CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
CASSY
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I clap my hands together as the next award is announced. Tonight has been full of surprises and so much fun. I’m glad I insisted I attend.
Despite everything.
During the small breaks earlier, I’ve had wonderful conversations with other salon owners, and now a fellow competitor who I highly respect just won Hairdresser of the Year.
He absolutely deserves it.
“Wooop,” Scarlet cries, circling her arm in the air all cowgirl like, and then claps robustly.
We share a glance and grin.
I know Josh and his team thought the worst, and it’s their job to do so, but I don’t think Isaac will try anything tonight.
His MO was always to break into my home or get me when I was alone.
It took me a long time to drive by myself after he followed me to Walmart one night. I parked my car and was walking through the dark parking lot when he sidled up beside me and just started chatting as if we were friends.
I froze and began trembling.
“Hey, sweetie, it’s fine,” Isaac said, rubbing my arm.
“What do you want?” I gasped almost silently.
“Come with me,” he said and smiled at the couple walking behind us.
I should have screamed. I should have run.
I didn’t.
I was frozen in fear. I mean, he wasn’t doing anything wrong. The police had made that clear when they said I couldn’t get a restraining order at that point.
My feet starting walking as he put his arm around me and led me to a vehicle.
That’s when my brain started to work again.
But it was too late. No one was around and he shoved me into the vehicle. He was strong and violent and if anyone heard, they did nothing.
Isaac climbed in after me, binding my arms and shoving revolting tasting material into my mouth. I’ve never been so terrified in all my life.
In the next minute, we’re flying out of the parking lot and along the highway.
“Stay down,” he kept yelling at me as I was tossing my body around. When I didn’t, he reached back and smacked me so hard I saw stars.
Then I just lay there crying.
When we finally stopped, I could barely breathe. My face was wet with tears, my nose snotty, and mouth full of whatever he shoved in it.
“Look at you.” He laughed when he opened the back door and stood staring at me. “No one would know you are a rich little girl.”
I just lay staring and wishing for a miracle. My eyes darted around the car to work out where we were. It was a clearing of sorts, with industrial buildings and a bridge.
“Let’s see where we were,” Isaac said, and both of us knew what he meant. Where he’d left off in my bedroom months earlier before the police arrived.
They hadn’t caught him.
He’d run.
He gripped my legs and yanked me across the seat, pushing up my dress.
“Pink. My favorite color on you, Cassy,” he said, yanking my panties down. “But we won’t be needing these.”
I tried to scream; I tried to fight, but I couldn’t.
“Feel my fingers. Is that nice?” he asked, pushing them between my legs. “Look at you shuddering with need, you dirty little cunt.”
I closed my eyes and let a part of me die when he pressed inside me. He did it over and over, and when his mouth touched me, I began to scream.
As much as I could.
“Yes, my little pussy. Oh, how I’ve wanted to have my face between your legs.” He kept licking me and I wanted to vomit.
The rest was a blur.
I heard tires on gravel, and he stopped touching me. Lights began flashing and the next minute there were voices, and something was thrown over me. I was removed from the vehicle and my mouth cleared, and the binds taken off me.
A police officer held me and at some point, I was taken to a hospital and my parents arrived.
That’s when I learned Isaac Miller had been arrested.
He could never hurt me again.
Or so I thought.
“Let’s take a short break then we’ll be back for the big award. Salon of the Year,” the MC announces.
The lights brighten a little and I take a big gulp of my wine that’s just been topped off by our server, and head over to congratulate Jeremy, the winner, who is holding his trophy.
“I’m so happy for you,” I say, wrapping my arms around him.
“Thanks, babe. Hey Scarlet.”
“You stole my award.” She teases him.
“Next year, honey, next year.” Jeremy chuckles as he puts his trophy on the table, then glances behind me. “Fan club, or are you secretly the love child of the president?”
“Huh?” I ask, then when I realize he’s referring to my security, I add in my Darth Vader voice. “Oh, yes, he is my father. Don’t tell anyone.”
All three of us giggle.
“But for real, is it because of the stuff on the news?” he asks.
I wave my hand out. “Yeah. It will be fine though. Just a precaution.”
“Okay, well, that’s way too vague. Drinks Friday and you can tell me everything,” Jeremy says. “Because, baby, some of these men are fine.”
“So fine,” Scarlet nods.
No comment.
“Text me. And congratulations, again. You so deserve this.” I smile, then glance around and calculate if I have time to dash to the restroom.
Then I figure I will have to make time because if we win the big award that’s being announced next, then I am not standing up on stage giving a speech with a full bladder.
No way.
I’m so damn excited. Originally, I thought there was no chance Ink & Mane Studio could win this year, but my team has been whispering all night that we might.
So if I’m going to win, I want my lipstick perfect and bladder empty.
I wobble a little and frown.
How many drinks have I had? I didn’t think it was that many.
“Back in two minutes.” I say to Scarlet, leaving her with Jeremy.
I make my way across the room, wishing I could talk to Josh and tell him how excited I am that we could win tonight. How no one believed I could even run a salon, let alone be respected in the industry.
An award-winning one.
I spot a couple of girls coming through the side door nearest me and remember the MC had pointed in this direction for the restrooms at the start of the night.
Glancing around, I see Aidan, Josh, and Ryder still in their same spots. They’re watching me. Well, Josh isn’t. Whatever. Aidan makes a move to follow me, but I’m not waiting. Nothing is happening tonight. I’m fine.
Wobble.
My head spins and I try again to remember if I had a third or fourth glass. I thought I’d had two and lots of water.
Maybe that server was topping off more than I realized.
Damn.
Making a fool of myself on stage is the last thing I need. I certainly wouldn’t want Josh to see me drunk and like this. I cast a glance his way and find his eyes on me. Even from this distance, I can feel the chemistry between us.
Like a wild, burning ache.
I’ve purposely not focused on him tonight because no matter how I feel about him, he’s made it clear I’m just his client, so that’s fine.
That doesn’t mean I’m not attracted to him. Just looking at him makes me hot...wait, am I hot? Where am I going?
I slow. Then glance around.
What was I going to do?
I wave my hand in front of my face and the world wobbles, but I look at the door a few steps ahead of me, then keep walking.
I turn and see Aidan...who is Aidan...? He’s got his finger pressed to his ear.
I laugh.
I reach the door and go to open it at the same time as someone else.
“Oh, sorwwy,” I begin to say and what the hell is wrong with my voice? I glance up as I wobble on my heels, then see the man’s face.
No.
Oh god, please noooo!
“Hello, Cassy.” Isaac grins and lifts his finger to his lips shushing me.
Suddenly, the room goes dark.
Pitch black.
I scream as my legs give way under me. Isaac scoops me up and I hear the door click behind us, shutting out all the cries.
Including Josh’s.