Disrespect
By Roger Arsht
Opening the door to his suite, Richard was surprised, if not shocked, to see Annie. If he knew she was coming, he wouldn’t have been wearing a Eupepsia bathrobe and sporting a glass of wine. After all, he was supposedly despondent and irrational.
Annie looked around the main sitting area of the suite searching for Dr. Bloom. She couldn’t find any evidence that she was there or had been there. It was then that Annie realized why the reception staff had been so stubborn in giving her Richard’s room number. Richard couldn’t be the only rich guest who visited the wellness retreat with people other than their committed partner. On an emotional level, Annie hoped Richard was stricken with depression, confined to bed, and that Dr. Bloom was waiting for one of his depressive episodes to recede so that she could talk to the sober Richard. However, Annie could see that Richard wasn’t the least bit distraught.
“How did you…” spilled from Richard’s mouth before Annie cut him off.
“We need to talk,” she said loudly. “Where’s Dr. Bloom?”
“My psychiatrist…” Richard paused, as he was startled that Annie knew about her.
“She was your psychiatrist. Professionals don’t drive their clients to a wellness retreat and check into a two-bedroom suite.”
“We didn’t…she didn’t…”
Annie cut Richard off again. “I don’t care. It’s unprofessional. Where is she?”
“She dropped me off and left. She never stepped foot in this room.”
“Thank you.” Annie said.
“For what?” Richard responded.
“You’ve cut to the core of the problem whether you realize it or not. I have been polite and submissive because I believe you are damaged and impaired by the tragedies in his life.”
“I am…”
Annie cut him off abruptly. “You can either pack and leave here with me in the next five minutes, or you’ll never see me again.”
“Dr. Bloom was the only person available to drive me here. Frankly, she was uncomfortable with the whole situation. She didn’t want to talk to me for hours in her car.”
“Because her car is not her office. She showed extremely poor judgment.”
“I told you. She never stepped foot in this room.”
“She showed poor judgment because you’re here and not in a psychological facility. She shouldn’t be facilitating your departure from the yacht. If this was a psychiatric facility, she might have a legitimate point. But just like Captain Ed, she acquiesced to your desires. All of the people in your life are enabling you because you manipulate them with your fame and wealth.”
“We didn’t sleep together. We’ve never done anything…” Richard kept on defensively.
“It doesn’t matter. You’ve ruptured any trust that existed between us by leaving the yacht and coming here when you should be with me. I believe you told me that I was the one.” The silence was uncomfortable. “Pack your stuff. We’re going back to the yacht.”
“What if I don’t want to.”
“Whether you realize it or not, you’re at a crossroads. You had the incident with the reporter. You’ve offended me more times than I can count. You denigrate Captain Ed by not listening to his advice, and you treat your brother like he’s a servant.”
“I’m not perfect.”
“Not perfect?” Annie said, appalled. “You must be kidding. You’re going to act like you’re the victim?”
“I am the victim. My personal losses. My depression. My periods of despair. They’ve made my life excruciating. And you’re not helping by putting me through this type of stress.”
“You don’t get it. I don’t want to be here. I don’t want to confront the front desk staff. I don’t want to be screaming at you. You have caused me to use my position and wealth to intimidate people to get what I want. I hate doing that.”
“I didn’t do anything. You make your own choices. No one forced you to drive here.”
“I don’t know if our relationship is going to survive. I do know that we’re going back to the marina. Pack your bags and meet me in the lobby. And since Dr. Bloom helped you avoid your demons, let her pay the bill so she’ll remember not to drive you anywhere again.”
Annie was in the lobby when the front desk phone rang. She could see the concern on John Hammel’s face as he listened to whoever was on the other end of the line. His eyes rose to where Annie was standing and then, with a wave of hand, he dispatched security to suite 247. Security returned a few minutes later carrying Richard’s luggage. Without waiting for instruction, they put the bag in Annie’s truck.
Once they were seated in her truck, Richard asked the question Annie had been waiting for. “How wealthy are you?”
“Wealthy enough to intimidate the hotel’s manager. Wealthy enough to buy a much bigger yacht than you own, and wealthy enough that I can afford to straighten out narcissistic men like you.”
“You’re acting like a man by racing your voice and intimidating others.”
“I know. As I said, I hate that. Women should be able to get the same respect as men without screaming or acting in what is often referred to as a ‘bitch.’”
“I’d never.”
“You have. Most women don’t have the resources I have,” Annie took a deep breath and exhaled. “You should be apologizing rather than critiquing my behavior.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Because it would prove to me that you’re capable of displaying humility.”
Neither talked for the entire time it took for them to reach the marina.
“I’m sorry,” Richard said softly when they pulled into the parking lot.
“That’s not good enough. I don’t think you know what you’re sorry for.”
“I disrespected you.”
“Like I said, you don’t get it. You disrespected your late wife, your brother, Dr. Bloom, Captain Ed, Cathy, and everyone else who cares for you.”
“And I disrespected you.”
Annie shook her head and walked ahead of Richard so he couldn’t see her tears. “And you disrespect yourself,” she said softly to herself.