“Bryce, I appreciate the offer, I really do, but I wasn’t planning on staying in New York. I mean, I didn’t know what to expect with meeting you and all…” I trailed off, not knowing what my point was or where I was going with this.
“Where have you been staying?” he asked.
I didn’t want to tell him the truth because I had a feeling he would feel bad, but I didn’t want to lie either.
“Look, I was waitressing for the past two years while paying the bills for my parent’s house back in Thunder Bay. My parents weren’t rich people and my papa went off the deep end when Mama got sick, he’s married to his bottle now.” As soon as I said the word 'papa' a dark look crossed over Bryce’s handsome features. I may have hurt his feelings, but he only recently came into my life, and I had been living for twenty-two years before he came along. “I don’t have much money so I’ve been staying in a motel in Queens but I didn’t come to New York to stay. I came to find you and now we’ve met.”
“So that’s it, you want to walk away?” he asked with slight irritation.
“We can stay in touch…”
“No, Vicky… No.” Bryce placed his plate down on the small coffee table and stood up striding in a small circle. “I think you should stay… it sounds like you don’t have anyone back in Thunder Bay… you said your father is an alcoholic. I don’t want you to have to live with that…”
“Bryce, he raised me…he’s just broken,” I explained sadly.
“Vicky, that is a hard thing to live with. My second wife is a recovering alcoholic. I know what it’s like. I want you here at Tyson… please, Vicky, I need the chance to get to know you. I know I can’t make up for our lost years together, but I’m just so taken aback that your mama passed away and you are the best part of her, of her legacy…the best part of me…” he said, surprising me even more. “Please stay…” he pled. With my eyes filled with tears I was overwhelmed with emotions: happiness, sadness, love, loss. It was too much. I couldn’t even believe he was pleading. As tough as he is on the outside, he really does have a soft side.
“Vicky, the internship pays well, you would be getting the exact salary as the other interns. You said no handouts and you would be working for your money, scouts honor,” he laughed lifting up his hand. “In terms of living arrangements I have a small two bedroom apartment on the Upper West Side, it’s empty. You can stay there at no cost as long as you like. Please don’t look at it as a handout. I missed out on your entire life, please at least give me the chance to know you.” I could see this was important for him and he was making a strong argument. I could fulfill my promise to Mama and get my degree. I could probably make a nice salary and I wouldn’t feel so alone, like I did back home. Maybe this is why Mama urged me to come to New York in her letter; it was a fresh start.
“Thank you, Bryce. Thank you for the opportunity. I would like to take you up on your offer,” I answered nervously. This was not how I was expecting this day to go.
“That’s great, Vicky. I will have one of my men take you to the motel to help you move your things, and he will help you get settled at the new apartment. I will also send a driver at nine a.m. to pick you up from the apartment and bring you here tomorrow,” he said in an almost bossy way and my lip tugged up at the corners. This must be the real Bryce, making orders and having people follow them. He clearly put up a strong argument to make me stay. “I will call my driver, he will pick you up out front now to take you.”
“Thanks for everything.” I smiled, feeling a lot lighter than when I first walked in. Suddenly I remembered the name Scott Wellington and my skin prickled, I hoped he was long gone by now.
“Please don’t thank me, it’s the least I can do…” he trailed off with a kind smirk.
I turned to leave the office. As I walked through the doors and I headed down the long hallway toward the elevator, I suddenly felt paranoid after seeing the man that beat me. I pressed the button for the elevator, knowing it may be a long wait for an elevator on the fortieth floor. After a couple of minutes, the elevator doors opened and I entered the empty elevator and let out a huff of breath in relief as the doors began to close, when a hand appeared in the crack of the door and pressed the heavy doors open. My stomach dropped out from under me. It was Scott.
Chapter 9
Vicky
As he stepped into the elevator his lips are tugged up on each corner, revealing his dimples. It was those damn dimples that had made me drop my defenses the first time. His mixed features of male stud with his boyish grin had me thinking that he could give me a connection that I was dying to feel.
“Vicky…it’s been awhile…” he trailed off, flashing his dimples. I felt like my knees were going to buckle as sweat dripped down the back of my neck. I didn’t answer him. I just tried to keep my cool while keeping my eyes fixated on the elevator lights as it descended down. “Come on, if I remember right we had quite a night together,” he said, taking a step closer and running his finger down my arm. The contact made me cringe, and I wanted to turn and knee him in the groin. Only I didn’t turn to look at him or answer his request. I waited quietly for the elevator to stop on a floor and prayed for someone to enter.
Only the elevator continued its descent and Scott took another step closer to me, closing the space between us. My chest felt so tight I thought I might implode. “I’m staying not too far from here at a hotel, do you want to join me?” he asked with a low deep voice. He must think he was seducing me.
I couldn’t take it anymore and I snapped my head and said, “I’d rather die.” Then I snapped my head back and looked up to the numbers.
Scott began to chuckle. “I remember you were a feisty one.” He nodded his head as if remembering our night together. Clearly it meant different things to both of us.
“Come on, Vicky, don’t be so tough, you liked it last time,” he said with a devilish grin. Then he pushed himself into me so I was pressed against the elevator wall. What the hell would give him the impression that I liked it?
“Are you crazy? Get the hell off me,” I gritted out.
“Listen, you stupid bitch…” he snapped, revealing his true nature again. “You better come back to my hotel with me now or else I will show your father that little video we made together back in Canada…” he hissed into my ear. “What would the big man think of his little girl liking it hard and dirty…just think how much money I can get for it?” He shook his head as bile rose in my throat. “Shit, I didn’t know you were his daughter but now that I do…wow, that video can turn into a real gold mine for me.”
As his breath lingered on my neck I felt frozen in my spot. How was this happening? Why now? Everything was so good only moments ago. What would Bryce think of me if he saw the tape? I couldn’t go anywhere with this man though. Yes, I enjoyed sex at parties but I can’t willingly allow him to beat the shit out of me. It took me months to dig myself out of the dark hole he had put me into. Nessa was a huge part of my recovery, but I couldn’t do it again.
Suddenly the doors dinged open and we had stopped in the lobby. Scott pulled away from me quickly, but it was obvious he had just been pressed up into me by the look on the faces of the people waiting to get on the elevator. I was shaking so badly that my brain felt muffled. As I stepped out of the elevator I saw Luc standing in front of me with his head cocked to the side and hurt crossing his features. Had he seen Scott pressed into me? Was he reading this wrong? Why did he even care? Maybe he can help me…maybe he can save me…
“Vicky… you’re back at Tyson?” he asked with a hint of suspicion in his tone.
“Yeah, I went to see Bryce…” I explained even though I’m sure he wanted to know more.
I noticed Scott waiting off to the side looking irritated that I was taking my time talking to Luc.
Luc looked at me then at Scott. “Sorry to run off after lunch yesterday. It was a busy day.”
“No worries, Luc, it was nice talking,” I answered as my heart beat rapidly in my
chest. I needed to get away from Scott but I couldn’t take the chance of him revealing something to Bryce.
“Where are you headed now?” Luc asked, looking between Scott and me again. I felt like I’d been holding my breath for far too long. I wondered if Luc could see I wasn’t breathing.
I shrugged my shoulders.
“Did Bryce offer you the internship?” he asked, as if he is looking for reasons to talk, for reasons to not let me go. I was grateful.
“Yes.”
“And did you accept?” he asked, waiting expectantly. Even though he had this calm demeanor about him that said, I’m too high and mighty and I don’t fluster.
“Yes, I did,” I answered, but I could barely smile as my eyes drifted over to Scott and my face probably paled even more. Then I drew my eyes back to Luc, hoping that by some miracle he would understand my distress and save me.
“Perfect, so you should come up so I can show you around, I’m actually headed up to Bryce right now,” he said with an easy smile. Even though I noticed he hadn’t taken his glare off of Scott. Luc was suspicious and I was thankful.
“Ah sure, let me just tell my friend not to wait.” I forced a nervous smile.
I strutted over to Scott, knowing that Luc would have his eyes on me. “Scott, I can’t come with you now I have to go up, this is work related,” I explained carefully, hoping he would accept my explanation and let me go. Scott looked over to Luc and then dipped his lips to my ear whispering, “This isn’t over, Vicky, but now I know where to find you, I will be seeing you soon. Maybe you should give me your number, I’m in town a while longer, we could hook up,” his words were cold and held the bite they meant to give. Scott was a cruel bastard and as his mouth withdrew from my ear, a crawl of goose bumps ran up my body causing my arm hairs to prickle.
I forced a smile to Scott, since Luc was watching. I didn’t want to give him my number. I didn’t want him to have a way to track me down. I was at a loss. I looked back to Luc and he made his way over to us. “Vicky, are you coming for that meeting?” he asked. Scott glared at the two of us suspiciously.
“I best be going,” I said looking to Scott.
“Make sure to be in touch.” He smirked like the smug asshole he is.
With those parting words, Scott disappeared through the front doors of Tyson, and I exhaled a long breath. My chest ached and I felt a little dizzy as I stared at Luc wide-eyed. It didn’t take long for him to register my distress.
He wrapped his arm around me, and I wanted to bury my face in his chest. I felt so lost and scared, but I wouldn’t break down. I didn’t want people watching. I took a few slow breaths and straightened up my shoulders. “I’m okay.”
“You are not okay. What did he want from you? I’ve seen him here before. He’s trying to get into Bryce’s circle, he runs a company in Canada…” The minute Luc finished his statement it’s as if a light had gone off in his mind. “You know him?” he asked warily.
“Not exactly,” I answered hesitantly. Luc had been nice to me. He gave me a ride home after the party, he took me to lunch yesterday, and told me more than I ever needed to know, but we agreed to keep things simple. Me telling him about Scott would un-simplify things to say the least.
“Vicky, I mentioned to you yesterday that I was groomed to be a mob boss, that means I can read people, and I just saw fear in your eyes. Why was Scott Wellington waiting for you? If you are in trouble I want to help you…” he said softly.
The truth was I wanted to break down and cry. Remembering that awful night back in Toronto made me remember things that I wanted to bury. I had gone for the weekend with Nessa, needing a breather from taking care of Mama. I had been held up in the house for a month straight and I was beginning to suffocate. Papa had just started drinking and I was so lost. Joe came home for the weekend from London, Ontario where he went to university. He took care of Mama so I could get away. She was already in pretty bad shape and it had been a huge dose of reality for him.
I just wanted some fun and to feel, I wanted to feel so bad, but I was naïve. I never expected what Scott would have in mind for me, and I never expected my mother to die before I made it home.
Luc took his thumb and brushed it along my cheek. “Don’t hold it inside, pretty girl, you need to talk and I want to help.”
As I stared into his eyes wishing that I could, wondering how he could help me out of this mess. I did something I didn’t even expect from myself. I talked. “He’s blackmailing me,” I said, looking to the ground in front of me. I felt ashamed and I knew it was because Scott Wellington made me into a helpless victim that night.
“What does that mean, Vicky?” Luc asked. His question was harder to answer than he thought but I guessed since Bryce had been open about my paternity he might as well know too.
“Bryce is my father, Luc,” I said and Luc exhaled. I didn’t understand and I crunched my eyebrows together.
He held onto his heart. “You have no idea how relieved I am to hear that.”
“What? Why?”
“For now, it doesn’t matter why, Vicky. We are both not ready to discuss why, but please tell me what this has to do with Scott.”
“I was going to meet Bryce as Scott was leaving his office. Bryce surprisingly introduced me as his daughter. The problem is that I knew Scott from before,” I explained as I felt a darkness descend over my body.
Luc put a hand over my shoulder, guiding me over to the side of the lobby, so that we were not in the center of all the busy people strutting by. “I met Scott at a sex club…I went home with him…” I paused because the next part is too embarrassing to admit. Luc will think I am a nutcase.
“It’s okay, Vicky, after all the things I’ve done and seen you won’t be scaring me…talk, pretty girl.” He urged me forward looking at me with reverence. My heart clenched. I felt too much for him after meeting him only days ago.
“He’s blackmailing me, he made a tape of our time back in Toronto…I didn’t know he was taping me….now he said if I don’t sleep with him, he will show the tape to Bryce or even better, he said he will sell it to the media for a good dollar since I am Bryce Andrews’ daughter.” As I finished speaking I could see that Luc’s posture had become rigid and his jaw was ticking.
“I can go kill the bastard,” he said with clenched fists by his side.
“Luc, please…you told me that fighting isn’t for you and I don’t need to get you into trouble. I will find a way out of it,” I explained, hoping to calm him down. He was clearly larger than Scott and probably trained to inflict pain, but I didn’t want to put him through the exact thing he had been trying to escape from with his own family.
I realized that Bryce’s driver should be waiting for me outside. I wondered if he had left. I was supposed to leave for the motel. “Vicky, I need to keep you safe, Scott Wellington is a scum bag.”
“You have no idea,” I huffed out, rolling my eyes.
Luc’s face constrained. “What does that mean? Did he hurt you?”
“Luc please…” I bowed my head to the floor.
He held onto my arm gently as if he was scared I would run. “Vicky, tell me, I need to know, did he hurt you?”
“Luc, I told you, I was messed up. Trust me when I say that I am doing you a favor, you don’t want to know the likes of me.”
“Vicky, stop it…right now…whatever this is that you are running from, I can handle it. You are in trouble and I’m not walking away so, please….” The irritation in his voice died down. “Please talk to me,” he whispered softly as his eyes pleaded with me.
I closed my eyes remembering the pain. “I can’t say it, Luc…but Scott Wellington is a bad man.”
“Okay, I’m not going to push you. You will be safe with Bryce’s driver, he is trained… but please give me your phone number, so I can call you and make sure that you are okay.”
“The driver will be taking me to one of Bryce’s apartments, but he didn’t say where.” After exchanging numbe
rs with Luc, I left out the front door and a kind man that was waiting outside of a black SUV greeted me.
“Ms. Molino?” he smiled.
“Yes.” I smiled back.
“Derek. I’m Mr. Andrews’ driver. Where to?” he asked as I got in the car.
“Motel Lafayette,” I said as a light pink crawled up my cheeks.
“Of course,” he smiled again and moments later we were merging into another Manhattan traffic jam.
Chapter 10
Vicky
Bryce’s driver insisted on following me into the motel and ensuring my safety, per Bryce’s orders. The truth was I couldn’t argue with him. Not after what had happened with Scott. I was still shaking from the inside out. As Derek walked into my motel room, I knew he was trying to be polite and help me pack, but I could see the disgust in his eyes at how gross this place was. That was why I had to take Bryce up on his offer for the apartment. If I was going to spend some time in New York, it couldn’t be living here. I never unpacked my duffle, so Derek and I made it back to the SUV in record time. When he insisted on paying my motel bill, I declined politely but he insisted on paying, per Bryce’s orders.
Back in the SUV I watched the bright lights of the big city come into view. I already knew we were headed for the nicer part of town. Looking at my watch I realized it was already seven o’clock. It was already nighttime, my loneliest time of day, when everything was quiet and I had plenty of time to drown in my past.
As the driver pulled off to the side of the road, he stopped in front of a brown building with stone facing. The two large entrance doors in the front were clear glass and the view of the extravagant lobby could be seen from outside. My heart sunk into my stomach when I realized that this building looked too much like the one that Luc lived in. I quickly rummaged through my purse, looking for the address from the sex party that I had scribbled onto a random piece of paper.
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