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I draw in a sharp breath, watching it crystallize before me. My heart sinks like a stone thrown into a frozen lake. The beauty around me fades to gray at the sound of his voice. Yet another thing myex-husband has ruined for me.
“I didn't challenge you,” I say evenly. “I just stood up for myself.”
“Standing up for yourself,” he scoffs. “You know what's at stake here.” Brandon's words have an edge that could freeze over hell itself.
“Yes, I do know,” I reply, refusing to show him even an ounce of fear. “That's exactly why I won't back down.”
“Just remember what you have to lose.” The predatory tone in his words should warn me, but I'm tired of being bullied and forced into a corner.
I stop, holding the phone tightly and trying not to let my hand tremble as I respond. “Challenging you, Brandon? You have no right to send your goons to keep an eye on me!”
He bursts out laughing. “On the contrary, Krissy. I have every right to do what I did.”
“Don't talk like you own me, Brandon. And stop calling me that.”
I hate it when he calls me Krissy, or Kris. Somehow, it makes me feel small, like I'm inferior to him.
I can almost hear the smile on Brandon’s face when he replies. “Honey, does it bother you that I use our old names? It's you who has changed, not me. Things are bad because of you.”
“They're bad because you...” I start to say, but I shut up. I don't want to bring up our whole horrible past. His words are nasty, but his right hook is worse.
I'm tired of that history. Of being the woman I always promised myself I wouldn't be.
And he knows it. It's something he actually enjoys throwing in my face. “No matter what you say, you belong to me, Krissy. And need I remind you, I'm the one who rules this city, and not you?”
He gets silence from me. My hands involuntarily clench into fists and my teeth begin to bite the inside of my cheeks until I taste blood in my mouth. The product of helplessness. Brandon seems to know he has me right where he wants me. “Next time you think about giving yourself to one of your little escapades, remember it's not you who will pay for it, it's him.”
“No. Don't you dare bring Asher into this,” I threaten.
“You're the one putting our son at risk, not me, honey. You with your stupid way of acting, forgetting that everything you do influences him...” A feigned sigh comes across the line as if he’s run out of patience. “I would hate to deprive our son of his mother, you know that, but if you keep behaving this way, I'm afraid I'll have no choice.”
“I will not allow you to take him away from me.”
“That's not for you to decide, my dear, it's for the judge to. And may I remind you, by the way, he’s a great friend of mine.”
The threat is evident. As always, he tries to let me know that he is the one who has the power in this relationship.
A power he achieved only because of me and that he now holds against me.
Resisting the urge to cry, I close my eyes, silently grateful that Asher is far away from all of this. The custody trial will take place in a month and until then, he’s staying with my mother onvacation.
“Don't forget to behave yourself, honey. And remember, I'll be watching you.”
And with that, he ends the call.
“Excuse me, miss, are you alright?”
A voice behind me makes me jump and turn around to see a smartly dressed man standing very close to me.
I hadn't even heard him arrive.
Forcing a smile, I shake my head and pocket my phone.
“Oh, don't worry. I feel fine,” I say.
The stranger examines me with analytical eyes. “Excuse the boldness, but don't we know each other?”
“I don't think so,” I affirm.
