Vicky
As he stepped into the elevator his lips are tugged up on each corner, revealing his dimples. It was those damn dimples that had made me drop my defenses the first time. His mixed features of male stud with his boyish grin had me thinking that he could give me a connection that I was dying to feel.
“Vicky…it’s been awhile…” he trailed off, flashing his dimples. I felt like my knees were going to buckle as sweat dripped down the back of my neck. I didn’t answer him. I just tried to keep my cool while keeping my eyes fixated on the elevator lights as it descended down. “Come on, if I remember right we had quite a night together,” he said, taking a step closer and running his finger down my arm. The contact made me cringe, and I wanted to turn and knee him in the groin. Only I didn’t turn to look at him or answer his request. I waited quietly for the elevator to stop on a floor and prayed for someone to enter.
Only the elevator continued its descent and Scott took another step closer to me, closing the space between us. My chest felt so tight I thought I might implode. “I’m staying not too far from here at a hotel, do you want to join me?” he asked with a low deep voice. He must think he was seducing me.
I couldn’t take it anymore and I snapped my head and said, “I’d rather die.” Then I snapped my head back and looked up to the numbers.
Scott began to chuckle. “I remember you were a feisty one.” He nodded his head as if remembering our night together. Clearly it meant different things to both of us.
“Come on, Vicky, don’t be so tough, you liked it last time,” he said with a devilish grin. Then he pushed himself into me so I was pressed against the elevator wall. What the hell would give him the impression that I liked it?
“Are you crazy? Get the hell off me,” I gritted out.
“Listen, you stupid bitch…” he snapped, revealing his true nature again. “You better come back to my hotel with me now or else I will show your father that little video we made together back in Canada…” he hissed into my ear. “What would the big man think of his little girl liking it hard and dirty…just think how much money I can get for it?” He shook his head as bile rose in my throat. “Shit, I didn’t know you were his daughter but now that I do…wow, that video can turn into a real gold mine for me.”
As his breath lingered on my neck I felt frozen in my spot. How was this happening? Why now? Everything was so good only moments ago. What would Bryce think of me if he saw the tape? I couldn’t go anywhere with this man though. Yes, I enjoyed sex at parties but I can’t willingly allow him to beat the shit out of me. It took me months to dig myself out of the dark hole he had put me into. Nessa was a huge part of my recovery, but I couldn’t do it again.
Suddenly the doors dinged open and we had stopped in the lobby. Scott pulled away from me quickly, but it was obvious he had just been pressed up into me by the look on the faces of the people waiting to get on the elevator. I was shaking so badly that my brain felt muffled. As I stepped out of the elevator I saw Luc standing in front of me with his head cocked to the side and hurt crossing his features. Had he seen Scott pressed into me? Was he reading this wrong? Why did he even care? Maybe he can help me…maybe he can save me…
“Vicky… you’re back at Tyson?” he asked with a hint of suspicion in his tone.
“Yeah, I went to see Bryce…” I explained even though I’m sure he wanted to know more.
I noticed Scott waiting off to the side looking irritated that I was taking my time talking to Luc.
Luc looked at me then at Scott. “Sorry to run off after lunch yesterday. It was a busy day.”
“No worries, Luc, it was nice talking,” I answered as my heart beat rapidly in my chest. I needed to get away from Scott but I couldn’t take the chance of him revealing something to Bryce.
“Where are you headed now?” Luc asked, looking between Scott and me again. I felt like I’d been holding my breath for far too long. I wondered if Luc could see I wasn’t breathing.
I shrugged my shoulders.
“Did Bryce offer you the internship?” he asked, as if he is looking for reasons to talk, for reasons to not let me go. I was grateful.
“Yes.”
“And did you accept?” he asked, waiting expectantly. Even though he had this calm demeanor about him that said, I’m too high and mighty and I don’t fluster.
“Yes, I did,” I answered, but I could barely smile as my eyes drifted over to Scott and my face probably paled even more. Then I drew my eyes back to Luc, hoping that by some miracle he would understand my distress and save me.
“Perfect, so you should come up so I can show you around, I’m actually headed up to Bryce right now,” he said with an easy smile. Even though I noticed he hadn’t taken his glare off of Scott. Luc was suspicious and I was thankful.
“Ah sure, let me just tell my friend not to wait.” I forced a nervous smile.
I strutted over to Scott, knowing that Luc would have his eyes on me. “Scott, I can’t come with you now I have to go up, this is work related,” I explained carefully, hoping he would accept my explanation and let me go. Scott looked over to Luc and then dipped his lips to my ear whispering, “This isn’t over, Vicky, but now I know where to find you, I will be seeing you soon. Maybe you should give me your number, I’m in town a while longer, we could hook up,” his words were cold and held the bite they meant to give. Scott was a cruel bastard and as his mouth withdrew from my ear, a crawl of goose bumps ran up my body causing my arm hairs to prickle.
I forced a smile to Scott, since Luc was watching. I didn’t want to give him my number. I didn’t want him to have a way to track me down. I was at a loss. I looked back to Luc and he made his way over to us. “Vicky, are you coming for that meeting?” he asked. Scott glared at the two of us suspiciously.
“I best be going,” I said looking to Scott.
“Make sure to be in touch.” He smirked like the smug asshole he is.
With those parting words, Scott disappeared through the front doors of Tyson, and I exhaled a long breath. My chest ached and I felt a little dizzy as I stared at Luc wide-eyed. It didn’t take long for him to register my distress.
He wrapped his arm around me, and I wanted to bury my face in his chest. I felt so lost and scared, but I wouldn’t break down. I didn’t want people watching. I took a few slow breaths and straightened up my shoulders. “I’m okay.”
“You are not okay. What did he want from you? I’ve seen him here before. He’s trying to get into Bryce’s circle, he runs a company in Canada…” The minute Luc finished his statement it’s as if a light had gone off in his mind. “You know him?” he asked warily.
“Not exactly,” I answered hesitantly. Luc had been nice to me. He gave me a ride home after the party, he took me to lunch yesterday, and told me more than I ever needed to know, but we agreed to keep things simple. Me telling him about Scott would un-simplify things to say the least.
“Vicky, I mentioned to you yesterday that I was groomed to be a mob boss, that means I can read people, and I just saw fear in your eyes. Why was Scott Wellington waiting for you? If you are in trouble I want to help you…” he said softly.
The truth was I wanted to break down and cry. Remembering that awful night back in Toronto made me remember things that I wanted to bury. I had gone for the weekend with Nessa, needing a breather from taking care of Mama. I had been held up in the house for a month straight and I was beginning to suffocate. Papa had just started drinking and I was so lost. Joe came home for the weekend from London, Ontario where he went to university. He took care of Mama so I could get away. She was already in pretty bad shape and it had been a huge dose of reality for him.
I just wanted some fun and to feel, I wanted to feel so bad, but I was naïve. I never expected what Scott would have in mind for me, and I never expected my mother to die before I made it home.