by Bria Daly
There was one contractor in particular who had started referring to her as “my girl.” Sera was nobody’s girl, and especially not this guy’s. She knew if “her” guys were in the office, they would have put a stop to that. She made it clear to him that she was busy, not interested, and working, so she should not be bothered, but the guy was obviously dense.
Sera was in the back of the building in Jeff’s office, putting away some papers from recent estimates, when she heard some noise coming from the front office.
“Yoo-hoo!” Sera heard the contractor’s grating voice. Yuck, Gary was in the building.
Shit, shit, shit! Sera was about to grab her purse to leave. She had decided to put a couple more papers away and then head out early, when he called out. It was not quite 4 P.M., but she had texted Jeff to let him know she was leaving.
She was almost done with basics anyway, and this had been a l-o-n-g and trying week. Jeff did not mind. All that mattered was that she did her work.
When she did it was irrelevant. They trusted her implicitly. Shit, shit, shit, she thought. The guys would be really mad if they knew she forgot to lock the office door again. Good thing they weren’t here to find out.
“Hold on a sec, I’ll be right there!” Sera yelled out and made sure she grabbed her purse to show she was just leaving. She picked up her purse, turned, and bumped into the contractor. Apparently, her “Hold on a sec” had not been acknowledged.
“Oh, hi Gary, I was on my way out. Do you need something, or can we just walk out and I’ll make sure I get it for you on Monday?”
“Aren’t you leaving earlier than usual?” Gary asked her.
Really? Like it was any of his frickin’ business. “A little, but Jeff doesn’t mind. My work here is done, so if you don’t mind?”
“I’m sure you keep Jeff happy enough so he doesn’t mind…” Gary told her.
Sera didn’t like his tone. The guy was gross, and she was sure he wasn’t referring to Sera’s work, as to what kept Jeff “happy.”
“Yes well, we have an understanding. I get my work done, and if I need to leave early, he is happy knowing I will not screw him.” Ugh, really bad choice of words.
“Well that wouldn’t make me happy,” Gary smirked. “I guess Jeff’s not the kind of guy I thought he was.”
“Yes, well you and Jeff are very different people, that’s for sure. If you don’t mind, my shift is now over. Maybe you can stop by Monday morning during regular office hours. I stay until 4:30 usually, but the sign outside says the office closes at 4 P.M.” Sera didn’t mind being rude. The guy gave her the creeps.
Sera moved towards the door for him to follow, but instead, he got in front of her and stopped, not letting her go by.
“Gary, I don’t kid around. When I am done at work, I am done. I don’t get paid overtime. So…”
Gary did not move. “Sera, Sera, Sera. I love that name. I’ve been thinking for a long time that we should get to know each other a little better.”
“I know you well enough Gary. I know all of our clients and contractors well enough to make sure the work gets done, but now,” she stopped and looked straight at him, “my shift is over and I’m tired of working today.”
Gary did not move. “I don’t really understand why you are in such a hurry. I won’t make you work hard at all,” he laughed. “I don’t mind doing all the work. Even when I do all the work, I still have fun…”
“Gary, you’re not listening. I don’t have time for this. My husband is waiting for me and I don’t thin…”
”Your husband left you,” he smiled as if that truly amused him. “I’m curious why, but I’m thinking there must be something very wrong with the guy. I don’t think it’s you, but I am curious.”
Warning bells started ringing louder. “Okay, you’re right. My husband isn’t around right now, but I need to go pick up my kids from the sitter and…”
Gary got closer to her and made it hard for her to back away. He was just a few inches away and looking at her in a way that made her skin crawl.
“Very funny Gary. Now get out of my way so I can get going.” Sera pretended to laugh, but the break in her voice made it obvious she was not in control.
”You know, you are really pretty Sera. More than pretty, you’re really h-o-t if I’m to be completely honest.” He laughed, “I don’t know how anyone gets any work done here with you around,” Gary looked down from her face and took in the rest of her. He came up again, but steadied on her chest that was heaving in deep breaths of air. “Ever since the first time I saw you ... I’ve had a hard time keeping myself away from this office. What do you say we get to know each other a little bit better and find out where it goes?”
“Let me be clearer, although I thought I was. No. I am not interested, nor do I have the time. The guys will be back any minute now, so please get out of the way.”
When he didn’t move, she said, “Gary, this isn’t funny.” Sera pushed him away this time, but Gary stood his ground.
“Why don’t you make it easier on both of us, and stop playing hard to get.” His face was only inches away from her. Unfortunately, the rest of him was just as close.
If Sera had any time to think, she would ask herself: When is it a good time to panic? When is it justified to scream? When do you stop being polite and pretending the scum in front of you is just yanking your chain?
Her answer came suddenly when he reached over and put his hand on her breast. Sera jerked back. Now she was terrified.
“Gary, get your hands off me!” Sera pushed as hard as she could and reached for the door. She turned the knob, but Gary had locked it with the deadbolt. She went to turn the deadbolt and he quickly turned her around and pushed himself, full body, against her.
“Not so fast. You’ve been teasing me all week lady. You’re not getting away this easily.”
Sera pushed him, but he stayed put; he had an advantage of about eighty pounds on her.
“Leave me alone Gary! I’ll call the police!”
He laughed, “You are feisty aren’t you?” Gary put his hands behind her and pulled her closer. His mouth was on hers and he was trying to kiss her. His mouth was wet and disgusting. His hands were working his way over her body and she was trying to scream, but no sound came out. “Stop playing hard to get. You’re not the innocent virgin you play at, Sera. So cut it out. This is how you play the game.”
Gary shoved her against the desk and started pulling at her blouse. The blouse she wore that day was a soft pink peasant blouse, and the fabric was flimsy. She heard the fragile fabric tear immediately, just as she heard herself cry.
“Please don’t. Leave me alone. I have kids, Gary. I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong impression. Please don’t do this. Not like this. Stop…” she cried.
It was as if her pleading fueled his fire. “Oh, so that’s how you like to play it? Tease, tease, tease, and then push away? That’s a dangerous game Sera, but I kind of like it.”
Her top was ripped off, leaving her breasts exposed. All she had on was a thin white lace bra that left little to the imagination.
He stared down hungrily, “Beautiful. Now let’s stop the charade.” Gary bent down and pulled her closer. Putting all of his weight against her, he started roaming her body with his tongue. While doing that he started pushing his fingers under the lace of her bra, and grabbing.
There was no hesitation and no finesse. He rubbed and pushed, and it hurt.
”No! Stop it!” Sera’s voice had come back and she knew he could hear her, but ignored her plead. She pushed, cried, screamed, and just hoped someone could hear her.
He was hurting her. She could feel herself bruise. Now he was kneading her breasts with one hand, while trying to work the button on her jeans with the other. Thank God for tight jeans. Thank God for those extra pounds after Emma. Thank ... but where was God or anyone else right now for that matter?
Sera pushed and screamed. She tasted blood when
he came back suddenly to her mouth. She was pushing with all her 115 lbs. And she wasn’t even sure why she bothered. His weight was too much, and his determination was even greater.
Gary had managed to tear her bra off and stopped kneading her for only a few seconds. With an intake of his breath at the sight of her exposed breasts, he looked up at her with even more hunger. The man had a look of pure lunacy. The man was possessed.
Sera was crying and screaming, or at least she thought she was. She couldn’t even tell anymore. The button on her jeans flew off as he snapped it open. She knew what was coming next, and if she didn’t have four kids she adored, needing her and waiting for her, she’d just choose to die. He was determined to have her, with or without her consent. He was raping her. With or without penetration, he had already violated her. The power he had was the extra eighty to a hundred pounds he had over her, and the added strength from the type of work he did. Sera didn’t stand a chance, but while she still breathed, she’d fight for her self-respect, her life, but mostly for her kids. They needed her.
He lifted her with no effort and threw her on the desk. He effortlessly yanked her pants off and tossed them across the room. Her panties had flown somewhere with them. She was completely exposed.
Lying on the desk, Sera could feel the edge of her keyboard digging into her back. She raised her legs and started kicking. He had one hand on her chest pinning her down, while his knee was propped between her legs. She realized he was on top of her all the way, and was working at the button and zipper of his own pants now.
Sera pushed her hand back remembering her steel stapler was just inches above her head. She grabbed it. He wasn’t paying attention. He was putting every effort into pulling his pants down. She picked up the stapler, pulled her hand back, and slammed it against his face. That caught his attention. But unfortunately that didn’t stop him. Some blood came out of the corner of his eye.
He was obviously taken aback and reached and felt where she had it him. He saw the blood on his fingers, but that didn’t stop him or slow him down. Instead he just looked down at her in disgust and punched her in the jaw.
Sera used everything she had. She was kicking and scratching, but all she was doing was getting weaker from the effort.
She was no match for him.
She saw him raise his hand again to hit her when something stopped him.
Sera felt the 200 plus pounds of weight on top of her lift as she saw Gary fly against the wall. Gary’s body fell like a rag doll, but sounded like a heavy thunk.
Sera turned to see Gary’s body was lifted again by the neck with that same hand that had thrown him. Once up and secured by the neck, the strong hand flew at his face and punched him in the jaw. The large hand pulled back and flew at Gary’s stomach. Back again and with full force went the fist, making Gary’s head the biggest target, while at the same time a knee went up and whacked him in the balls.
Sera heard the sound of something breaking as Gary’s head snapped back.
At that same moment, another hand reached over and pulled Sera’s savior off from Gary’s limp body, before going for another hit.
Sera heard Jeff’s voice. He was pulling away from Mitch who was making every effort to stop Jeff from doing more damage.
“Let me kill him!” Jeff yelled out to Mitch, trying to get out of his brother-in-law’s grasp.
“That’s enough Jeff. He can’t hurt her anymore. Stop.”
Sera saw Jeff’s shoulders shake. He was crying. She rolled to her side and tucked her legs in a fetal position, trying to cover her exposed body, sobbing like the baby she now resembled.
Mitch looked pointedly at Jeff. “I’ll take care of him. She needs you now. Go to Sera. I’ll take care of this scumbag.”
Gary lay crumpled on the floor. For all Sera knew, he was dead; if he was dead, she didn’t care.
Sera lifted her hand and called for Jeff. His tears were flowing as freely as hers were.
Jeff turned slowly and came to her. Looking her over quickly, he pulled off the work jacket he was wearing to lay it on top of her. He reached over to a tissue box and pulled some tissue to wipe her mouth. Apparently, she was bleeding. She hadn’t noticed.
Once Sera was covered and some of the blood was wiped off, Jeff sat on the desk next to her and gently pulled her close. He rocked her to him as they both cried.
He was so gentle, but she needed him closer. She held on tight and pulled him closer. He was hurting too, and right now she needed him more than anything.
They held and rocked. Jeff ran his fingers through her hair and kissed her head softly. His breathing slowed, which soothed her. She took what strength she could get from him to make her stronger.
Sera felt Jeff’s strength, but also his love and his kindness. Smelling him and pulling him as closely as she could, she melted into his arms.
Jeff was once again her safe harbor. He had saved her once, and now he had saved her again. He gave her the strength she needed, and a greater reason to move on.
Maybe there was a future for them as Deb had suggested. Maybe Sera’s future included Jeff. Sera hoped it did. He had helped her before, and here he was again, pulling her up when she was down. It felt good to be held by him. Too bad their first opportunity to hold each other like this came with blood and tears, making that special moment something far from a happy first. Still...
Sera leaned into him and could feel him lean in too. She didn’t look to see if Gary was dead or alive, but somewhere in the background, Sera heard Mitch talking to a 911 First Responder, and somewhere very close, Sera heard Jeff whispering in her ear.
Sera listened carefully as he kept repeating, “Shh. Shh, baby. It’s okay. I’m here. I love you Sera Henderson. I will never let anything bad happen to you again. I promise. You’re safe now baby,” he cried into her ear.
Jeff pulled her away for just a little as he looked down at her lips. He reached over the desk and pulled another tissue out of its box to wipe a trickle of blood that was trailing down her chin. He softly kissed the corner of her mouth he had just wiped, and looking now into her eyes he said, “I’m here Sera. I’m not going anywhere.” His lips quivered as he made an effort to finish, “We’re together baby, and you’ll never be alone again.”
Wincing at the pain, but trying her hardest for normalcy, Sera smiled back at him and closed her eyes.
Later, much later, Sera would not remember if at that same moment she fell asleep or if she passed out. Whatever it was, she would always remember what she dreamt.
In her dream, Sera was somewhere at a ball game. It might have been that same field where Charlie played his first game. In her dream, Daniel’s name was P.D. again, Charlie had just hit a home run and had the entire stadium cheering, Emma wasn’t crying, but instead was giggling in that special way only babies do, and Melle was laughing at something someone next to her said. Melle was sitting on the bleachers, next to that man who made her laugh. A man, who looked just like Jeff.
The End
(for now)
Dear Readers,
I loved writing this story and had lots of fun doing it. Jeff is the kind of guy we all want to meet, and Sera may be cute, petite, and quirky, but she’s also strong and resilient, and of course, we really want her to end up with Jeff.
Follow Sera, Jeff, and the gang in A Trade for Better and A Trade for Keeps, to find out how their story develops. I promise the excitement hasn’t ended here.
Spoiler alert: Peter comes back and it’s not pretty.
Thanks for reading,
Bria
Word-of-mouth is crucial for any author to succeed. If you enjoyed the book, please leave a review. Even if it’s just a sentence or two. It would make all the difference and would be very much appreciated:
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Bria
Acknowledgements
First, I want to thank my family for their support, love, and unending encouragement. If I didn’t have such wonderful people in my life, I would have never taken the leap to publish the many ideas that soon became words and later stories, fighting hard to get out of my very jumbled head.
You are first for me in everything.
And when I say my family, I am primarily referring to my husband of almost 30 years, and my two children, but I also have a mother and two sisters, and I have several friends.
My mom likes everything I do, which is truly amazing because it hasn’t always been that way, and my sisters are great critics; or maybe they’re just critical of me. In any case, I trust my sisters to tell me what they think, and even when I don’t want to hear it, I know they’ll still tell me.
Thank you Rose, my editor, who not only makes corrections for basic grammar and syntax, but also tells me when she’s bored, or couldn’t stop laughing, or when something was totally unexpected and caught her off guard. Those are all of the things I need pointed out to me to make me a better writer. Thank you.
My book covers are created by A&L, Creative Designs, and I thank them for listening to my vision of what I see as I am creating my characters and the places in the story where they will be.
Speaking of my characters, I want to thank them as well. They become a part of me in every story I write. When they’re funny they make me laugh, when they’re sad, they make me cry, and if somebody hurts them, I just want to pummel whoever did the hurting.
Now to my readers… After my first series, I could have given up, but your letters, praise, reviews, and encouragement have made me want to write more. I love to write, but I need my readers to tell me what they think and to motivate me to want to write more.
