Page 2 of Bred By the Mercenary
I think about all the times I’ve turned a blind eye to his behavior. His anger, the yelling, throwing my stuff out in a fit of rage. I remember waking up to an empty bed when I stayed at his place, wondering where he was, only for him to turn up in the morning without a word. Each time, his sweet talk and apologies pulled me back.
Not this time.
Today, he came to a party drunk… a party my friend got us special invites to, then he insulted me, my dress, and then… he hit me. That’s the final straw.
I’m shaking, standing there. I promised myself I’d never be with a man who hurt me, never end up like my mom, enduring my dad’s strikes and living in fear.
“Ryker, listen to me,” I start, my voice firmer. “I’ve put up with a lot from you. Your anger, your disrespect, and now this.” I touch my cheek where he hit me. “I refuse to be with someone who thinks it’s okay to hit me. I grew up seeing my dad doing that to my mom, and you know how much that impacted me.”
His face contorts. “You’re being dramatic, Amelia. Come on, you know I love you.”
“No,” I cut him off. “Love doesn’t hurt like this. It doesn’t make me feel scared or belittled. I’m done, Ryker.”
He stands there, stunned, and I’m unsure how many more times I can say we’re over for him to understand.
“So, just like that, we’re done?” he asks in a low voice, his brow furrowing, lips downturning. I might almost buy his sorrow, except he’s a chameleon at presenting his emotions to mislead me.
I square my shoulders. “Yes, just like that,” I confirm. “I can’t do this anymore.” Stepping back, I pull away from him.
He opens his mouth, possibly to argue, but then closes it, shaking his head.
“Fine. Fuck you. Have it your way, but remember this… you’re the one ending it, and I won’t accept you when you crawl back.”
“Goodbye, Ryker,” I say with an unsteady voice, the anger that once lifted my confidence now softening as reality slides into its place—the truth that the man I talked to daily, who I thought had my back, will no longer be there.
As he turns and walks away, a sense of relief washes over me, but with it comes sadness of what could have been.
The night breeze blows fresher across my face, the stars in the heavens brighter.
Tonight wasn’t meant to have gone this way, with me standing alone at a party, but here I am, deciding to dive into the night instead of dwelling on what I’ve lost.
I figure, why not get royally drunk and forget about everything? Besides, I’m not keen on being alone tonight. The fact I’m not super devastated at the breakup goes to show how ready I’d been to kick that asshole out of my life.
Another reason to have fun and celebrate tonight.
As I approach the mansion, the grandeur of the building shadows the grounds. It’s three stories, with every window glowing warmly and lights outside decorating every tree. I have no idea who lives here, but they’re clearly loaded. I’ll ask Jessi once I find her who exactly lives here. She works with me at the bar, but her sister works at a PR company that runs events for celebrities. So, she’s always gaining access to all kinds of parties and functions.
At the entrance, I’m greeted by a bubbly blonde in a stunning black bodysuit. She checks my name on her list, then hands me a masquerade mask adorned with pink feathers on either side.The frilly mask covers the top half of my face, and I’m excited to wear it.
“Excuse me, where’s the bathroom?”
“Just down the hall, behind you,” she replies with a friendly nod.
I make my way there, passing by the main room that’s bursting with energy. The music is loud, the strobe lights dazzling, and the chatter is explosive. Excitement dances through me that I get to experience such an extravagant party. If I’m lucky, I might meet a celebrity.
In the empty bathroom, I take a moment to check my makeup and wipe away the last shreds of tears. The girl staring back at me in the mirror is twenty-two, grappling with dumping a crappy boyfriend and working as a waitress at a local bar. College was never an option, given my aunt’s financial constraints, so I took what job I could get.
That doesn’t mean I don’t deserve a guy who will treat me well.
“You can do this,” I tell my reflection. “To hell with Ryker, you’re better than that.” I wipe the edges of my eyes where my eyeshadow has smudged slightly, then place the mask on my face. I almost don’t recognize myself.
Tonight, I’m someone else. Someone who can reach for the skies. A girl who will find a better job soon and maybe, one day, afford a place even a fraction the size of this mansion.
With a final puckering of my red lips, I head back outside. I’m shown to a wall of freestanding tiny lockers where I store my personal items. We are told we can’t take anything into the party with us, not even our phones. I lock them all away, memorize the number, then waltz into the party, ready to embrace the night and whatever it might bring.
As I step into the party, the world seems to transform around me. Everyone’s hiding behind masks, and it’s perfect, really. Idon’t want to be Amelia tonight, the girl with a truckload of issues and drama. No, tonight, I’m just another face in the crowd, and that thought alone is refreshing.
The room is spectacular. Golden ribbons dangle from the ceiling, exotic golden flowers adorn every corner, and there are golden cages in the corners with girls painted entirely in gold, dancing inside them. Laughter and conversation blend in with the dance music that fills the space. I love it here already.