Now
Michael untied me and tended to the wounds he created. I was grateful that they were only surface wounds to draw blood; they were nothing compared to what he had done to me before. But this was somehow more disturbing. He wanted me to bleed, he wanted me scared, and he got off on it. He somehow became even more of a monster since our last encounter.
But I still pretended to be sweet, naive Jackie as he bandaged and bathed me. I had a plan: the next time we went out, I would make a run for it and head straight to Elliott. And he’d help me kill him.
I didn’t know how it would happen. I didn’t want to think that far ahead; all I knew was that as long as Michael was alive, he would always reel me back in. And if it wasn’t me, it would be another poor woman who fell victim to his charm. It was clear that he couldn’t change, or that he even wanted to.
My heart hurt at how awfully I treated Elliott. Would he forgive me for coming back to Michael? If I could forgive him for lying to me, couldn’t he forgive me for temporarily losing my mind to Michael? Oh my god, Jackie. How the fuck did you fall for this again?
Michael held me again that night. I wished I didn’t enjoy his arms around me, but I did. Feeling his gentle touch stirred up so many conflicting emotions inside of me. I needed to keep reminding myself that he was a monster. He was manipulating me. He was being gentle on purpose, just to treat me like shit again, and I knew he’d repeat that over and over again. And he scolded me for being typical. My heart ached as I silently cried myself to sleep.
* * *
Michael woke me up by stuffing his cock into me. As much as he told me how much I repulsed him, how pathetic I was, he certainly didn’t mind fucking me. And as much as he repulsed me, and how much I hated him, I still liked it. This only strengthened my decision to end his life.
“We’re going to the restaurant. They want you to pick up your last paycheck and fill out some paperwork. Then we’ll go do some shopping,” Michael said as he and I got dressed and I put on my usual bodysuit to cover my scars.
He narrowed his eyes at me as he stared at my breasts. “Are you on birth control?”
I knew that my birth control pill made my breasts a lot bigger and fuller; I could tell Michael enjoyed them.
“Yes.” I nodded.
He shook his head as he slowly walked toward me with his shirt in his hand, his broad and muscled shoulders making my heart flutter. Stop it, Jackie.
“Not anymore. You’re going to bear my children.”
I didn’t even want children. But I wouldn’t tell him that. I only smiled and nodded.
“I would love that, Daddy.”
He smiled and pulled me towards him. “I know you would, baby. Let’s go.”
We took an Uber to the restaurant and my heart raced the entire time, trying to figure out what to do. He wasn’t forcing me to do anything—he only assumed I’d listen to his every demand. He thought I was still obsessed with him. So why couldn’t I just tell him that I was leaving and not coming back? Because he’ll kill you! But what if I got to him first? And he has my fucking phone. I’ll use Meg’s or Lauren’s to call Elliott. I took a deep breath as we approached the building and let Michael take my hand. I thought I was going to keel over and have a heart attack as we walked in and saw Meg taking an order. She quickly looked over and her eyes widened as she took in who was beside me. She said something to the table she was at and then began to approach me and Michael as he pulled me towards the back of the restaurant.
“Jackie, is…is everything okay?”
Oh my God, Meg…please don’t say anything . I was grateful she was worried about me though—she had every right to be.
Michael gripped my hand tightly as he turned and glared at Meg. She was probably 5’2” so he towered over her by nearly a foot as he neared her, but she didn’t bat an eye.
“Everything is great,” he said calmly. “We’re here to gather Jackie’s things, as well as her last paycheck. Isn’t that right, Jackie?” He looked down at me expectantly.
I exhaled a laugh and nodded. “Of course!” My tone was exaggerated and almost comical, but I was nervous not only about our conversation, but also about how I would get rid of Michael.
As Michael pulled me away, I could see the confusion in Meg’s eyes as she stared at us.
We walked through the back door into the break room. Lauren’s office was just down the hall.
“Wait here. I’ll go get it,” I said to Michael, already knowing he wouldn’t let me go alone.
He tightened his grip on my hand. “No.” He pulled me firmly towards Lauren’s office.
I took a deep breath and knocked on her door. Holy shit, am I doing this?
“Come in!” Lauren called out.
Michael grabbed the door handle and swung it open. Lauren, seated behind her desk with a pen and notebook, looked up, her expression shifting to surprise.
“Jackie,” she began, her voice trailing off as she took in the scene.
My heart pounded so fiercely that I felt as if it might explode from my chest.
“I have something to say,” I blurted out, my breath shaky.
Michael whipped his head toward me as I continued.
“I actually don’t want to do this. I think I’ll just stay here and you can leave, Michael.” Turning to him cautiously, I braced myself for the fury I knew would blaze in his eyes.
He scoffed and smiled. “Jackie, don’t be ridiculous. You told me you hated it here.”
I shook my head and turned back to Lauren. “No, I love it here. Michael wanted me to quit to control my finances, but I think this time around, I’m not going to let him control anything about me.”
Explosions of satisfaction erupted in my brain as I observed Lauren shooting an angry glare towards Michael. I pulled my hand from his and crossed my arms as I slowly looked up at him; his eyes were widened with surprise.
“Please leave.” I wasn’t sure if I was holding my head up high, but it felt like it.
Lauren stood up, her gaze shifting between Michael and me. Michael, meanwhile, remained silent, his eyes locked on me with a piercing glare. Was he actually rendered speechless?
“Get out of my restaurant before I call the police,” Lauren huffed angrily at Michael.
Michael flashed me a sinister smile. “You will regret this, Jackie. I promise you.” He quickly turned and walked out the door.
It was then that I burst out in tears. “Oh my God, Lauren.”
She came from behind her desk to give me a hug. “We knew something was off. I’m so sorry, sweetie. We’re here for you.”
I let go as I realized I needed to call Elliott. “Can I please use your phone?” I asked, my breath trembling.
Lauren didn’t hesitate to grab her phone from her desk. “Of course.”
I dialed Elliott and he answered after a couple rings. “Elliott Walker.”
I burst into tears again at the sound of his voice. “Elliott. It’s me.”
“Jacqueline,” he breathed, sounding like a sigh of relief.
“I’m at the restaurant. I just told Michael to fuck off. I’m so sorry; I lost my fucking mind,” I wailed.
“I know, baby. I know. It’s okay,” he assured me calmly. “Let me come get you, okay?”
I continued to sob, now with a sense of relief washing over me. “Yes, please.”
I sat with Lauren in her office with my head in my hands as I waited for Elliott. I didn’t have to wait long, though. I heard footsteps striding through the hallway and he appeared at the door, his worried eyes finding mine.
“Elliott!” I immediately jumped up and wrapped my arms around him. He held me tightly for a long moment and let me cry. I didn’t even realize Lauren left the room, giving us privacy.
“I’m so sorry,” I said as we finally parted.
He put his hands to my cheeks and stared down at me lovingly. “Don’t apologize, Jacqueline. I’m just glad you’re back with me.”
I knew I had a lot to tell him—and I needed to tell him now .
“Elliott, I had sex with him. I’m so sorry. When I was alone with him, my mind just shut down. I know that’s no excuse, and I’m so sorry.” Saying it out loud only made me feel more shameful.
He only shook his head. There was anger in his eyes as he clenched his jaw. “That’s okay. Because now I get to kill him for multiple reasons.” His tone was devoid of any humor—he was serious.
And so was I. “I want to help.”