She stared at her clock, maddened by the man's tardiness. She didn't have anywhere to be, but she wasn't in the mood to sit alone in the restaurant either. The curious and pitiful glances cast her way were enough to have her feeling uncomfortable in any case.

With an irritated huff, she lifted her phone from the table and dialled her husband's number. "Mr Watson's office, Glenda speaking. How may I help you?"

"Glenda, please put him on the phone," she requested.

"I'm sorry Mrs Watson but your husband is currently in a meeting and he requested that no one interrupt him, not even you," Glenda informed, a smugness in her tone.

Astrid already knew better.

"Well, be sure to tell him that the architect didn't pitch up. I've been here for over two hours so I'm leaving now," she bothered to say as she paid the bill and got up to leave.

"What architect are you talking about?" Glenda asked her.

Astrid got outside and had to shield her eyes from the blazing sun. "The architect who's supposed to work on the new house."

"Mr Watson met up with the architect yesterday," Glenda replied, making Astra freeze in her step just as she was about to put on her sunglasses.

"He what?" she asked disbelievingly.

There was some shuffling in the background before Glenda spoke again. "He met with the architect yesterday at one o'clock in the afternoon. They finalized the designs for the house already and Mr Watson had me process the payment this morning."

Astrid could feel her face heating up from rage. She could only imagine the scarlet shade that accompanied this rush of emotion. She couldn't believe that her husband had failed to mention any of this to her, especially given that she'd asked him about it that very morning, and he'd just shoved her off.

"Mrs Watson, are you still there?" Glenda checked when she was met with silence.

"Thank you for your assistance Glenda," she managed to get out through gritted teeth before hanging up the phone.

While she was furious with her husband, the last thing she would do was give Glenda of all people the opportunity to make an even bigger fool of her. The woman has never liked her, and she revels in the fact that Mr Watson couldn't be bothered enough by his wife's complaints to get rid of the woman.

Needing to blow off some steam in the best way she knew how, she headed in the direction of the shops, well aware of the security detail lurking around her. She'd tried to argue that having a security team watching her every move was unnecessary since she highly doubts anyone would want to harm her, but her husband wasn't having any of it.

He needed the world to see him as someone important.

Not that everyone did in any case.

Astrid already knew what kind of a man her husband was. She knew even before she married him that she would never be a first priority to him. Hell, she was lucky if he ever bothered to find out how she was doing.

She'd married a proud, vain man, with a colossal ego to match. He'd always been competitive, and it was no secret that he was a sore loser. When his company made its first million when he was twenty-two, he was named 'The Newcomer to Watch'.

This was six years ago, and yet he still basks in the glory that came with that title.

Astrid wouldn't be able to tell you much about his business. All she knew was that he worked in the finance world, and that he made a lot of money. She wasn't allowed to know anything else about him except what she read in the papers.

They didn't have the kind of relationship where they would talk.

Astrid knew her place, a place that he never let her forget. Her name was Astrid Annalise Watson, and her identity was Raymond Watson's Trophy Wife. In the five years that they'd been married, that's all that she'd amounted to.

She knew of the things that people said about her, wrote about her. She knew of the names they were calling her, and the assumptions they made about her. Some would send her empathetic looks, while those who somewhat envied her, only spared her glares. However, through it all, she'd built a thick skin.

A thick skin that would fade away with her tears in the night.

It was this very thick skin that allowed her to come off as a cold and uncaring person by day, but when she was alone at night, the misery and loneliness would consume her every thought and feeling. With Raymond barely coming home or coming home in the early hours of the morning and leaving early, she was sure that no one knew of her desolation.

She shopped until she realized that not even shopping was making her feel any better. She didn't have friends, and the situation with her family was one that made sure that she was completely isolated, which meant that she had no one to talk to.

Except the ladies who do her hair and nails, and style her.

She used to go to a hairdresser and stylist that had been found for her by her husband. When she realized after some time that the women were intentionally damaging her hair and nails, she sought out to find her own hairdresser and stylist, which is how she found CJ and Cree, the spitfires who have been her hairdresser and stylist for two years now.

"Girl, what are you doing here? Your next appointment isn't until next week Wednesday," CJ told her as she walked into the salon.

CJ really is a spitfire. Blessed with a body and beauty most women would die for, the caramel beauty changes her hair as much as she feels like it, and it was currently a deep cherry red. Her nose ring caught some light as she walked towards the blonde woman who had arrived unannounced. She could already tell that she was frustrated though.

Not that it was anything new.

CJ knew how unhappy Astrid was without her having to say anything. While the woman seems good at hiding her emotions, CJ's background allowed her an uncanny talent of reading people, even with their walls up.

"I just, I needed somewhere to go," Astrid said lowly as she realized that there were curious glances her way once more.

She couldn't really blame the people in the salon. While CJ knows how to do her hair and nails best, the salon isn't exactly the kind of salon you'd find a woman like Astrid in, but that's what she loved about it.

The fact that it stood out from her world so much- just like its owners.

"Do you want me to call Cree over? I've still got clients but she's done with her classes," CJ told her.

Unlike CJ, who spends all her time at the salon, Cree is a fashion student who took up styling rich people as a paying hobby to pay her way through fashion design school. She and CJ have been friends since kindergarten days and Cree has helped CJ out wherever she could, also doing nails and makeup part-time.

"I don't mind sitting alone in the back," Astrid answered.

"I can already tell that there's something heavy on your mind, so I'm going to call Cree over and that's the end of that. I'll join you guys as soon as I've locked up," CJ informed.

Astrid shook her head vehemently. "You don't have to do that, not for me."

CJ sent her a comforting smile. "I know girl."

"There's no talking you out of this, is there?" Astrid asked knowingly, to which CJ laughed.

"Not by a long shot," she added.

Astrid laughed a little, the discomfort of everyone's stares settling in on her. "I guess I'll sit in the back and wait for you guys."

"Would you like something from Joe?" CJ asked her.

"Anything meaty and greasy," Astrid confessed.

"Alright girl, I've got you," CJ said, sending a small smile her way.

Astrid headed to the back, which is actually the office for the salon. The salon is situated in a place that people Astrid associates with would call ghetto, but she knows what big dreams CJ has for the place. She has offered on numerous accounts to be her friend's investor, but CJ refused because she knew better.

Raymond Watson would never let his wife progress like that.

She and Cree already knew that the man was a tyrant, but what they weren't sure of is if their friend knew just how much of a tyrant her husband was. She's only allowed to spend money on things he considers irrelevant, and if she wanted to grow or be her own person in any kind of way, he would put a stop to it without a doubt.

She may know that she's a prisoner in this marriage, but what they're not sure of is if she knows just how trapped she is.

"Hey Miss Thang! I heard you were looking for a special order," Joe said as he walked into the office.

Joe is the very definition of tall, dark and handsome. Standing at 6'5, he owns a food cart and has an agreement with CJ to come around and sell to her customers every now and then. Astrid is the only person who knows that he's in love with CJ.

She beamed. "Hey Joe!"

"What are you doing here? Isn't your next appointment next week?" he asked, handing her a container with her favourite food.

Joe's special chilli cheeseburger with curly fries.

She raised an amused eyebrow. "I was not aware that you knew my schedule."

"Of course I know your schedule. I need to know when I'm going to see my therapist next," he joked.

She mock gasped, hand to heart and all. "Joe! I had no idea you were using my services like this with no payment whatsoever."

"Oh please! You have never once paid for the very guilty pleasure in your hands," he shot back.

"Touché. I was having a terrible day so I figured I'd come to the one place that cheers me up most," I informed.

"What's wrong Miss Thang? Is it your hubby?" Joe asked knowingly.

She nodded. "He asked me to meet the architect for the house, and I agreed. I went to the restaurant and sat like an idiot for over two hours waiting for the man, only to find out from Glenda of all people, that Ray met with him yesterday. She was obviously chuffed about the whole thing. What pisses me off even more is that I asked him about it this morning, and he failed to mention that they'd already met. I mean, I get that I'm insignificant to him, and that he probably thinks of me as a waste of space on this planet, but did he really have to waste my time like that?"

Cree was already on her way to the salon when CJ called her. When she arrived, CJ walked with her to the back with the intention of announcing her friend's arrival, when they walked in on Astrid's rant.

It was the first time they were seeing her so truly angry. She's complained many times before about many things that Raymond has done, but this was the first time they were seeing the raw anger. It was almost as though she'd had had enough.

"Damn Miss Thang! I've never seen you so angry before," Joe commented, clearly having picked up on it too.

"I'm just mad Joe. Surely I wasn't born to live the life I'm living right? I mean, I must be worth more than what Raymond made me, right?" she asked.

"Damn right you are! Does this mean you're leaving him?" Cree asked excitedly.

Astrid jumped at the intrusion, having not seen them enter the room. "God no! He would drag me back into the marriage one way or another."

"So what? You're going to stay trapped?" CJ asked in confusion.

"I'm not trapped," Astrid said, not even managing to convince herself.

"Baby girl, you are trapped and you know it. You will never be who you're truly meant to be if you stay with that man. He's already killing you," Cree pointed out.

"When was the last time he touched you?" CJ asked her.

Joe jumped up. "Whoa! I don't need to be here for this."

"Shut up, sit down and man up Joseph," CJ told him. He sat right back down without arguing, making Astrid shoot him a knowing look.

He's completely whipped.

"Well?" Cree prompted.

"Almost five years ago," Astrid admitted quietly.

"WHAT?" her friends shouted.

"He wanted a son, and when I hadn't fallen pregnant into the first six months of our marriage, he made me go to the hospital to get checked out. I can't have kids, therefore he feels no obligation to touch me," I explained.

Joe was horrified. "Miss Thang, that's bullshit. You know that much right? Sex isn't always about making kids, so that can't be the only reason he's not touching you."

"He's having sex with every other woman out there except his bombshell of a wife," Cree said in disbelief.

"I stopped getting bothered by such things a long time ago. I'm clearly being punished for my past, therefore this is the life I must live," Astrid said blankly.

Her friends shared a look of concern. Not only had she finally let go of the anger in her, she was giving up on ever having a better life. If ever they needed to intervene, it was now, even though they had no clue where they would even begin to help her.

"I think we should go out tonight," Joe suggested, piercing the silence.

"Can't. Raymond needs me for some benefit dinner," Astrid replied.

"You need a mood lifter Astrid," CJ scolded.

"A mood lifter? Hell, she needs a life lifter!" Cree corrected.

Astrid laughed bitterly. "Have you not been listening? This is the life I must live. I have no other purpose to my life than to be Raymond Watson's trophy wife."

The three of them found themselves more curious about her past than ever before. Even when you look her up, no information appears on her past. Only her life as Raymond Watson's wife is known, and she's never shared her life story with them.

"Miss Thang, how did you get here? What happened in your past that landed you in this situation?" Joe asked her softly.

"I need to leave. I'll see you guys when I come for my appointment," Astrid said plainly before leaving. Cree tried to go after her, but CJ stopped her.

"Let her go. She needs to leave," CJ said.

"We have to help her somehow," Cree argued.

"Where do we begin? If we at least knew about her past, we'd have some kind of lead," Joe pointed out.

"Something tells me we'd get nowhere even if we tried to find out. I think we all know that Raymond probably has something to do with why she's cut off from her past," CJ added.

Cree sighed. "Even though the odds are against us, we still have to try. We need to help her guys. I'm truly worried about her, especially because it looks like she's giving up. If she gives up, then he wins for the rest of their lives."

"We'll think of something. We're definitely not abandoning her. We just need to really find a way around this," CJ commented, though she was worried they'd never be able to come up with anything.

On the way back home, all that Astrid could think about was how differently her life could've turned out had she not turned her back on her past, on her family. She knew for a fact that she'd be much happier- that she'd be someone with a purpose.

The emptiness settled itself deep in the pit of her stomach. She could feel it; she could feel herself starting to give up on the prospects of a better life. She was Astrid Watson, and she would die as Astrid Watson.

Even though she already felt dead inside.

A scowl settled on her face when she arrived at the mansion to find a van as well as a sports car she didn't know outside. She went into the house and there was movement everywhere. It looked like there were stylists and make-up artists running around the house.

"What's going on?" she asked her house helper Yuna.

Yuna actually likes her, so she was nervous to tell her, but did anyway. "These are Miss Sinclair's people. They're here to prepare her for the benefit."

Astrid was confused. "The benefit I'm supposed to be going to?"

Yuna nodded. "She arrived here with them not so long ago. She says Mr Watson is well aware of her presence here."

"And where is Miss Sinclair exactly?" Astrid asked.

Before Yuna could reply, the woman herself appeared in the lobby. "I thought that was you hun. What are you doing here?"

"You mean besides the fact that I live here?" Astrid asked in confusion.

"Oh right, I forgot about that little inconvenient issue," she said, waving Astrid off.

"What are you doing here Vienna?" Astrid asked.

"You mean Ray didn't tell you? He's taking me to the benefit dinner and then we're leaving for the Bahamas. I'm not sure when we'll be back, but surely you'll find something useless to keep yourself entertained with, right?" Vienna mocked.

And that's when Astrid felt it.

She'd snapped.

There are many times that Raymond had embarrassed her and made her feel worthless, but never on such a scale. He'd always taken her to all events he attends, so to learn that he was taking his most famous mistress was the last straw for her.

"I wasn't aware, but I'm sure that you're excited," Astrid commented, surprising both Vienna and Yuna with her response.

"Of course I am. It's a trip to the Bahamas with a handsome man," Vienna said carefully.

Astrid smiled. "Well, do make sure you enjoy yourself."

"Are you feeling ok?" Vienna bothered to ask.

"Never felt better!" Astrid replied before turning to the stairs.

"Where are you going?" Vienna asked her.

She raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you care enough to want to know?"

Vienna sneered. "You're right! I don't care."

She turned and headed back to her stylists, while Astrid ran up the stairs, heading to her bedroom. Yuna was hot on her heels, curious about what had just happened. She wanted to know why the lady of the house was ok with being treated like trash on such a level.

"Mrs Watson, what are you doing?" she asked as Astrid headed to her closet.

"Yuna, do me a favour and never call me Mrs Watson ever again," Astrid told her as she went through her clothes.

"Ok, I promise, but what are you doing? Aren't you upset about Miss Sinclair's words?" Yuna asked.

"Funny enough, I'm not. She just put some things into perspective for me," Astrid replied.

"Things like?" Yuna asked.

Astrid held the dress up to her body. "Is this sexy?"

Yuna nodded. "Are you going somewhere?"

"As a matter of fact, I am," Astrid replied, taking out her phone.

"Hey girl!" CJ said as she answered her phone.

"Is that offer still on the table?" Astrid questioned.

"Which offer? Going to the club?" CJ asked. Cree and Joe were still with her and they peaked when they heard her questions.

"Yeah! I'm going to sneak away from my security," Astrid informed.

"I don't even think I want to know how you're going to achieve that, but sure, we can go out. What changed your mind though?" CJ asked curiously.

"Raymond is taking his mistress to the benefit dinner before they leave for the Bahamas," Astrid replied as she packed a bag.

"That is so messed up," CJ commented.

"Tell me something I don't know. Listen, I'm coming to you now. I'll change there," Astrid said.

"Alright! We'll see you when you get here," CJ replied before the line went dead.

"And?" Cree asked.

"I don't think I know anymore. Raymond is taking Vienna to the benefit dinner and then they're heading to the Bahamas. That can't have possibly been easy for her to process, so she's going to dodge her security and sneak out. She's coming here and she wants to go clubbing. I have a feeling she's going to let loose," CJ explained.

"It's not a solution, but she deserves to, so what the hell? Let's do it!" Joe exclaimed.

"Astrid, are you sure about this?" Yuna asked her.

"Yuna, for years I've let that man disrespect me, but he has never disrespected me on such a level. I mean, I'm not stupid so I know that people know that Vienna is his mistress, but for him to choose to go public with her on such a level is the last straw," Astrid replied, still moving around.

Yuna found herself once again taken aback by the woman's words. "Are you leaving him?"

"We all know I can't, or at least he won't let me leave. I don't know what I'm going to do, but I can tell you that staying here tonight is something I'm not doing. I'm going to get drunk. I think I deserve that much right now," Astrid responded.

"By all means, but how do you expect to get past security? There's no way you're going to be able to," Yuna pointed out.

"Is there a way that I can?" Astrid asked.

Yuna thought about it. "Wait here."

While Yuna went to do whatever she'd gone to do, Astrid finished packing her bag. She then opted for taking a shower before getting dressed in one of her other normal dresses. Yuna returned just as she was combing her hair, but she wasn't alone.

"This is my brother Ishmael. He's part of the security here. Since he's not a part of your security detail, then you need to find a way to get him to drive you out of here. He's your only way out and he won't tell anyone," Yuna explained.

Astrid hugged her. "Thank you Yuna."

It was easier than she thought it would be to get Ishmael to drive her. They were out in minutes, and she requested that he take her straight to the salon. She arrived to find Cree and CJ there, and the salon was closed.

"Thank you Ishmael," she told him.

"It's my pleasure. When should I fetch you?" he asked.

"I'll find my way back. Don't worry about it," she replied. He looked sceptical but nodded nonetheless.

She headed into the salon once he was gone. "Where's everyone?"

"You need us more than any customer does right now," CJ alerted her.

"You didn't have to. I could've waited until after business hours," Astrid argued.

"Honey, you're our only client right now. The mission is to make sure you're sizzling. We're going to have one hell of a night out," Cree told her.

"I'm not going to bother arguing with you because that is a battle I will lose," Astrid said knowingly.

CJ tittered. "Good girl."

They sat her down before they got to working on her. She was feeling all sorts of risky so she asked CJ to cut her hair into a bob. CJ didn't argue, loving the idea. She worked on her hair, while Cree worked on her nails.

It took them a while, but by the time they were done with her, they were happy with their work. They told her to go ahead and get changed so that they could see the full transformation. They were cleaning up when Joe walked in, dressed to leave.

"Is she here yet?" he asked them.

They were about to reply when she walked out, fiddling with the price tag on her dress. "Can someone please cut this thing for me?"

"DAMN!" they instead shouted.

"Is it bad?" she panicked.

"Bad? Girl where the hell have you been hiding this vixen?" CJ asked her.

"Where did you get this dress?" Cree added.

"It was for a twenties themed event we went to. Raymond said I couldn't wear it because it's slutty and he refused to be represented by a whorish wife," Astrid informed.

"There is nothing whorish about this dress. It was made for you," Joe complimented.

The dress is a gold flapper dress with beaded detailing. It reaches mid thigh on Astrid, highlighting her shapely legs. She paired the dress with equally sparkling golden heels. CJ had curled her bob into many curls, giving her that bounce.

"You look amazing Astrid. All the more reason why we need to get out of here," Cree said.

"Well you and I have to change first. I'll borrow you one of my dresses," CJ told Cree.

Since CJ's place is right across the salon, they left Joe and Astrid there while they went to get ready. Astrid used that time to do her makeup, while Joe watched her carefully. She didn't say anything about it until she started to feel uncomfortable.

"What?" she asked him.

"I'm just curious about who you were before you met Raymond," he commented honestly.

She stilled. "Why do you want to know?"

"Because I care about you and I'm worried about you," he replied.

She sighed. "I'm fine Joe."

"You're far from fine Astrid. I don't even think you remember what being fine feels like," he argued.

She couldn't say anything to that and only because it was the truth. She hadn't been fine for the longest time. She could only think back to how many times she's envied people who were happy without money.

She had money, but she had no happiness.

Joe let her be and she finished up with her makeup just in time for Cree and CJ to come back. They too quickly did their makeup before the four of them headed out after locking up the salon. Since it was still early, they settled for having dinner first.

Astrid was self-conscious and she was beginning to question whether wearing the dress was a good idea or not. Her friends managed to convince her that she had nothing to feel self-conscious about, and by the time they made it to the club, she was more than comfortable in her own skin.

"I'm going to dance!" she told them after her fifth shot and third margarita.

"We'll come with you," Cree said.

She was beyond buzzed, but she wasn't wasted. She let loose for the first time in seven years, letting go of her troubles. When she was joined by someone, she simply grinded into them without a care in the world.

She stayed dancing with the same person for two songs before finally turning to face him. She was slightly less buzzed and she was pleasantly surprised to find that she was dancing with an attractive man.

"Want to go and talk?" he asked.

She was surprised that he didn't ask to get out of the club.

"Sure thing," she replied before he dragged her away to a more quite place. She was definitely curious about where this would lead.