CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
BAILEY
“Please, see it from my point of view,” I plead to Hollister.
“I am but you are being extremely selfish. I cannot show up to this thing without my girlfriend on my arm. This is my business Bailey, not some friendly social event, so I need you to go get ready right now. Please.” I can tell how frustrated he is and that he is really working on keeping control of his temper.
“I understand that Hollister, and if it were any other night I would be happy to accompany you. However, I am exhausted and I don’t have the time to properly dress for this event.”
“Bailey! Dammit, you have to go. This is not up for discussion!” Hollister takes a deep breath and fists both of his hands tightly. “You don’t think I’m exhausted? I was up just as late as you were and up just as early this morning. This is not something I can afford to pass up and you will go with me. Now hurry up, we’re already going to be late.”
I hate when he springs things on me like this. We were up all night arguing. I can’t even remember what started it now, but we ended up covering everything under the sun. He started to get violent a few times but managed to stop himself before touching me. I worked all day and came home ready to crawl into bed early. Then he tells me I have to put on a formal gown and heels and go to some dinner event for a potential business associate he has tried to connect with for the past year.
I get the importance of it for him, but he would never attend an event like this for me on last minute notice.
I keep two new formal gowns on hand at all times in case things like this pop up so I can be prepared. Dressing isn’t going to be an issue but I am so drained. The idea of doing my hair and makeup on my own breaks me. I walk the dresses to my bed and sit down next to them. Putting my head in my hands I start crying.
Next thing I know Hollister is barreling toward me. His right hand goes to my throat and his left hand to my upper right arm. He shoves me back on the bed pushing down on my throat. He lets up and I gasp for air then he pushes me back down again, all the while never letting go of my right arm. His fingers are digging into me and it is so painful but he is constricting my throat so I can’t say anything. My vision is darkening with the exception of the white stars swirling around in front of my face. He is spitting out angry words through his teeth but I don’t have the slightest idea of what he is saying. Finally he brings me back up to a sitting position. “Get. Ready. Now,” he barks directly into my face then shoves me back down onto the bed before walking out.
The cold water against my face helps calm my trembling body, so I quickly put on makeup and do a simple low knot at the base of my neck with my hair. The skin on my neck and arm is bright red and will soon be purple, but there is nothing I can do about that tonight. I’m sure I won’t be seeing anyone I know so I don’t care if the bruises are visible. I want Hollister to see them and realize what he has done.
Once I slip on my dress and shoes, I put my necessities in a clutch and walk out to find Hollister leaning up against the door scrolling through his phone. He opens the door when he hears me without looking up. We walk in silence to the elevator and only when the elevator doors close does he look at me.
“You look perfect. Thank you for making it happen,” he says just above a whisper.
“As you know, I did not do it willingly so I’m not sure why you are thanking me.” I know that response is stupid, but I am pissed. Hollister takes a deep breath but says nothing in return. Nothing at all is said on our way to wherever we are headed.
The valet opens my door and his eyes automatically go to my neck as he reaches for my right arm to help me out of the car. I wince as he wraps his hand around the sore spot that is still marked. I try to control my breathing because it’s started to increase from the pain he unintentionally inflicted. His eyes go round and he mouths “Sorry” to me as he moves his hand to my elbow. This night is going to be awful.
Hollister comes around the car and offers me his elbow as he eyes the valet attendant warningly. “Have a good evening miss,” the young attendant says to me without acknowledging Hollister. I lightly place only my hand in the crook of his arm and we make our way inside a large and beautiful hotel.
The sign to the right of the front desk makes my heart drop to the pit of my stomach.
Welcome
McAllister Marketing Firm
And Guests
I am going to vomit and I have no idea how I am going to get out of this.
Why didn’t I think to ask where we were going?
“I need to use the ladies’ room before we go in.”
“Please hurry Bailey, we are already very late.”
“Of course.” Keeping Hollister in a decent mood can only be beneficial to me so I will play along with his game as much as I can to get me through this evening. I duck into the ladies’ room and try to decide if it would be better to call Kali or Talon to let them know I am here. Or should I just walk in and try to avoid them? That probably isn’t the most mature way to handle this. I should message Talon to give him a heads up.
Hi it’s Bailey. Just wanted to give you a heads up that I’m here tonight. I had no idea where we were going until I saw the sign in the lobby. I’m sorry.
I wait just a minute to see if he will reply but he doesn’t and I don’t want to keep Hollister waiting very long.
Hollister and I make our way into the banquet room and he greets several people he already knows from having done business with them. Several people look at the marks on my body but not one person comments. Hollister leads me around like a show dog and I allow it because I don’t know anyone here with the exception of the McAllisters. I also don’t want any more confrontation with Hollister. So I smile and nod and try to keep to myself and out of the conversation.
It seems like we have been here forever before Hollister tells me he needs to visit the men’s room, leaving me alone in a room full of people. I offer to go get us a couple of drinks while I wait on him. I head to the bar and he heads toward the hallway.
I order our drinks and wait at the bar with my back to the party. After a couple of minutes I feel a hand on my lower back and a body very close to mine. I feel a familiar pang of disappointment thinking it is Hollister who has returned.
“You look beautiful love.” I’m pretty sure my heart stops. My breath catches in my throat; I am frozen. I haven’t heard this voice in too long and I miss it. I miss him, terribly.
I turn around inside his embrace and gaze into those stunning eyes of his and smile at him. “Did you get my text?”
“I did. You don’t ever have to apologize for running into me. I’ve missed you Bailey.” His words are like a dagger to my heart. I don’t want him to miss me. Okay maybe that’s not the truth. I do want him to miss me; I just don’t want him to be hurting from it. I miss him like crazy but that is my own fault. I need to get out of this situation before Hollister comes back.
“Hollister should be back any minute, just so you know.” I hate that I have to mention him in a moment that is just ours, but he needs to take his hand off me before Hollister returns.
“I know, but we have a few minutes. I asked Kali to meet him in the hall so I can come say hello without him attached to your side.” His hand is slowly rubbing my hip.
“I’m sorry about that. I didn’t even want to come out tonight, but he insisted that it was important for his business.”
“Is that the reason he put his hands on you again?” He nods his head in my direction and his face is hard but he never removes his eyes from mine.
“Talon.” I have no words for this conversation. I’m hoping that he will take the hint and move on.
He sighs and slides his hand up onto his head and leaves it there for a minute. His hair is styled neatly tonight so he can't run his fingers through it like I learned he does out of habit. “How have you been Bay? You been ok? Kali says you haven’t been running with her or been to the gym.”
“I’ve been fine. I’ve been busy but fine.” I won’t mention that I have been miserable living with Hollister and all I do is run and go to the gym, just on a different schedule so I won’t run into Kali. Or that I dream about him every night and hope that it is him every time my phone rings.
He drops his head closer to mine and whispers in my ear, “You’ve lost too much weight, Bailey. You need to take better care of yourself. Promise me you will take better care.” He is right on the weight loss. I have dropped a good ten pounds that I couldn’t afford to lose in the first place, but depression and stress will eat you alive if you let it.
Just then a tall woman in a very revealing dress comes up to us and puts her hand on Talon’s shoulder. Jealousy shoots through me like the plague. I hate feeling jealous and I have no place feeling that way when it comes to Talon.
“Hey doll, I’ve been looking for you. Who is this?” Doll? I raise my eyes at Talon with a hint of a smile on my lips. Talon stifles a laugh at my look, knowing the silent words of it were… “
Doll? Really Talon?”
I don’t hear any hostility from her but I still don’t her acting like she belongs to him more than I do.
What am I thinking? She does belong to him more than me!
“Susan, this is Bailey Hayes. Bailey, this is Susan Davidson, she is Hunter’s cousin. Susan is visiting from Texas.” Ok so it doesn’t sound like she is an official date, but she is kind of sizing me up like she is. Time to jump into socialite mode.
“Pleased to meet you Susan, I hope you are enjoying New York. Is this your first time in the city?”
“Likewise, and no. It is my first time as an adult, but I used to come here often as a kid.” I keep smiling like this isn’t killing me watching Talon move his hand and focus to Susan. But I don’t have much time to dwell on it because I feel Hollister’s hand slip around my waist and his lips touch the side of my head for just a brief second.
“Mr. McAllister.” Hollister shakes Talon’s hand and my heart is pounding out of my chest. I may be sweating, I’m not sure though. “I just met your sister out in the hall; I trust my girlfriend introduced herself?” I can tell Talon hates Hollister’s choice of words, just as I do, but I’m used to it, Talon clearly is not.
“Hollister Harrison, right? Yes, I’ve met Bailey; this is Susan Davidson, a close friend of mine.” I’m confident Hollister has never cheated on me, but a beautiful woman in a revealing dress standing right in front of him will not be dismissed without a thorough perusal. This also pisses off Talon. “Hollister,” Talon says sternly, dragging Hollister’s attention away from Susan. “Thank you for joining us this evening, please enjoy yourselves.” Talon nods in my direction trying not to make it obvious that he knew me prior to Hollister’s introduction before gently guiding Susan away from us.
“Have you gotten our drinks yet?”
His words drag me out of my longing for the man who just walked away from me. “Um, yeah. They’re right here.” I turn around to grab our drinks. Apparently, I forgot to turn my ringer off because my text alert goes off and I fear it is Talon. Ok, so maybe fear isn’t exactly what I am feeling, but I definitely need to hide it from Hollister just in case. So I shrug out of his embrace and pull my phone from my clutch while Hollister takes a drink. I slide my phone out just enough to be able to see that it is Kali.
Hey! Just wanted to say hello, I miss you!
This makes my heart soar. I miss her friendship terribly and wish things could be different, yet again. But they’re not, so I’ll just have to continue to keep her a secret from my boyfriend.
I look around to see Kali at the far end of the room with a big grin on her face blowing me a kiss. Oh, I really miss her. Thankfully Hollister has his back turned to her and can’t see.
“What are you doing?” Hollister asks, startling me.
“Oh nothing, I just got a message from Shy and I guess I just checked out for a minute.” I take a long drink from my glass and start to change the subject when my phone chimes again.
“Please turn that off Bailey. It’s rude.”
“You’re right, I’m sorry.” I look down at my phone to check it underneath the bar so he can’t see before turning it off, only this time it isn’t Kali.
Please meet me in the lobby in 10 mins.
Talon wants me to meet him in the lobby of a hotel with my boyfriend under the same roof. This is a terrible idea. I should tell him that it’s not possible and just turn off my phone.
I turn my phone on silent and stuff it back in the clutch. I take another few drinks and continue to pass time in silence. “I’ll be right back. I just need to visit the ladies’ room real quick.” Or maybe I’ll tell my boyfriend that instead of doing the proper thing and staying put.
“That’s fine, I see a couple I know just over there, so come find me when you get back.” He points in the general direction where he’ll be as he walks off.
Quickly, I walk away from the bar and head towards the lobby, full of excitement to be alone with Talon, even if it is just for a couple of minutes.
Pushing through the doors I see Talon standing right in front of me, with his back against the wall, his right leg hitched up underneath him and his arms folded over his chest. Apparently he decided the lobby wasn’t necessary. I instantly feel bummed out, I guess I was kind of hoping that he was wanting or needing to be somewhat affectionate, the same way I am feeling.
I smile and the second the door closes behind me he pushes off from the wall and wraps me in his arms. A sigh of relief escapes me as he holds me for just a minute before pulling back and grabbing my hand. “Come with me for a minute.” It isn’t exactly a question but I can tell he isn’t sure if I will go. He doesn’t realize that I would follow him to the end of the earth if he asked tonight.
I nod and smile, feeling overwhelmed with so many emotions. We walk briskly down the hall and stop at a single door on the left side of the hall. The hall is empty when he opens it and pulls me inside. The door shuts and I realize that we are in a stairwell, completely alone.
Talon pulls me into his body and wraps both arms around my waist. He looks and smells exactly like he did the last time I saw him, only this time he’s in a black tux and skinny tie looking absolutely delicious. Who am I kidding? He looks amazing in anything at any time of the day.
“I hate him Bailey.” He looks almost pained as he bores his gaze into my eyes.
That’s not exactly what I was expecting to come out of his mouth, although it’s probably what I should have been expecting. I know how big his heart his and that seeing more marks on my skin would only crush him. Of course he’s going to be angry. “I know, I’m so sorry; I shouldn’t have come.” I don’t know what else to tell him. I am already on overload with feelings and emotions I would rather not be experiencing. Seeing him alone is throwing a wrench in my loyalty and commitment to Hollister, but seeing him in this distress is killing me. I want to rub away the furrowed brow and caress his cheek and make all of his pain dissipate.
“Bailey, that’s not what I mean and you know that. He deserves ten times worse than he’s done to you and I don’t know how to go about that without hurting you in the process.” He takes a deep breath and moves his hands to gently run his fingers over the red marks around my neck. If my heart was breaking before, well, now it’s destroyed.
His hands make their way up to cup my face and he kisses the side of my mouth, not quite on my lips and definitely leaving me wanting more from him. His forehead meets mine and he closes his eyes, steadying his breathing. “Choose me Bailey. Please, just walk out with me right now, don’t go with him. I will do anything and everything to be worthy of you. I know I can make you happy and protect you every day, forever Bailey. Please choose me and be mine.”
The tears I feared would run have done exactly that. They are streaming down my face and I cannot stop them. My life is so complicated and he doesn’t deserve that. He has it so wrong when he says he’ll do anything to be worthy of me, it’s me who is not worthy of him. I can’t bring him into this mess of a life that I’m living.
“I’m so sorry Talon, I can’t do that. Not right now. I know what you’re thinking, but tonight is the first time he has put his hands on me since I came home from your place. I’m not saying that makes it ok, it just means that I haven’t had a second alone to figure out how to move on and how to leave him. To know that this is my final straw or decide how deep my loyalty to him should be. This literally just happened, and knowing that he’s worked so hard to make the last time up to me and that he’s trying so hard to change himself, I’m just not sure right now.”
“So what is he going to have to do to prove to you that he is a selfish out of control bastard who doesn’t even deserve to know you , let alone be able to call you his? I don’t care what his history is, or what he’s doing to prove he’s sorry. There never should have been something like this for him to apologize for in the first place!” He takes a deep breath. He starts pacing in the small area at the bottom of the stairwell while speaking. He stops and rests his hands on his hips before continuing in a much calmer manner. “I don’t know what to do Bay. It’s killing me to sit back and watch this happen to you, what do you suggest I do?” I can tell he’s exasperated and lost. I hate it. I just want to make him happy but I can’t figure out how to do that and protect him at the same time.
“I’m not sure I have a suggestion to make this better for you. I just know that what I’m going through is because this is the path I chose many months ago when I moved in with him. It wouldn’t be fair to you for me to involve you in any way. You don’t deserve this Talon. Take the path opposite me, the one where you can find love and happiness without it being tainted by my life.” I can’t even believe these words are coming out of my mouth. I just told the world’s most perfect man to walk away from me. I must have lost. My. Mind.