Dear Diary (Love, Daddy)

They must have been laughing at me all along, the intern who was stupid enough to believe she deserved a promotion like that.

I’ll go back to Morgantown, tail between my legs.

Sniffling, I reach under the shelves to grab my shoes pushing my damp hair back off my forehead it the other hand. I'm careful to not take anything Jack bought me. I fit what I can in my duffel, looking around at my books, stuffed animals, my plants…remembering my mom’s china set that is now in Jack’s kitchen cabinets. I have to leave so much here, and that’s killing me too.

It breaks my heart looking around.

Quite an elaborate game the rich can play with unsuspecting pawns.

The glistening cut of the diamonds on my ring catches the overhead lights. I pull it off and throw it into the wall of mirrors mocking me as I pack.

The diamond collar is in his nightstand drawer. It’s not mine and I’m not his.

I’m going to have to eat a huge plate of crow with my dad, who told me coming here to New York I would be out of my depth.

I cover my face with my hands as sobs wrench free from my chest, confusion and panic mix inside of me. I can’t breathe. I throw my head back as tears roll down my cheeks. I cry until the painful lump in my throat loosens, trying to come up with my plan.

I can’t wait any longer, I pull my phone up seeing a ton of missed calls from Jack and a few texts I don’t bother to read. I clear all the notifications and dial.

“Hello?” His voice is unemotional as usual.

“Dad?”

“Chastity,” he sounds distant. “How are you doing? I’m about to go into a meeting. Is this something important?”

“I need your help. I need to come back home.”

Through choked tears and apologies, I give him the short version of my predicament with Jackson Carter as I take the walk of shame to the living room carrying my duffel. I take his jabs, the ‘I told you so’s’ and ‘silly girl’s’ until he finally pauses on a disappointed sigh.

“I know. I’m sorry. I have enough for a plane ticket home, if I can’t get out tonight—”

He cuts me off. “I just read a story on the internet about him. Sexual harassment claims. You fell into the trap, Chastity.”

“I know. You were right.”

“Where are you?”

“At Jack’s apartment.”

“And where is that?”

“15 Central Park West.”

The doorbell rings, and I practically leap out of my skin. My phone is pressed to my ear as I stare at the front entry. “One second, someone’s ringing the doorbell.”

“Is it him? Put him on the phone.”

“It can’t be Jack. He uses the private elevator. He doesn’t need the doorbell even if he uses the front door. It’s probably a delivery. Hold on.”

Security has a list of any deliveries Jack is expecting so if something arrives, they go ahead and let the driver bring it up. If no one is home, they just leave it outside the door.

I turn the knob and open the door. My breath catches in my throat as my eyes meet Jack’s. It’s him, but he’s different somehow. His eyes are darker, his hair a bit longer. Or am I just losing my mind?

“Daddy?” I cringe as I realize I’m still on the phone with my father. “Jack?” I step backwards as he steps toward me.

He’s angry. Why is he angry?

He doesn’t get to be angry. I’m the one who’s angry…

Then, as if in slow motion, his closed fist connects with the side of my jaw and blinding pain explodes inside my head.

I scream his name as I fly to my left and hit the wall. The phone falls from my hand, and so does the bag. My face hits the ground as I lie in a crumpled heap on my belly. Clutching my head in both hands, I turn over, staring up in disbelief. Darkness threatens to engulf me.

“Why are you hurting me?” I groan, watching the dark eyes of the man I trusted with my life as he stands over me and I realize I don’t really know him at all. He looks different somehow…

I'm dizzy, but it’s my heart that’s breaking.

I see Jack pick up my phone and end the call with my dad. Dropping it back on top of the leather bag. He reaches down as I try to scramble backward and grabs my hair, dragging me behind him but I twist and fight and kick until he drops me back to the floor.

He doesn’t say anything as I scream and curse. He pulls out a red bandana and stuffs it in my mouth holding his enormous hand over my nose and mouth while I flail and choke.

A few seconds later, blissful darkness envelops me. I welcome it so that I don’t feel anything anymore.