Snapshot (The Jamieson Collection)

by Angie Stanton

  “Oh goody! You are such a doll!” Courtney grinned.

  Marti spent the next hours trying to calm down. No matter what Marti did, she knew Courtney would find a way to crush her. The woman was pure manipulating evil.

  Adam called and said he was coming to see her in two days! She immediately forgot her problems.

  Hungry and tired of hiding out, she ventured downstairs and opened the refrigerator while humming one of Adam’s tunes. She peeked inside the numerous food containers. One advantage to all the catering companies was the nice variety of leftovers.

  She selected Thai shrimp kabobs, broccoli salad, potato skins and three mini cheesecakes. While the kabobs and skins heated in the microwave, she danced around the kitchen.

  Her excitement couldn’t be contained. Two days! She couldn’t wait to lay eyes on him. She popped a cheesecake in her mouth.

  After all the threats and drama from Courtney, Marti was relieved to have an empty house for a change. Tonight, her dad and Courtney were at a movie premiere. Courtney insisted that if Graphic Angels planned on reigniting their previous success, then Steven Hunter, the Rock Icon, needed to start making red carpet appearances.

  The microwave dinged. Marti did a quick spin before removing her plate. She loaded on the salad and set the desserts on top. With the plate in one hand and a glass of lemonade in the other, she pushed the fridge door closed with her hip.

  Dancing to the music in her head, she passed through the great room carrying her dinner back to her luxury digs and the movie she had queued up, ready to watch.

  She turned the corner and Nigel stepped into her path.

  Chapter 20

  Marti stopped dead in her tracks and nearly dropped her dishes.

  “What’s put you in such a good mood?” Nigel’s lip curled. The smell of booze and cigarettes permeated from him.

  “Courtney’s not here. She’s out for the night,” Marti blurted before he could strike up any more small talk. She hoped he realized there was no party tonight and would go find someplace else to freeload.

  “I know. She’s at the movie premiere with your dad.” He took a step closer.

  Marti swallowed, wishing her hands were free.

  “You know, Courtney told me about your little problem.”

  Marti’s only problem was Nigel’s intrusion. She didn’t want to talk to him. She wanted him to go away, but kept silent.

  “What? Playing coy?” He took another step forward. Marti edged back. “You know, the pregnancy test.” He helped himself to a mini cheesecake from her plate and popped it in his mouth.

  Marti clenched her jaw. She had forgotten Courtney knew about that.

  “Seems like Little Miss Pure and Innocent isn’t pure or innocent after all.” Nigel chewed with his mouth open. Lust loomed in his eyes, alerting her fight or flight instinct.

  The plate in her hand grew heavy. More than anything she wanted to smash it in his face. How could she get him out of here?

  She stood tall and in a matter-of-fact tone said, “Well, it’s nothing you need to worry about. I’ll tell Courtney you stopped by. I’m sure she’ll call as soon as she’s back.” Marti tried to appear confident as she waited for him to turn around and go, but feared he saw right through her.

  Nigel leered until she squirmed. He laughed and reached to brush a lock of hair off her face. Marti flinched and stepped back.

  “Don’t touch me,” she warned, and took another step back. Her pulse raced.

  “Why not? You let other guys touch you,” he said in a low voice that disgusted her. “I’ll show you a good time. You’ll love it,” he whispered in her ear. His stinking breath burned her neck.

  Marti threw the contents of her lemonade in his face and turned to flee, praying he would take the warning and leave her alone. Before she moved two feet, he grabbed her by the shoulders. The dishes crashed to the tile floor and shattered. He shoved her against the wall and pinned her arms.

  “You little bitch!” he spat. “You think you’re fucking better than me?”

  Marti’s eyes opened wide with fear. “No.” She shook her head. Her heart pounded.

  Nigel came at her with his mouth. She turned her head to the side. He struggled to reach her lips, but Marti fought him. “No!” Her hands sweat, and her breath came quick and short.

  Releasing her upper arms, he grabbed her chin and held it in place. He came at her again, his big, sloppy mouth covering hers. She struggled, but he held her tight. When she tried to scream, he stuck his tongue in her mouth. Marti gagged at the repulsive taste. With his body pressing her against the wall, his free hand groped her breasts.

  Marti clawed to no avail. He was an immovable wall. She kicked out with her legs and caught him in the groin, but not nearly hard enough. Still, he jerked away, and she ran for it.

  “Not so fast.” He yanked her back by the hair.

  She struggled and screamed, but Nigel was too strong. He spun her around and slapped her hard across the face, but she still fought. He shoved her back against the wall. Her head hit the drywall so hard her teeth knocked together, stunning her.

  Nigel took the advantage and pressed up against her, securing her wrists over her head. Tears streamed down her face. She knew he was winning this battle. She lashed out with kicks, but he blocked her every time. Terror, frustration and helplessness overwhelmed her.

  Marti turned her head away as he came at her again. He slurped at her neck. She couldn’t stop his disgusting attack. He overpowered her.

  Suddenly, Nigel’s body was ripped away.

  “What the hell are you doing?” her dad roared, and threw Nigel into the marble-topped coffee table.

  Hugging her violated body, Marti slid down the wall. Tears poured from her eyes, and she gasped for breath.

  Courtney shrieked. “Steven, what are you doing?”

  Her dad ignored Courtney and went after Nigel again, who’d risen to his feet.

  “How dare you touch my daughter!” He slammed his fist into Nigel’s face.

  “Have you lost your mind? You’re hurting him!” Courtney rushed over and grabbed his punching arm.

  “Get the hell out of my way.” Her dad shoved Courtney back and punched Nigel twice more in the gut. Nigel tried to escape the blows, but her dad grabbed him, and with alarming strength, hurled him against the wall. Courtney screamed as Nigel’s body crumpled onto the glass-covered floor.

  Marti watched in horror as her father attacked the now bloody Nigel. Her teeth chattered, and she couldn’t control the shudders that racked her as she huddled nearby.

  He slammed Nigel’s head against the floor. “Don’t you ever touch my daughter again!” Marti barely recognized her father as rage transformed him into a dangerous maniac.

  Courtney screamed. “You’re going to kill him! Steven! Stop it!” She tried to pull him off, with no success.

  Marti feared Courtney was right but remained frozen in terror. She gasped.

  Her dad looked up, and Marti knew he saw the shock in her eyes, as she witnessed his attack. He stopped and climbed off Nigel.

  Courtney rushed to Nigel, crying.

  “Get him out of here,” her dad yelled. His hair hung in his face. “I don’t ever want to see him in my house again!”

  He stepped across the glass and food and knelt before Marti. Her teeth still chattered uncontrollably.

  “Are you okay?” he asked gently. His blue eyes searched hers. His lip bled.

  Marti nodded and wiped at her runny nose with her arm.

  “I’m so sorry.” He placed his hands on each side of her head and softly kissed her forehead.

  She nodded again, her adrenaline trying to shift out of high gear. She watched Nigel scramble to his feet and stagger out, Courtney right behind. The door slammed. Marti released an anguished breath.

  “Did he hurt you?” The concern in her dad’s eyes revealed the love he couldn’t say in words.

  “No,” she blubbered.

  He leaned forward
and held her in his arms. Her body shook as she tried not to sob. “It’s okay, let it out.” He patted her back, and she cried like a baby. “I won’t ever let him hurt you again. I promise.”

  After a minute, he released her, and she wiped her face. They looked at the mess on the floor.

  “I take it you haven’t had dinner yet.”

  Marti offered a tiny smile. “No.”

  “How about you go take a nice shower, and I’ll order pizza?”

  “That sounds really good.” Marti accepted his help to stand. “How come you’re home so early?” If he hadn’t come back when he did… she shuddered at the image of what might have happened.

  “The premiere was a joke. Ten minutes on the red carpet posing for pictures and then they expected me to sit through a two-hour movie set in outer space. Not interested.”

  “Thank you,” Marti said.

  “I would do anything for you,” he said. “Now go get cleaned up. I’ll figure out what to do with this mess.”

  Marti rubbed the bump on her head and went up stairs. Her arms hurt from where Nigel grabbed her. She’d probably have bruises tomorrow. She still quivered from her terrible ordeal with Nigel, but her dad had saved her, and she could never be more grateful.

  At the top of the steps, she turned around to see her dad staring at the shattered glass and knocked over plants. His body stiffened. He grabbed a ceramic lamp off a coffee table and, with an anguished roar, flung it to the floor.

  After a long shower, where she tried to scrub away Nigel’s touch, Marti went downstairs with her damp hair neatly combed, and wearing a pair of sweats and a baggy t-shirt. After the horrible incident, she needed some quiet time with her dad; pizza together sounded great. For the first time in her life, she felt thankful to have him.

  The doorbell rang and as Marti turned to answer it, the door burst open with a couple of young women in short skirts and high heels. One carried a pizza box, the other, two bottles of wine. Marti’s heart sank. She hung back as they rushed past to greet her dad, who reclined on the sofa, already half baked. He offered up the bong to his new guests.

  Marti waited a minute to see if he remembered her or their plans. One girl uncorked the wine, while the other turned up the stereo. Her dad tapped more pot into his pipe. He forgot about Marti just as easily as he forgot about the pizza. Marti crept back upstairs to her room, her appetite gone.

  She should have known his words were too good to be true. Why did she let her guard down and believe he might actually be a decent guy for more than a few minutes at a time?

  Marti climbed on her bed and hugged her legs tight. She looked out at the city lights below. So many people out there, but she felt totally alone. A tear rolled down her face. She swiped it away. She needed to be tougher. Right then, she decided to never cry because of any of these people ever again.

  * * *

  Still shaken from the night before, Marti lingered in the kitchen and watched while Rosa gave it a thorough cleaning. The shattered glass in the great room had disappeared. Rosa didn’t ask any questions. She never did.

  To pass the time, Marti snapped pictures of various kitchen items. The reflection in a spoon, the pattern in the granite counter top, the spots on a banana. The only good thing about last night was that Nigel would never be allowed in the mansion again. Thank God.

  All she wanted now was to see Adam. One more day. An eternity.

  As she focused her lens on a fern, she heard yelling. Marti glanced at Rosa. “What do you think that’s about?”

  “I don’t want to know. It’s best that way.” Rosa sprayed disinfectant on the refrigerator handle and wiped.

  Marti left the kitchen to investigate the latest drama. She peeked into the great room. Courtney stalked after her dad. He wore faded jeans, frayed on the bottom, and no shirt. His long hair hid most of his face. Marti stepped back, out of sight.

  “How could you? I’m gone one night, and you cheat on me! You bastard!”

  Her dad ignored Courtney’s verbal attack. He rubbed his stubble-covered face, yawned, then picked up his pipe.

  “Steven! Look at me!” she shrieked. “I am your girlfriend. Don’t think you can bring those sluts into my bed!”

  “It’s my bed,” he said, searching for a lighter.

  “Well, I picked out the bedding! And don’t change the damn subject! First, you turn into a lunatic and attack Nigel for absolutely no reason.”

  Marti stifled a gasp and ducked out of sight.

  The two women from the night before appeared from upstairs with mussed hair and shoes in hand. They looked used up and old, a lot like Marti’s mom.

  “You skanks! Get the hell out and keep your filthy paws off my man!”

  “Back off bitch. What’s your problem?” asked one.

  That raised Courtney’s hackles. She approached the woman, waving a finger in her face. “You’re my problem! Get your fat ass and bad hair extensions out of here before I rip them out and rearrange your face!”

  Marti cowered in fear even though Courtney’s anger was directed at the two women.

  “We were invited!” the other one said.

  “Well I’m uninviting you, whore!” Courtney picked up the decorative poker and swung it their direction. “And if your disease-infected crotch is still here in two seconds, I’ll bash your head in.”

  The women rushed for the door. “Bye, Steven. Call me!” called one. The other scurried out, not willing to take a chance with psycho Courtney.

  “Bye, girls,” Marti’s dad waved. “Catch you later.”

  Courtney spun around. “Catch them later? You piece of shit, cheating asshole!” She snarled like a mad woman. “You even look at another woman again, and I’ll scratch your eyes out.”

  “Don’t you think that’s a bit melodramatic?” he asked, his voice disinterested. “You know what? I’m done with your self-centered lies and manipulation. It’s time for you to go.” He located a lighter under some magazines, and his face brightened. He raised the lighter to the pipe.

  “Excuse me! You’re dismissing me? Are you out of your fucking mind?”

  Her dad lowered his pipe and fixed his eyes on Courtney. “You can play your games with me all you want. You can lie and cheat and pretend you’re whatever the hell you please. I could give a shit. But your boyfriend assaulted my daughter. That’s unforgivable. We’re done.” His steely, sharp eyes stared Courtney down.

  Marti couldn’t believe it. She still wasn’t used to feeling like she really mattered to him, so every time he stuck up for her, it surprised her all over again.

  “What? Nigel isn’t my boyfriend!” Courtney had the gall to act outraged. “And Marti’s lying. She’s been trying to split you and me up since she got here!” Courtney’s face turned red. She rushed to Steven’s side and knelt, grabbing his arms. “Oh baby, don’t you see what’s going on?” She pouted, and Marti hoped her dad wouldn’t fall for her lies yet again.

  He tossed the pipe and lighter on the table. “Listen, Sweet Cheeks, you can pretend that Nigel’s your brother ‘til the end of time, but I’ve known for months that he’s not. You’ve been screwing him in my house. Courtney, you’re a worthless piece of trash. I didn’t bother to deal with you before, but now I am. Get your free-loading ass off my property.”

  “No one treats me like that!” She stepped away and glowered down at him. “You can’t throw me out. I live here. All my things are here.”

  “Sweetheart, I just did. And I paid for all your things, so that makes them mine.” He leaned back, his hands behind his head and waited for her to leave.

  “You fucking prick! You won’t get away with this.”

  “Watch me.”

  “If you think you can screw me over, well think again!” She swung the fireplace poker and brought it down on a glass-top table.

  He flinched at the flying glass but didn’t move from his spot on the sofa. Marti ducked back behind the corner.

  “Courtney, put the poker down,” he sa
id, his tone suggesting annoyance more than anything else.

  “Not on your life. Two can play this game. You try to destroy my life, I’ll destroy yours too!” She swung again and took out a ceramic lamp.

  Marti watched as her dad got up and approached Courtney. He appeared calm and unconcerned. He smoothly evaded her swing and hugged her from behind, pinning her arms. He swung her struggling body from side to side until she lost her grip on the weapon.

  “You are no longer welcome here!” he spoke evenly, carrying her to the front door as she kicked and screamed. He set her down long enough to open the door.

  “You are a limp Viagra addict! I wouldn’t screw you again if you paid me!”

  “Honey, I’ve been paying you for months. The free ride is over. Now go! And don’t come back!” He pushed her out and slammed the door in her startled face, then locked it.

  Pounding started. “Let me in! No one treats me like this and walks away! You better watch your back, because I’m coming for you!” she screamed hysterically.

  Her dad ambled back to the couch. “That felt good.” He smiled.

  Marti came around the corner. She couldn’t believe he actually came to his senses and threw her out. “Aren’t you worried she’s gonna do something bad?”

  “Nah, she’ll be onto her next victim in couple of days. Girls like her always are.”

  The pounding and screaming finally stopped.

  “Hey Rosa?” he hollered.

  Rosa appeared. “Yes, Mr. Hunter?”

  “I think we should throw a really big party tonight to celebrate Courtney’s departure. Would you call the caterer? Make it something special and order double. I’ll have the usual people spread the word. We’re marking a new era!”

  “Yes, right away. And then I’ll clean up the glass.” Rosa bustled off with a satisfied smile.

  He glanced at the mess. “Oh yeah, good idea.” He picked up the pipe again, and this time, lit it.

  And that was it? The woman tried to destroy his home with a fireplace poker and he just threw her out and now was planning another party? How this party would be any different than the others, Marti couldn’t imagine. But she didn’t really care. She was happy to have Courtney and Nigel out of her life. She felt emotionally exhausted, but at least things were finally looking up.