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CHAPTERNINE
GUINEVERE
We spentthe rest of the weekend making love and spending time together. Other than the first time together, my favorite was when we decided to take a bath that ended with more water on the floor and me riding him.
I’m sitting in my office now trying to focus on how I’m going to tell Geoffrey who I’ve decided to take over as CEO, but instead I’m daydreaming about Rocco. Every time we made love, he didn’t wear a condom, and he’d tell me he couldn’t wait to see me pregnant with his baby.
I never thought I would have this. I never thought I would get married, have a family, or be free of my life from before. It’s like waking up from a nightmare. I’m free of them. I no longer live in hell and I’m happier than I’ve ever been.
“Guin, I have Ms. Rounds on the phone from Brewster Agency holding,” Patience says from the doorway. Normally I answer my phone, but I must have left it in the dining room after lunch. I smile and take my phone from her.
“Hello, this is Guinevere Chambers,” I answer.
“Hello, Guinevere, you sent us a couple of manuscripts. I was wondering if we could meet to discuss them?”
“Really? Sure. When?” I try to hold in the whoop that wants to escape. I know they wouldn’t be calling if they didn’t like them.
“Honestly, I’ll be heading out to the Hamptons this evening and won’t be back for a couple of weeks. Could you maybe meet me in an hour? Say for coffee? You name the coffee shop and I’ll meet you there.”
“I can. Not a problem.” I give her the name of a coffee shop down the block that I can walk to. “I’ll see you in an hour.” When she hangs up, I scream in excitement. Patience bursts through the door.
“What’s up, girl?”
“I have a meeting in an hour with an agent who wants to market my manuscripts to publishing companies. I can’t believe it. All my dreams are coming true.” I grab her in my arms and dance around with her.
“Hold up, Guin, we don’t have a detail arranged.”
“It’s only down the street at the coffee shop. I can take the one guard that’s on standby. I swear I’ll only go there and back.”
“I’m not sure about this.”
“Please. I told her I could meet her. She won’t be able to meet again for weeks,” I beg and plead. I bat my eyelashes at her and pout my lips.
“Okay, fine. I’ll go with you too as further backup.”
“Woohoo!” I rush off to my room to get my blazer that goes with my outfit. I’m in a calf-length pencil skirt in wine with cream polka dots. My cream-colored blouse is frilly with a large droopy bow at the neck. I slip on my wine heels and blazer after I check that my makeup looks okay. During the week I don’t wear as much makeup. Just some mascara and bronzer with lipstick. I slip the necklace I found in my mom’s things over my head. It's a baby ring on a chain. I’m sure it was my ring and Geoffrey was able to get a hold of it before Carmen and George took me. I slip it under my blouse and feel it against my skin, knowing my mom is with me for this.
Forty-five minutes later I’m walking into the coffee shop. Patience goes to sit at another table with my single guard and I sit with the agent. We discuss her wanting me to develop the stories more as she submits my synopsis to a couple different companies. She wants my lawyers to read through the contract she brought with her. I’m excited, and she loves my stories. We shake and agree to meet up when she returns from vacation.
I wave to Patience to show her I have to go to the restroom. My grin doesn’t leave my face as I use the bathroom until I step out and right into the arms of my living nightmare.
“Milton.”
His hair is longer, and he has a full beard and mustache. But his clothes are clean, and he looks like he hasn’t suffered from being cut off as he should be. He grips my arm tight and presses something into my side.
“I’m going to take you to the bank and you’re going to sign over a million dollars to me or I’m going to kill everyone you care about. Starting with her.” He waves the gun toward the front of the coffee shop where Patience is seated. She can’t see us because he pulled me back into the shadows. I don’t want anyone to get hurt, and I don’t care about the money.
“Okay.” I comply to keep everyone safe. He drags me out the back and into an SUV. I look up in the front to see Carmen driving. Holy crap, she’s helping him.
“You thought you could just walk away with all our money, you freak,” she screeches. I’m going to make her regret this. I’m angry now. I know I’m not a freak, and I’m tired of them pushing me around. She takes off fast as I turn back to see my guard pushing his way through the back door with his gun aimed at the back of the SUV.
“I can’t believe it took us so long to get to her,” Milton says. “You and Dad said it wouldn’t be this hard, but it’s been weeks. She’s had guards and that fucking cop on her until today.” His words make me instantly regret my decision to go off on my own with minimal security. “Oh well, doesn’t matter, I’m going to kill the cop anyway. I’ve got my guys ambushing him as we speak.” My heart clenches in my chest thinking about Rocco getting hurt.
“No, please don’t hurt him. I’ll give you the money and sign the title for your condo over to you,” I offer.
“You think killing him is about money. It’s about the fact he and Geoffrey humiliated us,” Carmen yells.
I look around for a way to escape. I need to warn Rocco. I realize I still have my purse with my cell phone in it. Milton is leaning forward in the seat, giving his mom directions, so I slip my hand in my bag and send a quick text to Rocco. As I hit send, Milton yanks the phone from my hand. He backhands me and I fall against the door. My lip splitting, my cheek throbbing.
“Fucking bitch just sent a text.” His fist flies out again and I angle my body to protect my stomach, unsure if I’m pregnant. He hits my shoulder and I cry out. He yanks my hair and slams my face against the window. I open my eyes to see people looking in, watching him beating me.
“Help,” I scream, and he slams my face again, but this time I put up my arms so I don’t hit so hard. Carmen takes off again, running a red light, and we barely miss getting hit.
“Stop before you attract more attention,” she yells at him.
