The Marriage Act(109)
‘What if I told you that you can have it all back?’ he continued. ‘That I can ensure you’re more famous than your court case has made you? That people worldwide will want to hear what you have to say? Because I can make you the first Influencer who Vlogs from behind bars. I can give you a platform to talk about anything you want to discuss, to connect and interact with the public through live chats and to show what prison is like from the other side of the bars.’
‘And what do you want in return?’ she asked.
‘That you also throw your weight behind the Sanctity of Marriage Act, talk about how important it is, and how, if the opposition is elected, it will be revoked and that will cause catastrophic damage to the country. You are just about old enough to remember Brexit. That will be a walk in the park compared to what will happen if we’re forced to return to the dark ages where people only marry out of choice. We also have other plans to radicalize the education sector, and, as a mother, I’m sure you can become involved in that too. But we can discuss that further down the line when we are re-elected.’
Roxi was torn. ‘I promised my family that I’d turned my back on a media career. I haven’t done any interviews because I didn’t want to bring any more attention to my kids than I already have. They’re bullied at school, my husband has been forced out of his job . . .’
‘All trivialities that can be taken care of. We can ensure Owen doesn’t need to work again to support his family and that Darcy and Josh are enrolled in the best private schools. You’ll be doing this as much for them as you are for your country.’ His eyes darkened as he smiled. ‘And perhaps a little bit for yourself. Play your part in making that happen and you have a wonderful career ahead of you.’
‘You’re asking me to choose between fame and my family. What if you’re not re-elected? I’ll have lost everything.’
‘Life is a gamble, is it not? I’m offering you the opportunity to win big.’
The man gave Roxi two days to consider it. By the time he stood up, she had already made her decision.
Trying to convince Owen of her intentions the next day had not been as straightforward.
‘You can’t do this,’ he warned.
Roxi moved her chair forwards, its legs scraping against the floor.
‘Why not? This is the perfect solution. You and the kids are taken care of financially and I get to resume my career.’
‘No.’ Owen shook his head. ‘No, no. Just keep your head down and serve your time and, when you get out of here, we can carry on as we were.’
Roxi flinched. It didn’t go unnoticed by her husband.
‘What’s wrong with that?’
‘I don’t want to carry on as we were,’ she said quietly. ‘And I don’t want to be with you any longer.’
Owen’s face dropped.
‘I’m so, so sorry but I’ve tried being that woman and it’s just not me. You and the kids . . . it breaks my heart to admit it but you’re not enough. And please believe me, it’s not your fault; this is completely on me. The fact is I am what I am, and, first and foremost, it’s not a wife or a mother.’
Roxi closed her eyes and didn’t open them again until she heard the door to the visitors’ room slam.
Three weeks had passed since she’d last spoken to either Owen or her children. She considered recording a video to send to Darcy and Josh, assuring them they were blameless, but decided against it. She had also denied Darcy’s request to visit her, partly because of its potential for awkwardness and also because it coincided with a sponsor’s appointment to walk her through a collection of Vlog-friendly prison outfits.
Meanwhile Roxi’s lawyer had informed her that Owen’s divorce proceedings had been thwarted by Family Court magistrates at the first hearing. She could only assume her pale-faced ally had exerted his influence.
Roxi pushed her familial guilt to one side and diverted all her focus towards her reanimated career. She worked with a team of script writers on discussion points and assembled a team of fellow inmates she nicknamed the Glam Squad, all with experience in hair and make-up. Others were chosen to participate in a crash course in filming, lighting, sound and editing, and tutored by television industry professionals.
Within hours of her first Vlog going live, the news that Roxi Sager, Influencer, mother, wife and protector of Smart Marriages everywhere had returned to social media from behind bars went viral. Her numbers escalated at a rate she had never experienced before.
She had never felt as free as she was right now.
*
‘This is the first time the Government has used a convicted killer to promote anything,’ continued presenter Esther Green, ‘which is something that has riled your critics.’
‘Obviously I’d rather it had happened under different circumstances, but what’s done is done and now I have to make the best of it,’ Roxi replied.
‘Do you regret Antoinette Cooper’s death?’ co-presenter Stuart James asked.
‘Absolutely, and if I could take that awful day back, then of course I would. But I’d like to reiterate, it wasn’t a deliberate act. I’ve never been one to shy away from responsibility, which is why I pleaded guilty to manslaughter. I hold my hands up and admit that, because of my mistake, two families have lost mothers.’ She blinked Darcy and Josh’s faces away.