by Rumer Raines
“No. I am concerned about you and thought we could talk.” Monique walks over to the white leather sofa and nods for me to sit with her.
“Monique, I don’t have anything to talk about.” I turn away and start to walk out.
“Monica is worried about you.”
I stop and turn to look at her. “Monica?” I whisper, “How do you know Monica?”
“She has been picking up Ted’s lunch. When I asked her about you, she mentioned that you haven’t been yourself. She said you won’t talk to anyone, including her, that you go home and drink, and that you have been going into work smelling like a drunk.”
“That is not true. I do not smell like a drunk!”
“Whatever you say. All I know is that she said you are her best friend and she is worried about you.”
Sitting next to her, I shake my head thinking about Monica.
“She is picking up Ted’s lunch now?”
“Yes.”
“I have to go. We can talk about this later,” I tell her as I rush to the door.
Monique follows me as I practically run out of her townhouse. I’ll talk to Monica about why she is suddenly doing Ted’s lunch pickups. It could be no big deal, and I should be grateful that I don’t have to do it. However, something tells me it is a major deal, and I need to talk to my best friend.
When Monica opens the door, I can see that she has been crying.
“What are you doing here?” she questions, and I slide in past her, walking into her condo.
“I thought we could talk.”
Softly closing the door, she walks past me into the kitchen. “Do you want any coffee?”
“No, I’m good.”
“What do you want to talk about? You haven’t wanted to talk in weeks,” She looks at me with hurt clear on her face.
I feel awful. Monica is my best friend, and I have completely shut her out of my life. I can’t blame Ted for that; I can only blame myself.
“I hear you have been picking up Ted’s lunch.”
She stops pouring her coffee, and I notice her hand starts to shake. “Is that why you’re here?”
“Kind of…” I whisper.
“I do. It’s no big deal.”
“I don’t believe that. Ted is an ass, and I know you hate him just as much as I do,” I add.
“I don’t like him, but he is the boss. I have to keep him happy.”
“I called him a limp dick motherfucker.” I laugh. “I thought he was going to report me to human resources, but he didn’t. I became his bitch, and he made me pick up his lunch. After he came back from his personal leave, he didn’t ask me to do it again.”
“Limp dick is pretty accurate,” Monica whispers as she takes a sip of coffee, looking off in the distance.
“Yeah, I guess we should feel bad for the poor woman who he uses it on.” I laugh and shake off the thought until I notice Monica still staring off in a daze. “Monica?”
She looks at me with tears in her eyes. “I did something really bad, Stephanie. He found out and is making me do things.”
“Shit, is it more than just picking up his lunch?”
My heart breaks as I listen to my best friend cry. Monica never lets anything bother her. Ted broke her the same way he broke me. Not everyone deserves to have power, and he is the perfect example. Leaders should help promote others, not destroy them. Leaders aren’t afraid of others having a light that shines just as bright as their own. Leaders don’t have to silence other people because they understand that all voices can work together for good.
Ted isn’t a leader. He is a dictator with power.
Monica falls asleep in my lap, and I close my eyes while playing with her hair.
I sit up with a jolt when I hear the oven timer go off. “What time is it?”
“It’s four p.m.,” she whispers as she takes something out of the oven.
“I can’t believe I slept all day.”
“I baked chicken.” She takes two plates out of the cabinet.
Sitting across from her, I want to ask her so many questions, but I am hesitant.
“I don’t want to talk about it, Stephanie,” she answers before I can ask.
“I didn’t say anything,” I whisper.
“You don’t have to. You’re my best friend. I know how you think, and you want to ask me questions, but I just can’t talk about it now.”
“I’m sorry.”
Her eyes narrow. “Why are you apologizing?”
“I should have been there for you. I know Ted is awful, but I thought it was just my problem. I thought I was the only one he was determined to destroy. If I had known, he would move on to you...” Wiping away my tears, I see Monica wipe hers as well.
“The first time he made me… he called me Stephanie. I was so sick. I did it, so he would leave you alone. I thought it would be better for both of us,” she cries.
“I will find a way out of this, Monica. I promise.”
15
AFTER DINNER, Monica and I watched Netflix until almost midnight. At least, I think she watched. I just stared at the screen thinking about Ted. He couldn’t keep getting away with this shit. When Monica finally went to bed, I went to the one person who offered to help. I hoped the offer was still available.
So, here I am. I ring the doorbell at least four times before Monique yanks it open. Her beautiful dark hair is a mess, and she’s closing her black silk robe. Her eyes widen when she sees it’s me.
“Stephanie? What the hell are you doing? Do you know what time it is?”
“Can I come in?”
She blocks me and looks back into the house. “No! I have company. What do you want?”
“I-I…” Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath. “I need your help. I need Ted to back off. He’s a monster, and he’s hurting…” I wipe away tears, and she tilts her head and pulls me into the house.
“He hurt you?” she whispers.
“No, not me. He-he…”
A man strolls out of the back room with ruffled hair and boxers. He is covered in tattoos and has short dark hair. His eyes widen when they meet mine.
“Cal, baby, go back to bed.”
He holds out his hands, offering an apology.
“Meet me at the bar tonight after closing.”
I drive back to my apartment wondering if I’ve made the right decision. How will Monique help me with Ted? Should I have asked her for help? The only thing I am sure about is Ted must be stopped. I know another meeting with human resources isn’t the answer.
Tossing away empty bottles, I realize I fucked up. I pushed away my best friend when I should have leaned on her. If I would have, maybe we wouldn’t be in this situation.
Time stands still as I wait in my apartment until the bar closes. I don’t have any interest in doing anything else but finding out how Monique can help me. I sent a text to Monica every hour today to check on her. She wasn’t in a very talkative mood, which made me even sadder. Monica was never one to remain silent. I pace in my small kitchen and feel relief when it’s only thirty minutes until closing.
There are only a few people left in the bar. Monique whispers to each of them, and they each give her a small nod before settling their bill.
After locking up, she comes over and gives me a small hug. “I am surprised you came.”
“You said you could help me.”
Monique lowers her voice, being purposefully mysterious. “I can’t help you personally. I just know people who can help.”
I let out a long, audible breath. “Who are these people?”
“Stephanie, I just want to warn you that you can’t ever mention this to anyone. The only reason I am even offering is because you’re a friend.”
I laugh to cover my annoyance. I am in a bar at two in the morning asking for help to deal with my boss. Who does she think I would tell?
“How can you help me, Monique? Would you have someone key his car? Send him a nasty letter telling him to back off?” I bi
te down hard on my lower lip, wondering what she has planned.
“Not exactly. Do you give me your word that what happens here stays here?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, let’s go talk to them.”
Monique leads me down a dark hallway and knocks on a door that must be made of steel. One of her brothers pulls open the door and glances at me and back toward Monique.
“What the hell, Monique? Why is she back here?” he questions.
“She needs your help.”
“Do you think we do missionary work?”
“Nico are you here alone or is there intelligent life we can talk to?” she retorts in cold sarcasm.
Monique takes my arm and pulls me inside while shoving Nico out of the way. I can hear him growl as I walk past. The inside of the office is huge with a leather sofa beside the door. Plush white carpet covers the floor and an animal print rug is placed in the middle of the floor underneath a huge wood desk with three leather chairs sitting around it.
I experience a gamut of perplexing emotions when I see, sitting at the head of that desk, Dominic. His glare burns through me.
“Hello, I don’t think we have been formally introduced. I’m Anthony.”
“Stephanie?” Monique whispers as she elbows me. I realize there is another man standing in front of me with a smirk. His hand is outstretched toward me, and I look into his narrowed eyes.
“I’m Anthony. You are?”
“Stephanie… Stephanie Masters,” I reply in a small, frightened voice.
‘’Nice to meet you, Stephanie Masters. How can we help you?”
“Stephanie and her friend are being harassed by her boss. I told her I know of people who could help.”
“You did what?” Nico yells, and Anthony, Monique, and Nico have a heated conversation about her bringing me to the back with the promise of help. I only half-listen, struggling with my conscience. I feel something is not right and I shouldn’t be here.
While they are arguing, my eyes find Dominic, who is tilting back in his leather chair watching me. His dark brows arch mischievously. His eyes study me with curious intensity.
“Everyone out now! I need to talk to Stephanie alone,” he shouts.
They exchange a subtle look of amusement before quietly leaving the office.
Dominic nods toward the leather chairs that are across from him and I sit.
“What’s going on, Stephanie?”
“Nothing,” I lie. I don’t want to talk to Dominic about any of this. I am still angry with him.
“I don’t think Monique would have brought you here for nothing.”
“I have a friend who is having problems with our boss,” I finally tell him.
He glances sideways in surprise. “Your friend? You should let your friend take care of her own business.”
For a long moment, I look at him. I’ll have to tell him the truth. Or at least some of the truth.
“It’s not just my friend having the problem. My boss is giving us a hard time, and Monique said she knew people who could help.”
His gaze lowers as does his voice. “What exactly did you want to be done to him?”
My eyes freeze on his lips. “I thought maybe someone could key his car? He wouldn’t know who did it.”
There is something lazily seductive in his look. “Key his car?” he repeats.
Dominic takes a deep breath and pinches the bridge of his nose before looking back at me. I start to wonder if keying Ted’s car is too much to ask for? It would be illegal, so maybe I shouldn’t have suggested it. I doubt Dominic is willing to break the law for me. I need to find someone else to help.
Will keying his car be enough punishment? Who am I kidding? Of course, it isn’t.
He gazes at me speculatively, and I realize he is about to turn down my request. “Did Monique tell you that we don’t work for free?” Dominic asks.
I never consider the fact that I would have to pay. Luckily, I’ve saved the money from the sex parties after paying my parents’ insurance.
“How much does it cost?”
“Dinner. It will cost you dinner with me tonight.” His eyes are as dark and powerful as he is.
Shit. I will have to get rid of one devil by having dinner with another. I agree to have dinner with Dominic, which is only a business arrangement. We’ll eat and, hopefully, Dominic will key his car.
My mind races as I walk out of the bar. I keep my eyes down as Nico and Anthony stare at me, and I make sure the door doesn’t slam shut behind me.
16
“TED WILL BE HANDLED,” I inform Monica as we stand in her doorway.
“This isn’t a good time, Stephanie.” She looks up, disoriented.
Her arm is blocking my path and I kneel under it to get inside.
“I know you were upset last night, but I promise he’ll leave us alone.”
Monica closes her red-rimmed eyes and softly shakes her head. “Stephanie… this isn’t a good time.”
Confused, I wander restlessly around the room. I stop when the bedroom door is flung open and out walks Ted. His short curly hair looks wet, he’s not wearing a shirt, and his pants are undone.
My eyes move between Ted and Monica, but she won’t even look at me. My mind is congested with doubts and fears.
“Stephanie, it’s nice seeing you here. How about you get undressed and come join us? Monica isn’t much fun tonight.” He gives me a brutal and unfriendly stare. I glance at Monica, and the color drains from her face.
“What are you doing here, Ted?” I swallow with difficulty and find my voice.
His fingers wrap around the dark fabric of my sleeve. “Why do you think I am here? I’m looking after what’s mine.”
I move away, my jaw tightening. “Nothing here is yours.”
“That is so not true, Stephanie. Everything in here belongs to me. If not for me, she wouldn’t be able to afford the furniture or even what’s in the fridge. I can make one call, and her way of life fucking changes. That goes for you, too. I hardly think the company would like to know that one of their employees sells dildos on the side.”
I can’t believe Monica told him. I look at her and she turns away.
“Don’t blame her. She is your best friend; besides, she has her own issues.”
“What are you talking about?”
Ted laughs and walks to Monica, pulling her by the hand so she can face me.
“Go ahead. Tell her, Monica. Tell her the demons you’re fighting, or should I say that you’re not fighting?”
Monica shakes her head and tries to pull away from him. Ted grabs her, and I can see that he is squeezing her arm to keep her still. He leans over, whispering in her ear, “Tell her.”
“No,” Monica whispers.
“I said tell her, damn it!” His brows flicker a little.
“He made me. I swear he did.” Her voice is fragile and shaking.
“You already told me what he made you do, Monica.” I speak with as reasonable a voice as I can manage.
“Did she now?” Ted questions before giving Monica a wet kiss on the cheek as she tries to pull away. “It didn’t take much convincing to make you swallow the pills or snort the coke, did it?” His voice breaks with huskiness.
I stand there, my thoughts blank, amazed, and very shaken all mixed together. He can’t be insinuating that Monica is taking drugs. The look in her eyes tells me what I need to know. I’m too stunned to cry. I can only breath one word.
“Why?”
“He made me. He found out about the sex parties and said he would go to human resources and demand that you be fired. I begged him to keep it a secret, and he said he would keep your secret if I kept his. He took me to dinner and back to his place. He did coke right there in front of me and said I had to do it with him. I know you’re only doing the parties to pay for your parents’ insurance, so I couldn’t sit back and let you get fired,” Monica chokes out tearfully.
“You didn’t stop doing it?” I respo
nd matter-of-factly.
“He taped me.”
Ted chuckles and falls onto the couch, placing his hands behind his head. He is so pleased with himself.
Hate… I feel hate for this man like I don’t think I have felt about anyone else.
“It’s taped?” My body stiffens with shock.
“Yes. I have to do everything he tells me.” She chews on her lower lip and steals a look at him.
Our eyes meet. I feel a shock run through me. I know exactly what she is saying to me. Ted is forcing her to do drugs and have sex with him. She is doing it to protect our jobs and my parents’ insurance.
My heart rips open wide as I walk out, leaving Monica alone with Ted. I have no other choice. He isn’t going anywhere; he’s made that clear. I have a date with Dominic, and I no longer want him to key Ted’s car. I am just kidding myself if I think that is what I want. Ted can always have a car repainted. It can be fixed to look just like new. What he has done to Monica can’t be fixed.
There is only one way to handle Ted. I never thought I could ever be pushed to do anything like this. My parents are good people who raised me at church and still go every Sunday. I don’t go as often, but I go once a month myself. I give money to charities and have never harmed so much as a fly.
I believe in the ten commandments and have always considered myself a good person. I always believed that one day I would die and go directly to heaven, except now I have my doubts.
Today, I have been pushed to the dark side—the point of darkness I know I’m not going to walk directly out of. I must stay in the darkness to fight the devil himself. This time, he’ll lose because I am about to beat the devil at his own game.
I CHECK myself in the mirror to make sure my mascara hasn’t smudged from crying. As I walk inside the dimly lit restaurant, the waiter motions me to follow him over to Dominic’s table.
He stands and gives me a small smile as the waiter pulls out my chair. Dominic has already ordered a bottle of wine, and I gladly accept a glass. Terrible regrets assail me as I take the first sip. Why did I agree to do the sex parties? Why did I turn to drinking instead of talking to my best friend? Why didn’t I leave that damn company years ago? This isn’t the time for regrets, this is the time to fight.
