“Look at these. Look for yourself and see.”
She caught sight of the images. Will with his hands under a woman’s dress, her one leg lifted up against his leg as he pressed her against his sports car.
She took the pictures from his hands and walked toward the front of her father’s desk.
She went through the photographs, her heart sinking with every picture and the sight of the three men she loved screwing different women in different places.
“Where did you get these?”
“I have my ways, Adel. I told you that I love you and wanted you in my life under my protection where you belong. I know where you live, and the small cottage you own. I know everything about Ferguson’s company and how much you help them. They’re using you, and when they’ve had their fill, their fun, they’ll leave you used and jobless. Didn’t you know about the many personal assistants they have gone through?”
“They didn’t work out. The three of them are too demanding and a lot of secretaries friend them intimidating.”
He shook his head. “No, sweetie. They fucked them all and then fired them.”
She felt the tears reach her eyes. Could that be true? Was he lying? She felt the tears fill her eyes and her vision blurred.
“If this is the lesson you needed to learn in order to come back to me then so be it. They’re not who they said they were. My company is going to land that job and not them because of what they did to you.”
“No, no, this is a lie. You’re making it up. I don’t believe you.”
She stared to head toward the door when he lashed out. He struck her across the cheekbone and she cried out.
He grabbed her by her arm and pressed her against the desk.
“You’re not going back to them. You’re going to stay here with me and be my wife, my lover, and we’re going to own this company together.”
“Let go of me,” she said, her voice shaking.
“You’re coming home with me tonight. You’re never going back there. It’s over and once I fuck you in every hole you’ll never think of those dicks again,” he said as he cupped her pussy.
Adel slapped him across the face so hard she left a hand mark. She was so shocked that her own reaction and the fact that she fought back, that she didn’t put her hands up to defend herself. Bentley swung hard, striking her. He punched her in the ribs, smacked her across the mouth, splitting her lips, and she screamed for him to stop. He slammed her back against the desk and she cried out, the pain so bad she could hardly breathe. He ripped her dress and grabbed at her thighs as he tried undoing his pants with his other hand. She swung at him and begged him to stop but he wouldn’t. She was so scared, she was shaking, and her back was in pain from him slamming her down on it. She reached around the desk as he scratched her thighs and ripped her panties. She was screaming and crying when she grabbed the marble pen holder, gripped it tight, and swung it at his face. He was stunned from the hit as she tried getting up to get away from him. He grabbed at her, ripping her top, scratching her breast, and she swung the marble holder again this time hitting him in the temple.
Bentley was stunned and she ran for the door, pulled it open, and ran down the hallway for help. Before she could reach the party her mother was standing there shocked as she covered her mouth and then told her to come with her.
She didn’t know if she should believe her or not but the pain in her back and the other injuries were kicking in. Her mom led her down the hall and to another room.
“Call the police. He tried to rape me,” Adel said as she cried.
“No police, Adel. No one can know about this.” She tried standing up but her mom held her hand.
“Adel, you have to trust me. No one will believe you. Bentley has connections. He’ll destroy your life, your reputation, and you’ll have nothing.”
She shook her head.
“You’re wrong. Maybe you’ve been too weak to fight but not me,” she said to her mother as her eyes swelled and her lip burned. She felt like she got hit by a truck and didn’t want to walk but knew she had to get out of there.
“Listen to me. I know you believe you can’t trust me because of how I got you here, but what I say is true. If you try to press charges they’ll backfire on you. He’ll use the fact that you’re intimate with three men. He’ll claim you’re a whore and that someone else beat you up and that you’re after his money. He owns lawyers and politicians, and he’ll destroy your life. Just run away and never come back here.”
Adel was crying. She felt so hollow inside and in this moment she realized how weak, how disappointing her own mother was. She didn’t fight for herself so why would she fight for Adel?
Adel tried to stand up, the pain in her back immense. She was a mess. Her mom helped her.
“I’ll get you out the side so he can’t find you.”
Her mom had to help her up. They headed down the side hallway and out the door. Adel couldn’t believe this was happening to her, but she couldn’t give up and she couldn’t let Bentley rape her and make her belong to him, too.
She got into her car and by the grace of God she drove all the way to her cottage. She cried until there were no more tears left and when she made it home she realized that she couldn’t get out of the car. The adrenaline rush was over, the pain even worse, and the swelling intense. She didn’t know who to call or if she should. She couldn’t let her men see her this way, and she couldn’t call Harold or he would tell his sons.