei, being a woman meant always having control. Power. She watched as men begged at her mother’s feet, pleading to worship her. It was in those times that the desire for Mei’s own power grew, bringing her to her first lover.
Ian. In college, he was the stereotypical business-major-frat-boy who was only enrolled so his dad would make him a business partner after graduation. Despite his silver spoon lifestyle, he had a heart—and a wallet—made of gold. All Mei had to do was bat those long eyelashes, and Ian was willing to give her the sun if he could find a way to pull it out of the sky. Unfortunately for him, Ian dropped out to pursue a music career, so his monthly allowance disappeared, and so did Mei. Like a thief in the night, she left with his gifts and without a word to him. He was heartbroken, but she was on the road to a joyous, jubilant, justified life.
Shortly thereafter, she found another. Jon. A politician with the campaign slogan “for the people” meant always being a people pleaser. Mei quickly discovered that he was a man of his word. He showered her with the finest linens, the most expensive jewelry. All because he chose her over his wife and he had to keep her quiet. After all, he was running for senator, and scandals just don’t mix. Oh, how she loved the letter S. Senator. Scandal. Snake.
Her next favorite was Steven. He was a doctor, sworn to his practice and the secrecy of his love life. They’d fooled around a few times. She pretended to fall in love with him until she asked for a piece of his doctorial salary and he said no. That’s when she came up with the magnificent plan to tragically slip and fall while in his care, threatening to sue him and the entire hospital if he didn’t comply. He called her a manipulative bitch, but words cannot hurt when you know who you are. After him, her favorite letter became B. Bitch. Blackmail. Balance.
For years, she never met a man who challenged her authority. Until she met him—Bryan. A contractor who was great with his hands in more ways than one. After a hot three-month fling, he promised to build a house for her and fill it with the most lavish pieces of work, including her. She was his goddess. A masterpiece that deserved to be worshiped and shown off to the world. That was until he figured out her ploy.
Mei never encountered a man unwilling to bow down to her. That night, she met her match. Subtly. Over dinner. On the floor of the house he’d finished building with his bare hands for her, Bryan unraveled her web and watched fear glisten in her eyes. He explained how he hired a private investigator to follow her every move, discovering the truth through her journal. Pages upon pages detailed the less-than-generous donations from Ian, Jon, and Steven. With open eyes, Bryan realized that Mei wasn’t his goddess. She was the bitch with devil horns that hid behind a snake’s smile, and he planned to take her down.
Did her mother experience this? If so, she never taught Mei what to do in such a situation. Panic riddled her in ways she’d never felt before. Her riches were running low. Her empire was at stake. She had no other choice. Swiftly, she grabbed the steak knife lying next to her and pressed it through his chest. She only wished he was as incompetent as her previous escapades so matters wouldn’t have come to this. She knew she’d have to clean up her mess, remove all traces of Bryan from her resume. But for right now, she would relish in the splendor of her new favorite letter: M. Mei. Manipulative. Murder.
