My mind isn't with me, it's on the kiss...the kiss.
{You're mine now.} He'd said, with his smooth voice, it sounded more pleasant than my imagination. The real thing beats the imaginary out of the park. Sigh. I'm in a relationship... Ha. With Mr Bidder I don't know anything about besides his name being Fin.
Don't scoff, it's probably going to come back and bite me but... I'm choosing to trust my gut. What's the worst that could happen?
"Are you planning to come in anytime soon?" Right. I'm at Mama Jewel's doorstep - pardon me. Why's Melissa here though? Still bitchy, I wonder if the wedding is on... probably, they won't show her that file. Her life... I'm not bothered. She's the idiot.
"Sorry. Is Mama Jewel home?"
"You're not here to complain about me, are you?" Seriously, she needs help. And I thought I made everything about me. She far surpasses me. The only good thing to come out of what I'm about to do is never seeing her again - really - I don't ever want to see this chick again.
"Miss, you're here?"
All good things must come to an end. Whoever said that truly wasn't bluffing. Has she always looked so aged? I can't remember. I haven't been the best person to her while she's been...my support system.
"Mama Jewel..." I don't know how to say it.
"Miss, what's wrong? Did something happen, what did they do this time?" Yes, she's always like this...never treated me like a paycheck. To her, I'm no different from Melissa except for the Miss.
But I have to steel my heart. Her daughter... that's right, her daughter is a loose cannon and I can't afford that in my life, not now. I have a feeling the Thompsons objective isn't money. They're not that free and Melissa is going to be a Thompson. Between her real daughter and me... which side will she choose? I can't risk it. I've already shown my hand and Margaret is out of my life, I'm a sitting duck.
"No, no, nothing's wrong. Mama Jewel, after the wedding, you don't have to come back. I don't need you anymore."
"Trent!"
"Miss..?"
"I'll wire this month's salary and your severance's check. Don't worry about money..."
"How could you! After all she's done for you?"
"Miss, you're firing me?" I can't do this. I can't look at her and act like it's as simple as that. Mama Jewel...
"I'm sorry."
I run out of there without looking back. This isn't easy for me too, she's the only parental figure I've ever had. What she's done for me, is more than my mom's ever done.
Why did I come to York again? They lied about it being sunshine city. Since I've come here, I hadn't felt the sunshine much.
I can't make her choose...I don't have that right. Argh, I hate tears, they're useless things and never make me feel better - actually make me feel the opposite. I refuse to cry. I'm not weak. I refuse to be weak!
"You're really a bitch, you know that?" Honestly. She's like a chewing gum stuck on my shoe. God, give me patience...
"You can't punish me so you fire my mother?" Can't? This chick isn't only delusional, she thinks too highly of herself. Who is she to me I'd need to fire Mama Jewel...Mama Jewel to get back at her?
"Don't think this is over. How dare you!"
"Melissa, you need help. Psychological help."
I move to sidestep her and she grabs hold of my hand,
"You should've left my mother out of this!"
"Out of what? Don't you think your mother has reached retirement? She can't possibly work for me all her life right?" Hell.
"Let go." Her eyes are crazed...just what did that prick feed Melissa? Her reactions towards me are intense - no? For simple motherly love resentment, she seems to hate me for more than that. Like I killed her family or something...
"What is going...on...with...you?" The last thing I see is Mark putting his hands around Melissa before I loose consciousness.
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My head is killing me. I can't move my hands. Dammit, Mark. I knew there had to be more to the story than money! Fuck. Shit. Shit. I open my eyes, I'm in some abandoned building, bound and a hell of a headache. What did they use?
"You're awake." Heh. Margaret's right, destroying him is the only way to be rid of this bug; anything else is child's play.
"Where did you get that file from?" He should move a little closer and my head bud will give him the answer.
"What do you want?" So brave for someone who's restricted and might be in danger of losing her life but why not? My personality is flawed.
"Shouldn't you plead with me to let you go?"
"Oh, is that gonna work?"
Can you believe I don't know this person and he's trying to extort money from me? Well, that sounded stupid - I admit, hence the kidnapping thing but come on, he's acting like he and I are best buddies or something. It's freaky. Yuck.
"Margaret used to talk about you all the time, do you know that? Trent is doing a fashion show. Trent sold a painting. Trent this, Trent that. I feel like I know you."
Yay, just the thing I needed - to be known by a jerk.
"She talked about how free you are and how much money you dad threw at you." Ha. I'm envious of me too, my parents love me so much I never get to see them. What's not to be envious of?
If you're wondering why I'm not scared right now, I'll tell you I'm putting up a brave front. I'm trembling, Seriously, my back is soaked and I can't feel my legs. This guy abuses women, I figure I should let him talk right... it's a miracle my voice isn't breaking. He's sick, I've read somewhere you have to appease the sick, you don't know when they'll go off - the best thing to do is follow their rhythm. I'm good at following, I can follow, it's the easiest thing to do.
"The first time I met you, I realised what she meant. I don't know if you remember, you attended a banquet. I don't think you were aware how many eyes followed your every move. So beautiful...and carefree." Not cringing - nope, refuse to. I'm not listening to my best friend's ex talk about noticing me - I refuse to cringe.
"I should've met you first." Yeah, you can't go along with crazy too. Doesn't matter how much you try, crazy is on its own impenetrable world.
"Mark, why am I here?" Let's bring this conversation back to the origin. Safe related origin. Met me first? Ha. How's that possible? I met him once before this period if I'm not mistaken. l, I remember him mostly from pictures.
"Your father refused to work with us...we need his expertise."
I knew it. They were never after money...a measly hundred million - that too from dad? But,
"My father doesn't care about my life or death. I'm afraid you'll be disappointed." I'm not lying, if they think my dad is going to agree to whatever they say because I'm their captive - they're sourly mistaken.
Their chances at getting money is higher coming from me, I wouldn't risk my life... I'll pay whatever they demand.
"We'll see about that."
We would, wouldn't we?
My hands are so painful, they feel like they're constantly being pricked. How can I get out of here? I wriggle my hands and the rope bites into them. They're going to bleed if I continue...How long have I been here?
"I heard Sebastian dumped you." He likes to talk.
"What an idiot. I wouldn't dump, why not get with me?" Aha, let's do that - it's not like I know you're a woman beater or kidnapped me. No, let's just treat this s courtship.
"You shouldn't believe everything Margaret told you about me. She's a liar." He really likes to talk and it's not helping my headache.
The sound of footsteps diverts he's attention, I follow him with my eyes as he goes to meet the newcomer.
"She doesn't look like a captive to me."
Mr Thompson, why am I not surprised?
"Dad..."
"Her father is not going to be persuaded when she looks like this." Okay, I don't like where this is going. Let's go back to Mark's chatter. That was fine...that was really fine.
"Miss Dion." He grabs my chin harshly, lifting my head to his.
"Where did you get that file?" Let go...How can I answer? It's going to bruise, he's filthy hands on me are going to leave prints.
"Can't say?" Can...can - if you let go.
The apple really didn't fall far from the tree.
He let's go and turn to face Mark,
"She's too much for you." and he turns with a backhand slap to my face. My ears ring, I taste blood.
"Dad..!" A little too late - no?
Fucking damnable old shit. Ouch! The man of the law, what irony. That hurt.
"Where did you get that file?" Ha. He doesn't have qualms beating women too...good to know.
"My husband."
"You're not married."
"It's new."
"Little girl, such a trick...it won't save you. Take the picture and meet up front."
Mark turns me this way, that way; the clicking sound of the camera the only sound in the building, he's tousled my hair a lot, it's curtained my face in. I bet I make a sight of victim now.
I won't die here if they don't get what they want, right? Better not think about it, I'm in pain and panic won't help. Where's Melissa in all of this?
I feel a caress on the bruising cheek and I lift my head, Mark's looking at me like he's the one who received the slap. What - daddy took his toy from him? Sick... it seems to run in the family.
"Don't worry. I won't let him do that again."
Yeah, that'll make it all better won't it?
Have I mentioned I shouldn't have involved myself in this mess?