“Let go! ” She protested. She tried to take his hand off her chin.
He shouldn’t know how terrified she was of him. She had seen how violent he could be when provoked but she was confident that when it comes to her, Nick was all bark and no bite. Besides he was the one who had some explaining to do.
Instead of releasing her, his hand held her firmer. His other arm was now on her back to pull her towards him. She was trapped.
“Did you mean what you just f*cking said?” She was shaken by his very cold voice but his question made her think if she wanted to really break up with him.
“Don’t even think about leaving me honey! You won’t get far! I can find you easily! And when I find you, which I will in no time, I will definitely teach you a lesson that you will never ever forget! “his voice was petrifying.
She felt her heart missed a beat. She believed him. She couldn’t mess with him and honestly, she didn’t want to.
She had to ask him again about Tanya’s revelation to distract him a bit and to hide her fear. “Is there any truth to what that bitch said?!”
Without releasing her, he said through clenched teeth, ” Yes but it was all in the past. It all happened a long time ago.”
This was what she was dreading having to deal with . It was all in the past but it was painful. She should be ready all the time in case she accidentally met his former flings and bed warmers . She should toughen up. This was one of the disadvantages of being his woman.
“I said let me go! You are straining my neck!” She lied .”Any woman would be angry if she were in my situation!” she added.
His nearness and manly scent was as usual arousing her. She might be angry and jealous but her body couldn’t stop reacting to him.
Reluctantly, he released her. She immediately put a distance between them. She sat down again. With a heavy sigh, Nick sat himself down too on the seat next to her.
They were both silent while they were gazing at the pool.
“This will be the last time that we’ll talk about this. I already told you about the women in my past. Tanya was a little different from them because she was my first but I only did it once with her. I won’t deny that she pleasured me a few times. She wanted more but I didn’t . I had other women but as I’ve said, it was just sex. I am sorry that she had to tell you all that. She wants to get back at you. She will do anything to be in your position. So please honey let’s not give her the satisfaction that she can break our relationship. No one and nothing can do that to us!” he said the last part as he stares at her left profile.
She embraced herself . She was hurt hearing Tanya’s words though she knew that Nick cares about her a lot. “Please honey, I just want to be alone. I will go up in a few minutes. Just let me be for a while. ”
She heard him cursed so she threw him a glance
“I will come and get you if you didn’t come up in 30 minutes! And believe me I won’t be gentle!” he threatened before leaving angrily.
She just let out a sigh. A leopard can’t change its spots. She thought.
She heard her phone ringing. She took it out from the small pocket of her dress. Eve was calling her. She frowned because her battery was almost running out.
“Girlfriend! Please come over.” Her friend sounded hysterical.
“Where are you?” she asked worriedly and stood up. She started walking.
“I am at Lucille’s. I will tell you everything when you get here. Please hurry! .” Now Eve was crying.
“I’ll be there!” She would just take the taxi because Lucille’s apartment was not far. She was the former pianist of Eve’s band. She would just explain to Nick later.
***
Nick was fuming. It was exactly half an hour when he started calling Stacey but her phone was off. He angrily went down to the pool area again only to find out that she wasn’t there. He kicked the garden chairs furiously. Then his phone started making a noise. The private eye he contacted a day ago was calling him.
“Sir, I gathered some information about Blake Acosta.” he said.
***
She was consoling Eve as she cried. Apparently someone saw Lance, her fiance with a pregnant woman at the mall which was three hours away. He told her that he was going out of town for business. Eve had been trying to call him but she couldn’t seem to connect. She advised her friend to just wait until she talked to Lance to clear things. She and Lucille were worried that she might do something stupid because she was roaring drunk. They stayed with her until she fell asleep. It was a good thing that Lucille’s roommate was overseas so Eve could stay for a couple of days with her. She would just go back the next morning to check on her. She was about to call Nick but her battery died already. She would just tell everything when she get home. She was hoping that he wouldn’t be too mad.
***
The private eye told Nick that Blake and his girlfriend just broke up. Apparently the woman discovered that Eve’s cousin was cheating on her. He was enraged thinking that it was Stacey Blake cheated with. They were at Sonny’s seafood restaurant together with Eve the other day. After the phone call, he decided to go to Eve and Blake’s bar. He would beat the latter to death. He used his big bike so he could go there quickly. He didn’t care that Stacey might see her on it. Unfortunately, Blake was not at the bar nor at his unit so he just went home. He was expecting Stacey to be at his unit when he got back but she wasn’t. Her phone was still off. Full of rage, he took a bottle of alcohol. He told himself that he would go back to Blake’s unit if his woman won’t return after 20 minutes. And if Stacey was with him, he would do the unthinkable.
(Stacey)
Carefully, she turned the knob of the entrance door. The lights were on but Nick wasn’t there. She sat on the couch for a few moments to think about Eve’s situation. She felt so sorry for her. She closed her eyes and massaged her temples. She was beginning to have a headache. She leaned her head to ease the pain a little before she went to the bedroom . After 5 minutes, she stood up and switched off the lights. A warm bath was what she needed.
The bedroom is a little dark . She closed the door quietly. She cried out in surprise when the light brightened the room.
Nick was sitting on the couch holding a bottle of whiskey which was half full. He gulped some booze without taking his eyes off her.
“H-Honey? I t-thought you were asleep.” she couldn’t hide the nervousness in her voice.
“Where the f*ck have you been?!” he asked in a spine-chilling voice.
His face is a little flushed and she didn’t know it was due to the alcohol or anger.
“H-Honey… sorry I had to ..”
She let out a scream when Nick angrily got up and threw the bottle at the wall.