Page 62 of Where You Are
“Thought you weren’t stalking me,” I growl out, stifling a sob in my throat.
“Don’t worry, Muffin.I’mnot. Can’t say the same for people that work for me, though. Does your brother know his best friend is hitting that, by the way?”
I don’t even think about my actions. My ice water is automatically in my hand, which thrusts it across the table at Anthony, glass and all. This causes a loud clatter as he jumps back in surprise. Several heads turn and the waitress comes rushing over with a towel.
“Is everything okay over here?” she asks in a panicky voice as she starts to mop up the water with her towel, handing Anthony another one from her apron to wipe his face and the front of his suit. I sit and inwardly seethe. Since this bastard and I parted ways, I’ve done nothing but live my life and mind my own business. Meanwhile, he’s apparently been ‘keeping tabs’ on me, violating my privacy, and plotting to blackmail me with hurtful ammunition, knowing it will hurt my loved ones more than it would me. Because he knows that’s my weak spot. I want to cry while I grip my hands around his neck and throttle him.
“Perfectly fine,” he assures her calmly. “She just lost her grip on her cup, that’s all.” He smiles up at her and she looks relieved.
“Can I get you another towel? Another water?” she offers.
“No darling, that’s ok.” he answers for us, charming the apron strings right off her.
“Okay, if you’re sure. Your order is almost up, honey,” she nods to me before she walks away.
“I see I struck a nerve there,” Anthony murmurs, as he wipes the last drops of water off his jaw and folds the towel on the table before clasping his hands together again on the Formica surface. “Now we’re getting somewhere…”
A death glare through misty eyes is all I can manage to respond with, and I can see it makes his confidence go up another notch as he leans forward, going into negotiation mode.
“So let’s see, we’ve got Jack and Matt, their reputations, their band, not to mention Matt’s family, who else?” He toys with me as he keeps his voice low and steady, an ambivalent look on his face like he’s not crushing my soul in his fist at this moment. “And if that’s not going to do it, then let’s talk about your father, shall we?”
No.Just when I thought my heart couldn’t be more shrouded in dread…
“What’s your dad going to think of his cherished daughter’s behavior, huh?” He lowers his head so that his eyes can meet mine, which I’ve since cast down towards the table top. “Think about your dad for crying out loud, Melanie. The business he started from nothing and worked his ass off to build up over the last thirty years that is now a thriving construction company. Who do you think is going to want to invest or do business with him when they see these videos of his daughter circulating on the internet and being talked about in celebrity gossip rags? Picture him in line at the grocery store when he sees your beautiful orgasmic face on the cover of a tabloid.” Anthony shakes his head like a disappointed principal projecting shame onto a delinquent student.
“I had a feeling you’d be tough to crack, Sweets, but I can tell we’re getting close to sealing a deal, so I’ve just got one more video to show you…”
My insides are twisting together at his words, and the calm way he handles his phone, swiping and tapping while he looks for what he’s after.
“Conlin’s sister, as I understand it, is a recovering addict…”
Oh my God.I feel any remaining color drain out of my face.
He turns his phone around to face me again, but this time I don’t take it from him. My hands are gripping my thighs, sweating and trembling as I take in the scene of a woman that’s definitely Kasey, taking a small clear baggy of pills from a faceless stranger. I’m completely stunned and befuddled. She slipped one time, and he happened to catch it on video? Both my heart and my mind are racing at unfathomable speeds.
“I have a feeling it was just a minor one-time setback, but… will CPS see it that way?” He narrows his eyes and cocks his head to the side like he’s simply strategizing in a business meeting. “I’d hate to see that cute kid end up in the system,” he says, looking thoughtfully up at the ceiling. His patronizing tone and demeanor are disgusting. “I understand that in the past, the child was able to stay with her uncle while mommy was in treatment, but I don’t think the officials will be so generous this time, now that your boyfriend is a famous touring musician.”
I can’t even look at him, and I’m fighting the urge to vomit as each one of my limbs trembles and shakes.
“Why are you doing this?” I feebly get the question out. I finally let a tear fall out of my eye and it splashes on the table, signaling my defeat.
“Oh… Muffin… finally. I can tell you that I’m thinking of you here. It’s better for you if you don’t know. The good news is all you have to do is go back to your reclusive, nomadic lifestyle where no one knows where you are, and none of this has to happen. I promise, no eyes have seen these videos but mine and yours, and it will stay that way… if you stay gone. If you get on a plane tonight, then not a thing will happen to Conlin’s sister or his niece. They will be left alone, blissfully unaware.”
I have nothing. No arguments, no comebacks, no words. I can’t even make eye contact. All I’m capable of is studying the black and grey speckle design of the table in an effort not to faint in the booth.
“It will be fine,” he falsely assures me as he gracefully stands. But before he leaves, he places both hands on the table and leans down close to my ear. “It’s nothing personal, Pumpkin.” God, how many condescending endearments can he throw at me in one conversation? “It’s just me moving some road blocks, becausenothingis going to get in the way of my success.” He places a light kiss next to the ear he was just whispering in, making me flinch away. And with that, he straightens up with a chuckle, adjusts his tie and walks out of the diner; leaving my soul completely annihilated.
* * *
Sarah puts her hands on my shoulders and gives me a hard expression. She’s about to break it down for me. Tears are brimming in her eyes, but she’s still about to give it to me straight.
“Do I wish you’d come to Mike and me instead of exiling yourself to the other side of the planet? Hell yes! But the lowlife piece of shit threatened you with the most despicable form of blackmail making you feel like you had no choice, and in that fight or flight moment, you flew.”
Literally.
“And once you were gone you couldn’t find your way back because that bastard had you watched on such gross levels that you had every reason to believe that if you returned, he’d know immediately and detonate his bomb.”
Her voice is rising as she speaks, and her words are sending adrenaline racing through my bloodstream. I instinctually bring my hands to her belly. I’m not sure if it’s to center us both or to remind her that the babies can likely hear their mother going berserk, but either way it seems to help.