I ran my hands over the piece around my neck while staring at myself in the mirror. The door opening jolted me out of my daze.
“I am leaving.”
“Can I have a ride?” I asked, already grabbing my bag, rushing after Storm.
“Why? Your driver is waiting.”
My quick mouth failed me, my mind trying and coming empty with a reason.
With all the missed calls I dodged from Damon, I really didn't want to see him.
My mouth opened and closed.
Would Storm think me too clingy if I persisted in my request?
“ I will be leaving soon Ma’am, is there anything I can get you?”I was fighting a smile as I stared up.“ No Kimberly. Thank you.”“ Coffee?”She was making it hard to keep my straight face.“No Kimberly, thank you though. You know I will be working from home tomorrow, right?” I questioned.Her smile was so genuine and bright. She hadn't really qualified for the position and yes, I had hired her because of that smile. She gave out a certain warmth that I needed for my team.“Yes Ma’am, I will call and send emails for anything that may come up.”
I stared at myself in the mirror and I hated what I saw. I wanted to claw my skin over and over. I was weak. I was stupid. The brush moved across my burning skin, the concealer hiding the fresh burning red marks. My eyes burned from how hard I had cried. A loud bang on the door sent me jumping and yelping. My body shivered so hard and I hated it. I hated the fear Damon had spilled on me. I hated the disgust he had poured on me. “Get out, we have landed!” Gone was his polite tone, he had shown his true side and it was ugly. I turned back to the mirror. The wipe was used to dab the tears away. As hard as I tried, my eyes were blood red and nothing could solve that. More concealer was need. I dabbed more on my neck before putting away the brushes in my makeup case. I slipped it back in my bag. “ Come on!” Another bang sent me jumping. With shaky hands I took out a pair of glasses, slipping them on before I took my bag and went to the door. I wouldn’t let him treat me like th
The clutter of cutlery on plates was all that echoed. Tension suffocated me to the neck. I sat next to Bueala, my father sitting at the head. To say the past twenty-four hours had been awful was an understatement. The only relief was Damon being nowhere to be seen. Storm called three more times during the day and I ignored all of them. No one talked. Emily sat to dad’s right, eating away. The food turned bland in my mouth. I was far from hungry and I wanted to get back to my home where I could curl myself in my bed and wallow away. After long minutes of excruciating silence, everyone was done eating. Were their dinners that painful to bear through or was it because of my presence?“Brandy. Join me in my office.” My father finally spoke since he arrived, acknowledging me. I had begun thinking he was pretending I wasn't there. “Yes sir.” I replied, taking a sip of water and pushing off my seat. None said anything else. I followed after my father. During our lunch Anna had conti
All through the weekend I was just floating over everything.Maybe even I was to blame.Yes, I did not try to include myself in all the planned activities.In the pool I just sat on the chairs fully dressed because there was no way I was wearing a swimsuit in front of my sister’s and Damon always being a few feet from me.I hated that the girls thought it was cute, making jokes about my guard when I was actually in hell. He didn't say anything, never got closer but just stared at me intensely. I could feel the smirk on his face and it killed me.He made me feel naked and disgusted. I couldn’t help chills constantly jolting my body. It was like he was mocking me. His words kept coming back to mind, the insu
I ran out of the elevator and through the passage.Anything the guards said to me went unheard. I unlocked the door and ran to the bathroom where I emptied everything I ate that morning. My hands grabbed on the seat as I poured vomit out while sobbing.The picture kept coming to my mind and I threw up even more with burning tears flowing down my cheeks. I had never felt so violated in my life. Maggots crawled up my skin and at one point I couldn't help stretching.A hand came at my hair, pulling my head back.“Get yourself together.”I shook Damon’s hold away, pushing him but he gripped my head even tighter.“Clean yourself and get a hold of yoursel
I screamed and jolted out of my seat, my hand swinging to defend myself from the hand that had grabbed my shoulder. I swung my barely folded fists a few times before I stumbled and tripped on my feet. A hand grabbed me but I screamed and jumped back, putting much space between us.I hit the lamp switch so fast, wide eyes falling on Storm.He could never understand the fear in me.My hand flew to my rabid heart, nearly tearing from the arteries.I couldn’t even talk and when did it get so dark?Storm raised an eyebrow which drew my eyes to the bruise at the corner of his eye.“Oh my, what happened?”&
“What do you want?”I sighed. It had been a long day. It felt like years ago when I had been in the hospital.Worse thing, I had no recollection of what happened after I came back to the office.“Chinese.”Storm said nothing back and I just sat beside him. I realized there were a few inches between us and ate those few inches up until I was glued to his side.“I know a place downtown sir, are you okay with me making the reservation? It’s friendly.” Amar suddenly said with my eyes moving to him.Storm nodded his head and Amar didn’t waste time calling for a secluded table.
“Hi Ma’am, there is Gwen from procurement and Sandra from security.” Kimberly’s voice popped from the receiver.I pressed the button, “let them through.”Guilt washed over me.It seemed like years since we had talked. I could recall a few calls from them and texts but the previous day was all vague for me.The door opened, Kimberly walking in, letting them in.“Can I get you all something to drink?” My friends were too shocked to even answer.“No Kimberly, thank you, you can go for lunch.” I said, seeing my friends carrying paper bags from the canteen.“Brandy gi