by Dash, Jayson
“You will.” She paused and said, “If you want, I could pull some strings and possibly get you a temp position at Fabulous—that’s if you’re cool with starting at the bottom.”
Jasmine smiled and babbled, “Oh, of course not. Plus my mom likes helping with the baby since it gives her some company. You would seriously do that for me?”
“Yes. I know it’s hard to believe, or say, but I feel like I owe you somehow.”
“For what? If anything I didn’t cause you anything but hell for two years. I’m sorry about that.”
“Please, don’t be. If it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t have gotten loose from that piece off shit Carl. And since then I’ve met my other half.”
Jasmine smiled. “You mean that guy you were with at the wedding?”
“Yeah,” Sabrina laughed. “That would be him.”
“That’s really nice. I’m glad you finally found someone who treats you like you should be.” Just then a tall, chiseled, good-looking man walked out of Starbucks with two cups of coffee in each hand and handed one to Jasmine as he gave her a soft kiss on the cheek. When he looked up, Sabrina saw that he was the same guy that Jasmine left Carl’s sorry ass at the altar for not too long ago. He was way better looking than Carl.
“Everything okay?” He asked in a deep, husky voice.
“Yes,” said Jasmine. She beamed as she said, “Sabrina just offered me a job at Fabulous magazine!”
“That’s great,” he said, kissing her once again on the cheek. “And the blessings just keep on rolling in.”
“I know. It’s crazy,” said Jasmine.
Sabrina made it look like she was looking her watch and said, “Well, it was nice running into you the both of you but I have to go back to work.”
“Okay,” Jasmine and her hubby said in unison.
Sabrina was about to head off when Jasmine wrapped her arms around her and whispered, “Thank you so much…for everything.”
“You’re welcome,” was all Sabrina managed to say before she pulled away. She smiled and said, “Is your phone number still the same?”
“Yep.”
“Great. I’ll give you a call sometime this week.”
Honestly, what in the hell was she thinking even considering hiring the same vixen that had once almost ruined he life on numerous occasions? Was something wrong with her? Maybe something was finally right. It was weird to admit, but as Sabrina thought about it on her drive back to her office, it did make sense. Hell, being pissed at Jasmine was a chapter in her life that she closed a long time ago when she forgave her for doing what she did. And there was no point in holding a grudge over something petty.
It was a done deal. And she was happy for her decision. Despite all that had gone on between her and Jasmine in the past, she honestly could say that Jasmine was a nice person with good intentions. Too bad it took something as drastic as a love triangle gone bad to see it. She thought about how happy Jasmine looked in her new life as mother/wife and a twinge of jealous shot through Sabrina’s veins before it disappeared. Thankfully. She didn’t need a reason to be jealous of Jasmine. She was glad for her and looked forward to a day when would be happy as well.
Once the dust began to settle, Sabrina was glad with her work and saw that Fabulous was back among the respected ranks of the top-selling fashion magazines in the publishing industry. It of course wouldn’t have been made possible had she not fought against the stupid voice in the back of her head telling her to give up, that Fabulous was destroyed, and maybe even her future with Brett was going down the drain as well.
Then it hit her—she messed up big time. It wasn’t so much as a literal smack in the face, but she might as well have, when she abruptly crushed Brett’s dream of having kids. She shouldn’t have been so quick to say no. She should have at least talked to him about it in private before letting her brain jump ahead. Shit. She needed to have a serious talk with him.
Chapter Twenty-Nine:
Shakedown
So, where are we going out to celebrate?” Brett asked in his usual sexy, baritone voice.
Sabrina hadn’t wasted anytime calling him and was surprised when he picked up on the first ring. Now he was babbling something about celebrating.
“Celebrating?” asked Sabrina curiously. “Celebrating what?”
“Don’t tell me you haven’t been keeping track.”
“Of…?”
Brett paused. “Of how long we’ve been going out. Today makes six months.”
“Oh, my God. I’m sorry, honey, I totally have been sideswiped and lost track of time. I must be the worst girlfriend ever.”
She could feel him smiling through his voice. “Nah, you’re not. Trust me on that.” He paused an added, “What are you doing tonight?”
She came to a halt at a stoplight. “Uh, nothing in particular, being that it’s Friday night and all.”
“That’s perfect. I have some great news to tell you about the deal I made with some investors. Maybe we can talk about it over dinner. I got us reservations at one of the best seafood restaurants in the world. I think you may have heard of it.”
“Umm, can I get a hint?”
He laughed. “Sure: The owner is Canadian-American.”
“Let me guess; Gabriel’s Seafood, right?”
“Right on!”
“Sounds like a plan to me.” Just then her phone beeped. She told Brett to hold on as she clicked over to the other line. “Hello?”
“Hey, Sabrina, it’s Sean.”
“Hey. What’s up?”
He chuckled. “I just got a call from one of the accountants and they left some papers for me to sign. Could you please stop by my office and bring them to me, if it’s not too much out of your way.”
“No, it is fine, I’m close by there anyway. My boyfriend and I are having a little six-month anniversary dinner thing tonight so I may be a little late.”
“That’s fine. Oh, and congrats on the six months. Time sure does fly by fast doesn’t it?”
“Yes, it does. Crap, I almost forget Brett is waiting on the other line. I’ll see you later tonight. Bye, Dad.”
“Bye, Rina.”
She clicked back over and resumed her conversation with Brett. “Sorry. That was my step dad.”
Brett laughed. “Cool. So you want me to scoop you up when you’re done?”
“Sure. I can leave my car in the garage overnight. It shouldn’t take me that long so actually, you can start heading over now if you want.”
“Alright. See you in a bit.”
“See ya’.”
After she disconnected from Brett she took the next few lights until she reached the garage, where she parked her car and headed inside the main building. The place was deserted and seemed so different from the usual constant traffic of people walking around, yapping about work-related issues. The silence was almost peaceful, but weird nonetheless.
She stepped off the elevator and headed to Sean’s office. There, she searched around his cluttered desk until she found a heavy stack of papers with a bunch of highlighted sections. She tucked it inside her laptop tote bag. She couldn’t help but stop and look at the framed picture of Sean and her mother sitting on the desk. They looked happy, like they belonged together. Then her eyes glided over to the picture of herself and Sean next to it that they took a couple years ago on a fishing trip. She could still remember how much she despised being out in the sun and in the middle of a lake with no kind of electricity except her iPod. No matter how much she complained throughout the day, it all came down to the fact that they were enjoying each other’s company and were bonding. Looking back, she was glad that he was the father figure in her life that she was supposed to have but was never afforded the chance to. But it didn’t matter; he was the only father she ever needed.
It made her realize that it didn’t matter about the blood that ran through a person’s veins that made them a family; it was also the love and the bond between them that really mattered. A smile crept a
cross her face as she walked out of the office and headed over to her own office. She peeked in and saw that everything was just as she left it, neat and organized. She flicked on the light in her office and thought about moving to where Camille’s old office. Hell, the bitch was never stepping foot in this building again, which brought a smile to Sabrina’s face.
Then something caught her eye. She paused.
Something in the air wasn’t feeling right.
Someone else was here.
The hairs on the back of her head began to prickle as she closed her office door. Heart beat racing a million miles per hour; she gave herself a mental shake. Girl, it is just your imagination. Calm the fuck down. There’s nobody else here but you so stop on tripping.
Crack!
She whirled around so quick she almost fell on her ass. Too damn bad she picked the wrong day to wear a brand-new pair of leather sling-back stilettos, which were definitely not made to run in. Shit.
She pressed the call button for the elevator.
“Come on fucker!” Sabrina barked aloud.
“Not so fast,” a cold, yet familiar female voice boomed from the end of the hallway, where the overhead fluorescent light was flickering. Sabrina saw a tall shadow leaning against the wall near Sabrina’s office.
“Whose there?” said Sabrina, her voice cracking.
The shadowy figure moved.
Closer.
“I swear to God if you come any closer I will reach into my purse hurt you with my stun gun!” She turned and pressed the call button. Where the fuck was the damn elevator?
Just as she tuned back around she couldn’t even scream her horror. It was as if her heart leapt into her throat and stolen her voice box.
Camille was approaching her at a slow, stalker-like prance, dressed in a regular t-shirt and black jeans and Timberland boots with her hands held behind her back, a creepy smile on her face. Her hair was untamed, no make-up at all, just barefaced. She utterly looked like shit.
What the hell is going on?
She stopped five feet in front of Sabrina. She cocked her head to the side. “You look like you just saw a ghost.”
“W-what are you doing here?” said Sabrina, finally finding her shaky, but steady voice.
She took a step closer. “Do you really want to know?”
Sabrina ignored her question. “How did you get in here?”
She grinned evilly. “I used to work here not too long ago and the security pass code is still the same. How clever.”
Another steps closer.
“Look, if you want money, just go to the safe and leave me the hell alone. I won’t even tell the cops it was you—I’ll just tell the police it was a robbery.”
“Shut up, Sabrina!” Camille stomped her foot like a kid having a tantrum. “Just shut the fuck up and listen.”
Sabrina backed up against the elevator door, and still the damn thing hadn’t come yet. Which was just fucking great. Camille looked like she was already pissed off of some PMS shit so she held her breath.
Camille was just inches away from Camille. She said, “For a long time now, you’ve been stealing what was rightfully mine—this magazine. Yeah, your bitch ass mother and my punk ass father might have built this shit together, but when I stepped on the scene as editor-in-chief, I was the Queen Bitch in Charge, not you or that idiot father of mine. Yeah, I’m calling my own father an idiot. Hell, he never showed me any affection because he was always too damn busy between coming here, dealing with your mother or going to one of your stupid basketball games just to see your skinny-ass cheer. Whatever. And because of you, I lost my fucking job and now my damn magazine won’t premiere. Why not? Hmm. No money. And no money means good-bye Camillionare. And there’s only one way to solve my many troubles—take a wild guess.”
“I don’t know.”
“Of course you don’t.” Still keeping her hands behind her back, she said, “Well, I’ll enlighten you; I have to eliminate you if I ever plan on getting back on top. I hate to steal the old cliché, but this town isn’t big enough for the both of us.”
“Camille, whatever it is that you’re planning, we can talk about it. It doesn’t have to be like this.”
“Oh, I beg to differ.” Finally bringing her hands in front of her, she revealed a sharp knife that looked like it could rip anything to shreds. The shiny metal reflected in the dim light as Camille played with it like it was some kind of toy.
Was this it for her? To die alone by the hand of a psychotic bitch filled with an envious rage she couldn’t seem to let go? No. This couldn’t be right. It just didn’t make sense. Tonight was her six-month anniversary with the sexiest man God had ever placed before her; he was her soul mate, her best friend (well, in a male form) and everything she ever wanted in a man. She wasn’t ready to die yet. Hell, she didn’t even get a chance to tell him she loved him and really meant it. Shit. This was all fucked-up.
Camille dragged her from her thoughts as she said, “It’s time for Little Miss Perfect to go. Just like a bad fashion trend, one minute you’re in and the next you’re out in the cold.”
This bitch had seriously lost her damn mind, or lack thereof, Sabrina mused, trying not control her fear. “Something is seriously wrong with you.”
“No, I think you’ve got it all confused.”
“Yeah, says the psychotic bitch holding a knife in her hand.”
In the next instant Camille’s whole facial expression changed.
Then she lunged forward at Sabrina and luckily she was able to dodge out of the way and make a run for it towards her office. Sadly, Camille was able to catch up to her just as one of the heels on her shoe snapped in two, causing Sabrina to crash to the floor as she fell to the floor under Camille’s weight.
The knife flew some feet away from Camille and they tussled for what seemed like forever until Sabrina punched the daylights out of Camille and crawled towards the glimmering knife that was just in an arm’s reach away from her. Just as she reached—
Camille grabbed Sabrina’s leg and started yanking her keg back while simultaneously using all of her weight to pull Sabrina in the opposite direction she wanted to go.
Sabrina kicked and kicked some more—but to no avail; the bitch was still on her.
“You bitch!” screamed Camille, getting to her feet and kicking Sabrina in the ribs, making her drop to her knees and wheeze. She kicked her one last time with her heavy boots before she ran off and retrieved the knife. She straddled Sabrina, where she sat on top of her. “You stupid, bitch! Did you really think that you could take me on?” She tossed her head back and laughed hysterically.
“You’re fucking pathetic, Camille! You’ve always been your whole life! That’s why you’re going to die alone and you aren’t ever going to have shit—”
Camille slapped Sabrina hard against the face, catching her nose. Instantly, warm blood began to trickle from her nostrils.
Camille stood up, gave another forceful kick to Sabrina’s ribs and said, “That’s all you have is words, huh, bitch?” She bent down and with both hands, she yanked Sabrina up and pinned her to the wall. “You think you’re so much better than me, don’t you? Well let’s see how tough you are now.” She pulled back her right hand and jabbed the knife into Sabrina’s stomach.
She screamed as an explosion of pain and anger erupted in her abdomen, blood began to seep through her blouse. She tried to slide down but Camille pulled her up and jabbed her again, this time more forceful, the feeling more excruciating than the last. Her head began to spin and she couldn’t focus…she thought she heard her cell phone ring…maybe she was just losing her damn mind…or…
Camille stabbed her again and again, like she was gutting a fucking fish. She had this bizarre look on her face like she was enjoying every minute of seeing Sabrina wince and cry out in pain, on the verge of life and death.
Camille let Sabrina’s weak body slide to the floor. She knelt down. “I think you’re slipping, Rina. And there’s nobody
around to save you. So, who’s going to die alone, you or me?” She wrapped her freehand around Sabrina’s throat. “Looks like you will.” She looked her square in the eyes and as bad as Sabrina wanted to fight back; she was too weak. She couldn’t move a limb, let alone use her voice; her defenses were shot down and all of her energy was nearly gone.
When Camille stuck the knife in so deep, she thought she felt her guts jerk and explode. The pain...it was just so horrible she wanted to past out and be put out of her misery.
Through half-closed eyes, Sabrina said, “You…you…won’t get away with this.”
“Just watch me,” sneered Camille as she stood up and took a step back from Sabrina. “Who’s the pathetic bitch now?” she turned and jetted out of sight.
Blood was pouring out of her so fast it scared the hell out of her. Never had she seen so much of her own blood before. She couldn’t move without her body erupting even more. She was fucked. And clearly, Camille had won. Now she was going to die…alone. Or so it seemed.
As her vision began to blur, she thought she saw movement from out of the corner of her eye and just knew Camille came back to finish the job. She heard the footsteps as they grew louder and louder. Then she smelled it—his cologne.
“Oh, Brett,” she whispered, as tears began to run down her cheeks. Please, God, she silently prayed to herself, let that be Brett. If this is how I’m going out, at least I won’t be by myself.
Then she heard his voice. “Sabrina? Where are you?”
She turned her head in the direction of his voice, just as she tipped over on her side and lay against the cold tiled floor. She so badly wished she could scream but she was slipping.
His footsteps found her and she could feel his presence as he knelt next to her and let out a cry that hurt her more than pain form her stab wounds and cut deep down to her soul.
“Oh, shit, Sabrina. Baby, who did this to you?” Brett cried as he pulled her to him. “Please, stay with me, baby. I need you.”
She could hear the sound of him frantically dialing numbers fiercely into his cell phone. He cried into the phone and told the dispatcher about Sabrina’s condition and they needed to hurry. He held her tighter. “This can’t happen like this. It’s not right…baby, I swear I’m going to find whoever did this to you and make them pay for this.”
