Chapter 36 #2
“He was mentally, emotionally and financially abusive our whole marriage,” I say as tears prick the back of my eyes.
My life is spiralling out of control. In the last week, I’ve told more people about my secret than I ever thought I would, and I feel like I’m grasping onto the last semblance of control with slippery fingers.
I reach into my purse and hunt blindly for a tissue.
My makeup is flawless and I refuse to let Daniel ruin one more fucking thing in my life.
Tony just stares at me, dumbfounded.
“But how? What- ?”
“I hid it well. We both did. But the last ten years of my life have been miserable, Tony. He controlled every single thing I did. And now I’m finally free, and, and, happy…
” I think of Zayn and tears threaten to spill over for a whole other reason.
“And now he’s blackmailing me to stay married to him! ”
All of a sudden, anger like I’ve never seen contorts Tony’s features. “He fucking what?”
“And it’s your fault!”
Tony steps back, his shoulders rigid. “What have I done?” He gasps, ashen.
“The money you and Dad borrowed! He’s threatening to withdraw it from the business and bankrupt you if I don’t co-operate with his demands.”
Tony’s brows fold. “But Gia, we paid that money back within a year of him lending it to us.”
My pulse starts to quicken. What did Tony just say?
“You what? Are you sure?”
“Of course I’m sure!” Tony says, running a weathered hand over his buzz-cut, his shoulders visibly loosening. “I have the documentation I can show you if you don’t believe me.”
I slump down as relief showers over me. The dead-weight that’s been sitting on my chest and slowly crushing me for the last two weeks begins to lift.
“Why didn’t you bloody well say that when I messaged you about it?” I hiss between my teeth. This all could have been resolved two weeks ago!
“You didn’t ask for details or if we paid it back, you just asked if we borrowed it. Which we did.”
I glare at Tony, and at least he has the decency to look sheepish. Then, the depth to which Daniel was willing to stoop starts to register. “That fucking asshole!” I breathe. He knew I wouldn’t bring it up with my family, knew I would want to protect them.
“That’s the kind way of saying it. I’m going to fucking murder him.”
I can’t even muster the desire to mirror Tony’s sentiment. It’s over. Daniel can’t touch me now. My arms shake. I’ve been living in a constant state of terror since Daniel came to see me, just wondering when I would be forced to be alone with him again.
“Hey, Gia, what’s wrong?” Tony rushes toward me and catches me right as my legs seem to give out. He holds me up and rubs my back awkwardly as I sob into his shoulder, makeup be damned.
“I’m relieved,” I sob, wrapping my arms around him, and I’m sure that I’m scaring the shit out of my brother, but I don’t care. We can get back to our usual bickering soon. Right now it’s nice to have his comforting embrace while I process what this means for me. For Zayn. For me and Zayn.
After a minute, I step back and dab under my eyes with a tissue while Tony lingers awkwardly with his arms out, scared I’m about to collapse again.
“I’m fine, idiot.” My smile is watery.
“Good. Don’t think I was going to catch you again,” he lies with a smirk, and just like that, order is restored. “Tell me how I can help.”
“I’m fine,” I repeat, and I mean it. After looking forward to this gala for over a month, I now can’t wait for it to be over so I can go see Zayn.
Will he be happy to see me, or angry that I didn’t tell him what was going on?
Will he even want to see me? I brush off the thoughts that make my stomach churn and fan my cheeks to try dry the remaining moisture.
“Is that what all this is really for?” Tony asks, circling his finger in the air. “The women’s shelter?”
I had told my family this fundraiser was a part of a uni assignment. Tony put the pieces together quicker than I thought he would.
“Yeah, sort of.” I shrug, looking over Tony’s shoulder to where Anna stands in the crowd, her shoulder rubbing against Percy’s.
The smile on her face as she listens to Percy talk gives me a small one of my own.
“I started volunteering at Hope House after I left Daniel. I guess I felt a connection to the women who come through these doors, and it’s healing for me to help them, even if it is only in a small way. ”
Tony eyes me curiously. “I don’t think what you’re doing here is small. I think it’s incredible.” He clears his throat and looks down at his shoes. “You’re incredible, Gia. I’m really proud of you.”
I don’t know what to do with Tony’s praise.
“Thanks, Tone.” I punch his arm. “I have to get back out there.”
“Okay,” Tony concedes, “but this isn’t over, Gia. We need to have a proper conversation. You need to be honest with Mum, too.”
“I know, and I will. Just not tonight.” He nods and we start back to the crowd, but I’m called over by Lenny on the way. I tell Tony to go ahead, and he does, joining Lia, who’s engrossed in the auction with the rest of the guests.
“Your date looks different tonight.”
“Gross,” I wrinkle my nose. “That’s my brother.” I stop at Lenny’s booth and nod to his laptop. “You better have ‘Pony’ on the list.”
“It’s three songs away, and I better see you on the dance floor.” He grins, and I can’t help but chuckle back. “Thanks for the gig, by the way.”
“Let’s just say I was impressed by your skills at the law awards.” I spot Sam weaving through the crowd, heading toward the stage, and know I have to get back to the formalities. “I’ll come back and help you spin later.”
“Looking forward to it.”
I leave Lenny and find Anna amongst the sea of people just as Sam reaches the podium. He clears his throat in the microphone, ready to address the guests. I guess I missed the auction.
“Welcome, everyone, and thank you so much for joining us here tonight to raise funds for such a worthy cause. The women of Melbourne who need help in their darkest times.”
I settle in with everyone else as a blanket of silence comes down over the room, and listen to Sam speak.
His shiny upper lip and slight wobble to his voice give away his nerves, but he speaks so beautifully and passionately about Hope House that soon everyone is mesmerised by his words and the way he describes the work he does there.
When he nears the end of his speech, he points me out of the crowd and thanks me for putting the gala together and my ongoing support of Hope House, and his words are so touching that fresh tears spring to my eyes as the crowd erupts around me.
When the applause dies off, Sam continues.
“And lastly from me, I would like to thank Zayn Romero from Martin&Klein legal for the free legal services he has already provided to the women of Hope House, and his promise of on-going pro-bono support to anyone who passes our doors that requires it. Many women who come into our care just don’t have access to the legal aid they need, and to have his premium services available to them free of charge is in most cases literally life-changing and life-saving.
So thank you to Zayn who was unfortunately unable to attend tonight. ”
As the crowd erupts into another round of applause, I stand with my chin hanging down to the floor.
Zayn offered pro-bono work to Hope House?
Why didn’t he come tonight to receive the praise for his generous offer?
Did he stay away to give me the space I asked him for?
I’m sure that’s the main reason, but I know Zayn.
He wouldn’t want the recognition for his good deed anyway.
As if I couldn’t love him more, I feel my chest start to physically ache with the overwhelming longing I feel for him, and I’m not sure how much longer I can wait until I flee from here to go find him.