Rising From the Ashes

Charlotte’s POV

I woke up and noticed that the house was quiet, I smiled to myself as I climbed out of bed and started to get ready for work. I looked at my body in the mirror before getting in the shower and noticed that my bruises were all starting to fade. It must have been almost a week since he last came home. I knew that meant he was probably with another women, but that was the least of my worries. I quickly showered and got dressed grabbing my bag before locking up and walking to work. I used to drive until he sold my car on me, now my only way to get to work was on foot. I was not allowed any cash or a bank card of my own. I suppose that I should be lucky that I was allowed my phone, not that anyone ever contacts me apart from him. My family and friends all stopped messaging and calling me a while ago. I arrived at work just as my boss pulled up outside. I did not want it to look like I arrived with him, even though I didn’t. The women in the office were obsessed with him, they attacked any women in the office who looked like they were getting close to him. It was crazy, I stepped to the side and let him walk in with his two lead bodyguards. My favourite bodyguard was at the back and took his position by the door. Once my boss was in stepped away from the wall and walked inside myself.

“Why did you wait till boss went in”.

“Because the women here are crazy, and I like to fly under the radar” I laughed. I went straight to the kitchen and made two coffees. Once I was done, I went and placed my one on my desk and walked out to give the guard the other one. “Can’t have you falling asleep on the job”.

“Thanks to you and your kindness, that will never happen” He gave me a wink as I walked away and back inside.

I did not have many friends here, the only people I ever spoke to was my supervisor Gail and BB. I sat at my desk and opened my emails to see what the boss wanted me to design today. It was my job to design all his advertising material and brochures. I had some how got the job of designing his itinerary when he was meetings or trips. Apparently, I made them easy to read and understand. It looks like he had a big meeting at the end of the week, and he wanted me to create a booklet for everyone attending so that they could see the highlighted points of the meeting. The good thing about my boss was that he always gave me all the information that I needed so I did not have to go back and forth with him. I got to work straight away, and the day flew by, I did not bother stopping for lunch as since Phil had been away almost a week, we no longer had any food. Since I was not allowed access to the bank I could not go and buy any. So now I had to starve until he returned.  I was trying to think what was worse when my phone pinged. I looked down and realised that I would rather starve.

Phil – Meet me outside your work when you finish, I decided we will go for a nice walk.

I quickly wiped away a tear as I replied a simple ok. I went back to work making sure to finish the booklets, I was not sure when I would be back in. I logged of my computer and tidied my desk before grabbing my bag to go and meet Phil. As soon as I came to the door, I saw the guard was glaring at someone while talking into his earpiece. I followed his gaze and saw he was looking at Phil who was smiling back at him. I had no idea what was going on between them, but I did not want to get caught in the middle. I quickly crossed the road and walked over to Phil, I risked looking back and saw the worried look on the guard’s face.

“Come let’s go” Phil wrapped his arm around my waist and started to walk us in the opposite direction to home. I suddenly regretted wearing heels to work this morning. I tried to figure out where we were going. It looked like he was taking me to an industrial area, the pit in my stomach was starting to get heavier. The further we walked the more derelict the buildings got, soon we came to a dead end and Phil turned to smile at me. “I suppose that you have noticed that I have not been home the last few days”.

I looked at him and nodded “Yes” I whispered.

“Well, that’s because I met someone new, she is so sweet and innocent. She reminds me of how you used to be before I broke you”.

“I will move out as soon as we get home” I relaxed, he was leaving me.

“I don’t think you understand me, I cannot have her knowing about you. If we get divorced, then I need to wait two years before I can marry her. I do not want to wait that long”.

“So, what do you want?” I suddenly realised that he had brought me to a place where no one would hear my screams.

“I need to kill you and make it look like a rape and mugging” He ripped my bag out of my hands and tipped it all out smashing my phone under his boot. I started to back away, but he grabbed hold of my blouse and pulled causing it to rip and the buttons to fly off. I tried to cover myself and he laughed at me "Why are you trying to cover yourself? When you are finally found everything will be on display” I didn’t realise I had been backing away until my back hit a wall. He smiled down at me as he grabbed my skirt and pulled. I let out a sob as it ripped, and he threw it to the ground. “Look at your fucking grannie panties, do you even know how to be sexy you ugly bitch?”

“Please just let me go” I sobbed.

“No can do” He picked me up and threw me. I am not sure what I hit, but my back hit first and I heard a snap before my head hit next and everything went black.