Dominic had to go to London for some big meeting.
I wanted to go join him. I even asked to travel up and spend the night despite the fact I knew he’d say no. He’s right, it would be too risky, too obvious too.
He left yesterday and I threw my head into updating this damn dissertation because it felt like an appropriate way to channel my feelings, only it’s hard to type with just one properly functioning hand.
I’m frustrated, angry, resentful even. Mum is making a big point of being in the house, of rearranging things, nesting almost as if she’s trying to reclaim this space. I wonder if on some level she’s aware of what’s happened, as if subconsciously she senses the betrayal.
She hasn’t even asked how my wrist is and yet she comments about the missing sofa in the orangery. The one I ruined when I squirted all over Dominic’s face. It’s so hard not to blush. I tell her Dominic spilt some red wine and we couldn’t get it out. That a new one’s on order.
And then I get the hell out. I can’t be around her. I feel guilty at not feeling guilty. I feel bitter at her presence and in truth I don’t really like myself very much right now. I’m the other woman. I’m the whore stealing her husband and though she’s not exactly a saint herself what with her own affair, two wrongs don’t make a right.
We’re both bad people. Maybe that’s what we have in common. That’s what I inherited from her.
I message Dominic and he says he’s on the train back so I decide to grab a taxi to his office and meet him as a nice surprise.
He’s not there when I turn up and his secretary says I can wait for him but she’s leaving early for some dental appointment. Is it wrong that I see the positives in that? That at least she won’t be sat outside if things get a little physical?
I sit on the couch, pulling out a reference book I found earlier to try and distract myself. I can’t decide whether it helps or hinders my argument. I’m flicking through the pages, trying to find something, anything of actual use when the door opens and I grin looking up.
Only it’s not Dominic. It’s Timothy.
My face falls.
“Hello Eden. What are you doing here?” Even his voice sets me on edge now.
“Waiting for Dominic.”
He smirks like there’s some big joke going on. “Of course you are.” He mutters shutting the door.
“Why are you here?” I ask back.
“Well I would have said the same thing but now you’re here…” He’s grinning.
“What does that mean?” I ask.
He crosses the room and sits right by me. Staring at me.
“You know considering what you did back at the party I think I’d prefer if you waited outside.” I state.
“Oh would you now?” He says taking the book from my lap and tossing it onto the table with a loud thump that makes me jump.
“You know what, I’ll just wait outside then.” I say getting up only he grabs my arm yanking it hard, yanking me hard and I half stumble back into him.
“Not this time you Eden.” He says.
“Let go of me.” I snap.
He laughs. “You can stop pretending now.”
“Pretending what?”
“That you’re not a little cockslut.”
“What?”
“Or is it just Dom’s cock you’ve got a taste for? Because I know what the pair of you have been up to.”
I shake my head. I’m not going to admit it and especially not to him. I push him off, but I only get just beyond the couch before he’s grabbing me again.
“Here’s how this is gonna go, you’re gonna play nice, give me a little piece of what Dominic is having and maybe I might keep it from your mum.”
“Fuck you.” I say before spitting in his face.
He screws his face up, wiping the saliva off and then he hits me, right across the cheekbone and I fall back hard into the desk, smashing my bad wrist against it and it screams in protest.
He moves quickly, pushing me further into it and wrenching my good arm behind my back to an almost impossible angle. It doesn’t help that my other wrist is practically useless with the cast on it.
“You’re hurting me.” I cry.
He lets out a little laugh. “Don’t worry Eden, I’ll make you feel real good in a minute.”
He’s got his whole weight on me, holding me down now as he yanks my leggings and thong down, pulling them right over my ass and hips. I try to kick out but my clothes are now acting like restraints stifling my movements. I try to get free and he slams my face into the wood, compounding the bruise he’s already given me.
“Stop fighting me.” He says.
“Get off me.” I cry. “Please.”
“I’m sure you’ll love my cock as much as you do Dom’s, you dirty little slut.”
I scream back. I can’t stop screaming.
“I’ll give you something to scream about Eden.” He says, unzipping his trousers and my panic increases tenfold as I feel his erection against me. “You’ll be screaming loud enough when you cum on my cock.”
And then the door swings open and Dominic’s stood there.
I swear time stands still for a second. He’s staring right at me. At Timothy too as he’s holding me down with his dick half out of his trousers.
“Get the fuck off her.” Dominic growls before crossing the room, grabbing him, and slamming him into the wall.
I sink down off the desk, pulling my leggings back up, covering myself. My shoulder is aching from how he held my arm and my face is throbbing from where he hit me.
Dominic is laying punches into him. One after another. I think he might kill him. Might just beat him to death.
“Dominic.” I half whisper and he stops, turning to look at me.
His face is all fury, all rage, but when his eyes meet mine they soften.
“Come here.” He says moving to me and he picks me up, cradling me in his arms.
I bury my face in his chest. I feel dirty, ashamed, but now that Dominic is here, I finally feel safe too.
He carries me out of the room, puts me on the couch just outside and shuts the door to his office leaving Timothy in whatever state he is in. And then he wraps his arms around me as he pulls out his phone and makes a call.
“Hi Bob.” He says. “No, that’s not going to happen now.”
The man on the other end says something.
“No.” Dominic replies. “Timothy just tried to rape Eden.”
I gulp at the word. I know that’s what was happening but to hear it spoken out loud makes it so much worse.
They talk a little more but I’m already zoning out, mentally disassociating I guess. My adrenaline is coursing through me and it’s all I can do not to puke.
When he hangs up, he stays where he is, holding me, cradling me, until the Police arrive and they take Timothy into custody and us both in for questioning.