Maggie finally met her longtime customer in person and she thought she had met her Prince Charming. His flattering words had her blushing like a school girl and she couldn’t help but fall for him. They got married a few months later but it turned out to be the worst mistake she ever made. Here’s where the story starts Her Business Saved Her From An Abusive Marriage Part 1
The ladies at the business events each shared their stories that made Maggie feel less alone. Jackie had introduced Maggie to them since they were all victims of domestic abuse and hoped that they would help her with her situation. She was the only one who was still in her abusive marriage.
“We can’t tell you what to do, Maggie, but at some point, you’ll have to put yourself first.” One of the ladies said.
“It’s not that easy, Diana.”
“We know, but you have to make a move. The beating won’t stop. Take it from us. We’ve been there.”
They were right. The beatings wouldn’t stop and they didn’t stop. Tony seemed to enjoy abusing Maggie. She couldn’t understand how or why he had changed so much. However, the more she tried to help him the worse he became.
The abuse became so bad and so frequent that she couldn’t attend to her clients. It was only when one of her new friends from the business events tried to order a cake from her that she noticed Maggie wasn’t taking new orders. She then contacted Jackie who immediately called Maggie.
“Where are you?” She asked as soon as Maggie answered the phone.
“At home. Why?”
“I don’t care what you say, I’m coming to get you.”
Jackie had been to Maggie’s apartment once before when she wanted to introduce her to her husband. She noted that indeed, Tony was a completely different person when he was sober. He was loving and gentle. However, she had dealt with people like him in her line of work and she knew it was a manipulation tactic. She could see right through him and didn’t entertain his flirtatious behaviour. After that visit, she was no longer welcome in the apartment.
“Tony… Tony will…” Maggie stuttered in fear.
“I said I don’t care. You better pack your bag or you’re leaving without any clothes.”
Jackie picked her up shortly after the phone call and they went to her house. Even though Tony went back to the apartment that night only to find a dark and quiet place, he didn’t bother to look for her. For months, he didn’t call or text her.
Maggie cried endlessly knowing that her marriage was over. However, she woke up one day and decided she was done feeling sorry for herself. For those months, she watched Jackie go out into the world and make a difference while she sulked in the house.
“You have so much potential, Maggie.” Jackie constantly told her.
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Maggie had packed her suitcase hurriedly that she forgot all her baking tools in the apartment. There was no way for her to get them so she went to the supermarket and bought new tools. She loved her new tools, anyway. They didn’t remind her of Tony or the dark times she had been through. On the contrary, they made her feel happy and excited about life again.
That night, she baked a cake and surprised Jackie with it. It was a thank you cake to show her gratitude and appreciation for everything that Jackie had done for her.
“You baked?” She asked.
“Yes, I think I’m ready.”
“You’ve always been ready.”
Maggie woke up early the next morning and started making cakes for orders she had received immediately after reactivating her social media account and business number. By midday, she was done with her orders and sent them out for delivery.
She continued with the routine for a couple of weeks until her page started blowing up with good reviews. However, the buzz around her business also attracted the attention of the one guy she never wanted to see or hear from again – her husband, Tony. Yes, she was still very much married to him but hadn’t seen him in close to a year and he made sure to remind her that she was still his wife.
“Don’t forget you’re still my wife. I’ll tell your little customers that you abandoned your husband to go and live with that lawyer who has turned you into a lesbian.” He threatened her through a string of messages.
Maggie showed the messages to Jackie who promised to handle it. After sending him a warning letter, she followed with divorce papers and a final message.
“Let me show you how to threaten someone. If you don’t sign those divorce papers, I will sue you for harassment and defamation.” She wrote.
After a few weeks, he sent back the signed divorce papers and Maggie was finally a free woman.
She started sharing her business journey which was entangled with her personal life and struggles with domestic violence. Her story both captivated people and shed light on what women went through in the background while putting on a smile to the rest of the world. That year, she was honoured at the Women In Business Awards as the Brazen Woman Of The Year.
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The following year, she was back on the same stage to accept another award. Maggie took the stage to make her acceptance speech for the Businesswoman of the Year Award. She was a stark contrast to the woman she used to be a year ago. The lady who was dressed in a navy blue designer gown and a pair of red bottom heels today was once too broke to afford her medical bill after being beaten bloody by her husband.
Anybody who met her today wouldn’t believe what she has been through and what she had to overcome. However, her challenges made her the woman she was today and taught her lessons she still carries with her.
“Thank you so much.” She started, “This is my second year being on this stage but I have been an audience member for many years. I used to dream of this day and here I am. So, never stop dreaming.” She finished with a tear falling down her cheek.
She embraced Jackie who had joined her on stage and the pair walked off hand in hand. If it wasn’t for Jackie, only God knows where Maggie would be. Maggie fondly refers to Jackie as “my angel from my nightmare” which acknowledges the dark place Jackie rescued her from.
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