by Raven Scott
Sarah frowned under furrowed brows. “I didn’t order anything to this room. Who did you say you were again?”
“Your soon-to-be husband raped me.”
Dropping the folder in shock, Sarah’s eyes snapped to mine and widened.
Disgust twisted my lips into a dark scowl. “I know you may not believe me, so I brought proof. I thought you should know, considering you were together at the time, as well.” Numbness engulfed every cell in my body as my own words rang heavy in the atmosphere.
She covered her face in horror.
I knew as many little details as possible about Sarah. I had a long, long time to figure out how I wanted to go about this. Initially, I intended to just oust him at his wedding— that monster whose name I couldn’t stand to conjure up. After some thought, I didn’t really want to deal with the logistics of it and decided to go straight to Sarah.
They’d been together since high school, had broken up a few times before he proposed at the ripe age of 29. Now, here they were, together, 33 years old and she’d planned her dream wedding. Too bad, it wasn’t going to happen. 15 years of her life, with only one man and not only had he cheated on her, but it wasn’t consensual.
Damn.
“Okay. Thank you for your time.” I huffed a stabilizing breath before turning on my heel and leaving the hotel room in stunned silence. Shutting the door behind me, my hands started to shake as soon as they left the brass doorknob. Exhaling slowly, I walked around the corner to lean against the wall, clutching my purse tightly as I stared at the smooth ceiling. “That wasn’t as bad as I thought it’d be.”
When did I get so cold?
I couldn’t pinpoint the first time my voice stopped trembling when I said those three words. Twelve years was a long time to tell myself that I was more than what had happened to me. For over a decade, I had planned and schemed, and now... Now, I would have my three words echoing in the minds of the men who had hurt me.
I deserved revenge.
My pale blue purse buzzed under my elbow and goosebumps swept up my arm under my silken shirt. Fishing the device out of the inner side pocket, I sniffled a little as I swiped the ‘Accept’ button. Pushing myself off the wall, I held my phone to my ear to feel the heat billowing off my face. “Yes?” Striding towards the elevator, I shimmied my shoulders in an effort to ease the weight on them. “If this is about work, I turned off that phone for a reason.”
“Nope.”
Surprise rose my brows.
Landry chuckled lightly over the line as I neared the elevator. “I heard you’re taking a vacation in Las Vegas for the weekend. Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. I had something personal to take care of, so it’s not necessarily a vacation. I’m heading back to New York tomorrow night.” Punching the small button with my thumb, I frowned under furrowed brows as I adjusted my purse strap. “Did you call me just because you were curious about my taking a Friday off for the first time ever?”
“I find it coincidental that we’re both here at the same time, yes.”
Pursing my lips thinly, I really didn’t know what Landry expected me to say to that. Now was definitely not a good time to get together and catch up.
Landry spoke again, “I have a feeling that whatever you’re doing, means you won’t have time for a drink with me?”
“Landry…” My voice faded off. He was so smooth, it wasn’t surprising that he chose to be a lawyer and my lips twitched up. “I’m not here for recreation, unfortunately. Why are you here?”
“One of those beautiful gentlemen from Black Angels invited me to watch him wipe the floor with his opponents face during trial and I thought I could take a day for leisure, myself.” Amusement tinged his tone.
My smile widened as the elevator belched out a shrill ping.
Landry went on, “He worked under me, and we haven’t seen each other in a long time. I think he might’ve left me right before you came on, actually. Has it really been that long? I’m getting old.”
“You haven’t done anything with Black Angels since Carlyle botched that job by outsourcing the manpower. That was right after I came on, I think. I was 20, so a little after.” It really has been ten years since then. I’m turning 30 soon. The doors slid open, and I stepped onto the elevator. “Listen, if you wanted to get together, we can, but I have some more things to do before I go back to New York, and it’s time sensitive.”
Landry groaned into the receiver. “I won’t keep you, Vanessa, but if we run into each other, I’ll take you to dinner.” Landry didn’t wait for a response of any kind before hanging up.
The elevator doors slid shut as I stuffed my phone back into my purse. There wasn’t anything between Landry and I, but he was a good man and his motives were pure. Landry was a corporate chameleon and when I wasn’t shadowing Carlyle’s every move, I’d spent a lot of time learning from Landry.
Maybe that’s why I’m so hardhearted.
There wasn’t any one moment I could recall that blared behind my eyes ‘this is wrong’.
Not when Carlyle found me after being attacked on the train.
Not when Reece killed my parents— something I’d asked of him and paid him for.
Not when I killed those men that hurt other women, the same way I’d been hurt.
Not when I spent ten years planning how to get my own revenge and that plan was finally enacted.
“Well, there was one time.” My murmur was loud in the small box, as I leaned against the reflective wall to frown at myself. “I don’t think dying my hair brown is the same thing, though.”
Although, in most everyone’s eyes, it was exactly the same thing. Torturing and killing a person was made with as much flippancy as deciding to get a haircut.
“Is there a difference between giving the order and enjoying carrying it out?” Posing the question to myself, I shook my head slightly with a soft sigh. “I only have one more, and then I can stop talking to myself in an empty elevator like a creep.”
Giggling to myself, I ran my free hand through my hair. Lucky Number Three— that was how many drunken men it took to overpower a 17-year-old girl on a deserted, early morning train. Three was how many years it took me to put myself back together again, with the help of some amazing people.
“I wonder if he’ll last three days. Or three hours. Or even somewhere in between— thirty-three hours. I’ll find out, I suppose.” After all, in a few days, I’m going to torture him to death. There’s that nonchalance again… like getting a haircut. “I came here to drop off my proof, and I did that. Now, I have to figure out what I’m supposed to do with all the time I delegated to working up my courage and trying not to throw up since I didn’t do either of those things.”
2
Vanessa
“How was your vacation, Vanessa?”
I leaned on my forearms on Josh’s desk as he posed his question, a soft hum escaping my pursed lips. What did I do Saturday into Sunday while waiting for my flight? “I watched way too many episodes of Real Housewives of New York City, so…I suppose it was fine. I don’t really remember anything.”
Josh laughed boisterously.
I tapped the top of the desk with my palms as I rocked back a little on my heels. “I’m glad I bought that hotel, though. That’s part of the reason I went, so it was more like a business meeting. The hotel is all ready for the company retreat in two weeks. Now, it’s just a waiting game.”
“I think it’s really great that you take care of your employees. Ever since you took over, you’ve been a slave driver, but you’re a great boss.”
Flames licked up my cheeks at Josh’s praise.
He arched a brow quizzically at me. “I still think you should go to your own function, though. It’s not cheap to send your employees to Vegas.”
I couldn’t help but smile at this. “We only have a thousand or so employees, Josh and not all of them are going. I know it seems like there’s more, but my office is also the largest, by far.” The tru
th was, I didn’t care, but I waved Josh off lightly anyway. “I have other plans that I can’t get out of, anyway. To you, I’m the boss, but I still have someone to answer to. That’s partly the reason I decided to do this retreat thing. I don’t have enough time in a day.”
“Vanessa…”
Twisting at the interruption, I felt surprised at who had interrupted.
Reece sauntered over to me with a smile. “I need to talk to you for a moment, please.”
“I have an interview in about... five minutes. Make it quick.” I glanced up from my watch and gestured him to follow me into my office. I could almost smell his sizzling nerves from a few feet away and I bit at my lip to hide my frown. Shutting the door behind us, I leaned on the front of my desk and crossed my arms expectantly.
Reece inhaled deeply and shook his head.
“Okay. I’ll bite. Why are you so nervous?” I couldn’t remember a single instance when Reece had looked stressed out.
He raked his hand through his hair.
Arching a brow, I flexed my fingers against my sides. For someone like him to be upset, not angry or irritated, but genuinely upset, something must’ve happened. “Do you want to sit?”
“I was downstairs and I figured you’re as good a person to talk to about it as anyone. Also, the most convenient.”
Wow. I didn’t know whether to be offended or worried. That, in itself, was curious. I automatically assumed this had something to do with Reece’s girlfriend.
Reece didn’t sit, instead choosing to pace around— something he also never did. “It’s not about Riley, first off. I need your advice. I’m being sued.”
“... So, just pay it?”
My flat tone earned me a harsh bark of laughter, as Reece shook his head viciously.
“Are you seriously falling apart over being sued? Call Landry if you feel in over your head.”
“I’m being sued by my sisters. Like fuck am I just going to pay it!” Irritation dribbled from his tongue like venom.
I arched a brow quizzically at him.
He went on, “One of my trashy sister’s kids died when the trailer they were illegally living in caught on fire. I’m being sued because I kicked them out, sold the property, and washed my hands of it. According to the papers I received, I’m being sued for wrongful death.”
“And you’re afraid they have a case because...?” I didn’t understand where Reece was going with his worries.
He shot me a wild look.
“Reece... you’re not an idiot. I know children rub you the wrong way, but you had nothing to do with this. They have absolutely no case against you. If you want a professional opinion, call Landry and have him represent you.”
“I don’t think you’ve ever gotten so close to complimenting me before, Vanessa.” He rubbed his palm down his face, sucking in a sharp breath.
A slight smile tilted my mouth.
Exhaling slowly, he nodded. “You don’t think people will hear ‘child’ and immediately take my sisters’ sides?”
“I think you should talk to Landry. I am not a lawyer.” Some of this stuff was just common sense, but when being sued for the death of a child, all that flew out the window. Pushing myself off the desk, I walked over to Reece to pat his arm gently. “You’ve never killed a child and you’re not responsible for your sisters’ bad decisions. Yes, you took the house, destroyed it, and sold the property, but they’re adults, and they should be adult enough to not live in a trailer illegally.”
He visibly shivered. “It leaves such a bad taste in my mouth. I feel like I should do something, but... I fucking hate my sisters so much.”
Ah, so that’s the crux of the matter. Honestly, it didn’t surprise me that Reece was torn and upset about the death of a child. What was surprising was that despite being so hateful and disgusted with his sister, he still felt like he should do something. “Reece... we are the consequences of our parents. We’re born out of consequence for their actions. We’re judged by their actions. And unfortunately, sometimes we die as a result of their inability.” I knew all the details about what happened after Reece’s mother died and I truly felt bad for him. No matter how far removed he became—something always drew him back to Hicksville.
Reece only frowned under tightly knit brows.
I shuffled to sit on the sofa. “What are you going to do?”
“If I don’t show up, it’ll become a bigger mess. Honestly, despite how much I hate both of them, and knowing that this is not my fault... I don’t know if I can be confronted with the death of a kid and not do anything.” Reece wandered over to my desk almost absently and pick up a glass paper weight as he spoke, “You’d think that considering what I do, I’d consider other options.”
Before I could open my mouth, a knock sounded on the door and I stood to smooth my pencil skirt. I held up a finger at him.
Reece nodded curtly.
We would continue this conversation. I was interviewing two people this morning for senior roles, as they were the most promising.
It also gave me something to do while I waited for the fallout between Sarah Wetherer and her fiancé to finally show itself. She’d called everyone but her fiancé, and I needed my timing to be perfect. After all, it was easy to think he’d just disappear in shame, instead of being kidnapped and tortured to death. But that was a fantasy, one of the few, that didn’t live up to reality.
Opening the door, I smiled at the woman standing just beyond Josh’s shoulder. Gesturing her in, I took a moment to admire her heels.
When I shut the door and glanced up, she was striding confidently right towards Reece. “Mr. Everette, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for taking an interest in me.”
Wait a minute—that’s my name. My eyes widened as I covered my mouth to stop myself from laughing.
Reece didn’t even twitch as he took the woman’s hand, his lips quirking in an amused smirk.
“I’m Jane.”
“Right. Seeing as the lovely Jane here was on time, why don’t you see if your other candidate is early and interview them together?” He looked around her at me, like he was the boss and cocked a brow.
Pursing my lips, I only nodded.
Reece didn’t let go of Jane’s hand even as she tried to pull back uncomfortably. “I hope you’re ready to fight for your spot. If you’re on time, you’re late. Don’t they teach you that in senior executive school?”
“Um, yes. I apologize, Mr. Everette.”
He finally let go of her hand.
The strangest sensation prickled up my back under my soft, silken shirt. Slipping out of the room, I scanned the small lobby as I walked slowly over to Josh’s desk.
A rather handsome man stood, chatting politely, but he paused when he noticed me out of the corner of his eye. David was his name and although his resume wasn’t stacked with experience, it was a great resume.
“You’re quite early, aren’t you?” I’d scheduled these meetings half an hour apart.
David cast me a charming smile as he held out a hand.
“Why don’t you come in my office and we can put you side by side with your competitor.”
“I would be more than happy to. What brought on the change in interview?”
“She was late and you’re on time.” His palm felt warm, dry, hard like he did more than just type and hold a pen.
David’s brows twitched in interest. Very gently, he turned my palm to check my watch, his light blue eyes flashing with realization. “I’m sorry. I didn’t spend as much time hyperventilating in my car as I’d thought, apparently.” His smile widened as he released my hand to step back and gesture with a sweep of his arm. “Lead the way.”
3
Vanessa
Poor Reece. Leaning on the side of the desk while Jane spoke about her various positions, pulling smaller companies out of the dumpster. Obviously, Reece was getting a kick out of this, but he looked so bored, and what was worse... he was being talked at, not talked to.
I rubbed my cheek with the backs of my fingers thoughtfully. That shit might fly when Jane was used to being the most important person in the room, but she hadn’t even glanced my way. To say I was curious about the gender bias wasn’t right, but this wasn’t a stage and pony show. I didn’t want or need someone to come in and overhaul my procedures.
“What about you, sir? David, right?” Reece asked him.
Really, this interview was experience versus willingness, it seemed.
David straightened a little in his seat across from Reece.
Gazing at him, watching him try to figure out who to talk to, would’ve been funny if his career wasn’t on the line.
David subtly tilted his shoulders my way. “Yes, well, I’ve never held such a high position, but I’ve worked at several smaller marketing firms as team lead, supervisor, and did a brief stint in HR. I’ve never had a complaint and my teams have usually run smoothly.” He looked at me when he spoke, but wasn’t intense, and he clearly read the room about when to shut up and when to keep going.
I got the feeling he’d prepared for these questions thoroughly and that was better than Jane’s rambling anecdotes.
“Let’s have a hypothetical.” Reece stood up, clapping his hands and rubbing his palms together lightly. “Say, you end up in conflict with a subordinate on your team. How do you handle it?”
Jane opened her mouth, but David raised his hand.
Reece held up a finger to stop her before she even inhaled in preparation.
She looked stunned, snapping her mouth shut.
My cheek twitched against my fingers.
“The correct answer is to be considerate and raise your hand.” Reece pointed at David like he was a teacher in a classroom. “Yes.”
I could just smell the satisfaction rolling off Reece.
“Is it a professional conflict or a personal one?” Reece asked.
Now this surprised me.
David cast me a cautious glance as he briefly debated who to talk to— the person that asked the question or the actual boss. In the end, his body language aimed at me again.