Stolen Fate (4 page)

  Something hits me like a ton of bricks.

  Oh, fuck! We forgot to use protection! Shit! Shit! Shit!
The last thing I need is to get pregnant. I’m not on the pill because it caused horrible reactions when I was on it years ago.
Damn it! How can I be so stupid?

  He must have seen the look of pure horror on my face, because it doesn’t take him long before it clicks what the problem is.

  He instantly withdraws from my body, leaving a cold absence with his retreat. He jumps up from the bed and starts pacing back and forth, running his hand through his dark-brown tresses.

  “Son of a mother-fucking bitch!” he hurls out faster than I think humanly possible. “I was so wrapped up in what we were doing that I fucking blanked on slapping on a condom.” He moves closer to the bed, closer to me. “Please, please tell me you’re on the pill.”

  There is such desperation etched across his face that I have to put him out of his misery. I’ll take care of whatever happens later on, but right now, I just want him to release his anxiety.

  “Yes, of course I’m on the pill. And I’m clean, too. Are you?” Damn it, I didn’t think about that, either.

  “Yes, I am. I’ve never forgotten a condom before. But then again, I’ve never encountered someone like you, either. I guess I got lost in the whole charade of it all.”

  He seems to calm down before moving back onto the bed. As he’s making his way to where I am, I quickly get up and head for the bathroom.

  “Where are you hurrying off to, Essie? I thought we could try it my way the second time around.” Looking back at him before closing the bathroom door does something to me. He looks so hopeful in that moment. He really does seem to be a decent guy.

  Once I’m all cleaned up, I stroll out into the bedroom, still naked, and gather my clothing. I dress rather quickly, gathering my long hair into a messy knot on top of my head.

  Drayden puts his boxer briefs back on, realizing there’s no reason for him to be in the nude still. He walks around the bed and stands next to me, pulling me in close. “Are you sure you can’t stay a little bit longer? I swear I’ll make it worth your while.”

  “You already made it worth my while, Dray.” My lips meet his in a sweet but passionate kiss.

  “No one has called me Dray in a long time.” He looks lost for a moment, suspended in a time far away. “It’s nice,” he says when he looks back down at me.

  Yeah, I better leave now before I do or say something stupid.             

  “Well, I have to go now. Thank you for an incredible evening.” As I grab the rest of my stuff and open the door to leave, he comes up behind me and shuts it, essentially trapping me.

  “Wait. How are you going to get home?” he asks before swooping up his jeans and hastily pulling them over his thighs.

  “I’ll call a cab.” When I see the look of concern on his face, I simply say, “Don’t worry about it. I’ll be fine.

  “The least I can do is give you a ride myself and make sure you get home safe and sound.” He spins around, grabs his shirt and pulls it over his head. There is no way in Hell I’m going to let him give me a ride and find out where I live. When he realizes I’m not going to waver, he offers to pay for the cab ride. I’m not stupid. I don’t have much money, so I take what he offers.

  “Can I see you again, Essie?” He’s chewing on his bottom lip, trying to discern why I seem to have a hold over him. Like I said, I’m sure he never double-dips from the same pool, so the fact he actually asked to see me again does strange things to me.

  “I really don’t think it’s a good idea.” I reach to open the door again but he keeps it closed with his forearm.

  “Are you sure? Because I think we can have a lot of fun together.”

  “Yeah, I’m sure. But thank you for everything tonight. I’ll never forget it.” Seeing as how he isn’t going to change my mind, he lets go of the door and watches me walk down the hall and get into the awaiting elevator.

  It takes everything in my power not to look back at him because if I do, I will undoubtedly falter.

When I arrive home, if that’s what you can even call this place, I’m relieved the hardest part is over with now. I live in constant fear of what life is going to throw at me. And the fact I just took the first step to controlling my future from here on out is amazing.

I barely survived my childhood, enduring indescribable things—things which should never happen to anyone, let alone a defenseless, trusting young girl.

I grew up bouncing from one foster home to another. I never knew my parents, and I wasn’t sure how I even felt about it. Sometimes, when I thought about who they were and what they were like, I longed to know them, to ask them why they threw me away. But other times, I hated them, hated that my childhood was fucked up all because they didn’t want me. Would I have been better off with or without them in my life?

I guess I’ll never know.

Rounding the living room and heading toward my bathroom, I hear my neighbors through the very thin wall of the apartment. They’re going at it again. He’s probably drunk and she’s undoubtedly taking the brunt of his anger. I’m not sure why she sticks around. Maybe she’s scared shitless there isn’t anything better out there for her. Or maybe she likes the abuse. Some people need drama in their lives to feel alive. Not me; I want to get as far away from it as possible.

Ironically, I’m about to create some Earth-shattering drama in my own life very soon. But the outcome will be so worth it.

I turn on the shower, giving it time to heat up before I jump in to wash Drayden’s scent off my skin. He really did a great job of playing the part I set up for him but now…now, I want tonight’s reminder to be gone. But before I bring the body wash up to my chest, I smell him on me one last time and for a brief moment, I smile.

He really is glorious, in every way. But he’s a notorious playboy, taking home different women night after night. I know; I’ve been watching him for some time. But I can’t blame them. Drayden Warner has a way of drawing you in and making himself the answer to your very fantasy.

I was lucky enough to find out for myself tonight. And looking back on it, it was the best night I’ve had in a long time, all things considered.

After my shower, I make my way toward the kitchen, searching for the cheap bottle of wine I picked up the other night. I bought it hoping I could celebrate what I set out to accomplish. Well, the first part of it, anyway. There is still one more treacherous step to take before I’m home free.

Mr. Drunken Rage-aholic is still going at it, yelling at the top of his lungs at that poor woman. I hear a thunderous crashing sound and then….nothing. Silence. I learned early on to never get involved in other people’s business. It only serves to turn its ugly head in your direction, messing with you until you reap the dreaded consequences. No, I’m staying out of other people’s drama. God knows, no one interfered for me. Ever.

Even though this wine is cheap, it’s definitely doing the trick of making me feel a little numb. And numb is what I need right about now. After a little while, I stumble back toward my bedroom, crawl into bed and succumb to the night, replaying the events of the evening over and over in my foggy head.                            

His eyes.

His smile.

His body.

His touch.

It’s all too much. I have to remind myself silently he’s an arrogant, man-whore who doesn’t deserve all he has at his disposal. Why is it fair he doesn’t have a care in the world when I barely survive day to day?

For as much as I hate to admit it, my past hampers my present life, strangling out my future before it even has a chance to exist. I can’t hold down a job. I don’t have anyone I’m close to, fearing all types of relationships. I’m in constant worry everyone I encounter is going to use and hurt me in any way they deem fit. I just want a chance to live, not to have to worry where my next meal is coming from or if I can afford to pay the rent for one more month so I don’t go back to living on the streets. Out there, I’m wide open for all sorts of casualties.

No, never again. What I did tonight had to be done. I’m justified. I deserve this. After the shit life I was exposed to, a life I didn’t choose, I deserve a sliver of happiness, even if it’s fleeting.

I drift off to sleep dreaming of a happier time. And that time has to be in my future, because it sure as hell isn’t in my past.

It’s been two weeks since my encounter with Drayden. I hesitated going forward with my plan at first, not knowing the full scope and all it would entail if I approached him with my
offer
. I flitted back and forth between feeling bad for the man and ultimately trying to convince myself he deserved it, simply for being wealthy.

But today is the day I do it. I know all about him from doing extensive research, so I know where he works and where he lives. But for something like this, I think it’s best to go to his place of business, just in case. That way I’m ensured nothing will happen to me, that he doesn’t fly off in a blinding rage and attack me. I know he said he’s never struck a woman, but nonetheless I didn’t want to take any chances.

I put on my best dress, a simple yet alluring black and white polka-dot number. It accentuates my curves but not in an overly obvious way. My makeup is simple yet brings out my best feature: my amber eyes. They really pop, which is a great thing since I’ll need him to focus on them to realize my seriousness. I leave my hair down because it is the most enticing that way.

I saunter out the door, continuing to berate myself for my reservations. No one cared about me my whole life, so why should I care about some philandering rich man? I shouldn’t. I don’t. I keep repeating this to myself. It becomes my own little fucked-up chant.

It’s just past noon when I make my way through the front door of his office building. Yeah, he owns the whole building. He’s the CEO and owner of Warner Builders Inc., which is a high-end construction company. His firm holds the bids and contracts for some of the wealthiest homes in California. His estimated worth is somewhere around three hundred million and counting. He’s very young, all of twenty-eight years old, to have built such an impressive empire. But he did it with hard work and determination. He started out in construction himself, laying the groundwork early on, becoming familiar with the actual art of building a home. Then he worked his way up from there, branching off into his own company, with his own crew. He lucked out and caught the bid for a local developer. And the rest, as they say, is history.

I know he’ll be in today because I follow him enough to know his routines. When I approach what is most likely his secretary’s desk, I exhale a pent-up breath, stand up tall and make eye contact with the elderly woman.

“Can I help you?” she asks.

“Yes, I’m here to see Drayden Warner.” I hope she doesn’t detect my uneasiness, because I’m sure I’m going to pass out any minute if I don’t get this whole thing over with already.

“Do you have an appointment?”

“No, but if you tell him Essie Smith is here to see him, I’m sure I won’t need that appointment.”             

She reaches for her phone and dials a number. “A Miss Essie Smith is here to see you.” There is a small pause as she listens to whatever he’s saying. “Okay. Fine.”

She gives me an annoyed look after she cradles the receiver. She continues on by, rolling her eyes at me before telling me to take a seat.

What the hell did I do to her?

Thankfully, he doesn’t keep me waiting long before he opens his massive office door, strolls out and positions himself right next to me
.
He’s wearing a suit similar to the ones I have seen him wear before. He looks so serious and professional, but I know better. I know what lies beneath his designer fabric. I know what he’s like out of his clothes. The smile he gifts me with is almost enough to shatter my reserve. In an instant, I’m back to questioning my entire reason for being here, for doing this.

“Essie. What a pleasant surprise,” he says through bated breath. He reaches down to take my hand and pulls me upwards so I’m now standing in front of him. I forgot how tall he is, looming over me in that domineering yet placating way. His warm, sweet breath whispers across my face as he leans in close to me. “I’ve been thinking about you, woman,” he whispers in my ear. Backing up to see my reaction to his words, he isn’t disappointed; my body tenses, and my breath catches deep in my throat. Looking up into his eyes, I’m rewarded with the sight of his desire laced deep within, reflected back out toward me. He places his hand on the small of my back and ushers me toward his office. “Come with me.”

How can he incite such a primal reaction with just his mere touch and a few insignificant words?
Don’t lose focus, Essie.

The door latches behind me and jolts me from my wandering thoughts. He leads me toward a large couch while he winds his way around his colossal desk to take his seat.

He stares at me for a minute, allowing an enticing smile to spread wide, turning his lips up until his panty-dropping grin meets the corner of his eyes.

Wow!
Focus, Essie. You are here for one reason and one reason only.

“To what do I owe this pleasure, Essie? I mean, I never expected to see you again, yet here you are. How did you even know where to find me?” He’s still smiling that mega-watt smile. Little does he know it will change very shortly.

I have to physically stand up for what I’m about to disclose to him, not wanting to be in a defenseless position when he reacts. And he will surely react because of this.

Glancing over at him, I can see my presence is starting to confuse him, his body language switching from calm to tense.

“Well, Drayden, I have a little proposition for you. Would you like to hear it?” I approach his desk and lean in toward him, allowing him to get a nice view of my plump cleavage. He licks his full lips, looks exactly where I want him to and then moves up until he lands on my face. Then he makes contact with my eyes.
Good boy.

“If it involves me thrusting in and out of that sweet, tight pussy of yours again, then yes.” His words send a shooting impulse right between my thighs, making me clench from deep within.

“Not quite,” I say. He looks curious now, knitting his brows in slight confusion. “My proposition is for you to give me two million dollars. And in return, I won’t go to the police and tell them you raped me.”

There. I said it. I did it. My words are out there in the air, lingering around, trying to permeate his brain. And I know the instant they hit their intended mark.

He rises so quickly from his chair he sends it flying back, hitting the wall before it stops. His whole face tenses up, his jaw ticks, nostrils flare, and his breaths are short and rapid. My eyes are roaming over his entire form, noticing his posture is rigid and he’s clenching and unclenching his fists over and over again.

“What the fuck are you talking about? I didn’t rape you. You wanted that. You asked me for that.” Thankfully, he doesn’t move from his frozen stance, so I’m able to put the clincher on it for him.

“The proof I have says otherwise.” I better get ready to move because he will surely come at me once he realizes the enormity of my declaration.

“What proof?” he asks, his question so low I almost don’t hear him at first.

“I have a recording of you raping me.” I have to get this over with and get the hell out of here before he blows the fuck up. But I hesitate too long. In quick movements, he stalks toward me, making me back up until I hit the couch. I flinch when he raises his hand but when there is no physical connection, I look up at him. He reaches next to me and grabs my purse, emptying the contents onto the floor. He’s obviously looking for the evidence.

“Where the fuck is it?” When I don’t respond, he grabs me, shaking me back and forth with such force I think my neck is going to snap. “Where is it, Essie?”

“I wasn’t stupid enough to bring it here with me, Drayden. I have it tucked away in a safe place, just in case.”

He releases me and paces back and forth in front of me, running his hands through his dark wavy hair. “Why? Why are you doing this to me?”

“Because you are a means to an end.” I stand up straighter, preparing for anything he may decide to do to me. “I want the money, in cash, by Friday at noon, or I will take the recording to the police.”

It’s now or never. If he is going to reject this or attack me, it’s going to happen now, so I stand there, waiting for anything. He ends up slowly walking back to his desk, wrapped in a trance-like state. When he sits back down, he never takes his eyes off me and I’m not sure what to expect next. That is until he slams his fist down on his desk, making me jump back. “You’ll get your fucking money. How will I reach you?”

“I’ll call you.” Does he honestly think I’m going to give him any personal information? Good try, though.

My fingers circle the door handle but I hesitate. I look back over my shoulder at the man who I’ve surprised with my presence, then destroyed with my words. He looks hurt, as if he can’t believe someone would do something like this to him. He never looks back up at me as I make my way out of his office. But as soon as the door closes, I hear a loud crash, then another, then another.

I should be happy my life is about to change for the better. No more wondering if I will survive in my current way of life another month. Hell, another day.

No, today I start to live for the first time. To live without my past dragging me under, threatening to snuff out my breath, my very essence.