Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
“Mine. He’s mine. Don’t think I won’t do anything and everything to keep him.” She shakes me.
“Get off me, you old hag.” I rip my arm away. My face is on fire with humiliation and anger. I’m done with her. This abuse stops now.
“Hag? How dare you—”
“I dare everything. You have zero idea who I am.” I face her, and her eyes widen.
“You really are a stupid girl,” she sneers, smoke dancing around her pale face, making her look cartoonish.
“I’m far from stupid. Now, take your bribe money and get out of my room.” I look at the bed and the card.
“Maybe use it to get some more shit injected in your face. You’re looking a little tired today.” It’s petty and beneath me, but she’s a terrible person, and I have no intention of letting her destroy me anymore.
Straightening, she brings the cigarette to her mouth and inhales deeply. The smoke escapes her nostrils. “Well, well, well. It looks like you just might have some of me in you. But you’re playing a game you can’t win. You think you know Jett?” She smiles, and I want to cover my ears because I know what she’s going to say will hurt me.
“You think you can actually keep someone like him interested?” My mother shakes her head. “Has he shared you yet, Raven?” She smirks as my brain starts to buzz, like little bees trying to protect me from what’s coming next.
“Because that’s what he likes. He gets off watching, and fucking, other women. It’s what he does. So you thinking you’re special is kind of laughable.” She licks her lips, dropping the cigarette and putting it out with her heel.
“This, my stupid little girl, is why he’ll never leave me. Because I like it too.” She saunters to the door, then turns. “You don’t believe me? Make sure you’re home tonight, my love. You’ll see firsthand exactly who and what Jett Powers really is and what he likes.”
She walks out, her heels clicking on the floor, or maybe it’s my teeth. I’m shaking.
“What the fuck?” I look around as if the room can answer me, give me the strength I need to compete with someone so awful.
“Think, Raven, think,” I say, closing my eyes, then opening them.
I need Jett.
I rush over to my phone and stare at it. What am I going to say? My mom might finally have snapped. You’re engaged to a bad person who says you will want to share me. Oh, and by the way, I’m in love with you in case you didn’t get that last night…
“Oh my God.” I drop my phone and pace the room. Okay, I need to get ready for work. I can do that; then I’ll get some coffee and try to talk to Jett.
“Perfect.” I march toward the bathroom. I’m in and out of the shower, barely even remembering it, my mind is spinning so much. What did she mean about tonight? Are they planning some kind of… what? Orgy? Threesome? I grab on to the sink because I refuse to believe her. He’s not like that. He can’t be. She’s just trying to scare me. I look up at myself in the mirror and stare. Somehow, I look different. I don’t know what it is, but I’m certainly not the same person who showed up a month ago.
Clearing my throat, I straighten and grab some lip gloss. I’m pale now that the horror has worn off, so I apply some light blush… I need to talk to someone.
Cher.
I need her. There’s no way I can handle this alone.
After tossing all my cosmetics back into my bag, I pull my hair into a tight bun and get dressed for the day, secretly hoping he’s sitting in the chair my mom was in, waiting for me.
He’s not. Of course, he’s not. Quickly, I put on some flared dress slacks and a white starched shirt, then roll up the sleeves. I slip on a pair of plain black pumps and reach for my phone. Huffing in and out in short breaths, I call Cher.
“Pick up, Cher,” I grumble as the phone just rings. Finally, I hang up and text.
ME: I can’t begin to get into how fucked I am. Where are you?
She’s probably not gonna see this for hours, and I need to go to work. How am I gonna sit next to him and pretend I’m fine? Should I tell him what happened?
I grab my bag and slowly walk out, looking to make sure my mom isn’t around, then speed walk down the stairs, almost colliding with Jett. I scream.
Frowning, he holds me. “You okay?”
“I—”
“Oh, there you are, Raven. Jett and I were just discussing our date night tonight. I’ll have Maria make you dinner. You don’t mind, right?” She’s wearing her stupid red silk robe again, hair wet and off her face, but she’s reapplied her makeup.