CHAPTER 43

“What do you mean Sharon was there? I don't give a fuck”

Donald fisted Claire's hair and she groaned in pain

“I asked you to act normal, it was as simple as that. Yet when you saw Sharon you came running back with your tail between your legs

Don't you know how suspicious that looks?”

Claire screamed, and pushed him away, but his grip on her hair was strong, and the more she struggled, the more pain she felt

She had done all his dirty work, she had been compliant, she even betrayed her best friend for him

When he blackmailed her in return

She allowed it. Because she felt guilty

But now he was assaulting her, and she just wouldn't take it

Claire didn't mind if she lost some hair, she knew she needed to get the fuck away from him

Claire screamed, and pulled away from him. Until strands of her hair was left in his hands. She kicked him, grabbed her purse and ran out of his suite barefoot

She knew she probably looked crazy, but she also knew that Luca Pavilochenki wouldn't risk soiling his family's image by chasing her

So she took her phone out of her purse and called an uber

She left behind the keys to the car Donald gave her, her clothes, and a part of herself

And she went back home

As she walked down the street to her apartment, she could hear the familiar sound of dogs barking. Her feet ached

But her heart bled

Blood was probably on her scalp too

She sat on her front porch and sobbed

She sobbed because she had a life that she wasn't content with, and at that moment she realised that the life she had before was peaceful

And perfect

But she would never be that same woman, no matter how hard she tried to heal

She opened the door to her apartment. Dust and silence greeted her

Her eyes skimmed through the posters of her celebrity crushes on her walls, the post it notes in her fridge, two headsets on the floor, her unmade bed, the mug she has used to drink coffee the morning she packed into Donald's suite—

Then her eyes found a small jewellery box

She didn't notice it before, and it wasn't even hidden.

She had been so obsessed with Donald that she was blind to the little things

She opened the box, and there was a note inside, from Sharon

“Saw this at a jewellery store the other day, thought it might look good on you”

It was a black choker necklace. Claire smiled, and tears dripped down her eyes

She wore it and looked at her reflection in the mirror

“I look like I just got hit by a truck but—

It looks good

It looks pretty good Sharon—”

********************

About a month and half later

Sharon had been trying to avoid Luca. It all seemed so weird to her.

She had waited for him to change like he had done several times before. To take up his usual personality, to behave like the asshole she thought him to be

But he didn't.

Everyday before work, they ate together, sometimes he made her breakfast. And he never came back drunk again

Even the servants were confused. The only person that has didn't seem fazed was Arman

Still, Sharon maintained a good distance from Luca, not wanting to be hurt again

They had dinner together, and Luca did not stop looking at her

Sharon wanted to look at him too, but she feared what would happen next

Her and Luca's relationship was far too complicated to be defined at that point. They both needed time and space to process things

Sharon most especially

She quickly finished her food and stood up to leave

“Sharon”

He called

His voice was softer, calmer, but undeniably sexy

She turned to find him standing behind her

Luca squeezed her right hand for a brief moment, and let it go when he whispered

“Goodnight”

Her face fell a little bit. She walked a few steps away from him and turned to give him one last quick glance

Then she slipped away, into the comfort of her room. Where she could pretend there weren't sparks flying between them

She took a shower, slipped into her nightgown and fell asleep

But she wasn't safe, even within the confines of sleep

“Shut up!

You're as useless as your mother. Just shut the fuck up

Ahhh!

She sobbed. She was so numb she couldn't feel anything

But she could see him hurt her

She tried to scream, but her voice had left her

“Stop it

Stop it daddy, please!”

“Please”

Sharon muttered as she rolled on her bed

She opened her eyes breathing hard

It was all a nightmare, all a stupid messed up dream. If only it was just a dream—

A single tear left her eyes. She wrapped her hands around herself, but she was cold on the inside

And just recently she found out, that there was only one person who made her feel safe—

Sharon walked barefoot to Luca's room. Her hands still wrapped around herself

She had no idea what his reaction would be

She brought her hand to Luca's door, and knocked.

“Luca”

she called. She was ready to turn back at any instant, because she didn't really know what she was doing there in the first place

She knocked again

She was out of her mind. What did she expect him to do for her?

Before she could think of turning back, Luca opened the door

He wasn't wearing a shirt. Even with little light, she could see him, and he was beautiful

Luca rubbed his eyes

“Sharon?”

He called. He switched on the lights, and he could see that she had cried.

He didn't ask questions

He just carried her, and shut the door.

He sat on the bed, and made her sit between his legs.

He didn't ask what happened, didn't try to make her open up to him.

He just hugged her from behind while she sobbed silently

Until she steadied her breathing

“I'm sorry”

“For what?”

“For waking yo—”

“Sleep next to me”

He whispered in her ear

“Today, and every other day. You can move in. If you want the room bigger—”

“I— can't”

Sharon said, remembering her promise to her mother that she wouldn't get herself hurt

She wasn't ready

She wasn't ready for him

“Stay with me tonight then”

Sharon turned to look at him. There was sincerity in his eyes

Sharon nodded

And he stroked her chin

“You have to say it, I want to be sure I'm not forcing you too—”

“I want to stay”

Sharon said

Luca gently kissed her cheek

“Lights?”

He asked

“No, no lights”