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“Ma’am, I’m not saying that, and I am not judging. I am just trying to get as much information as I can so that we can take the right steps. Currently, it sounds like this isn’t a police matter but more of a marital dispute.”
“We’re not even married!”
My frustration boiled over and in the end, I ended the call and threw my phone against the cushion with a loud grunt of irritation.
Bianca’s hand landed on my back but I shrugged her off as the touch felt molten.
How could they not take me seriously? I knew how it looked. I knew that part of this was my own fault for getting so swamped in work, but it had slipped my mind just once. Once was enough, it seemed. Tears built up in the corner of my eyes and I tried to drown them by drinking the entire glass of wine in my hand.
Deep down, part of my pain was knowing that if the police didn’t believe me then there was no way Sawyer would. I really had no one to turn to, which was much more distressing than I could handle.
“I don’t know what to do,” I whimpered, setting down the empty glass.
Bianca was on hand with the bottle, pouring me another. “Maybe if we can work out why he’s doing this, things might make more sense?”
“I can’t think of any.” Sniffling, I wiped at my tears. “Charity, maybe? It feels more like some twisted mind game. He’s acting because he can, for no other reason.”
“I’m so sorry, chick.”
“Maybe he’s just a weirdo getting his rocks off my playing twisted games with a poor woman.” Another mouthful of wine chased that thought.
“Oh gross,” Bianca winced. “Although for that kind of money, a little sex doesn’t seem that bad.”
“Bianca!”
“Okay, I’m sorry,” she chuckled dryly. “I’m just trying to make you feel better.”
She was trying, and I appreciated it greatly, but right now, it wasn't the comfort I needed; it was a solution.
Only, there was no solution.
“He always seemed so sweet each time he dropped off his dog. He kept telling me how he valued smaller, family-run places because it felt so personal. It felt like we were really taking care of his dog, and he wasn’t just a number. He was so charming.”
“He’s a snake,” I muttered bitterly, slumping back against the cushion. “He has such a terrible reputation for using people. All he cares about is money but I have none. That’s what I don’t understand.”
“What about your boss?” Bianca shot me a soft look. “Sawyer, is it? He’s rich and powerful, the same as Eli. Maybe he can help?”
“No,” I groaned, and hopelessness washed over me once more. “The police laughed at me. What hope do I have of Sawyer believing me? Eli is a rival, and not only that, he’s an asshole. I can’t even justify how this happened because it’s all my own fault.”
Tears rolled down my cheeks and Bianca’s face swam up and down.
“Plus, I don’t want to bring this kind of drama. I fucked him, his business partner and his friend. Eli is right. I don’t have much of a leg to stand on for those reasons, not the ones he thinks.”
“Oh sweetie.” Bianca gripped my thigh. “Are you sure there’s no way he would understand?”
I shook my head slowly. “Even if he helped, I’d then be in debt to him or he’d fire me because I’ve betrayed him. Plus, with everything that’s happening at work right now, how is it going to look if I turn up with complaints about the one man who has been at odds with Sawyer for years? Hanging out with the enemy? Then I’m back to less than square one. No, I’ll have to…”
Sitting up, I wipe at my cheeks and force a deep breath.
“I’ll go to the new facility and just cancel everything. I’m her daughter. I can do that.”
“I don’t want to be a downer,” Bianca said, “but as your voice of reason, what about the bills? Eli could drop you into a lot of debt.”
“Well, what the hell am I supposed to do?” I turned to her, frustration rising once more but upon seeing the sympathy all over her face, I sank back down. My anger was misdirected, and she did not deserve it.
“I don’t know, honey. I really don’t.”
After another glass of wine, I called the new facility and was somewhat surprised to find a pleasant-sounding woman more than happy to speak to me.
