Marrying My Bully

4 - An unexpected encounter

After that awfully tense conversation I now finally had some time to rest. I fell down on the bed, staring into the ceiling. Only now I could freely do what I wanted until dinner as Miss Clarke was going to prepare another challenge of hers to not let me have it easy here. No missed calls. And there I caught myself thinking that you’d actually write to me. Or call me. Or try to make sure I was okay. Just what stupidity is this. I sighed, closing my eyes for a while, letting the phone out of my hand to drop on the bed. I was in this situation all by myself and alone. There was no way that Ben would just come and rescue me or do anything to get me out. He was still too much of a coward for that, while I had to be the brave one.

“I wish you knew how much suffering this is and it’s going to be! You cowardly donkey!” I let out of my lungs, trying not to shout yet getting the frustration, which was pent up in me, out. My body twitched at the sudden vibration of my phone. Someone was calling me. I picked up the phone just to see Benjamin’s name on it.

“Talk about the devil…” I sighed again and picked up the phone.

“Soph! You’re finally free?” His worried voice made a smile come up on my face. No matter what was going on, my body was always going to be happy whenever he would at least call or message me. Stupid hormones.

“Well, I’m alive at the very least,” I complained. And I could bet that I was hearing Benjamin’s frowns.

“Did she make you clean all the vases in the house? Or make sure all the chandeliers were spotless?” He was picking up all the weirdest ideas that the woman could make me do.

“No, I have to redo the whole garden,” I muttered.

“Oh, at least it’s not the chandeliers. She is a complete demon when it comes to those.”

“Wait, you had to clean all the chandeliers at this place?” I sat up.

“Well… I wasn’t always the angel when growing up.” His laugh sounded a bit strained as I knew he didn’t really want to talk about his past.

“So, cleaning all the chandeliers, was it? I’m afraid it’s something that is quite inevitable for me within the upcoming days.” I rolled my eyes. If she could make Ben clean all those, who was I to her? I wasn’t as dear as Ben, I was a complete outsider. It was definitely going to be worse than just the lights.

“Don’t worry, I think she got told off by my father back then, so she shouldn’t do anything THAT crazy. Nevertheless, I’m still a bit worried as she hasn’t shown her face in the main house for quite a long time already. Anyway, if she really gives you a hard time, just tell me. I’ll do anything it takes to let them stop this stupid training.” He sighed. We weren’t happy about this situation at all. We were to be separated for a few weeks before I would get at least one stupid week of vacation. It was like being at school again, or at least a part-time job. It felt like I had to tiptoe around Miss Clarke.

“Not sure if I should laugh at that or cry, to be honest,” I replied to Ben, so he wouldn’t think I actually died on the other end of the line.

“You’ll see that we’ll just laugh about all of this later together. Just hang in there. I know you can do it. You’re a strong girl with an even stronger willpower and I love you the way you are. I don’t want you to change anything, just stay the way you are.” Once again, he made a smile appear on my face.

“Okay. I love you too.” I whispered to the phone.

“Just survive two more days, I’ll come visit.”

“I hope those two days will pass quickly,” I said my wish out loud. In fact, I just wanted to be at the university already studying instead of taking these “soon-to-be-wife of a rich heir” courses.

“They will…”

“Yes, with Clarke, they definitely will.” I quickly added, which made Ben laugh heartily.

“Yes, they will. Gotta go now, Soph. Hang in there.” His sweet voice faded in an ended call. I sighed as I lay back on the bed. It was silent once again but at least I felt a bit better. I didn’t feel as hopeless as before. Only two more days. I can manage that much.

Michael

“So, you’re saying that your nightmares have been changing recently?” The overly serious guy sitting opposite me wearing a very uncomfortable-looking suit asked me without even a tiny bit of interest in his voice. I really didn’t want to be here but it took a few months to change the psychiatrist or psychologist or whoever this person was to a different one, so I had to survive this guy’s attitude for a few more weeks.

“Yeah, well…” I looked away. I really didn’t want to be dealing with this. I just wanted to be back home, having some ice cream during this summer vacation. But sitting here like this was even worse than having to attend compulsory summer classes.

“So, what has changed in your nightmares? People, the environment…? Anything in particular?”

“I don’t see her face that clearly anymore. It’s as if she’s disappearing into the air. As if all of it was just a bad dream I needed to wake up from.” I really wanted to go home as soon as possible. This appointment was always taking ages. Not only was he making me wait even though I was booked for a certain time, the appointment itself took only a few minutes before he would conclude some of his theories, saying I was getting better and he would send me home to come back for a checkup in a few days.

“I see… Well, seems like you’re getting better. So, we can see each other in a few days again. Make sure to book another appointment with my assistant.”

“Sure thing. See you next time, doc.” I enthusiastically got up and elegantly stormed out of the room. I finally had free time to spend however I wanted.

“Hello, Karl.” I picked up the phone right away after I left this awful office.

“Don’t call me Karl. You know I hate it.” His sour voice sounded like a five-year-old’s when you refuse to give them a lick of your ice cream while he still has his own.

“Alright. What are you saying to a little road trip?” I asked after a while, giving him time to calm himself down. Charles hated being called Karl. But there was one name he hated even more - Charlie. His grandmother used to have a cat named Charlie. And as she was old, her Alzheimer's was progressing and whenever she saw Charles, she would talk to him as if he was the cat. Did my little Charlie go to toilet today? I imitated her voice in my head which made me smirk. Badass boy, Charlie! I was doing my best to not laugh in the elevator while riding alone. If anyone got inside, they might think I really was crazy, coming out of the shrink’s office while uncontrollably laughing.

“So, where we goin'?” Charles was already waiting in front of the building with his car.

“That was quick, you sure you didn’t break the rules and your driver’s license is still in your pockets?” I had to ask the inevitable questions. Who manages to pick their friend up within a few minutes after the phone call?

“I was around.”

“How much around?” I seriously didn’t believe him.

“Five… Six blocks or so?” If I was drinking something, it would already spray out of my mouth. In this traffic, it would take over fifteen minutes to get here.

“I’m rather not asking-”

“Just get in or we’re not going anywhere,” Charles uttered as he got inside the sports car. I was still wondering how it was possible for his parents to actually buy him a car like that. If I was his family, I would seriously consider even buying him a bicycle as he was sure to ride over the speed limit on it anyway.

“Think she’ll be happy to see us? What about Ben? Should we tell him?” Charles was adding the address to the GPS.

“I bet he’s already there. There’s no way he would pass his day off in the company to not visit his cinderella.” I grunted as I was fastening my seatbelt. I knew this was going to be a hell ride but it was the fastest way to get there. I gulped as the car engine revved on the street and the car darted off from the spot at an inhuman speed. I grabbed the door handle and anything I could hold on to as Charles slammed the breaks to break at the red light. My stomach was already going nuts.

Sophia

“Just why is the house so far from the main road and the bus stop? Not to mention there aren’t any streetlights and the sun nearly set. Argh… Whyyyyy. Why is it such a problem to give me the task of getting something from a store in the town during normal hours and not so late in the evening?! Not to mention I had to wait for over an hour for the bus as it doesn’t run so often. Damned Clarke!” I was rumbling while I was walking on the pebble-filled road to the estate. It was a shortcut and at least I was in nature, there were trees and a small brook to my right, while on my left the last sun rays were falling on the meadow with summer tall grass. The crickets were having the time of their lives while I was trying to walk as fast as possible to not become the dinner for all the mosquitoes and bloodsucking flies that were slowly coming to life after hiding for the whole day. Well, who would blame them? It was so hot during the day that even I was happy I was actually staying at an old house, which was really cool inside. If the blankets weren’t as thick as they were, I would be even freezing at night.

I stopped for a while to enjoy the scenery. It was so quaint and surreal that I just wouldn’t forgive myself if I continued without stopping at least for a few minutes. I took a deep breath. The summer dry warm air smelled like grass and the kind of scent that just makes you feel like: ah, this is summer, alright. I smiled as I inhaled the air with my closed eyes again. The hot sun rays were gliding on my skin making me long for shade even though it was quite late in the evening already. I started walking again. The wicker basket was swinging next to my side. The neatly packaged cookies and scones I was supposed to pick up for tomorrow’s teatime were comfortably sitting in the basket covered with a checkered cotton cloth to keep them at least a bit covered from possible sunlight, so the chocolate wouldn’t melt.

I stopped a bit in the shade of the trees to take a bit of a breather. I was all sticky from the sweat that was the only thing keeping me cool in this awful heat.

“Just a bit more.” I tried talking to myself while wiping my mouth with my arm, trying to get rid of the sweat. I still had to walk at least twenty minutes more. The more you stay here, the longer it will take you to get back. Come on, let’s just finish this annoying task and get this done, enjoy cool water or ice cream, take shower and happily end up in bed! I nodded and started at a swift pace. My shoes were crunching on the sand and pebbles. It would have been quite scary to walk on this path at night as there were no street lights. Not to mention a single person.

The heat was just overbearing. I took another break in a shade to generate more energy. I only walked for about five minutes and yet it felt like half an hour at least. I wonder if Ben is enjoying AC somewhere at the company… Lucky him. I sighed, took up the basket from the ground, and started again. The crunching sounds and crickets were the only companions I had on this route. Not to mention the annoying bloodsucking insects.

Just a few minutes more and I will start seeing the house. Only about ten more. I encouraged myself, trying to force a smile on my lips to feel better.

Suddenly, I heard another crunching other than mine. And it was getting closer, faster than me. I picked up my speed. The steps behind me did as well. Somehow, my gut was telling me to not look back nor to stop. All my senses were giving me red lights, telling me to run. Those steps weren’t there before! I quickly passed the curve and took out a mirror to quickly check who was behind me. My knees became weak but I made myself run as fast as I could. The sand was making my feet unsteady, making it harder to run. This guy… I had no idea who he was!