Elemental Fear (16 page)

“What?” I snapped and rubbed at my temples. “What are you talking about?”

He lifted a digital camera and turned the screen to face me. What I saw made me want to empty

my stomach again. The vile images and video recording were proof that last night I had lost, or should I say, had my virginity taken by this sick evil twisted bastard sat smiling at me.

“Pretty hot stuff if you ask me.” He commented.

The whimpers, from me, and heavy panting from Elliott echoed through the room as I watched my innocence evaporate in front of me. How had I not known, and why wasn’t I doing anything to stop him. Then I remembered the blood this morning and the soreness.

“You...you...rrraped me” tears rolled down my face as I stared at the screen.

“Oh no Angel you were gagging for it. I simply obliged
,” he said with contented chuckle.

“I never...I didn’t...”

“Now how I see it, we are officially a couple. You were and still are my girlfriend and I can take what I want when I want it, that’s how relationships work.”

“You are sick, I'm not... I told you I don’t love you, I never have. I am not your girlfriend and

...you...you sick bastard I'm reporting you to the –“

I didn’t get another word out because he jumped at me and grabbed me by the throat pinning me to the bed “listen you little fucking tease, you wanted that last night, you were practically humping me in the kitchen. I thought we needed some privacy and you were more than willing to spread yourself out on the bed. You kissed me back. So don’t be all fucking ‘mother Theresa’ on me now that I gave you what you wanted. Do you say stop once on that video? Do you fight me? NO! You fucking enjoyed it.”

I tried to shake my head and argue but he tightened his hold on my throat.

“Do you honestly think anyone will believe you, I came home as sober as a judge and you were passed out stinking like a brewery? It wasn’t rape when you didn’t tell me to stop; you wanted it as much as me. There are plenty of people from that party that saw you dry humping me, begging me to touch you. You wanted it, I had my hand up your fucking dress in front of everyone so who is going to believe you? Hmm? You can’t call rape just because you can’t remember it? You wanted it! You were begging for it.”

“That’s...” I twisted my neck to the side to try loosen his grip “you forced me –“

“Watch the video Angel; I never forced you...you loved every second of it. If you wanted me to stop you should have said. You should hear yourself moaning, it’s sexy as fuck hearing you. I'm getting stiff thinking about it right now if you want a replay?”

I swallowed the bile choking me. “Don’t...don’t touch me” I gasped out, his hand still grabbing my throat.

“Just think what all your friends would say watching you whore yourself like that. The virtuous Eve spreading herself like warm butter.
..” He covered his mouth in mock surprise “What would Dominic think of his best little buddy being such a hot little vixen in bed?” His hand tightened again “I've told you once and I will tell you one final time, to make sure that stupid fucking brain of yours is listening...you are mine. I've made you mine now. I will take what I want when I want it, this teasing me and dangling me on a fucking string like a puppet is stopping now. I've fucked you I was inside you first, that makes you mine.”

“No –“

“You tell a fucking sole Eve or refuse to accept the love we have for one another and I can’t guarantee I won’t show this video to everyone that has ever spoken to you. And I can’t guarantee I will stay away from little Louise, she still needs breaking in, and we both know I’m good at that”

“What?” I gasped in absolute horror “she’s...she’s...thirteen Elliott”

“She looks a lot like you though, if I can’t have you then I need some kind of –“

“You’re sick.”

“You are mine and I will do anything to keep it that way. Don’t push me because I will make you regret it, and it will be your fault if precious little Louise isn’t so precious anymore”

“Dad will tear you apart if you touch her” I snapped gritting my teeth.

“But it would be too late then. I will hurt her beyond repair if you dare go against me.” He growled and tightened his hold on my throat. I saw the bleak look in his eyes and I knew I just knew my fate was sealed. He had taken me, broken me, and made me his.

“
Okay” I whispered. Tears streamed down my face. Shame blanketed me suffocating the life out of me. “Okay...I’m...yours” I choked on a sob.

A tear hit my computer keyboard while I sat at my desk. Now you see how I deserve my life, if I hadn’t been so stupidly drunk that evening, if I had said no. He was right he never forced me, because I never fought him, I never said stop or protested I simply fell asleep and allowed it. I remember the days after that I scrubbed my body raw in the shower. I felt tainted and dirty and I wanted to rip my skin off of my body and scream. I remember looking at the world differently and going from once feeling so loved and connected with my entire friends and family to feeling desperately detached and alone.

I sat in contemplative silence at my desk, staring at data I could easily process in my sleep, but my fingers remained poised motionless over the keyboard. I couldn’t explain what I was starting to feel, was it the perpetual veil of numbness finally lifting from me or the realisation that Dominic was finally committing to Vanessa by moving in with her but something simmered within me, wanting to break free, a sudden desire to finally fight for him and declare myself. I had quietly accepted everything and had taken whatever scraps life wanted to throw my way, but taking Dominic away from me completely – that terrified me more than anything Elliott was capable of doing.

My desk phone rang startling me out of my trance; I looked at the clock noting the time “Good Morning, Evelyn Beaumont.”

“Morning Eve it’s Lucinda. Your lunch has arrived
.” She said softly.

“Oh, erm...thanks. I’ll be down in a minute” we said our goodbyes and I stared at the phone like it was suddenly going to explain my lunch arrival, the lunch I hadn’t even ordered.

After collecting my lunch I returned to my office and sat at my desk, opened my goody bag. A bagel with cream cheese and bacon, a chocolate orange muffin and a cup held my favourite asparagus soup. I smiled as a warm tingling spread through my body.

Just as I was about to take a bite of my bagel my desk phone rang again. Sighing I placed it down
carefully and picked the receiver up.

“Good Morning Evelyn Beaumont speaking”

“It never gets old hearing that sexy little voice of yours” my ears buzzed hearing his voice.

“H...hi” I stammered and swallowed my nerves.

“Angel I've missed you so much this past week, I just wanted to check see if you were getting on okay at work. mum said it was your first day back today”

“Eve...you still there?”

“Yeah sorry”

“So...is everything going
okay?” He sounded nervous.

“Yeah” I answered quietly.

“I’ll be home this weekend.” He cleared his throat “I wondered... just a thought because we haven’t seen each other in a while...I thought...maybe I could book us a hotel room for the weekend and we could spend the weekend together...just the two of us. What do you think?” before I had chance to answer he started talking again “I think it’s what we need, time together...just the two of us. So we can reconnect, because I feel like lately we seem to be drifting apart...I know it’s because I work so far away” I wanted to laugh at that statement, and explain exactly why we weren’t connecting. “Say yes Angel”

“
Okay” I gulped and hated myself for being so weak.

“
Okay.” He breathed out a relieved breath. “I’ll see you Friday.” I expected him to hang up but then he said “I love you, and I miss you so much”

“Yeah” I uttered and disconnected the line. I knew I will have just annoyed him, but I couldn’t stand to hear him any longer.

My mobile alerted me to a text and I contemplated ignoring it, fearing it was from Elliott. But when I activated the screen a small smile spread across my face.

Hope you liked your lunch x

Tmw I’ve ordered a ploughman’s for you x

Dx

My smile grew exponentially.

Delicious thank you x Ex

My phone chimed a second later

Sorry I wasn’t there to take you to work

I'm helping V move house but should be back to normal Wed.

I wanted to see you

Dx

Don’t worry about it Johan helped me out,

He even took Ellie to school lol

I smiled remembering their constant banter in the car.

Y?

I frowned at his super short reply.

She asked him to.

He turned up early and after Sunday Ellie has taken a shine to him

She practically begged him to take her lol

Ex

I bit at my thumb waiting for his response, I giddy excitement swelled in my stomach. My desk phone rang making me jump.

“Evely –“

“What happened Sunday?”  Dominic interrupted sounding out of breath. “Dominic?”

“Who else? Yes it’s me, now what happened Sunday
?” He snapped his voice laced with frustration.

“How are –“

“Eve come on what happened Sunday?

I let out a loud breath “Johan came round to see how I was and to tell me that you were busy and wouldn’t be offering a lift, so he would be there in your place –“

“He wasn’t...I didn’t send him in my place. I asked if he minded passing by your house Monday and seeing if you needed a lift. I didn’t say to turn up Sunday.”

“Anyway...he told me you were moving Vanessa in...” I paused hoping he would argue that little fact but he stayed silent so I continued “we talked for a bit and then Ellie came in and saw that Johan had upset me –“

“What? Why did he upset you? What did he say?”

I let out a frustrated sigh with his constant interruption, it was like I was on speed chat and he was timing our talk like a quick fire round. I chose to ignore his question and continued “so in a panic he said we could all go to the park and play on the swings. Ellie was fine with that but by the time we came out of my room –“

“What! Why were you in your bedroom?” He practically shouted down the phone line.

“Because I was in bed...” I gasped when I realised what that sounded like. “I was sat on my bed reading when he turned up and Ellie brought him to my room. When we went to find Ellie she was dancing around the room like she does and Johan and I joined in...we had fun actually he –“

Dominic grumbled something on the other end of the line I didn’t catch.

“So we forgot about the park and spent the afternoon dancing, he stayed for dinner and then went home. When he came round the next morning Ellie was overjoyed and begged
mum to let him take her to school so on our way to work we did.”

A long silence played across the line.

“So Johan said that...he told me you moved from your mums”

“Shit
!” I heard shuffling on the other end as if he was moving the phone around “I wanted to tell you myself but not whilst you were still recovering. I...I don’t know if it’s permanent yet. I...can I explain later, in person rather than over the phone?”

“Yeah” I choked out, his hesitancy crippled me, and it was obvious he wanted to tell me they were
back together and living together.

“I'm glad you’re back at work. Don’t overdo it
okay. I...missed seeing you” his voice quieted at the end.

I was about to tell him I missed him when a female voice called him in the background. “Listen I have to go. See you later
okay?” He sighed into the phone.

“Yeah, bye Dominic” I quietly placed the receiver back down and closed my eyes against the tears

threatening to streak down my cheeks. I felt sick that I had to spend the weekend alone with Elliott, and I felt sick Dominic was currently moving Vanessa into his home.

My day consisted of processing data and reacquainting myself with the lab, the smells the sounds
and atmosphere soothed my battered nerves, simply wearing my lab coat again made me feel grounded, and this is where I belong. It was the one place I had a certain amount of control.

I answered the general questions of what happened, was I feeling better, how long until my pot
was removed, have the police caught the perpetrators. My answers became robotic I faced so many from different people throughout the company. I eventually returned to my office, rather exhausted. I reopened my unfinished bagel and took a bite, closing my eyes to the taste sensation. I may have even moaned a little.

“Hi Eve, how are you? It’s great to see you back, we all missed you.” I smiled up at Dominic’s secretary. “I’ve been asked to bring this memo out to people personally so that there aren’t any excuses for non-attendance
.” She chuckled as she passed me a piece of paper.

I quickly scanned over the content, quickly breaking out in a cold sweat. I looked up into Emily’s smiling face “I seem to be getting that reaction a lot today
.” She chuckled. “I'm afraid I've been asked to say that it is mandatory for senior staff attend.” She smiled again “I remember you looked
a- maze-ing
last year, I loved your dress but...didn’t you have to go home ill?”

I shifted nervously in my seat “Yeah something like that.” I cleared my throat “I'm sure whatever you wear it will be just as stunning if not more so, I on the other hand have zero to wear. What do you think you will wear?” I asked.

“No idea. You?”

“I have no idea, I don’t even own a dress, and unlike you the only thing formal I have is for work. And I doubt that will suffice. And seeing as you remember what I wore last year I cannot wear that again” I smiled as she giggled.

I didn’t own anything remotely fancy to wear. I seriously needed a fairy Godmother because I don’t even have any friends to borrow from. Lou is shorter than me but we are a similar size I think, but she tends to favour more revealing dresses that created a seductive Goddess, I tended to lean towards the frumpy hessian bag lady look. Last year I had allowed Lou to take me shopping and she had all but threatened to handcuff me in the changing room if I didn’t purchase the dress. I admit it was stunning, just not on someone like me.

“When is this thing taking place again?” I scanned the memo as Emily replied.

“You have just over a month to prepare. They are planning it for the first weekend in December; apparently it gives our international companies time to prepare flights.”

“What?”

“Yep, apparently the directors from New York are coming over and so are the Paris team. It’s designed for everyone to meet and greet. Jasmine sent out the formal invites internationally yesterday. So far I believe most who have been invited are attending.”

“Wow, it really is a big event”

She nodded “so I need to start looking for a cocktail dress immediately. We can’t be leaving it too late.”

I offered her a weak smile trying to hide a minor panic attack going on inside. I’ll need my sister’s advice on this, because I definitely haven’t a clue what the protocol is on these events. The Christmas party last year was both mortifying and precious to me. Although the night started and ended with me in tears I cannot regret what happened...