It seems silly now to see myself dressed up like some teenage girl on her way to junior prom but I didn't see it that way, I saw myself standing in the mirror elegantly clasping my hands together like I was playing the part of princess. That didn't seem right, I wasn't playing for the princess I was playing the part of a queen who had conquered civilizations to get here. I booked a hotel close to city hall where the event was being held and made my way out of my hotel receiving compliments from hotel guests and staff. My dress was shimmering with silver specs and I was adorned in fake diamonds but who could really tell. My Uber was waiting for and apologized that I would have to ride in a shitty Lexus on my big night.
Its ok, this is perfect. The ball was 10 minutes away but I was nervous, I hadn't seen nor spoken to Aaron since the last talk we had in the office and as much as I wanted to go home with him I clearly hadn't established enough boundaries with Aaron and he had to understand how sensitive my life is. Plenty of women would kill to be in my spot like Trish but he chose me, Aaron pursued me so I was better than the rest. I was different so I expected to be treated with care and handling. I did feel bad since Aaron had been so loving and caring and perfect up until this one point but it was still strong enough to make me walk out the door.
We arrived at City Hall and there were people standing all over the front lawns wearing their best gowns with some male model attached to them at the hip. Beautiful women everywhere and yet I somehow noticed that I was standing out and everyone would turn to look at me in aw. I collected myself and walked towards the large doors. Soon after entering through the front doors Ryan comes rushing up to me and looks at me amazed, "Oh my god, you look amazing."
I smile, "Thank you Ryan."
"No Alaina truly you're radiating with beauty but just the heads up Trish is here and she has something planned." I grit my teeth and just smile at him.
"Have you seen Aaron?" Ryan glances around and then pulls me into a quiet corner.
"I think I saw him upstairs with a woman, maybe you should go check." Ryan pulled me behind him even though I wanted to tell him I didn't want to see but I went anyway. He takes me upstairs and stops in front of the mayor's office leaving me with a wave of the hand. I prepared myself to see him embracing this woman but when I opened the doors Aaron was standing there grinning from ear to ear with his hands behind his back.
"What's going on?" I said walking towards him cautiously.
Aaron met me halfway and looks me over taking it all in, "Can I hug you?" Hed never asked before but I was grateful that he did.
"Of course you can." Aaron embraces me tightly and takes a deep breath.
"I've missed you every single day since I made you walk away from me." He sounded so sincere and sorry that I hugged him back.
"You drive me insane sometimes, do you know that?" Aaron laughed and took my face in his hands.
"I only want to drive you insane in the best ways." He kissed me and all the anger and worry I had been feeling melted away.
We laughed in between kisses and then the bell started to ring. He offered his arm to me and I took it all the while looking into his eyes. We made our way out of the room and descended the grand staircase towards the waiting crowd that looked on in awe as if they were actually looking at royalty. I caught a glimpse of Trish in the far back of the room glaring at me. There was a man standing with her with his back to us but I figured shed brought a random man when Aaron rejected her. She was dressed in red and was practically steaming. Aaron was handed a mic and as I took a step back he reassured that it was ok and held my hand as he started his speech thanking the city of New York for letting him host his ball here in the heart of the city.
I didnt know how but Aaron had a certain way of taking the room whenever he was in it. All the women looked on in awe and amazement but Aaron was looking at me every time he laughed he looked at me and no one else, I have to admit I was falling in love all over again. Hard to say when all the men that enter your life, no one would blame me for being cautious because to everyone else and myself this was just too good to be true. Meeting at a bar just for a one night stand and with my luck it was my multimillion dollar boss.
After his speech was done and over with, Aaron pulled me into a hall and kissed me deeply. "I missed you so much, Ive missed having the privilege of having you next to me, touching you, talking to you, and just being your presence. What can I do for you to forgive me?" I was about to say something cheeky but another guest whipped around the corner to tell Aaron the mayor wanted to speak to him. Aaron sighed and cupped my chin kissing me again, "I'll see you in just a minute, please wait here for me."
"Of course my lord." I said teasingly.
Aaron smiled and walked away giving my hand a little squeeze. I was standing there for maybe five minutes when suddenly Trish appeared with a glass of wine in her hand. "Hey Trish, you sure you should be drinking that?" I smiled.
She gritted her teeth than sat the glass down on the cabinet behind me, "I really just wanted t o say hi to you and to let you know that me and Aaron might be expecting a baby. After you left he really needed someone to comfort him and as you werent there I comforted him in every way." She smirked and took a cigarette out bringing it to her lips.
"If that were true I'm sure you wouldnt be drinking or smoking with a baby growing in you."
"Oh Alaina you never learn." Trish was reaching in her bag and I started to back away noticing the exit. As soon and I opened the door Trish pushed me out and slammed the door behind me locking it. I banged on the door for a long time but no one came. I looked down both ends of the ally I was in and saw nothing but darkness. I heard someone's voice nearby and slowly made my way towards the sound. I heard footsteps running towards me, loud footsteps running at me full speed. For a moment I had a flashback of my father running into my room in the middle of the night. I was frozen to the spot when A fist hit me so hard in the face I stumbled back and collapsed on the ground sputtering as blood poured from my mouth and nose. I screamed out when a hand covered my mouth stopping me from crying out in pain.
"Hi wife, I saw you kissing that man back there. Do you know how angry I am?"
My eyes got wide when I realized who the person was leaning over me, Josh grabbed my still recovering hand that was in a brace and snapped it. I cried in pain and fear as he got off of me and walked towards a car at the opposite end of the alley way. I thought he was done so I hurried and got to my feet running away from him. The car started to reverse down the alley coming straight for me. Before I knew what was happening I was being dragged towards the open trunk of the car. I screamed, cried, and kicked until I couldnt anymore and was thrown into the drunk with a broken nose and hand crying my eyes out. Before the trunk closed I heard Aarons voice coming from the Alley.
"Hey, what the hell are you doing!" I screamed one more time as loud as I could and heard Aaron start running down the alley yelling my name. "Stop that car! Stop that fucking car!" I felt the car jerk and speed off down the Alley, I was going to die for sure.
I felt like I'd been in the car for hours when it finally stopped, I could see through a gap in the trunk that we had parked in a parking lot somewhere. A few minutes later Josh threw open the trunk and put duct tape over my mouth. "If you try to run I will kill you, nod if you understand."
I quickly nodded out of fear and let him pick me up and carry me to a door that was obviously a hotel room. I looked to my left and right and saw that the parking lot was empty so most likely no one to run to for help.
Josh put me down but kept a fist full of my hair in his hand as he fumbled for the hotel key, Dont move now, Almost got me.
I whimpered in fear as the door finally unlocked and clutter of mess greeted us at the door, I was knocked back by the smell of the room and gagged as Josh dragged me by hair into the hotel room. He locked the door and deadbolted it before taking me to the bedroom where he placed me on the bed. I shuddered as he tried to caress my neck and move his hands down to my chest.
"Relax, pet, I'm not going to do anything you dont want me to." He put his ear up to my duct tape mouth and smirked.
"If you can even say no that is." He pushed me back onto the bed and started undressing when we suddenly heard the sound of a car pulling up. Josh froze butt naked standing over me and waited. Whoever was outside pulled away and it was silent again. Josh smiled and went to a closet pulling down a black duffle bag that contained rope, alcohol, and a video camera. He sat the camera on the dresser and faced it towards the bed. I watched as he started to talk to the camera and laugh, I just stared at the ceiling as tears poured down my face.
Josh suddenly grabbed me and ripped my already destroyed dress, I was frozen in fear because I had been in this position before at the hands of the same man years before. I cried harder and almost suffocated from almost hyperventilating through the duct tape. Josh slowly took the tape off and gasped for air as he looked back at the camera, "See everyone, see how much control I have over her? Everyone told me to let her go and that I was crazy for thinking I was good enough for her but she needs someone like me to remind her of how insignificant her fucking life is."
Josh was on top of me kissing my neck when I couldnt hold it in anymore. I screamed so loud that Josh got up startled, before he could react the door was kicked in and there was Aaron standing in the doorway. Hair soaking wet from the rain and staring right at me, Aaron turned around and closed the broken door, bolting it and sliding the couch in front of it.
Josh hadnt seen who it was yet and walked into the hall swearing about who the hell kicked the door in, when he stepped into the hall and could see Aaron taking his suit jacket off and shoes, Josh tried to run to the window in the bedroom and get through but not before Aaron caught him by the legs and dragged him back inside closing and locking the window. He came to me and untied my hands, shaking as his fingers brushed my black eye and broken nose. I just started crying uncontrollably as Aaron put his forehead to mine and whispered, I know, I know.
Aaron stood up after calming me down and went over to Josh who was too afraid to move from the side of the bed to the exit Aaron was standing in front of. I looked away as Aaron walked over to Josh and brought him to his feet, I heard the first punch sound like a pan hitting water and flinched as something wet splashed my back. Blow after blow I heard until it was too much, what if Aaron killed him and ruined his life because of me? I turned around and slowly walked over to Aaron who was soaked in blood and Josh's face which was unrecognizable now. I saw a shard of glass on the floor and picked it up plunging it into his knee.
He screamed out but I just wanted to make sure he was still breathing. "If you find me again or come near me again I will kill you, I promise you that no one will be able to find you again. Stay away."
Josh looked up at me in anger and spit in my face, I stood up and stomped my heel down on the glass protruding from his knee and he reached out but I stomped down again.
"OKAY OKAY, PLEASE ILL GO, ILL LEAVE I SWEAR!" I walked away picking up my ruined dress with Aaron right behind me. Aaron's driver pulled into the parking lot and got out holding the door open for me. I collapsed on the gravel from exhaustion and the pain in my face. I just couldnt get a break, I was always fighting for my life at every point that something good happens to me and now I've had enough.