AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Figures. This fucking whore will spread her legs for anyone.” Her fingers twist in my hair, bringing tears to my eyes. I wonder if I’ll have any hair left on my head. She turns her attention back to me. “He may not have been with you Friday, but you can’t deny the photo.” I can’t believe she’s still going on about the goddamn photo. “You were with him before, and you’ve been with him again.” She turns back to Gianni. “I have proof she has been messing with my husband. She’s nothing but a fucking liar and a slag. She used to work for me until I fired her. I bet she didn’t tell you that, did she? No wonder you didn’t write to me for a reference.” The parking lot shifts beneath my feet. Sweat is itching all over my skin, and I would happily die right now.
“I’m not interested in your sordid affairs, or hers, for that matter.” He leans in, his head moving closer to Cora as his voice drops a tone, a quietness to it that scares the shit out of me. “But right now, she’s my employee. I suggest you let go of what belongs to me.” As the words leave him, he grabs my arm. His strength overpowers Cora’s grip, and I stumble over to Gianni. He holds the side of my arm, and his fingers pinch my skin, but I’m too relieved at being released from Cora’s claws to notice.
Cora sniffs, clenching her hand at the release of my hair as she eyes Gianni, her face contorting as she considers this new situation.
“You better watch her because if I find out she has been within an inch of my husband, I’ll come after you as well as her.” She spins her head toward me, her eyes shrinking as she glares at me. “And you… I know where you live. Next time it won’t just be a window.” At this, she pivots on her heels and storms from the parking lot, her red hair bobbing between the cars.
As soon as she’s gone, Gianni drops my arm. I turn to face him, my thanks all lined up for the fact he’s prevented the breaking of my legs. But I don’t get as far as opening my mouth before seeing that the venom in his face intensified after Cora’s departure.
“I don’t think I need to tell you how fucking cross I am. Not only have you humiliated yourself, but you have caused a scene outside my shop. If it weren’t for the fact I have a bunch of thieving morons running my coffee shop, I’d fire you on the spot.” I gulp, unable to blame him. Although it isn’t my fault Cora decided to show up at my place of work to inflict her revenge, I see where he’s coming from.
“I’m sorry…” I splutter.
“So am I.” Gianni stares at me, and I know he means it.
“You can’t believe what she said. I didn’t do the things she’s saying,” I stammer. I need him to see this isn’t me.
“I thought you were many things, Chloe, but an adulterer? Fucking hell. No wonder you wouldn’t tell me why you got fired.” He scrapes his hand through his hair as if he’s having difficulty making the thought stay in his brain.
“I’m not. I did not do what she said.”
“She seemed pretty sure.”
“She has this photo. A customer sent it to her. It is of her husband and me outside a bar, but we were just talking. It wasn’t what it looked like, but she wouldn’t listen. She flew off the handle. You saw what kind of person she is.”
“I’m not getting involved in this,” Gianni huffs and turns away, but his head remains in my direction. “You have disappointed me. I thought you were different.” Gianni’s eyes are raw with hatred. “And I thought I could trust you.” He shakes his head as if there’s something in his ear before he glares at me. “You are just like her.” He holds my gaze, my cheeks ablaze, and my heart about to crack. “You disgust me.” He turns and walks back into the coffee shop as I stand, cold and numb, in the parking lot, my head burning from where Cora held my hair and my face throbbing from her fist.
You disgust me.
Where did my life go so wrong? I’d had a great upbringing. Loving, caring parents. My life was great despite my dyslexia. So, I wouldn’t be the next Jane Austen, but who cared? I was popular, had friends, wanted to see the world and paint it in as many different colors as I could mix.
And then I met Carl.
Fourteen years ago, he walked into my life, destroyed my canvas, and swallowed my dreams.
You disgust me.
I don’t care what Cora or Carl think of me. But Gianni is different. The fact I disgust him makes me want to cry until my body is drained of everything. What the hell is wrong with me? Is it because he’s right? I may not have done the things Cora is saying, but he doesn’t know the truth.
The truth is I disgust myself.
ChapterThirteen
Gathering myself, I rake my hands through my hair to check that none is missing. The burning on my scalp almost penetrates my eyes. I feel sorry for myself, and that will not do. That is the old me. The old me would have stood here crying into her hands like a wounded animal. I must not let this happen. I will not stand out here and lick my wounds while Gianni strides back into the shop like a hunter with a deer’s head.
Fuck him.
I propel myself back into the shop, the pain in my face and scalp surging me forward. I ignore Lewis standing behind the counter with gaunt shock on his face. I must be a sight. My cheek throbs, and my eyes sting. He would have heard the commotion outside. He would have seen it all, but I say nothing to him as I march over and head straight for the office.
I almost run in. Gianni is standing by the desk, staring at a piece of paper.
“I may disgust you, but I happen to be an employee in your care, so as far as you’re concerned, I’m off to the hospital to get myself checked over. Then I’m going to the police to report the assault that just occurred on your premises.” I stamp over to my locker and pull my things from inside. I am shaking, but I don’t want him to see. Gianni moves over to the door and slams it shut.
“You realize she’s the fucking nutcase who threw a brick through my window? You were genuinely concerned about my safety then, so I don’t understand why you were so different when she was outside kicking the shit out of me.”
“I didn’t know you were an adulterer on Friday.” Gianni grimaces, the low growl grating against his teeth.
“And you’re basing that assumption on what that psycho out there said, you know, the woman who came here to beat me up and threw a brick through my window.” I lean on my locker, the effort of arguing with him is draining, but I must have my say.
