Escape From Obsession (2 page)

She was so frightened and felt so stupid in the decisions she had made the last few months. She didn’t want this.

“Please, Antonio. I don’t want to,” she began to say and his grip on her chin was tighter, making her gasp and lean against his chest.

“You’re too lenient with her, Antonio. She needs discipline and control. You’ve allowed her to become your obsession.” Valdere’s fingers grazed along her shoulders to the zipper of her dress. The tears rolled down her cheeks. She wouldn’t be able to stop them. Looking around the room at all the artwork, the designer bed and comforter set, and the portrait of her standing in a red gown that Antonio adored her in caused the reality of her life to set in. Despite the money she saved, the accomplishments in her own artwork she designed, she allowed this man to control every aspect of her life. She couldn’t take it any longer. She had to draw the line somewhere, somehow. He took advantage of her lack of family and destroyed any friendships she had.

“Do as I say, Gianna. You know the consequences of defying my command,” he whispered in a show of power in front of Valdere, whom Gianna felt Antonio feared, and also in an attempt to induce fear into her mind. Antonio knew her weaknesses. He knew she hated to be alone and she lacked in self-confidence.

She turned away in an attempt to get out of the reach of Valdere’s exploring hands. She grabbed hold of the bodice of her dress. The zipper in the back was pulled down and now she stared at both men and wondered what they would do to her now.

“Please, Antonio. I don’t want to do this,” she said as Valdere began to unbutton his shirt. In a flash Antonio was grabbing her by the arm and yanking her forward. It all happened so quickly. The pounding on the door, the strike to her face by Antonio, and Valdere ripping her dress. She screamed and tried to stop them. The pounding on the door continued and then suddenly the door burst open and chaos filled the room. It was surreal as she ran toward the bathroom. Looking over her shoulder she saw both Valdere and Antonio react in anger toward the intruder. A group of men stood by the doorway as Valdere’s bodyguards attempted to get inside. She paused to see Antonio and the stranger tumbling to the carpet, words exchanged. Something about a woman, a deal with condos, and the man’s sister. Valdere ran from the room, exiting by the side doorway that led to the floor below and the kitchen. He was running from the scene. Looking at the doorway she noticed that Valdere’s men were no longer there and the others were yelling about cops entering the party. Antonio continued to fight the one man. She thought she heard sirens and she watched Antonio beating the man to near death with his fists. The same hands that once caressed her body, the same hands that struck her when she disobeyed, and he would do the same to her if she didn’t leave right now.

She cried in near hysteria as she ran to the other room and pulled out her bag. She threw what she could inside of it, and thought about her next move. She needed money. She needed a place to go. But then the police arrived.

She stared at the officers as they stopped Antonio and handcuffed him. The other man lay bloodied and beaten on the rug. Was he dead?

“Miss, miss, are you okay?” an officer asked. She still held her dress tight against her chest. He stared at her lip. She realized she was bleeding from Antonio’s strike earlier. Did the cop think that she was a victim, too?

“You’re safe now. He can’t hurt you,” the officer said and she swallowed hard. Was it over? Was she free to leave Antonio and never fear seeing Valdere again?

She was scared to speak, to say that Antonio was her boyfriend. She feared his wrath, even now, handcuffed, screaming expletives as the police led him from the room.

The officer spoke into his walkie-talkie on his shoulder.

“I need an ambulance and a female officer upstairs pronto.”

He stared at her as he released the radio. He looked her over then stepped back.

“It’s going to be okay, miss. He can’t hurt you anymore.”

Gia Marie Giselli walked out of her boss’s office with pen and pad in hand. The small meeting of advertising specialists had been at it all morning, trying to seal the deal on their latest clients. Being an artist and designer for the small advertising firm, her work was finally being appreciated. Gia had so many ideas, having put her dreams on hold back in New York as she evaded problem after problem in that large advertising agency in Manhattan. She closed her small office door and stared out at the view and Houston skyline. That life was a half a year behind her. Antonio was a distant memory, having served time for assault charges and drug possession for the drugs found at the party the police raided.

She felt that slight twinge in her chest as thoughts of New York still fazed her six months later. She was far away in Houston, and she had even gone as far as changing her last name thanks to her cousin Teddy and his military connections. God, she was glad that she had Teddy to help her. Otherwise, Antonio Pelloni would own her, or by now, have killed her. She shivered, wrapping her arms around herself as she heard the knock at the door. Its sudden sound startled her as she gasped then took an unsteady breath. She was safe here in Houston. No one knew where she was. No one back in New York even cared. Antonio had probably moved on in disgust with her leaving him.

“Come in,” she replied, straightening out her shoulders and putting on her tough, executive attitude. It was all a façade, a show of control and toughness. Even the martial arts classes felt that way. As good as she performed on the mats, she wondered if she had what it took to truly defend herself from attack. She had to try. There was always that fear in her mind that Antonio would come looking for her and attack her as he did that man that night at the party.

“Hey. How did the meeting go? Did they love it or what?” her new friend Kaleigh asked as she closed the door behind her and plopped herself down on the side of the desk. Gia was still trying to get used to everyone’s Texas accents. She of course stood out with her New York accent. There was no hiding it. Kaleigh appeared ready to leave for the night, with her briefcase in hand and her light sweater. She was pulling her long blonde hair out of the bun she wore. She shook the locks and gave Gia a sassy look. “I am so ready to release some stress tonight. So tell me how it went.” Kaleigh worked in the personnel department, which Kaleigh always explained was quite stressful.

“I think it went well. Robert’s eyes lit up as he winked at me then sat there all smug. I swear, since the day he hired me, he’s been patting himself on the back. He is such a character.”

“And so freaking good-looking, too,” Kaleigh said as she sighed. Gia laughed.

“You like him, huh?”

Kaleigh shot a look like “no duh” then rolled her eyes.

“It doesn’t matter. He’s so out of my league and after dating an asshole for several months of my life, I’ve learned that sex is not the most important thing in a relationship.”

Gia swallowed hard then shook her head as she gathered her belongings and placed important files into filing cabinets and locked them. She didn’t even want to think about sex. Just because a man was good looking and great in bed did not make him a good companion or partner. That was just it though. Antonio wasn’t her partner, and he didn’t truly care about her. She had become an obsession and ultimately a prisoner. She was so used to pain and sadness, and in the end, she nearly lost herself. She took an unsteady breath. That was Gianna. No pain, no gain. It was a motto she lived by, and remembering that painful time in her life made her smarter and a survivor.

“Hey, I just got a text from Sammy. She said Helena and the girls are meeting at Casper’s.”

Gia saw her texting on the phone. Then a moment later it rang and Gia knew that the Sammy was calling Kaleigh to try and convince them to tag along. Her new group of friends had been hounding her for months to join them for drinks after work. It was a kind of hangout bar about thirty minutes outside of the city.

“I’m kind of tired,” Gia began to say, as she combed her fingers through her long brown hair. She preferred being alone. However, being only twenty-four just like her friends, it seemed the norm was hanging out at Casper’s and other local bars and meeting hot cowboys. What also made her extremely nervous were the ménage relationships that were so normal around Houston. Even her own cousin was involved with one, which nearly gave her a stroke. However, seeing Teddy and Jim with Deanna made her more accepting to the type of relationship’s existence. To have more than one man love and care for a woman seemed like a million-to-one shot. Given her own track record and history, she’d say she was safest being alone and focusing on her artwork.

“Don’t even try it, girl. This is the place to be and especially on a Friday after a long workweek. You deserve to have a little fun. Plus, the guys there are so damn hot. The food is delicious and the drinks awesome,” she said to Gia as Kaleigh covered the phone with her hand. Gia was shaking her head “no” as Kaleigh told Sammy that they would meet them there within the hour.

Gia ran her hands down the business dress she wore. It was one of her favorites and she looked very professional in it. Kaleigh of course told her that she looked sexy and that the skirt curved her ass and thighs perfectly. That was why she opted to wear the matching short blazer. It just reached her ass and buttoned in the front, to hide the large swells of her breasts. Gia was above average up top and didn’t like to flaunt her figure. She was in great physical condition from all her martial arts classes and she even assisted training when needed for the children’s beginner classes. Her sensei, Lee, was retired from the Marine Corp and good friends with her cousin Teddy. Kaleigh seemed to have her eye on Lee as well.

“Let’s get moving, or we’ll have to park way down the block to get a spot. I’ve been wearing these heels all day,” Kaleigh complained as she stood up and waited for Gia.

They headed out of the office and as they exited the main hallway, they both heard giggling and then saw Jeffrey Lewington pressing his body hard against some woman. Gia was frozen in place as well as Kaleigh as they watched Jeffrey press his hand up the woman’s skirt and straight to her pussy. The woman gasped then smiled as Jeffrey licked and sucked along her neck to the open blouse. She could see the woman’s breast from where she stood.
That’s Jessica from the processing department.

The elevator made a noise and Jeffrey looked right at Gia and smiled as he pumped his hand under the woman’s skirt. The woman was oblivious to the audience. Jeffrey stared at Gia just as Kaleigh grabbed her arm and yanked her into the elevator.

“Holy shit. Did you see that? I mean, what the hell? The office isn’t even empty yet,” Gia stated. Kaleigh leaned back against the wall.

“He’s an asshole. That’s why I come to meet you every night. I don’t trust him or the way he’s been watching you.”

“Watching me? You’re crazy. Sure he’s smiled, maybe even winked a few times, but watching me? I don’t think so. I’ve pretty much established that I do not mix business with pleasure,” Gia said as that uneasy feeling crept into her belly. She had tried her hardest to establish her personality here at the agency. Most of the single men and not-so-single men seemed to have gotten the hint. Jeffrey couldn’t be that dense, could he?

“Yeah, well, I can tell you from experience that Jeffrey doesn’t always take no for an answer.”

The elevator stopped and the doors opened to the underground car garage.

“Kaleigh, what do you mean?” Gia asked as they headed to their cars that were parked side by side.

Kaleigh turned and grabbed Gia by the shoulders. She was a bit taller than Gia by at least a few inches.

“You listen to me. He’s a pig and he will try to make a move on you. He did to me over a year ago. He caught me in my office late at night. He had planned it by telling Sylvia, my boss, that he needed certain paperwork on an employee pronto and just as I was leaving. I was the only one in personnel. He showed up, started playing with my hair, and then he kissed me. That kiss got out of control fast. He was fondling my breasts before I even took the first shot I could and kicked him in the balls. He threatened me and I told him off. He never did shit about it. I thought I called his bluff, but turns out, the employee he asked to be checked out was his next playmate. She was young, trying to succeed, and he used her then got her fired.”

“Holy shit. You never told anyone or pressed charges for sexual harassment or even a grievance with Sylvia?”

“Are you kidding me? There are people waiting for my job. That asshole threatened to say some terrible lies about me. Told me he had more friends here and that people would believe him and not me. The days that followed, he proved his point by getting some of the other male employees to make comments to me whenever they saw me. He let me know that he could make my life hell.”

“What an asshole.”

“Exactly.”

“So stay clear of him and don’t get caught alone in the office at night.”

“I know men like that. Or at least I did back in New York. Sometimes I wonder if there are any good men still out there. You know, the kind that treat women like gold and appreciate them.”

“Maybe we’ll find some tonight at Casper’s,” Kaleigh said then smiled as she unlocked her car door.

* * * *

The music was loud and the crowds even louder at Casper’s, filled up for happy hour. Garrett’s fathers, John Luke and Jasper, were working the front area along with other staff, while his other dad, Davie, helped keep the kitchen crew in order. Garrett felt his leg tighten up a little bit and he bitched the injury, just like he did every night. He didn’t want to be here.