Escaping Trouble

by Dee Bridle

  “Yeah. Just people on a higher social standing than me,” she said unsurely.

  “I won’t leave your side. You and me, we’re bad asses together,” I said.

  She smiled and then left the room.

  I grabbed my phone and pressed Harry’s number..

  “Haven’t seen you for days. What’s going on?” answered Harry.

  “Book the fight,” I said.

  “Done,” he said, ending the call.

  Ivy

  Ava left me in the room to gather my strength as I looked at myself in the mirror. I had a strapless black ball gown on that was floor length that lightly touched my black heels. The dress was beautiful. I looked at my face, not really recognizing myself. This would have been the old me if things hadn’t changed so many years ago.

  I was looking at myself from a different life perspective. One with money, power, and dark secrets. The tattoos were the only reminder that I was now Ivy. The dress only seemed to highlight them all, especially the one that travelled up my spine to the back of my neck. My inked arms meshed with the dress and my pale skin. They would all be staring at me tonight, wondering what the hell I was doing there.

  I focused on my face, taking a deep breath and letting it out. I could do this. I was a bad ass. I had survived through hell. I could do a ball for my man.

  With a steely resolve, I walked over to the bedroom door and opened it. Noah turned and choked on his beer. It was all I needed to have the strength to walk out to him.

  “Well, fuck me,” said Will from the couch, looking a little gob smacked.

  I continued to walk towards Noah, focusing on my strength. I could do this. I was a bad ass. I could shut down and pretend. I used to do that all the time.

  “You look…beautiful,” he said, eyeing me all over.

  I looked him over in his suit and wanted to say the same thing. But I was speechless. He leaned in and kissed me softly.

  “So stunning,” he said against my lips. “I’ve changed my mind. We need to stay in and do what I promised.”

  There was a knock and Noah’s mum appeared at the door.

  “Sweetheart, the limo is waiting. My goodness, Ivy, you look mesmerizing,” she said with a smile.

  “Thank you,” I said nervously.

  “We’re making our own way there,” said Noah.

  “There is room for you both. There’s no point, sweetheart. Come along, we’re ready to leave,” she said leaving the unit and making her way down the stairs.

  Noah let out a sigh and said, “Let’s get this over with.”

  Will pulled his phone from his ear and said, “Wait, you’re fighting Cobra?”

  I stared at Noah, trying to figure out what that meant.

  He nodded, eyeing Will meaningfully.

  “When the fuck did you decide that?” asked Zac.

  “A couple of hours ago. We’ll talk when I get back,” said Noah taking my hand.

  He led me out and I took the group in before I went out the door. Zac looked surprised and even a little angry. Will was busy starting to make calls, while Ava looked pale.

  “Who’s Cobra?” I asked following him down the steps.

  “The key to us being free,” he said, physically bracing himself as we reached the limo.

  I didn’t have time to question him as I climbed in and came face to face with Rachel. I tried to hide my shock and displeasure as I looked at Noah’s father. He glanced at me and then pressed a button.

  “Let’s go, Jon, I don’t want to be late.”

  “Your family’s limo full?” asked Noah, glaring at Rachel.

  “Oh, it already left, and I was too busy catching up with your father,” she laughed.

  I stayed silent as the limo drove through the streets to the ball, listening to Rachel talk and laugh with Noah’s parents. I felt Noah squeeze my hand to reassure me, but it only made me feel more unsure. Rachel was proving a point by being here now. She wanted Noah. She was part of his father’s plan for him. I wasn’t. That was clear.

  I caught Noah’s mum looking at me, and she gave me a smile, followed by a wink. It was the first proper reassurance that I had felt since being inside the limo. She adored Noah and would end up losing him if he went ahead with his plan to break free. I suddenly didn’t want to break a mother’s heart. She was one of the good ones after all.

  I caught the eye of Rachel during the trip, and she took a moment to stare back at me with triumph. She tried to engage Noah in conversation, but he only ignored her while gazing out the window. I didn’t need to stare back at her with triumph after that. She had obviously worked hard to make his parents love her, but she had failed dismally with Noah. It was the only thing that got me through, along with Noah’s hand squeezing mine. I was clearly trapped inside a moving vessel full of unspoken tension and expectations.

  The ballroom was huge and we were shown to our seats at a large round dining table. Nick was already there, sitting beside a girl who looked bored, until she saw me and her mouth fell open in shock. Noah’s father was already off shaking hands and socializing.

  Noah hadn’t let go of my hand since the limo and helped me into my seat. Then he dropped down next to me, loosening his tie in frustration.

  Nick caught my eye and gave me a smirk as he sipped his scotch.

  “So, baby brother, are you going to introduce me?”

  “No,” said Noah moodily, swiping two champagne flutes from a passing waiter and handing one flute to me.

  I took a sip and tried to look away from Nick who was still smirking at me.

  “I’m Nick, by the way, Noah’s brother. And you are?”

  I placed my champagne flute down on the table and said, “Ivy, but I’m sure you would have remembered me. After all, you did call me a…what was it…a totally fuckable piece of ass.”

  Nick coughed a little and then burst out laughing.

  “I like you,” he said lifting his scotch glass to me.

  “Well, she doesn’t like you,” said Noah darkly.

  “Did they hurt?” asked his date with a slight cringe on her face as she perused my tattoos.

  “Yes,” I replied. Moron.

  “What would make you do that?” she asked in disbelief.

  “Some consider it art, Katie,” responded Nick. “You buy paintings. She gets tattoos.”

  “But I can admire my paintings all day, and they cost a small fortune.”

  “I admire the art on her beautiful body all day, which is priceless,” said Noah. “Do you have a point?”

  Katie sat back and sipped her champagne quietly. I squeezed Noah’s hand with thanks and looked around the ballroom again.

  “So, I hear Rachel is around, getting ready to put the hard word on you with her legs open,” said Nick, laughing at his own joke.

  I felt Noah bristle, and he gulped the rest of his champagne.

  “Not interested,” he replied.

  “Well, you were once,” said Nick. “We all were at one time, hey?”

  Noah glared at him and asked, “When did you fuck Rachel?”

  “We get together every now and again. She’s an easy lay,” said Nick with a shrug.

  “You belong together,” said Noah drily.

  “She wants you, always has. I’m just the poor replacement for my baby brother.”

  “So, if she’s an easy lay, what am I?” asked Katie.

  “You’re arm candy, babe,” he said leering at her breasts in the provocative gown.

  He then looked back at Noah and said, “Rachel’s father is working towards a big deal with our law firm. You and her together is a sweetener for the deal.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me,” said Noah in disgust.

  Nick sat back and laughed.

  “We’re all pawns to him, my brother. Never forget that.”

  I sat back in my chair, realizing I was never going to truly have Noah. His life was already set out for him. There wasn’t a plan anywhere with me in it. I felt everyone’s eyes
on me, knowing they probably knew about the business deal waiting to happen. I was a joke.

  As if sensing my despair, Noah’s hand found mine again and he squeezed it. I focused on his tattooed hand covering mine, not wanting to see into his eyes right now.

  He moved in closer to me and whispered, “Hey.”

  I dared a glimpse at him, seeing the concern in his eyes, before I concentrated on taking my glass and sipping the horrible champagne.

  “We’ll go now, just say the word,” he whispered into my ear.

  All my nerve endings zapped at the closeness of his lips and the words coming from them. I wanted to leave right now and go back to the warmth at his place. I wanted to see his friends, listen to their stories, and be part of the group. I didn’t want to be here where I was not wanted. I felt like I was a pawn set up and ready to be removed from the game.

  “Hey,” he murmured again, this time touching my face and pulling my face to his. “Whatever happens here tonight, it’s still you and me against the world.”

  I looked into his eyes and saw the determination shining bright in them. No one could hear us amongst the noise, and I let his voice roll over me like a giant caressing wave.

  “Don’t listen to any of it. Don’t even look at any of them. You’re mine, Ivy, and I’m yours. Nothing else matters, okay?”

  “Okay,” I returned softly, before his lips touched mine with promise.

  A server appeared beside me with more drinks for the table and Noah took two glasses of scotch and put one in front of me. I smiled and took a sip, preferring it over the champagne.

  I soon excused myself to go to the restroom before the award presentations started. Noah kindly offered to come with me, but I knew I would be okay, so I left him with his asshole of a brother.

  I felt the disapproving eyes on me as I walked to the main doors, leading out to the main hallway where the restrooms were located. I remembered Noah’s words and his lips on mine as I held my head high. I could do this. These people meant nothing to me.

  As I washed my hands in the basin, I knew it wouldn’t take her long to find me. She waited until the door closed behind her before speaking to me.

  “He doesn’t belong with you,” said Rachel.

  I ignored her as I turned off the taps and went to dry my hands.

  “There are things going on here that are much bigger than him slumming it with you. He’s destined to be with me, whether you like it or not,” she continued.

  “Is that how you get guys? Through daddy’s business deals?” I returned calmly.

  She looked uncomfortable for a split second, obviously surprised that I knew more than she thought. But it didn’t take her long to recover.

  “I’ve had him before, a long time before you came along,” she said cattily.

  “And I highly doubt he will ever go back to you after me,” I returned.

  “Oh, please. You’re just a faze, something to pass the time. He will be mine eventually.”

  “I’ll think about that when he’s keeping me warm every night,” I returned.

  “His father will never allow you to stay with him. He has big plans and you aren’t part of them.”

  “Noah makes his own decisions, just like when he fucked you, and didn’t want anything else from you afterwards.”

  “You bitch,” she said going red in the face with anger.

  “The thing is,” I said, moving over to her. For each step I took forward, she took one back until she was up against the tiles. “I can’t believe you would dare to stand here and say these things to me. Who the fuck are you? I’ve hurt others for less.”

  “If you hit me, I will go out there and tell them you attacked me. You will be thrown out.”

  I rolled my eyes and moved to open the door.

  “Don’t do me any favors. It’s best that you be careful, Rachel. Stay away from me and get your little beady desperate eyes off my boyfriend.”

  “He told me to tell you something,” she rushed.

  I stopped from walking out of the door and said, “Who?”

  “Noah’s father. He wants you gone. He’s offering to pay you a sum of money if you leave quietly.”

  I looked up at the ceiling and then back at her. This night just kept getting better.

  “How much?” I asked.

  I would never take it, but I had to know how much I was worth.

  “$200,000.”

  I took a breath and then composed myself. I knew he would think that sort of money would set someone like me up, but I wouldn’t choose anything over Noah. Rachel was now smiling at me, thinking I was debating the payoff.

  “Like I said before, keep your hands and eyes off my boyfriend. If you don’t, then you’ll have me to deal with, and believe me, you wouldn’t want that.”

  I walked out of the restroom with the door shutting behind me. Inside, I imagined Rachel standing there with her mouth open.

  I headed down the empty hallway, my feet feeling heavy in the high heels I was wearing. These people were horrible. Rick and my mother were assholes, but at least they were out with it. These people hid behind secrets, control, and nastiness, reminding me of the monster I had been hiding from all of these years.

  I quickened my steps, wanting to return to Noah’s side. I needed to breathe him in and focus on what was important to me right now.

  My skin suddenly prickled as I headed towards the ballroom doors. I felt a certain uneasiness before I heard the monster’s voice that had darkened my nightmares for years.

  “Emily?”

  I spun around and came face to face with the devil himself. The gods were clearly fucking with me tonight. A rush of dizziness swept through me, and I grabbed the wall to steady myself. Was this really happening right now? After years of hiding, I was now face to face with the man that had ruined my soul. A man that had turned my sun into darkness, with pain so bone deep that I would never be the same.

  He looked up and down the hallway and then set those ugly, familiar eyes on me.

  “You’re supposed to be dead,” he said in a violent whisper, grabbing my arm.

  I shoved him off me.

  “Don’t you dare fucking touch me!” I spat.

  “What the hell is going on, Emily? You need to explain yourself! Are you trying to ruin me?”

  “Like you fucking ruined me,” I growled.

  “How the hell are you alive right now? I buried you!”

  I went to move out of his way, focusing on the ballroom door that would lead me back to Noah and safety. Panic started to choke me, as my shortened breath and pulse waned.

  “I have a different life now,” the monster said. “People mustn’t know you are alive. You can’t come out in the open. I will hunt you down!” he said grabbing my arm.

  This time, it actually hurt, and I yelped in pain. I couldn’t let him hurt me anymore. My fist came up and hit him on the side of the head, but his grip only got harder. He was always stronger, always able to do whatever he wanted. He started to drag me towards the entrance.

  I swung at him with my fist again, pulling back with all my strength, but I was nothing and had no power compared to his size. I tripped over my heels, but was held upright as he kept pulling me.

  “You stupid little bitch. I will end you properly this time,” he said, dragging me down the stairs.

  I fought against him, shocked that the attendants turned a blind eye to my ordeal.

  At the entrance, he demanded that the concierge bring his car around, as he had a stranglehold on my arm.

  “Ivy?”

  He spun around and saw Rachel standing at the top of the steps.

  “Go inside, girl. This one was caught stealing my wallet, and I’m waiting for the police.”

  Rachel swallowed hard and looked at me. Somehow, her intuition told her that he was lying. But like everyone else, she, too, turned a blind eye. She spun on her heels and sauntered back inside, just like I knew she would.

  I used the opportunity
to swiftly knee him in the groin as hard as I could. He staggered back, letting my throbbing arm go. Then I ran.

  I ran for my life.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Noah

  I looked over at the ballroom doors and wondered why Ivy was taking so long in the restroom. If she wasn’t out in the next minute, I’d go look for her.

  “I’ve got another champagne for you,” said Rachel sitting down and putting a glass in front of me.

  “Have you seen Ivy?” I asked, ignoring the champagne and looking over at the ballroom doors again.

  “No, I haven’t. Maybe she couldn’t handle it all and went home,” she said next. “Oh, that’s right, she doesn’t have a home.”

  I glared at her, narrowing my eyes.

  “Don’t fuck with me or her, Rachel,” I demanded quietly.

  “Of course not,” she said talking a long mouthful of champagne.

  My phone buzzed.

  Zac: CALL ME

  I frowned at the use of capitals, wondering what was going on. The lights started to dim, signaling that the speeches would soon start. Where the hell was Ivy?

  Noah: Speeches on – what’s up?

  Zac: It was her father. Richard Heatherton. He’s there tonight. Sending photo now.

  I looked around the ballroom, blood pumping in my ears. I pressed Zac’s name and waited for him to answer.

  He answered instantly and started talking fast.

  “She was going to the police. He had abused her for years. Records of it were sealed and then deleted. I found traces of them and they had some fucking terrible details. He made the car accident happen. She was meant to have died. Both her and her mother. He didn’t want his secret out that he was a fucking scumbag, abusing his daughter. She’s a fucking Heatherton, Noah. He’s worth millions. If he finds her there tonight, I don’t know what the fuck will happen.”

  I stood up quickly, my chair falling back, as I scanned the ballroom. Where the fuck was he? Where the fuck was Ivy? Blood drained from my face as I ran for my life across the room and out into the hallway.

  “Ivy!” I called out running down the hallway.

  I shoved open the door of the female toilets, praying she was inside.

  “Ivy!” I called out, bending down to check for feet in the stalls. Empty.