DODGE A BULLET

ELENA’S POV

“Try and soil my reputation in public one more time,” he continued, looking at her with disgust gracing his features. “I’d forget that we’re in public and put you in your place.”

“I hate you,” she shot at him, as he made to walk away. “I loathe the day I ever fell in love with you. You were nothing. Without us, you were nothing. Just an average loser, and now, you’re becoming too greedy.”

He didn’t bother denying it or saying anything for that matter. He turned from her and made his way to the door. I inhaled sharply, making a quick escape so I won’t get caught. He slammed the door as he left and I waited for a while, till I was sure he had left and he wasn’t coming back.

I slipped out of my hiding spot, heading for the door where Charlotte was, but I almost bumped into her as she was coming out of the room. Her eyes were slightly bloodshot, and my eyes widened, although it was all fake and pretenses.

“Oh my God, I was just looking for you. I was worried about the way your husband stormed out of the hall with you.” I gasped, placing a hand softly against my lips, feigning shock. “What happened to you? Look at your face,” I breathed out. “Oh my God, he hit you?” I asked, more like declared, as though it wasn’t pretty obvious from the red staining her otherwise pale cheeks. Or like I didn’t know what had happened.

She looked away, ashamed, and I tutted in disapproval. “That motherfucker,” I cursed. “You know what, let’s get you dolled up. You can’t go back to the party looking like this,” I said, and she nodded, sniffing as I led her to the bathroom. I made sure no one was in any of the bathroom stalls before I led her in, locking the door behind me for privacy.

After helping her to look at least more presentable to go back to the party, all the while holding myself back from grabbing her by the hair and giving her a good thrashing around the bathroom stall, she looked at me apologetically and with gratitude in her eyes.

“It’s funny how you’ve helped me twice today. It’s like you’re my bathroom savior. I’m so grateful to have met you today, Cel__ Aunty,” she corrected. “Thank you so much. You’re like family to me now.”

Fucking two piece trash, I can’t believe she’s my sister. Wait till everything I have in store for you, and that no good fool unfolds. You’ll be begging me for mercy. But there’ll be none left for you. Not one.

I faked a smile, pulling her in for a hug even as I tried to hold in a gag. “You’re welcome, Charlotte dear. You’ve considered me your family and I’m very honored. I should be thanking you.”

“No, you don’t need to thank me.”

“But tell me,” I cut her off abruptly, cutting to the chase. “Does he always hit you?” I asked. Her face scrunched up. “I get it’s a touchy topic, you don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.”

“No,” she refused. “I consider you family, and family keep no secrets, so I’ll tell you.” She heaved deeply, her eyes suddenly looking sad. “He doesn’t always hit me, but anytime things don’t go his way in the company, especially when I refuse him something he wants, he hits me. But he’s not normally violent,” she suddenly defended him.

I cursed again, Meanwhile in my mind, I was smiling in satisfaction. You got what you deserve, you bitch, I thought to myself. Thank you for picking up the trash. I didn’t realize I had. And thank God, I dodged a bullet with that fucker.

“He doesn’t deserve you,” I told her. “But it’s fine, I’m here now. I’ll be your escape from him. Anytime he hits you, from now on, you call me, okay?” She nodded. “Good. Now we’re going to go back to the party, and we’re going to show him that he’s nothing without you.”

She smiled this time, nodding again. “Thank you, Aunty. You’re really the best,” she

Unlocking the bathroom door, I walked out with her in tow, and we returned to the party that was nearing the end. I whispered to her to go ahead since it was time to give the inauguration speech. She flashed her biggest smile yet, heading to stand by her husband’s side as the emcee gave a citation before inviting them on stage.

Adrian held out his hand, looking at her with a huge smile and a look on his face that would make anybody that haven’t met them to think that they were so much in love. He gazed at her lovingly, and she mirrored his smile and gaze, like they hadn’t argued in front of the crowd. Like she hadn’t slapped him in front of reputable people. Like they hadn’t fought. Like he hadn’t hit her. 

She took it, and I looked away, making my way to where Damien stood. Sometimes I keep forgetting we were supposed to act like a married couple and all. The contract hasn’t seemed to have sunk in yet. He looked at me, his jaw clenched. Damn, he can hold a grudge. I’m not surprised, he’s held a vendetta against me for ten years. “I’ll deal with you for what you did to me earlier,” he ground out lowly, taking his gaze off me and looking at the couple give their speech and his lips set in a hard line.

I scoffed. “I don’t know what they’ve told you about me, Damien Vance, but you must mistake me for a bitch who’d grovel at your feet in fear for whatever ‘punishment’ you want to dish out. Grow up, you’re not twelve anymore.”