by Queen Pen
“Well…it’s rude,” I said lamely.
“And?” He asked as if what I said didn’t matter to him.
“And it makes me uncomfortable,” I said before I could stop myself.
He continued to stare at me with a scowl on his face and I decided that I didn’t need to sit here with him and be uncomfortable when I could just go back inside and go to my room. He completely ruined the vibe, and I honestly just wanted to crawl into bed at this point. I started to get up when he said, “sit down.”
I looked at him with my eyebrow quirked up and confusion on my face. I was not one for confrontation, so I sat back down and picked the vape pen back up to take another pull. Maddey twisted the cap off the Hennessey and gulped some down. He wiped his mouth with his arm and then handed the bottle out to me.
“No, thank you. I’ve had enough for the night.”
“Take some,” he demanded, so I obliged by grabbing the pint from him and taking a small sip. This seemed to appease him, so I handed the bottle back to him.
We sat in silence, smoking and drinking for what seemed like hours. Before I knew it, all that sipping had made me a little more drunk than I anticipated. I found myself giggling and talking out loud to Madddey, even though he just sat there and scowled at me. I told him about school and living in Colorado and I even told him about Cameron. I was oblivious to his hands balling into fists, when I told him how Cameron wasn’t taking no for an answer and that I should listen to my father and go out with him.
After a while, I had talked myself to death, so I got up to dance. It didn’t matter that there was no music, my body wanted to move. The problem was, when I got up, the world seemed to tilt and before I knew it, I was laying on the floor laughing hysterically with my blue Forever 21 dress up around my waist.
I giggled as I saw Maddey’s big feet walking towards me. The world tilted on its axel again as I was lifted into the air. I closed my eyes and relished the cool air hitting my face. I heard a door open and close as I thought about how long we’d been on the balcony. My eyes popped open and I smiled up at Maddey, “you wanted to get away from the party, didn’t you? That’s why you brought your own bottle up and refused to let Dopey take me to smoke. You wanted me to yourself?”
Maddey’s frown deepened, but he didn’t respond. I closed my eyes again, smiling to myself at solving the mystery that I had made up in my head. I dozed off in the warmth of Maddey’s arms. When I came to again, I was in a warm bed. I smiled as I snuggled deeper into the softness of the mattress. Right before I drifted back off to sleep again, I heard a voice say, “thank you for spending my birthday with me.”
I woke with a scream. Sweat drenched the sheets as I panted and closed my eyes, so that I could calm myself. My heart pounded as the demons from my past slipped away into the fogginess of a forgotten dream. I never remembered my dreams, but I knew what they were about. The horrors I went through during my sex slave days and the day that I committed my first and only murder.
I looked around me and realized I wasn’t in my own suite. The silk comforter was dark purple and the room I was in was just a room, not a full suite. The blinds to the balcony were drawn so I could only see a hint of sunlight gleaming through and bouncing off the floor and couch that sat in the corner. The room was dark, otherwise and I was thankful for that.
I slowly sat up and winced at the dull ache in my head. I looked to my left and saw that my cellphone was laying on the wireless charger on the nightstand and next to it was a bottle of water, an aspirin and a vape pen. Flashes of last night with Maddey stirred in my memory, but I shook them away.
I quickly grabbed the aspirin and the water and gulped both down. The cool water gliding down my throat felt like pure heaven. Once I was finished quenching my thirst, I grabbed the vape pen and took a pull, allowing the ganja to do what the aspirin couldn’t. My muscles relaxed and my thoughts gathered as I grabbed my phone. It was ten in the morning and I had no recollection of that latter part of last night. I had a text from Noella asking me if I wanted to go to breakfast with her and the rest of the girls. I idly thought about how it was weird that my dad never texted me back yesterday or called me this morning. Normally we talked on the phone every morning, no matter what.
I texted Noella back and asked if we could make it brunch and said I could be ready in an hour. I took another pull of the vape pen and sent another text to my dad, letting him know I would call him in a half hour and that I was just waking up. I sat my phone down and massaged my temple as I tried to figure out where I was. Then it dawned on me. I must have been in the penthouse where Maddey lived. I got nervous all of a sudden, but I was distracted by a text from Noella.
Noella: Don’t tell me miss goody-two-shoes had a late night? Yes, we can make it brunch, but hurry your ass. I’m hungry!
I laughed and typed out a text letting her know I was hurrying as I got out of bed and tried to straighten out my ruffled dress. I searched for my shoes and I found them sitting by the door. I slipped them on and put my phone in the pocket of my dress as I opened the door and stepped out into a vast hallway.
To the right, the hallway opened into a foyer, it looked like, but I couldn’t see much from my vantage point. My bladder was begging to be released and there was nobody around, so I had no choice but to open each door so I could find the restroom. I figured one of these doors had to have a bathroom but if they didn’t, then I would have to go out into the foyer and explore the rest of the house until I could find one.
The first door was another bedroom and the second door was locked. I sighed as I turned the handle to the third door and peeked my head in. My breath caught in my throat as I took the sight before me in. This room was a mess of papers and pens strewn across the floor. There was a desk in the corner with a light on top of it and stacks of books. The mess wasn’t what startled me, though.
Asleep on the mattress laying in the middle of the floor, was my father.
six
“D
addy?” I was convinced this vape pen was laced with something because my father laying in this filthy room made no sense to me. It simply wasn’t logical. My mind couldn’t process what it was seeing, as if my father and the filthy room could never be in the same picture.
His eyes flew open and connected with mine. He sat straight up and rubbed his hand down his face as if he didn’t believe he was seeing correctly, “Bel? What the hell are you doing here? You need to leave! Now!”
“What are you talking about? What’s going on?” I was so confused by this point. I was on the verge of tears and I would not be leaving until I got some answers.
“You should have listened to him,” A deep voice from behind me boomed.
Startled, I whirled around and was staring at Maddey’s chest. I tilted my head up and looked into his eyes. Gone were the small smiles and the warmth in his eyes from my hazy memories of last night. Now, he looked almost murderous as he glared down at me with bloodshot eyes.
“Wh—what’s going on? Why do you have my father locked in this room?” I asked Maddey.
“Your father? This fraud is your father?” Maddey roared.
“First of all,” Daddy said as he got up from the mattress, “I am not a fraud. I told you that I did everything I could to get you off. There is no lawyer in the world that could have completely cleared all of your charges.”
“Did I ask you to talk, fraud?” Maddey walked up on my father as if he was going to punch him.
I grabbed Maddey by the arm, “get away from him!”
He whirled around on me, but his expression softened a fraction. “You need to get out of here.” He growled.
“I am not leaving my father! Are you crazy? What did he do to deserve this?” I asked stubbornly.
“He’s supposed to be the best lawyer around, but he couldn’t clear my charges yesterday. Fuckin fraud,” he spat at my dad.
“I already fucking told you that there was no way to completely clear them all! You are going to have
to serve some time. There are witnesses, for Christ sake!” Daddy yelled.
Maddey’s jaw ticked and it looked like he was contemplating swinging on my dad. My hand was still on his arm. I jerked it again so that he would focus back on me, “because you didn’t get the outcome you wanted at your court hearing, you lock my father up like a prisoner?”
“They don’t call me the beast in the streets for nothing. Everyone knows that I don’t take fraudulent behavior lightly. Maybe this way, he will see what it’s like to be locked up like an animal and he’ll be more motivated to get all of my charges cleared.” He sneered.
“Maddey, he’s my dad. You have to let him go.” I pleaded with him. Tears started falling from my eyes. My dad was my world and I wouldn’t let him stay here. There was no way I would be okay with that.
“I can’t do that,” Maddey said with finality.
I nodded my head with tears gushing out of my eyes but more in anger than anything. “Fine. Take me instead.”
“Bel get out of here! You have no idea how dangerous he is. GO!” My dad yelled at me.
Any other time, I would have listened to his commands because I had that much respect for him, even as a grown woman, but today was different. I ignored him and focused on Maddey. “I’m at the top of my class and set to follow in my dad’s footsteps. I’ll stay here, locked up. I’ll work on your case and I will get you off. Just let him go.”
My dad charged at me, but Maddey pushed him back. He gave my dad a look that basically said if you move, I’ll kill you. My dad stood back, grinding his teeth as he glared at me. I refused to make eye contact with him. Instead, I focused on Maddey.
He turned to look at me, “what makes you think you can do what your old man can’t?”
“Fresh eyes. Plus, he is getting old and he might be missing something. I know I can do this. Just let him go,” I maintained my bravado, but inside, I was scared as hell. I honestly doubted I could do what my dad wasn’t able to do but I didn’t care. I wanted him out of harm’s way. I would deal with the rest later.
His mouth quirked up in a smirk, “deal.”
“Bel, no! You are not staying here. I have this under control.” Daddy yelled but I continued to ignore him. I stuck my hand out to Maddey and shook it.
“Security!” Maddey yelled. “Get this fraud out of my face. Take him to the airport.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” Daddy yelled.
The guards came in and grabbed my father. “Daddy, I’ll call you as soon as I can. Please just go.”
He fought the guards and I was terrified because I had never seen him so angry. Tears streamed down my face as a guard hit him upside the head and knocked him out cold. “NO!” I screamed.
Maddey chuckled, but then looked over at where I had fallen to the floor with my head in my hands sobbing. “Don’t hurt him. Get him to the airport unharmed.” I heard Maddey tell the guards.
A moment later, it was silent aside from my cries. I looked up to find Maddey staring at me. He wasn’t glaring like he had been earlier, but he wasn’t the decent human being I had flashes of the previous night, either.
“Give me your phone,” he demanded.
“Why?”
“I can’t risk you telling anyone about this. I just gave up the best lawyer in the state, so I’m counting on you to pull me out of this bullshit,” he growled.
“I thought you said he was a fraud?” I sneered right back at him.
He glared at me, but didn’t respond as he held his hand out. I wiped my tears as I handed him my phone. He slid it in his pocket. “You’d better get started. Court in a couple of months.”
My jaw dropped. I didn’t stop to think how long I would be stuck here. “A couple of months? What day?”
“August 25th.”
I was relieved. I had been worried that it would be the same day that school started but it was a few days before. Still, it was cutting it close. I nodded my head sullenly, “and what do you plan to tell the others? They’ll realize that I’m gone.”
“I’ll think of something,” he said as he turned to walk out of the door. “You’d better get started.”
He slammed the door and I put my head back in my hands.
What have I gotten myself into?
seven
H
ours had passed and I was still locked up in this dingy room with no bathroom or food. My bladder was begging to be released but I refused to use the tin bucket that was sitting in the corner. I had also refused to look at the files and papers strewn across the floor. I didn’t care how bored I was getting. I would rather spend my time trying to figure out how to get out of here than help this lunatic out.
I paced the room and contemplated how I would get myself out of this mess. Internally, I was kicking myself for not trying harder to negotiate my father’s release without me having to stay. I was in school to be a damn lawyer for Christ sake, and I couldn’t even negotiate that? I sank to the floor and cried. My head was pounding, I was pretty sure I was dehydrated, and I had to pee so bad that I contemplated using the bucket.
The door opened suddenly, and a heavy-set lady bustled in with smooth dark skin. Her thick hair was long and braided over her shoulder. She took one look at me and tisked before introducing herself. “Hi, baby. My name is Ms. Keddle.”
I was confused and a little startled by her presence, so I couldn’t think of anything to say. Luckily, I didn’t have to. A young boy came flying into the room and skittered to a stop in front of Ms. Keddle. “Mama! Mama! Can we watch a movie?”
“Richard, what did I tell you about running around here?” Ms. Keddle scolded him.
“Aww mom, I told you that my name is Chip now. It’s cooler.” He grinned up at her.
Ms. Keddle didn’t respond. She continued to stare down at him with her hands on her hips.
“Sorry, mama.” He finally said looking down at his toes. Despite my situation, I couldn’t help but notice how adorable this little boy was. He was dark, just like his mother and he had the biggest brown eyes I had ever seen. His curly hair was in a wild afro and he was a little chubby, which made me want to pinch his cheeks.
He glanced over at me and then looked back at his mom. Cupping his mouth and doing his best to whisper he asked, “mama, who is that?”
She laughed heartily, “boy, what am I going to do with you?”
He paused and pondered the question before saying, “you can take me to get ice cream!”
A giggle escaped my mouth before I clenched my lips tight and composed my smile. I had to remember that this was not a time to be giggling. I was being held prisoner, after all. It was by no means a laughing matter.
“Honey, what’s your name?” Ms. Keddle looked down at me.
“Who are you?” I asked instead of answering.
“I already told you, I am Ms. Keddle, and this is my son, Richard.”
“Chip!” He exclaimed while stomping his foot on the floor before looking at me, “what’s your name?”
“My name is Rebel,” I replied.
“Mr. Madden wanted me to bring you to your new living quarters.” Ms. Keddle informed me.
“What? My new living quarters. Are you sure he was talking about me? I’m supposed to be working on his case…” I let my sentence fall because I was trying to make sense of what Ms. Keddle was saying, but it only caused me to ramble.
“Child trust me. You are the only woman here that is being held against her will. Trust me, I’d know.” My jaw dropped at her bluntness and her tone softened, “I know that this isn’t the ideal situation, but Mr. Madden isn’t all bad. He wants to make your stay comfortable.”
“He didn’t care about making my father’s stay comfortable,” I spat, not meaning to sound so harsh.
“You’re right, he didn’t. There was nothing I could do about that, but Mr. Madden has a soft spot for you, believe it or not. Now, let’s get going.”
I eyed her for a moment longer before giving in and following he
r and Chip out of the room. “What about the case files?”
Ms. Keddle held her hand up as Chip skipped in front of us. “We will have them brought up to your quarters.”
I shrugged and didn’t say anything. I marveled at the size of this place. I knew that Maddey had the complete top floor of the hotel, but I hadn’t realized that it was two massive levels. We walked up the stairs that were made from glass and completely see-through and down a hall. Ms. Keddle opened the first door on the right and stood aside, so I could enter.
The room was even bigger than my suite downstairs. I noticed that this room wasn’t built like a suite. There was no mini kitchen or bathroom in it. It was beautiful but I didn’t take much time to really appreciate it, though, because I had to pee.
“Ms. Keddle, where is the closest bathroom?” I asked, doing a little dance, knowing that I was only moments away from relieving my bladder.
“Directly across the hall, dear. It’ll be your own personal bathroom for the duration of your stay.”
I didn’t respond as I sprinted towards it. I slammed the door behind me, and I just barely made it to the toilet in time. I sighed in relief as tears streamed out of my eyes. It felt that good. Once I was finished, I washed my hands and finally focused on the situation I was in. It was funny how a full bladder could cloud your thoughts because I was now thinking clear as day.
I looked around the vast bathroom and noticed there were no windows. Even if there had been, what did I plan on doing? Jumping to my death? Come on, Bel. Get it together. I thought as I looked around for a weapon of some sort. I looked in the cupboards and under the sink, but found nothing of use. Not even bathroom cleaner to spray in someone’s eyes. Who was I kidding, though? Even if I had found something, who did I plan to use it on? Chip? Ms. Keddle? They had been decent to me and I didn’t have the heart to harm them.
I sighed loudly. What if I just sneak out? I thought. I could slip right out of here and disappear down the hall. I would just have to make a quick pit stop by my suite to grab my wallet at the very least and then I could be on my way. I slowly opened the door, just a fraction of an inch. I could see directly into the room I was supposed to be staying in, but Ms. Keddle and Chip were out of sight. I grinned at the thought of being so close to freedom. I opened the door a little more and poked my head out into the hallway. My heart sank at the sight of two burly men looking directly at me. I could tell they were security guards, even though they were dressed in plain clothing.