Chapter Thirty
I stood out the front of work for a good five minutes before going inside. It was hard to believe this would be the last time I was going to come here. While I wouldn’t miss the sex part of it, I had formed such great friendships with Emily and Mauve that I was going to miss seeing their faces nearly every day. I’d considered staying on as only a receptionist, but thinking of the kids, I decided it was best for me to get a ‘normal’ job.
I walked in, past a smiling Barry (Smiling? He never smiled!), through to the lobby.
I stopped suddenly, my blood freezing in my veins.
Charlie was here. Standing in front of the desk.
I had done all I possibly could to avoid Charlie in class today, I’d honestly thought this was not something I was going to have to deal with.
In my perfect little mind Charlie would turn up and learn through Emily or Mauve I was no longer there, and move on to another girl. It struck me I would probably eventually have to talk to him, but I didn’t expect that to be here and now.
“Charlie. Hi.” I said as I walked into the foyer. He raised his eyebrows when he saw me.
“I was beginning to think you’d disappeared.” He said dryly. I blushed. Little did he know how close he was to the truth.
“Well now that you mention it…” My voice trailed off as his eyes hardened. His expression caught me off guard. He looked really pissed. I forced myself to continue.
“I am leaving. Or rather, I’ve left.” The voice that came out of me was high pitched and squeaky. If he wasn’t aware before just how much he intimidated me, he sure as hell knew now.
“I need to spend time with my family.” I said, trying to explain.
“Just like that, then?” He cut in. He stepped back, shaking his head. His expression full of anger. I backed up slightly, my heart pounding as he ranted on.
“I’m sorry.” I whispered meekly. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Emily peering over the desk. She looked terrified. If it wasn’t for the situation, I’d have laughed.
“You’re sorry?” His tone was scaring me. He was acting like he owned me, like he’d had me once, so now he somehow had a right to me. This was far from the calm, confident person I thought I knew.
“No, no. I get it.” He pulled put his wallet, “So what will it cost me? Eight? Nine?” He sneered, throwing his credit card at me.
I gaped at him, stunned. He thought throwing a couple extra grand would get me back into bed with him?
“Charlie no. I’m not doing that anymore. I was just trying to help my sister-“ His laughter cut me off.
“Help your sister by being a slut? Come on, Kaitlin. We’ve already established you’re a whore. Just tell me your price.” The words rolled off his tongue with vindication.
I gasped. What the hell? Who was he to judge me and my choices?
He was married, for god’s sake.
“Maybe you should go home to your wife.” I retorted, instantly regretting the words as soon as they exited my mouth.
His face grew dark, I braced myself, squeezing my eyes shut as he raised his fist.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
Both Charlie and I turned to see Barry standing in the doorway, arms crossed aver his huge chest. I sighed, the feeling of sweet relief surging through my body. I’d been moments away from being hit.
That scared the hell out of me. I couldn’t do this, not anymore. Charlie cursed as Barry escorted him outside. Mauve and Emily came rushing up to me.
“Are you okay?” Emily gasped. I shook my head, my whole body shaking as she pulled me into her arms.
“Take her into my office.” Mauve instructed. Emily nodded, leading me down the hall. Inside the office, she sat me down on the sofa, with a blanket.
“Can I get you a drink? Water? Tea?” She asked, concerned.
“Tea would be nice.” I managed a small smile.
I sat forward on the couch, trying to slow my still thumping heart. What if Barry hadn’t been there? I shuddered to think what Charlie would have done to me. And what was I supposed to do now? Call the police? Act like nothing had happened? I looked up as Mauve came in, followed closely by Emily, who was carrying my tea. I smiled as she handed me the steaming cup.
“How are you, honey?” Mauve sat next to me, her arm around my shoulders. I smiled at her. Still shaken, I was much better than I had been a few minutes ago.
“I’m okay. Has he gone?” I asked, concerned. Mauve nodded.
“There was no point calling the police, because he didn’t hurt you or technically threaten you, but you might want to think about going to the police if he hassles you again. He’s been banned from here.” I nodded, a bit taken aback that his almost punch to my face apparently didn’t classify as a threat.
“Okay.” I murmured, taking a sip of my tea. I was too exhausted to argue. I just wanted to go home.
“Your check.” Mauve handed me a check. I stashed it in my bag, not wanting to think about that, or anything else, right now.
“Thanks.” I said, letting her hug me, “I’m okay. I think I just want to go home”
“I’m sorry you had to go through that, Kait.” Mauve shook her head sadly, “We try our best to weed out the crazy ones, but no security is fool proof.” I forced a smile, and stood up. I turned to Emily.
“Call me, okay?” She mumbled, tears springing in her eyes. I nodded and smiled. I would definitely miss seeing her happy face.
Barry waited by the door to escort me out.
He’d offered to walk me to my car, which I had accepted. I was sure Charlie was long gone, but having Barry next to me made me feel safe.
“Thanks, Barry.” I smiled at him as I climbed into my car. He waved, and walked back into the building. I started up the car, letting the heater warm up.
“F*ck!” I cursed. My purse.
I’d left my purse inside.
I contemplated calling and asking Barry to bring it out to me. I glanced around the parking lot. It was empty, apart from a few cars. I knew Charlie’s car, and his car wasn’t here. I was sure he was long gone.
Taking a deep breath, I unlocked the door, and climbed out. I rushed across the lot, my heels clicking on the asphalt with every step. I’d almost reached the door when I heard something behind me. The sound of a shoe crushing crumpled leaves.
“Well, look at you.”
My heart stopped. Literally.
That voice.
I slowly turned around. Charlie stood before me, his eyes red.
He had been drinking. I spied the empty bottle of whiskey in his hand. He saw me looking at it and laughed, throwing the bottle against the wall. The sound of shattering glass made me jump.
“Charlie. I’m sorry…” I backed up slowly.
In one swift move, he was on top on me, his weight pressing down on me. I tried to struggle, but I could barely breathe through the pressure his body placed on my lungs. I gasped for air, as his hand covered my mouth.
“You think you can just cut me off like that?” He hissed, ramming my head into the cement footbath.
Pain shot through my head, excruciating, throbbing pain like I’d never felt before. I could feel blood oozing from the wound, matting my hair.
“You owe me, you dirty f*cking whore.” He hissed, spitting on my face. A strangled sob escaped my mouth.
Holding me down with one arm, he ripped at my skirt with the other, groping around inside of me. I cried out in pain. He was by no means being gentle. He laughed, grabbing me even harder. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I stared into his cold, dead eyes.
His knee pried my legs apart as he brought my legs up around my waist. His gripped slipped off my knee.
I was in the perfect position.
This was the only chance I was going to have before I wound up dead in some shallow grave. With all the strength I could muster, I kicked him right in the groin.
“Jesus Christ, you f*cking bitch!” He rolled off me, clutching his manhood.
His face screwed up in pain. Scrambling to my feet, I screamed at the top of my lungs, realizing just how close I’d come to being raped.
Out of nowhere Barry appeared like an overweight ninja, gripping Charlie in a headlock, until he passed out. Emily came rushing outside.
She caught one look at me face, and ushered me inside, screaming at Mauve to call the police.
“Are you okay, Kait?” she asked, shocked. I reached up and touched the back of my head. Blood covered my fingers. My head throbbed, and I struggled to breathe.
“I-I don’t know.” I stammered. I let her lead me inside. She sat me down on the sofa in the foyer, while one of the other girls got a wet towel for my head. By now, all the girls, and several of the men were huddled in the foyer, trying to see what all the commotion was about. I was more than a little embarrassed.
“Please.” I said to Mauve, my eyes begging. She understood.
“Okay, everyone, give her some space.” She ushered everyone away. A man, dressed in a G-string and a garter belt stepped forward.
“I’m a doctor.” Mauve looked at him dubiously. He blushed, realizing how he must look.
“Okay.” Mauve nodded, gesturing to me. Emily sat down with me and held my hand. I realized I was shaking. I could vaguely make out the flashing lights outside as my head spun. The doctor looked at my head wound, yelling orders at several of the girls who hadn’t scattered away. My vision began to blur.
Barry’s voice boomed through the front door as he filled the police in. Surely things couldn’t get any worse, could they?
I looked up, and into the eyes of Devon, who had just walked through the door. The blood drained from my face.
Things had just gotten much, much worse