Lacey
While my so-called husband's behavior often left me feeling annoyed and confused, it has to be said again that he was decent.
Particularly after leaving the Julia's, I did get a good night's sleep in this new home.
The first thing I did when I woke up the next morning was check my bank balance.
“Motherfucker!” I exclaimed, reloading my phone screen frantically. Surely there was some sort of mistake, some transfer error, some banking issue–
But I knew, deep down, that there wasn’t.
It was just like my stepmother, after all, to only pay me half the agreed-upon amount even after I’d done everything she’d asked of me. My stepmother was a beautiful woman, sure, loved by many, but I knew her well. Julia Sinclair was nothing if not a taker.
I had to confront her.
I got changed quickly and rushed out of my bedroom, into the main part of the apartment. “I’m heading out for the day!” I shouted, not sure if Nicholas could hear me. I didn’t particularly care. I found the car keys hanging on a peg by the door and left swiftly.
The moment I arrived at the doorstep of my former home, I could feel the attention of the household servants settling over me.
“She’s back already? Pathetic!”
“Even a contract couldn’t make him want her!”
“I’ll bet she thinks she’s too good for him!”
I rolled my eyes as I knocked on the front door.
Trevor answered, opening the door a crack. “Wow,” he jeered, “Did your poor husband kick you out already?”
I smiled, all poison sweetness. “I drove his new car here, actually. Go tell Julia I need to talk to her.”
His smile faltered as he looked at the new car sitting in the driveway, followed by the keys dangling from my hand. “She’s not home.”
Trevor started to close the door, but I jammed my foot into the crack and wedged it open. He glowered at me, but didn’t stop me as I walked into the house. The door swung loosely on its hinges, half open.
“I’m surprised he didn’t leave you at the altar,” Trevor snarled.
“I actually thought he’d start running as soon as he met my family. Where’s Julia?”
He scowled. “She’s not around. Go away to whatever shack you’re living in now.”
“This isn’t even your house? It belongs to my family, and let’s not forget you’re hardly included in that, especially considering you’re a bastard–” I gasped suddenly, cutting myself as Trevor shoved me in the chest, hard.
My back hit the wall with a dull thump. Trevor stalked towards me, expression dark, fist raised.
“You little good for nothing whore bitch–” the stream of insults tore from his lips in a vile spew, hitting me like poison.
I raised my hands in an attempt at self-defense, but truthfully, I didn’t know what to do but brace myself for the incoming hit. I squeezed my eyes shut and tucked my chin in, praying that when he did hit me, the pain would be bearable.
“Don’t you dare speak to my wife like that again.”
A familiar voice cut through the room.
My heart fluttered in my chest.
I cracked an eye open and nearly laughed aloud at the sight before me: Trevor, mouth agape, trying desperately to remove his fists from Nicholas’s strong grasp as my husband pushed him away from me.
“Hey!” Trevor protested, jaw set. “What are you–”
“Apologize to Lacey,” Nicholas ordered in a tone that left no room for argument. “Now.”
“I’m not going to apologize to that–”
Just then, Trevor’s phone rang.
“Go on,” Nicholas urged, releasing one of Trevor’s wrists. “I think you should take that call. On speaker.”
Trevor huffed, pulling the phone from his pocket. He took the call and turned on the speaker. I recognized Julia’s voice crackling over the line.
“Trevor, sweetie, the tax authorities have just visited our business. They’re claiming irregularities on some of the accounts, but I swear we can get through this–”
Nicholas reached over and ended the call abruptly. “I’d advise that if you want to avoid any trouble for your family’s business, you should pay Lacey the money she’s owed. Now.”
Trevor stared wide-eyed up at Nicholas. “I…”
“And you’ll apologize to my wife.”
“...Sorry, Lacey,” Trevor murmured, dodging my gaze.
I could barely suppress my grin.
Nicholas’s hand settled on the small of my back. I was surprised by the protectiveness of his touch.
“We’re going now,” he said quietly.
I nodded. “I… yeah. Okay.”
He led me to the car, opening the passenger door for me before sliding into the driver’s seat. The aggression had come almost naturally to him–I wondered where he’d learned it. Somewhere along his climb up the corporate ladder, maybe, from the bottom of the company to his current executive position. What sort of life had he lived?
Nicholas pulled out of the driveway and steered us confidently onto the open road. I admired his side profile for a moment, the way his hands rested comfortably on the steering wheel.
“Thank you,” I said. “For… helping me out back there. Both with Trevor and the payment.”
“Of course,” Nicholas said without so much as turning his head to look at me. “Don't you think it's rather reckless of you to go back to them alone? I’ll play the role of a loving and protective husband well for as long as you behave yourself.”
I raised an eyebrow at the coldness he showed towards me after helping me, “...right.”
He’s a good person, sure, but too arrogant for his own good. Does he think he can just whoosh into my side like Superman in a movie and then just solve all the trouble?
I stared out the window, watching the roadside scenery blur. Where were we going?
“How did you know they owed me money and why were you here?” I still voiced my doubts.
“Things might have been kinder to them if they had changed their terrible habit of talking loudly in public. ” His voice didn't rise and fall much but it didn't hide the disgust, “Apparently your family isn't very nice to you either. What else could make you yell and leave home early in the morning, right after the wedding day?”
“They are not my family.” My voice went cold. What kind of family would kick a sick old grandma and a young child out of their home?
“Could you take me to the hospital, please?” I asked.
He nodded.
I smirked a little. Awful quiet, too. If he always treats women with this attitude, he’s going to be single for the rest of his life.
We drove in silence all the way to the hospital. He pulled into the parking lot and drove off almost as soon as I’d left the car. I rolled my eyes at him and began the familiar route to where my grandmother was staying. Checkin was barely a hassle at all–the staff had grown to recognize me.
Yet we did have a bit of a mishap today.
Grandma had a rare moment of clarity today, but things soon deteriorated again. They took her into surgery and the doctors and I consulted on a new treatment plan.
Thankfully Nicholas helped me get the rest of the money. Grandma's medical expenses were no longer a problem for the time being.
But what my grandmother said before she went into the operating room did concern me a little.
“That stepmother of yours, Lacey, she’s no good, I swear. She’s a despicable woman, an absolute wretch, a crone, unfit to own a business or live in your house! That woman is dangerous, and she’s...she’s going to–” Then her breathing began to catch. The nurses had to put a breathing mask on her.
This wasn't the first day I learned about Julia's dark side. Had she done something else I didn't know about?
Either way, I'll be sure to take Tiff far away from her.
I left the hospital. Nicholas had taken the car, I realized. Then I saw Nicholas' message to me.
--I had an emergency at work. I may not be back tonight.
A cab took me home and I found myself in an empty apartment. Just perfect.
I spent some time unpacking a few personal items I’d had delivered from my old apartment, but I was too drained from the day’s events to do much of anything. I went to bed early and drifted off into a turbulent slumber.
That is, until noises outside the room shook me awake.
I sat up straight and checked the time. 1:32AM.
In my sleep-deprived state, I couldn’t even begin to fathom who’d be entering my apartment other than an intruder. I fumbled in the darkness for anything I could use to defend myself. My fingers wrapped around the handle of a baseball bat–from my softball days, I remembered.
I tiptoed across the carpeted floor. More jostling, now. There was definitely someone else in the apartment. Light spilled from underneath the crack in the doorway. Using one hand, a baseball bat raised high above my head, I opened the door slowly.
I tightened my grip on the bat. My grandmother's warning lifted my nerves.
Whoever was out there, I wasn't as weak as they thought I was.
