Billionaire Stole My Panties

CHAPTER 3.

I got off work at around 2, after Joey convinced Mr. Pereira he's was going to help me move. Mr. Pereira was a bit skeptical but he let me leave early to spend the rest of the day with his wife. Joey took me home to helped me pack my things. We emptied my closet, and anything that wasn't precious memorabilia was staying. Packing was a bit of a challenge with my anxiety peak it's little, ugly head from behind the curtain every now and then. Joey did his best to keep me calm and reminding me to breathe.   

The hardest part was watching him leave to take my things to his apartment and preparing it for my arrival. However, I couldn't help but feel so.....free. Ish. Like the cage I was trapped in so for long was finally being cracked opening but the fear and loneliness that may follow was breathing down my neck. I desperately wanted Joey to come back and to take my mind off things, I started dinner. I made Brandon's favorite, Shepherds pie. My body grew stiff, robotic. I know he's not going to let me leave without a fight and running away is the best option, right? I don't know....what if he finds me or—

"Aubrey...I'm home!" Braddon announced. My chest felt heavy, like it was about to explode. I dug my fingers into my thigh. Calm down, Bre, just breathe. Just breathe, I chanted over a hundred times. I jumped when the door slammed shut. His footsteps hammering in my ear. I swallowed a lump in my throat.

My lip trembling. Breathe. Oh f**k, Joey please text me that you're here...I'm begging you. Brandon wrapped his arms around me. My body froze, it was like he's sucking the life out of me. Take a deep breath and act natural, Bre. I sucked in a shallow breath then let it out slowly before I smiled over my shoulder at him. "Hey, baby." I forced out, softly.

"Miss me?" He whispered, in my ears. I nodded, quickly. He chuckled. I jumped when he slapped my ass, sending chills down my spine. "Hm...hm, that smells good. Is that what I think it is?"

"Yup and just the way you like it," I replied. He spun me around, pressing my butt against the stove. I hesitantly looked into his pale green eyes.  I wrapped my arms around his neck and pecked his lips. He smiled showing the small gap in his front teeth. He's four years older than I am. Brandon and I have been dating for five years and 4 1/2 of those years, I swore I was in love but it was fear of what he'd do if I didn't.  Now here we are, 3 years after the biggest mistake I've ever made but thank God, I managed to find the flash drive and now he won't have that hanging over my head when I leave tonight.

Brandon wasn't always like this—it all started when we bumped into my old high school boyfriend while Brandon and I were on a movie date. Back then all Brandon did was squeeze my hand a little too tight. He got more possessive after he caught Joey and me in the pool. Brandon snapped. That night he hit me in front of everyone and called me a w***e. Things got worst after that. Sometimes, he'd come home hammered and would force himself on me if I refused he'd hit me and accuse me of cheating.

"I'm going to take a shower. Be right back." He said, kissing my forehead. I smiled at him until he turned his back. I watched him leave the kitchen with a sigh of relief. He's 5 feet 9, chocolate skinned, good looking but dangerous. He's an Insurance agent. 

I turned off the oven. I looked around the rustic kitchen with a sigh. Ahead of me was a very pretty, rectangular, maple dining set Brandon's mother bought us when we first moved in, in the middle of the kitchen. I walked towards the table, sadly. This is the only thing I hate that I couldn't take with me. I ran my fingers along the table's smooth surface. You should be mine. I turned my back to the table to check my phone. I had no new messages. It's 6:35. I chewed on my lip. I shoved my phone back into the back pocket of my shorts. "Babe?" He called. I jumped. I turned to look at him. He stood at the table, frowning. He was wearing nothing but black sweatpants. He's toned with broad shoulders and wisps of chest hair. I swallowed a lump in my throat.

"Yes?" I answered, softly.

"Who are you talking to?" He asked, narrowing his eyes at me.

"No one...I was just checking the time." I replied. He studied my face for a moment before walking toward me. My heart hammered in my chest. He stopped in front of me, a hand outstretched.

"Give it to me." He ordered, his clenching jaw. Shaking, I slowly took it from my pocket and handed it to him. He took it and began looking through it, he sat down at the head of the table.

By the time I put the food and drinks on the table, he was done looking through my phone. My phone sat face up beside his plate. That's not good. I poured some wine in his glass, praying Joey doesn't text me until I had my phone back in my possession. I sat on his right, nervously. He began to eat as soon as I sat down. I sat there watching my food. My appetite was virtually nonexistent. I just want to get out of here. I rather go hungry than stay here another minute. "Not hungry?" He asked.

I shook my head. "Not really." I answered. I flinched when he dropped his fork on his plate.

"You need to eat, Bre. You're getting skinny...people will start to think I'm not feeding you." He said, his tone was dry and slightly raised. I kept my gaze on my plate. "Aubrey eat. Now." He ordered. I picked up my fork, gingerly. My hand trembling under his gaze. I took not even a forkful and put it into my mouth. "Good girl." He said. "Open your mouth." 

I shallowed before opening my mouth. He examined my mouth, hovering over me. "Continue eating." He ordered, sitting back down. I did as I was told.

I forced down half of my food before I couldn't eat another bite. I sat there gazing into space until he moved at the corner of my eye. He got up and took up my plate and his. While he cleaned up, I quickly grabbed my phone and rushed to the living room. Put my phone on vibrate, letting out a sigh of relief. 

I turned on the tv then laid on the sofa closest to the window then covered myself with a red blanket I always kept on it. I laid my phone between my thighs and tried to go to sleep.

-

 At around 9:37 pm, my vibrating phone woke me. I looked over at another sofa, at Brandon, laying there on his stomach, fast asleep. I checked my phone. Finally, a text from Joey saying he's outside. I slowly got up and quietly walked to the bedroom. I wrote a letter and left it in my closet. I slowly opened the window looking over my shoulder every two seconds. I was greeted by the cold breeze as I climbed through the window. I turned to close it, fully expecting Brandon to be standing there menacingly like in those scary movies but he wasn't. I let out a sigh of relief as I closed the window, as quietly as I could before climbing down the fire escape. I jumped down, landing in Joey's arms. I've never been so happy in my entire life. He put me down. "Are you ok?" He asked, his eyes roaming my face. It's somewhat dark in this alleyway, the dim streetlight ahead was our only source of light. He's wearing black a Supreme hoodie and jeans.

I nodded. "Yeah, but the faster we get out of here the better," I told him. He took my hand and we ran to his red Porsche Macan GTS, parked five blocks down. When we were inside his car, it hit me. I was free. It was unsettling at first but when Joey took my hand in his, they all floated away. My hero. I pulled him into a hug, tears rolling down my cheeks. 

He hugged me back. "It's ok...your safe now." He said, pulling away and wiping my face. "We'll get you a restraining order in the morning and you can stay with me for as long as you need to."

I shook my head. "No, no restraining order—"

"Aubrey need you—"

"No, I don't...things won't escalate that far so I won't need one," I assured him. He frowned.

"Aubrey, listen to yourself for a second—that man hurt you...numerous times and if he's capable of that, I'd appreciate not to find out what else he's capable of. So, you're getting one." He said, firmly.

"No," I said. I took my phone out of my pocket and searched for Brandon's number. I made Joey watch as I blocked and deleted Brandon's number. "Now, he wouldn't be able to contact me."

Joey looked at me, sadly. "You and I both know that won't be enough—stop, giving him the benefit of a doubt." Joey said. I looked away.

"Can we get out of here, please?" I said, changing the subject. 

"Aubrey—"

"Joey, please drop this—I promise if things get bad... I'll get one, ok?" 

"You promise?" He questioned. I nodded. I laughed when he held out his pinkie. I hooked our pinkies.

"I promise, Joey." 

"Good." He said, starting the engine. "Like I was saying—you can stay at my place for as long as you need to." He said, pulling off the curb.

"Thanks but I only want to stay the night—I want my own place. It would be great if you help me find a place in Queens"

He stared at me. Studying me. "I will help you find a place as long as it's in Manhattan," he paused, "close to....to—to me." I looked at him then nodded. "I'll get my one of my older brothers to set up a place for you in the Upper East Side at the Anarch Plaza." He said. I frowned at him.

"You mean that place that cost an arm, a leg, and all ten fingers? Hell no." I told him. I just want something simple with like a studio or something. I haven't been to the plaza but I know for a fact that's where people that s**t gold live.

"Why not?" He questioned. "They have great security there... no one can get past the lobby without a special pass, and it's not that far from Spectrum—"

"I don't care—it's not somewhere I'd want to live," I stated.

He sighed. "I don't know why I keep forgetting you hate making my life easy." He grumbled, under his breath.

"I do not!" I protested.

"I brought you those blue heels last year for your birthday and I didn't hear the end of it until January 1." He pointed out. Oh damn, I forgot about that. 

"That was one time!"

"The year before a bag—" 

"Lies all lies." I cut him off. He chuckled. 

"Whatever makes you sleep at night, Bre." He said, scoffing. "Did you eat?"

"Barely," I replied. Joey sighed. "What?"

"I'm afraid to ask what you want to eat."

I looked at him. "Why?" I questioned.

"You never know what you want until you see me eating and want the whole damn thing then I'm going to be pissed." He said, glancing at me. I opened my mouth to argue. "Don't even try to deny it, you do it every time I visit you at work." 

"I don't do that," I mumbled, under my breath. I folding my arms, looking out the window. Joey flicked my nose as soon as we got to a stoplight. "What the hell." I protested. He does it again, grinning. I shot daggers at him.

"Bestie." He said, rocking me back and forth. I rolled my eyes and turned my attention back to the window. Through the corner of my eye, I saw him move to flick my nose again. I grabbed his wrist and bit down on his index finger. He hissed in pain. "Ok! I'll stop—" I let his finger go, "—after one more." He flicked my nose. I was about to punch him but the lights turned green.

"You got lucky this time," I told him, narrowing my eyes at him. He grinned.

"Muah."

-

We picked up some Chinese food on the way to his place. Joey lives in Aston Apts. an apartment complex his brothers are thinking of buying if they haven't already. It's a nice building but too flashy. We got out of the elevator then walked down the corridor to C27. Joey opened the door then let me go ahead of him. I was surprised to see boxes and they were not all mine. "You're moving?" I asked, as I walked further inside.

"Yeah....my brother, Jules, brought the place and wants to start remodeling soon." He replied.

I frowned. "What about the other tenants?" I questioned.

"He gave them the option of staying at the plaza or the more affordable option is J&J Apts. I think you might like it there." He replied, closing the door.

"Oh...so where are you moving to?" 

"I was going to move to the plaza but the bossy one told me to keep off his turf or he'll kick my ass." He said, nodding towards the kitchen.

"Why doesn't he want you there?" 

"He thinks I'm going to provoke and tease him about his past, current, and further mistakes." He said, scoffing. "I have no clue why he'd think that." I rolled my eyes. The same reason why Mr. Pereira hates having you around. You're too much of a blunt and provoking person. You feed off you're family's pain from what I can tell. Once Mr. Pereira chased him out of the building for openly mocking him.

"When you admit you're a menace to your family's sanity...I'll admit to having a problem with people buying me things," I suggested, when we got to the kitchen. He looked at me as if I was crazy.

"That will never happen." He said, placing our food on the island. I smiled, shaking my head. The tortilla colored kitchen has grey granite floorings, an island, and countertops. The kitchen cabinets were tan and so was the bottom of the island. Stainless steel appliances and double fridge. The stools were tan with long steel legs. I walked towards the cabinets and jumped up to sit on the counter. I twisted my torso to take to plates from the cabinet. Joey took the plates from me then placed them on the island before lifting me off the counter. "Do you want water or water?" He asked, walking to the fridge.

I chuckled. Wow, so many options. I took two glasses from the dishwasher then placed it on the island. "Water is fine—" I trailed off, when he placed two cans of Coke on the island, smirking. "I seriously hate you sometimes," I said, laughing.

Joey chuckled. "Don't be like that, Bre." He said. He held onto my waist, pulling me to a stool. I sat down and he sat beside me. He slides my Lo Mein with sweet and sour chicken and chopsticks to me. "You want spring rolls?" He asked. I nodded, my mouth was too full to answer. He placed two on my plate and handed me some chili sauce. 

"Thank you," I told him. 

"You're welcome." He said, as he poured some coke into my glass. He chucked.

"What?" 

"It's been a while since we've done this—" he started, looking at me "—without you looking over your shoulder...having mini panic attacks. I missed this." I stared at him, sadly. I missed this too. I can finally relax and enjoy your company without worrying about Brandon. 

"Me too, Joey." I stared. "I'm sorry things got so f****d up because of me—"

He frowned. "None of this is your fault—"

"Yes, it is. I was the one that forced you to come to that party....and I drank all that tequila—knowing how much of a lightweight I am then I forced you to drink." I mumbled, tears already falling. I rubbed my eyes until they burned. 

Joey took my hands as I sobbed. He cupped my face, forcing me to look at him. "It's not your fault—I should have kept a closer eye on you...or at least be the responsible one." He said, sadly. "I failed you that night and I don't plan on ever doing that again but he had no f*****g right to hit you. I should have kicked his ass when I had the chance." He got off his stool and stood in front of me. He hugged me. We stayed there for a while. We laughed when Joey's stomach roared. "Sorry." He said, laughing. "I haven't eaten since lunch."

I smiled up at him. "It's ok." I assured him. He kissed my forehead before sitting back down.

-

After dinner, we cleaned up then I went to pick out my outfit for work tomorrow. I settled for a black blaster with a blue floral blouse, black high waisted pants and ankle-high, block heeled, suede boots, and finally a brown bag I got from Payless. I told Joey goodnight before I  went to brush my teeth then went to bed. 

I jumped out of my sleep and sat up. A breath got caught in my throat when I saw a figure, standing by the window. It's Brandon. My heart hammered in my chest. "W-what-h-how did you get here?" I asked. 

He took a step closer. "Did you think you could get away that easy, Aubrey?" He said. Aubrey, please wake up. Wake up. I chanted.

"Brandon please—"

"Shh." He hushed me. "I didn't say you could speak...I thought I told you to stay away from him."

"I'm sorry." I wailed. "I'm sorry—ah!" He jumped on top of me, strangling me. I yanked and scratched at his hands for dear life. I tried to kick him but he knelt on my legs, I whined as his weight crushed my legs.

"Bra—don....pl-ease!" I choked out. It was getting difficult to even take a breath. I scratched his arms, face, anything I could to make him stop. I was getting light-headed. Black spots flooding my vision...

"Aubrey, wake up!" Joey yelled, shaking me. I stared up at him. I looked around the dimly lit room. I squeezed my eyes shut. I'll never true it get rid of him, will I? I sat up and looked at Joey, he looked worried. I sighed. "I've never heard you scream like that before...it scared me." He said, sadly when he pulled me into his arms. I hugged him, trying my best not cry.

"I'm sorry, Joey," I whispered.

"It's not your fault...Bre." He said, sighing as he stroked my hair. "Do you want me to stay with you tonight?" I nodded. 

"Yes please." I answered.

He kissed me forehead. "Ok."