Ever since I was in college I was always good at distracting myself with work. It generally wasn’t that difficult since I enjoyed the work.
I had my new collection out already and now I’m finalising the next restock due to the high sales and demand for this particular collection.
No surprise that there is a brand new audience of sport fans interested now.
Which meant that I was getting interviews for going in a different market that I am used to.
MEEK which was a popular sports business podcast asked me to be in their latest episode which is where i am coming back from now, I told Ben to take me to my favourite bar.
I have generally stayed out of the media due to the interest being on my relationship with Nick, or rather lack of. Nick hasn’t shied away from it but he also has the knack for answering the questions without giving anything away.
I had hoped that they were genuinely interest in my business but after a few starter questions they went straight into the juicy stuff.
Speaking of Nick, he actually did give me the time I needed but only this week has he tried to get in contact with me. Most of the time I have legitimate reasons to not answer but most of the time im just trying to avoid him.
” rough day” the bartender said pouring me my cocktail.
I pushed my card towards him. I didn’t even have the energy to have a proper conversation with him.
Once he gave me my drink I was surprised that he slid over a small dairy milk chocolate bar before serving some of the other people waiting.
” I’ll have another” I said when he came back over. He glanced at my now empty glass but this was his job so he made me another. I watched him carefully, I realised that he put less alcohol in it this time.
“hey, I’m paying for the good stuff” I said clicking my fingers at the bottle of vodka.
He stared at me” you really shouldn’t drink this much when youre alone” he said reluctantly pouring more vodka into the shaker.
” And you should really do your job” I said glaring at him.
It’s not like I’m drinking a whole bottle by myself, im literally on my second drink.
I watched his jaw clench. He seemed pissed at my statement and I really don’t blame him if I was in his shoes I would’ve thrown my drink already.
” OOH KAAAY, hardin chill bro, I’ll handle this one” Someone called from behind me. I watched the bartender who I now know as hardin disappear in the back shouting randomly.
I turned and spotted the familiar face.
Great.
” ah so you recognise me” Josh says sliding into the stool next to me.
I do remember him from Nick’s office. I really do hope Nick isn’t here with him.
” Don’t worry its just me, Unlike you Nick hasn’t come out all week” he says leaning over and grabbing the cold beer.
I didn’t say anything.
” I don’t care” I muttered leaning down and sipping on my drink. I saw the glass slowly leave my lips and in the hands of Josh.
I’m not even drunk for goodness sake.
” Is this fun for you” he said suddenly. I turned to him, wondering what he meant by that.
When he aw the look on my face he took that as a chance to carry on with whatever he was implying.
“I mean, you had Nick after you sought out for him, and now he is basically pushing away every woman just to be with you.”
” I never saw him as a price to win Josh, I learnt to love the man behind all the rumours and how he presents himself to everyone” I snapped at him, I couldn’t believe he would even assume that.
” But isn’t it fun having him beg for your attention, the great selene” he whispered into my ear.
I hated feeling his breath on my skin.
” is this what he told you, un fucking believable” I mumbled.
Finally he leant back over to his side.
” No, but you wont believe me will you because you trust rumours than the honesty of your boyfriend” I could hear the venom in his voice.
I pushed back the chair.
” I’ve had enough” I aid turning to the bartender, I left him a fiver. ” sorry for earlier” he simply nodded at me.
I gave Josh one last glare before leaving.
” He should’ve fucked that red head” I heard him call after me.
I shook my head as I made my way out, he probably should have.
I finally made it out. I pulled out my phone from my chanel bag and dialled ben to pick me up.
5minutes he replied.
I walked over to the benches when I felt my body collide with someone else. I felt a sharp pain in my shoulder.
” Give me that bag and i will l3ave quietly” A woman’s voice whispered in my ear. I felt a hard object jamming into my back.
She tugged on the strap of my bag.
I slowly handed her my bag. She opened it up searching through it. She pulled out my small wallet and searched through it.
Whatever was pressed into my back was now being supported by not her but someone else.
” that necklace looks expensive too” this other women said tracing the chain around my neck.
Tonight was just not my night.
” Are you going to give that to me or do I have to leave you with something to remember me by” she pressed it deeper. I was more than confident that it was a gun.
” look the bag and wallet is £2000″ instantly I felt a hand come across my cheek.
I really didn’t want to give that necklace. I haven’t taken this off since I was 10. Its very special to me and isn’t even that expensive.
” this isn’t some deal, bitch” the woman said gripping the chain on my neck.
Her words were like a punch to the face, this is exactly what Nick said.
Was I ever living in real life or did I always deal with everything like a business deal.
I closed my eyes ready for her to either shoot me or rip the chain from my neck. But I guess some luck was on my side when ben’s car stopped suddenly on the path, forcing us apart. The girls jumped back dropping everything.
Ben jumped out of the car. The girls looked scared when they saw Bens tall frame, today he wore a suit so it made him look more dangerous.
The stronger girl shoved me to the side and ran with my bag in her hand. I could tell ben was debating on either running after them or helping me.
He was always told to care for me so he let them go.
He pulled me up bringing me to his chest.
” I’m so sorry selly” he said noticing the red mark on my face. He pressed down on my lip with a tissue. I guess I was bleeding too.
” Please tell me my necklace is still there” I whispered as he held me.
I couldn’t bare to find out for myself. Ben slowly lifted his hand to my neck and pulled the chain from my neck. It wasn’t gone but it was broken.
Ben stared at the chain and carefully put it in his pocket.
By the time we made it into his car, both of our phones were blowing up from Kate. The one night i tell her to take the night off this shit happens. There is no way shes every taking a break now.
Dad might just kill me .
Kate pulled up a few minutes later. She launched out and came to my side.
“yes sir, I’m with her now. No major injuries but she has a few red marks” kate said assessing me. I guess she was on the phone to my dad.
Kate finally handed me her phone as she rushed into the bar, I guess dad just told her to get cctv of the incident. Dad was not going to let this go.
“Hey princess, are you alright” my dads tender voice came through the phone.
I breathed out finally.
” yes im okay. Ben came just in time, they took my bag that’s all” I said. I could hear my mom in the back asking him what I was saying.
” Alright princess thank god, well I will talk with Andy tomorrow and we will handle this. Go home and get some sleep okay”
I said goodbye and handed the phone back to Kate as she returned. I widened my eyes when I saw Joshua walking behind her.
He ran over to me. ” oh selene is so sorry, Fuck. Are you okay” I couldn’t even find the words.
” I’m fine, look its okay you didn’t do anything. ” I said to him. He didn’t need to apologise, this wasn’t his fault.
Kate wasted no time in telling Josh to leave when she saw the look on my face. I didn’t know what to feel right now.
How many more bad things must happen before I get myself into real trouble.
Kate offered to take me home and for ben to head back, Kate was obviously not letting me out of her sight for the next 12 hours.
Ben left after kissing my cheek gently. Kate reversed out and headed home. I realised that I still had my phone grasped in my hand, tightly.
I’m surprised it survived that whole ordeal.
” From tomorrow you don’t go anywhere by yourself. I don’t care who it is, me, ben your father or even Nickolas” I nodded, agreeing with her.
” You didn’t call Nick did you” I asked worried.
She finally glanced over at me. ” ofcourse not, im not stupid I know you two broke up” she said.
“but why”
“because even if you haven’t broken up Selene, he still cares about you” I leant back on my headrest.
Great, not you too.
Kate drove home quickly and told me to head up to bed. Kate was honestly such a warm hearted woman but hard as nails too. It was a weird thing.
From the corner of my eye I saw her head to my kitchen and start going through my cupboards.
” pasta please” I said as I started walking up the stairs.
I heard her laugh ” already on it” she replied back.
I started to immediately strip my clothes. I finally got a good look at myself in the mirror. I looked like I hd just been dragged through a forest. My clothes were all wonky. I had blood on my lip and dripping down to my shirt.
It was an interesting look.
That woman must have slapped me with something in her hand for me to bleed this much.
When I finally was naked I stepped into the shower. I washed off the blood and cleaned off every reminent of what happened tonight.
It was painful.
Things can get real intense when you shower. I started to cry softly in the shower. Not only am I going through a breakup but now I get mugged on the street. My business success means nothing when my personal life is going to shit.
Now the water just felt numb on my back. I switched it off and twisted my wet hair. As soon as I opened the shower door I saw a towel come to view. It was spread out open.
I almost screamed when I saw the face of who was holding it.
” are you that stupid to scare me like that when I was just attacked in the street” I said covering my body. Well trying to anyway.
He said nothing as he wrapped the towel around my body.
He was wearing his suit, he probably came straight from the office. It was 10 oclock, how long does he work for these days. I couldn’t help but feel bad.
” Selene, you’ve been in here for an hour and a half” he said gently rubbing my body dry.
I gasped and looked at the clock in the room. Shit it was already quarter to eleven.
” I don’t care if you don’t want to see me, I’m not leaving until weve cleaned you up” I watched his eyes stare at my lips. I instantly licked my lips, but cursed when I felt the sharp pain.
Nick dragged me over to my bedroom. He walked over with a few cotton pads and some alcohol.
I held his wrist before he could touch me” I can do it” I whisperd.
He pulled my arm down. Pinning it to the bed. ” Let me ” he said as he lifted his fingers to my face.
As soon as the cooton touched my lip and flinched back from the sting.
“Fuck that hurt” I said.
He waited a few more seconds and with an encouraging nod from me he tried again.
This time I held back and let the pain come. I watched Nick as he worked on my lip and cheek.
” do you think you’re a prize?” I said suddenly when he went to get some more cotton from the bed.
Nick snapped his head over to me.
“what”
Right, that didn’t make sense did it.
” I mean, do you think it think of you as a prize that I’ve won” I said hoping to make more sense. Joshua’s words imprinted in my brain.
” am i?” he asked.
I closed my eyes before reopening them again.
” no, ofcourse not. There is no secret that I’m lucky to even have your interest in me but is that what your friends think about me, that maybe I’m some gold digger”
Nick came over and bend down. He pulled at my neck bringing me closer.
God i really wanted to touch him.
” wait, who said this to you” he asked me.
As much as I hated josh tonight I don’t want to cause trouble to something that could potentially be true.
I don’t see myself as someone going for the rich, successful popular guys but I do have a preference in men. I always wanted someone successful but not because of that solely. I wanted someone who had high expectations and that could work hard.
Nick was that guy.
“it doesn’t matter, I need you to know that I value you as a person as a man and not as a prize” he stared at me. I could see that he wanted to know who but I’ll let josh tell him if he wants to.
” I never thought that, I think we are pretty much the same you know. I don’t see you as a prize but I do feel pretty fucking special to have been with you” he says stroking the back of my neck.
Past tense. Right. Technically we are no longer together.
“Did you really not do anything with that girl” I asked him quietely.
He grabbed my neck pulling me closer. ” I didn’t do anything more than what you saw. I wrapped my arm around her and spoke to her about my mate and that was all. About your father though, I am really sorry about that”
I nodded, ” if it makes you feel any better, I had dinner with your father today and apologised for letting you and him down”
My eyes snapped up to him.
Damn you Nick.