Chapter Twenty
Rubbing my eyes, I scrolled through the newsfeed as I reclined on the sofa. I'd googled his name first, which had brought up his design business and the club. Why had I never thought to searchfor more information about my boss? When I'd initially checked him out online, he'd come up as an accomplished designer and I'd focused wholly on that. It was time to delve deeper. There.
Chase Harrogate and friend Joseph Hunter went to university together. They founded several charities after working with vulnerable people. Chase is quoted as saying that the pair first worked with the homeless for Christmas as a dare. He was glad because it led to a lifelong passion for helping others as well as running his multi-billion pound business.
“Shit,” I whispered, staring at the picture that accompanied the article. “They’re loaded. ”
My heartbeat tripled as I carried on reading, cringing when it sang Joe’s praises, likening him and his friend to guardian angels. Had they used their perversion to meet vulnerable people in the guise of being charitable?
Shaking my head, I concentrated on the article again.
Joseph’s personal passion is design, so he’s helped to build cheap housing options for those on low incomes. He’s also worked tirelessly for those with disabilities after his mother suffered a terrible attack which left her unable to walk.
Bloody hell, the man was a saint according to the writer of the article. My stomach churned and I wondered how I could continue to be involved with him, considering that he’d probably had sex with most of the people he was ‘helping’.
“Lola!” Elissa shouted as she slammed the front door closed behind her.
Jumping, I dropped my phone. I’d been so engrossed in the article, I hadn’t even heard her key in the lock. Not that I should be ashamed of what I’d found out, it was quite clear that Joe had tricked me. As much as I wanted to trust my friend by telling her, her judgement wasn’t something I could handle.
“Hey, my love.” Elissa barged into the living room and dumped a heavy bag on the floor. “We haven’t had time to catch up so I thought I’d cook us dinner.”
Smiling, I yelped when she threw herself on me and wrapped me in a tight hug. I clung to her, my throat threatening to block with unexpressed emotion. The lump pushed tears into my eyes and I wasn’t sure if I could control them.
“How’s it going?” she asked, sitting back and taking my hands in hers. “Oh sweetheart, what is it?”
Gulping, I shook my head and blinked away the tears, laughing when one escaped down my cheek. “It’s stupid.”
“Stupid enough to make you cry? Is it Joe?” Glaring, she squeezed my hands. “If it is, I’ll bloody get him.”
Studying her flowing locks and pretty blue eyes, I grinned. “Thanks, it’s good to know someone has my back. Although…”
“Although?”
Releasing a loud sigh, I sat back and chewed on my thumb nail. Could I trust my friend not to go batshit crazy over my new man? Could I confide in her without her attacking him with a hairdryer or something?
“Joe has secrets that have shocked me and I’m not sure how to take them. Also, that creep Finley showed up and tried to hurt me again.” My voice shook as I remembered the feel of his hands grabbing at my underwear.
Elissa’s cheeks turned bright red and she shoved herself up from the sofa. “What? That bastard needs to be put down or arrested, either one. Does Joe know?”
I nodded, wringing my hands together as I glanced down at them in my lap. “Yeah, he rescued me from him. Don’t worry, he put him down pretty bad.”
Her shoulders relaxed noticeably and she sat again. I admired her so very much; she had no idea. I’d always believed that I'd be alone, even when living with her. And yet, she’d always been there to support me, since the day we’d moved in together.
“Good.” She formed a fist and held it in the air. “Because if he hadn’t have done that, I’d be fuming.”
“That’s the problem,” I muttered, pulling the fluffy red blanket up to my chin. “He lost control. And then…” I paused, mortified at what I was about to confess. “…we kinda lost control. Together. Against the wall near where Finley was lying. Unconscious. I’m so ashamed.”
Her mouth dropped open and her eyes widened. “Well, that's certainly a new one for me, I'm not going to lie. So... he beat the shit out of Finley for touching you? What about the police?”
Frowning, I looked around, confused about her direction of thought. “Wait, you don't think it's strange that we did that? Like... right next to his lifeless body?”
Her lips wiggled in amusement as she shrugged. “I mean, it's not ideal... but if a man almost killed a rapist for me, I might get a little out of control too. Guys who want to protect their women are hot. Plus, Finley attacked you twice, he deserved it.”
I went to open my mouth but she held up her hand to stop me. “He is alive, though, right? Because actually killing someone is questionable.”
Somehow finding her amusing, I chewed on my bottom lip. Joe had informed me that his friends had made sure that Finley was found and taken to hospital quickly. I had no idea how, and neither did I want to know how, either. It was best I was kept in the dark... about most things, anyway.
“Yes, he's in hospital. I don't know how badly he was hurt.”
“Don't feel guilty for him.” She tucked her hair behind her ear. “He's scum who deserved to be taught a lesson. Men can't do that to people. It's about time other men stood up to them to stop their behaviour. ”
Huh. Could that be what had driven Joe's kink? He had claimed that he liked to protect people because he couldn't protect his mother. Reading about him and his friend had freaked me out. So much so, I wasn't sure that I wanted to see him again.
“Also,” I pushed on, “he's really fucking kinky. Like, he wants to own me and shit.”
“Don't!” Elissa put a hand on her chest. “Your very own Christian fucking Grey.”
Rolling my eyes, I debated whether to tell her the last thing. The thing that would seal it all and send her over the edge. How was it that my life was like a book that had been read by millions, if not billions, of people?
“That's the thing,” I said, “I think he's rich too. An older British Christian fucking Grey.”
A burst of laughter escaped her and I couldn't help but join in. The craziness of it was hilarious. Except, I didn't know enough about the weird society and whether the men had used their position of power to abuse those who were vulnerable. That last secret wasn't something I wanted to share with Elissa, not yet anyway. I had to speak to Joe to try and understand. Except, I wasn't sure I wanted to do that either. I was afraid of his answers and the chance that my knight in a shiny suit fantasy could come crashing down.
“Seriously though,” I said, “I'm really confused.”
Elissa stopped laughing and tilted her head to the side. “Wait, when did this attack happen?”
I glanced at the door, trying to keep my head from spinning at the reminder of what had unfolded in my office. “This evening.”
“Shit.” Lunging forward, Elissa wrapped me in her arms again. “And you're here alone? Why haven't you called the police? Sorry, I'm so easily distracted, I forgot to follow up on that serious question.”
“Call the police and implicate my boyfriend in a serious assault?” I cringed, “I can't do that.”
Sitting back, she pursed her lips. “Ah, yeah. Still, the bastard should be off the streets if he's attacking women.”
“That's the thing,” I said, “I don't know where to go next... with any of it.”
I followed her with my gaze as she got up from her seat and started to pace the room. “Maybe you need to report the incident once you've worked out an alibi for Joe. You can say that Finley left when you fought him off and you don't know what happened from there.”
“I'll speak to Joe,” I replied, knowing full well that he wouldn't agree with me talking to the police.
There was something about the wording of the article, and the conversation I'd heard at the club, that made me believe that the men in this so-called society abided by their own laws. Maybe Finley had belonged to the club too, which was why Joe had lost his temper so badly.
“Let's have something to eat,” Elissa said, picking up her bag of shopping and taking out a bottle of wine. “And a drink. We seriously need a fucking drink.”