Her heart sank, fearing she was about to be sent away. “Yes.”
“I’m sorry. He says he doesn’t want to see you. You have to leave.”
She burst into tears as she turned and left the building. She wanted to call and text him again but knew it wouldn’t do any good. The lack of response was becoming more and more painful and each failed attempt only compounded her grief. She returned to her apartment where she spent the day fluctuating between profoundly forlorn and intensely angry.
Over the next few days she made various attempts to reach out to him but he never reached back. She barely functioned at work on Monday. Everyone who spoke to her, knew something was off but the only person she told was Sam. She was struggling so much that around noon Sam told her to go home.
She was about to step into the elevator when she heard someone call her name. She turned to see Derek coming down the hall.
“Hey,” he greeted her. “Is everything all right?”
“It’s fine,” she answered, wondering why he was asking.
“You just seem so sad today. Did you and Viktor break up?”
“No. Just some personal issues, Derek. I gotta go.” She stepped into the elevator feeling like Derek’s sudden concern was out of place.
“Yeah, okay,” he replied. “Have a good night.”
Amanda stopped by Viktor’s apartment but his Jeep wasn’t there so she went home. She tried calling but couldn’t get through and didn’t bother to leave another message. She had given up on texting altogether. She said everything she could possibly say in her previous messages. At 9:00 P.M. she tried calling him again and left a message when he predictably didn’t answer.
“Viktor. I don’t know what you want to hear. I can’t admit to something I didn’t do,” she tearfully explained. “I love you. I miss you. I need you. Please call me .... I need you.”
She curled up in her bed after she hung up and cried her heart out. She couldn’t believe this was happening and so badly just wanted him to be there to hold her. In her anguish, she called out his name as though he might magically appear if she did. Just then the door to her apartment opened.
She took a sharp breath, knowing that could only be Viktor. Her heart raced with anticipation of being in his arms and feeling his love again. She hurried out of her bedroom and came face to face with Derek in her living room. She stopped dead in her tracks, wondering if she was dreaming.
“Hi.” He gave her a broad smile.
She was so shocked she couldn’t even speak. She felt a surge of adrenaline as a wave of fear swept over her. “How did you get in here?” she finally asked.
“The door was open.” He took a step towards her and she took a step back.
“No it wasn’t,” she said firmly.
“Yeah, it was,” he replied, still smiling. “How else did I get in?”
“It doesn’t matter. You need to leave,” she demanded.
He tilted his head. “Amanda, you don’t have to pretend anymore.”
“Pretend?”
“I know you didn’t want to file that complaint,” he explained. “I know Viktor made you do it. That’s why I wasn’t mad.” He took another step towards her and she moved back more. “But he’s gone now. We can finally be together.”
Amanda realized she wasn’t dealing with a normal person. “Derek, now is not a good time.”
“We’ve waited long enough, Amanda.” He began moving steadily towards her. “We don’t have to wait anymore.”
Amanda tried to get away from him but there wasn’t room to move around him. He grabbed her and began forcing her towards the bedroom.
“Derek, no! I don’t want this!” she shouted as she struggled to push him away.
“First time is always the hardest,” he replied. “You’ll feel better once we’re past this.”
“I said no!” she screamed.
He then punched her right in the face and she blacked out for a few seconds. When she came to, he had put her on the bed and was unzipping his pants. She tried to get up and he pushed her back down and got on top of her. With her adrenaline now running at full speed she began to aggressively defend herself.
Continued in Part 2
About The Author
Mel LeBrun
A Connecticut native, Mel LeBrun's love for writing began in her early teens. After being laid off from work, she found herself with a lot of time on her hands and decided to use that time to finally bring to life a story and characters that had lived in her imagination for years.
She chose to self-publish to be able to focus on her writing and not have to deal with the time consuming and energy-sapping corporate world of the publishing industry. By self-publishing she can quickly get her work in the hands of readers and then get back to what she loves, writing. When she's not writing, Mel likes to get away from it all in the great outdoors.
Books By This Author
Black Pawn
After witnessing something he wasn't meant to see, Michael Cailen is caught in a real life game of chess where every move could be his last. A former special ops soldier, he uses his training and skills to stay alive and one step ahead of those hunting him.
Jessica Nickoli's life is forever changed when a chance encounter with Michael in a cafe almost leads to her death. Saved by Michael, she must go on the run with him as it becomes clear they intend to kill her now too.
As Michael learns more about Jessica's murky past and questionable career as a computer hacker he begins to wonder if there is more to her than meets the eye. He soon realizes it was not mere coincidence that brought them together. With his
