Mariah's Downfall

It was late evening when the private jet touched back down in Genoa City, it had been a long flight from the concert I had just played with Tanner. I wasn't tired though I was filled with anticipation to see Mariah. We haven't spoke for a while, the last time we were on video chat & she asked me was I sleeping with Tanner to which I reply "no how could you think that!" somehow the connection was disconnected, Thinking back on the last time I saw her was when I last surprised her she was so pleased to see me that she held me so close I could feel her heart beat so fast & tears welled up in her eyes, unfortunately I only had a couple of hours to stay so we made the most of it & made deep passionate love. We were lying on the couch afterwards & I asked her was it a good surprise? She said yes just what she needed. I was unsure what she meant so I said "Mariah are you okay? She said she was fine just thought when I left to go on tour she wasn't sure I'd come back! I told her "How could you think that, I love you I'll never leave you" she said "okay I'm just being crazy", I could tell there was something else but Mariah assured me we would talk about it when I next came home,

The jet finally came to a stop, the door opened & the stairs were put in place. I jumped up grabbed my case which I had already prepared said bye to Tanner & raced off towards my apartment. My heart was beating so fast when I finally reached the door turned the key & slowly opened it. As I stepped in I saw a young woman sitting on the couch hair messed up & her blouse was half unbutton, Mariah walked in from the bathroom with her night clothes on & a dressing gown. My heart sank & I could feel my body start to shake!

I quickly composed myself & said "A bit late for entertaining isn't it?" "What are you doing here?" "I live here, thought I'd surprise you!" I asked Mariah who she was (not that I cared) & what she was doing there. Mariah said "she didn't have to explain. I agreed "but you do!" " Why aren't you off with your rock star boyfriend making beautiful music together?" I was taking back by this & asked why she would think that! Mariah then said did I sleep with Tanner to which I said "No never" I couldn't believe what I was hearing I felt my heart was getting torn out of my chest. I said "your turn" "I didn't sleep with her either" "evidence says otherwise!" I couldn't stand there any longer I could feel my heart sinking & the tears welling up in my eyes so I grabbed my case open the door while keeping my eyes fixed on Mariah. I walked out into the hall way & slammed the front door as hard as I could.

I walked away from the apartment not knowing were I'm going to go. I reached the gardens were I used to play my guitar for enough money to just survive & sat down, I couldn't stop the tears any more they just started pouring down my face, how could she do this to me!

Lola was walking by saw me & asked what was going on & could she help. I told her what I'd just walked into & Lola invited me back to hers to talk because it was now going dark. I accepted!

Lola poured me a glass of red wine & asked what's been going on, I told her what I knew & that Mariah thought I was having an affair with Tanner. Lola said Mariah had been in her restaurant a lot lately talking to one of her staff Lindsay was her name. But she thought it was innocent because that was the only time she saw them together. I finished my glass & poured more wine into it.

"Lola I would have expected Mariah to cheat on me a long time ago because I wasn't a good person I did a lot of bad things, but she changed me, loved me when I didn't deserve it & made me what I am today" I put my head in my hands "What am I going to do? Where am I going to go? I can't go back on tour & sing, I'm just..." I felt Lola put her arms around me & pull me close. "It'll be okay we'll get you through this. I couldn't help myself I broke down & the tears flowed, I must have cried for an hour, Lola made a bed up for me in her spare room & I went to bed.

I couldn't sleep I just lied there staring at the ceiling playing all the things Mariah had said & wondering whether their were signs I'd missed leading up to today! I must have eventually closed my eyes because next minute the light was coming threw the window. I got up, dressed & walked into the living room were Lola had made a coffee & toast, I sat down opposite her & she asked did I get much sleep? To which I replied "no". I asked her not to let Mariah know where I am to which she agreed.

I took a look at my mobile to see that Mariah had rang me a few times but I just can't bring myself to talk to her, I feel so let down, upset & angry that this woman could take advantage of Mariah.

While I was sitting in Lola living room pondering over what to do next my mobile rang, it was Sharon. " Hello Sharon " " Tessa can we meet I need to talk to you!" " Okay " "Can you come to the house Mariah isn't here " " Okay I'll be right over"

I drove to Sharon's & knocked on the door, I heard her voice shout "come in doors open" so I walked in to find Sharon sitting on the couch with a blanket round her. I didn't understand it wasn't cold but she looked really pale & tried to smile. " Are you okay?" " NO I could be better I have breast cancer, sorry you have to hear it like this with what's going on" " Sharon I'm so sorry I didn't know, Mariah didn't tell me!" "I know that's why I asked you here to talk about Mariah".

I offered to make a cup of tea & I sat down next to Sharon. " Tessa I'm so sorry to find out

what you walked into yesterday I know you must be hurting I just wanted to know whether you can find it in your heart to give her a chance to explain & you deserve an apology, she's really messed up, I really think that she thought you'd abandoned her, I know you didn't but ever since she was little before she came here she's suffered with those issues" " I can understand that I have too, I will give her a chance but I'm not promising anything she really hurt me" "Thank you that's all I ask" she leaned forward & gave me a hug. I said goodbye & left.

I decided to drive to my apartment because Sharon said that's were she would be, but on the way there I spotted the woman I'd seen in my apartment. I pulled up in front of her & got out the car. "Hey you I want to speak to you, who do you think you are taking advantage of Mariah while I'm on tour. How dare you!" but before she could say a word I don't know what came over me I grabbed her hair & pulled her to the ground "if I see you anywhere near Mariah I wont be so nice next time. I let go brushed the strands of hair out of my palm & got back in my car.

I got to the apartment put my key in the door & slowly opened it. There on the couch was Mariah eyes red, pale with her favourite throw round her. She looked up at me with such a sad face I wanted to just put my arms round her but I held back & said "you've been calling me, what do you want? She looked up at me with tears in her eyes " Tessa I'm so sorry, I never meant to hurt you, I've been so lost without you. I have been trying to handle things without bothering you so you could enjoy your tour but I've failed & destroyed the best thing in my life." " Mariah if you want me to understand you have to tell me everything."

I sat at the other end of the couch Mariah took a deep breath & with tears running down her face she told me how she didn't have a job any more but she would get one but hasn't been focused because Sharon has cancer. I said " Why didn't you tell me? I would have come back & supported you, nothings more important." "online you looked like you were having a great time & you worked so hard & deserved it, I didn't want to be the one to take that away from you!" " Why did you cheat on me?" "I was really messed up & the last time we video chattered Tanner walked passed with his top off & I just lost it & thought you'd found a better life without me." "Lindsey was being so kind to me talking that I invited her back for a chat after work, Tessa I never meant anything to happen it just did & I'm so sorry. I'm horrified that I've done this to you, to us. Can you forgive me? I love you & I need you so much" I looked in those sad red eyes & my heart just melted to see how hurt & sorry she really was. She put her head in her hands. I moved closer to her on the couch took her hands away from her face & looked straight into her eyes. "Mariah you hurt me but it hurts me more to be apart, We can't keep things from each other & no more secrets okay" & I put my arms around her & pulled her close and we both cried.

That night we made passionate love & just lied in each others arms all night. The next morning we got up changed & went to see Lola to collect my suitcase then went to see Sharon. She was so pleased to see us back together. We told her that we had decided that Mariah would come on the rest of the tour with me but if Sharon needed Mariah to come back she would. Sharon gave us her blessing. We went home packed & got on the private jet. To our surprise Tanner had decided to travel with the band by coach & give us the private jet to be by ourselves. Mariah watched me in every concert I did & when I dedicated our song to her the fans went wild.

Mariah got a phone call after one of the shows from her little sister Faith who was worried because Sharon was going to the hospital the next day to see if the cancer has shrunk. Mariah was torn whether to go back home or stay with me. I told her I understood & to book a flight from the next airport we stop at, so she did. We had an hour till the jet landed so we made the most of it in each others arms.

It was hard letting Mariah go at the gate we held each other so tight but I would be back in Genoa City in a few days & we promised to text, speak & be honest with each other even if it's hard to hear.

I arrived back in Genoa City early & Knocked on Sharon's door to my surprise Sharon answered a bit worse for wear she said Mariah & Faith had gone out for goodies. They arrived back soon after. Mariah came over kissed me & told me it was bad news that Sharon has gotta have an operation. I said I was sorry but I believed she will get threw it. I pulled her close & cuddled her as tight as I could.

We went to Crimson lights for a coffee, we sat opposite each other looking into each others eyes, Mariah looked so sad so I took her hand & told her " no matter what happens now or in the future there is one thing you can count on. I'll always be here & I'm always yours & one other thing why don't we just..." Mariah clasped my face & planted a mind blowing kiss on me stop then kissed me again. When our lips parted I said "But I never got to finish my thought!"