The Price of Freedom

Chapter 23: Feels Like The End

DINAH POV

After spending the afternoon with Liam yesterday, we both went our separate ways. He had to go train since he missed a couple sessions, and I took the time to prepare for the press conference.

Overall this was a great weekend, things were finally looking up, and I felt like I could relax and take a breather after a year of feeling suffocated by Lily’s incessant need to marry me off.

I had to quickly get ready for the press conference that we were having at the office today. I was so busy making sure everything was ready that I lost track of time. As I was standing in the mirror, I was only now noticing all the hickeys Liam left me with, a total contrast to the scars left from Jacob.

I found myself smiling at my reflection in the mirror just thinking of all the things Liam could do to my body and how I would embrace it with open arms.

Hello my name is Dinah and I’m addicted to Liam Evans’ p***s.

I arrived to my office early to help get everything set up in the conference room. It did not take long before journalists started arriving and setting up their equipment.

While everyone was waiting in the conference room, I went to find Henri in his office. He was wearing a sharp three-piece charcoal suit and his hair was combed back neatly. I’m glad he listened to me about dressing to impress more so than he usually does. I hate to admit it, but people do judge based on appearance, and if our CEO looks good then we look good.

Henri was reading over some paperwork when I walked into his office, “So I have everything set up. You can use the script I emailed you, or you can just use your own words if you like.” He immediately met me halfway and we started walking back towards the lift.

“Thanks for getting it done so quickly,” he smiled down at me. He seemed much happier than he was yesterday. Perhaps it was because he was about to go on camera and he had to put his game face on. Whatever the reason, I liked to see him smiling, it always showed off his one dimple.

“It’s my job,” I replied honestly.

Soon after we entered the conference room, Henri introduced himself and announced the charity gala we would be hosting. I stood in the back watching Henri give his speech. Cameras were flashing journalists were asking questions, and Henri handled himself incredibly well. He was made for this.

While Henri was speaking to the media outlets Jesse joined me in the back. He stood next to me as we listened to Henri, neither one of us bothering to look at the other.

“You did a good job,” Jesse spoke out breaking the silence.

“Thanks.”

“I don’t like you,” he stated matter-of-factly.

What could I possibly say to that? I was not surprised in the least, he had made it abundantly clear where we stood, and it was not on good terms. I didn’t deign to give him an answer, I just waited for him to continue as I faced forward not showing a single hint of emotion.

I guess he understood, and took that as his queue to continue. “Henri is my best friend. I don’t like you, not because you aren’t doing a great job, anyone with eyes can see that, but having you around is hurting Henri. He always talked about you; you know. How you were the one that got away. And then you somehow end up in the same place except your flaunting a famous futbol player in his face.”

I understood where Jesse was coming from. If someone were hurting a person I cared about, I would probably be acting the same way. I hold onto grudges for too long. A toxic trait perhaps, but I do not forgive easily. In a way, Jesse and I were similar.

“I respect your loyalty towards Henri, but my relationship with him or lack thereof is none of your concern. If you’re going to judge me do it based on my work ethic.” I implored not breaking my gaze from Henri.

From the corner of my eye, I saw him nod silently. We both stood there watching the conference conclude and waited for Henri, so we could discuss future updates.

******

As I was walking towards the tube station, I received a call from an unknown number. I answered it thinking it may be someone from work or with a media outlet. I was thrown into a loop when the person that answered was none other than Jacob f*****g Bennett.

It took me a second to adjust to reality. The first thing he spoke out had me shaken to my core, and not in the good way. “Did you think I wouldn’t find you?”

Bile rose in my throat and I had to swallow it down before I burst out in the open. All I felt was a blind rage, he had the audacity to track down my new number and waste my international minutes.

“What do you want Jacob?” I asked with obvious anger coating my tone.

“You made it incredibly easy for me, allowing yourself to get photographed,” he explained. I knew those photographers would be the end of me. I knew better, but I allowed myself to get seduced by a tall blonde incredibly sexy man. There was no one else to blame but myself.

I grew impatient within seconds of this conversation; I could hear his obvious amusement in his tone. I could picture his disgusting smile while he was speaking. “I’m going to ask you one last time, what do you want?”

He chuckled before responding, he was very much having fun torturing me over this god forsaken phone that I wanted to launch into the Thames. “I told you, I want you. I’ll take you anyway I can. I might even send Evans a little video as a treat.”

Jacob was absolutely disgusting, he was showing no remorse, and somehow the police didn’t believe me. His parents didn’t believe me, how could they not see how awful their child was.

I completely lost it in the middle of the sidewalk. “Listen here you sick little f**k, I may have not done anything yet, but be ready. I’m going to ruin you Jacob. Come near me and I won’t hesitate to slit your throat and send the remains to your mother,” I whisper screamed into my phone so no passerby would hear me.

“I’ll see you in a little bit Dinah,” he cackled, then hung up without another word.

I was reeling, Jacob wouldn’t actually come find me. Right? I’m in an entirely different country, the laws here are different from back home. He doesn’t have the same connections he does back home. He wouldn’t be able to get himself out of trouble here. Or so I hoped.

I didn’t know what to do, hearing his voice brought up a stampede of emptions that were laying right beneath the surface. I wasn’t afraid of him, I tried convincing myself. Just thinking of having to live with what he did to me terrified me.

The only person I could think of to speaking to might be busy, but I wouldn’t know unless I tried. I needed to get this all off my chest.

“Cata are you busy?” I asked walking into her design studio.

She was bent over her desk working on what seemed to be a sketch. I forgot that her show was coming up and she would be incredibly busy. Maybe this was a mistake.

“Just putting the finishing touches on this design,” she answered looking at me with a big smile and her bright blue eyes.

“Can I tell you something?”

“Of course, love.”

So, I told her. I told her everything that Jacob did to me in that hotel room, what he attempted to do to me, his threats, the call. She was the first person who wasn’t a doctor, or police officer that I had told everything to. By the end of it, I felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. But when I looked up, Cata was on the verge of tears, my comfort came at the expense of hers, and I felt guilty.

“I plan on going back. I plan on ruining him. I want everyone to know what he did to me so that he can never do that to anyone else. I haven’t told Liam about the threats, or the call, I haven’t even told him what happened in that room to be honest,” I spoke in a hushed tone.

For some reason I felt ashamed, but I shouldn’t. I was not the one in the wrong her, Jacob was. I needed to stop punishing myself for his mistakes. If I were going to go through with making him suffer, then I needed to stop blaming myself.

Cata took my hand in hers and smiled at me. That simple gesture made me feel like everything was going to be okay. Maybe I should have opened up to someone sooner. “Dinah, you’re so strong, you don’t need to get revenge. Living your life without giving that man a second thought is all you need to do.”

“I don’t have to but if it means that he can’t hurt anyone else then I’ll do whatever it takes.”

She simply nodded, “I’ll support you no matter what.”

I shook my head and tried to ignore the sinking feeling I was left with when Jacob said he would see me in a bit. Instead I focused on Cata and her show. “Okay let’s stop talking about that, how is your show coming?”

She hesitated a bit at my quick change of subject, but I guess she realized that if I wanted to keep talking about it I would. “Great! We have a few weeks left and I’m trying to get my last designs ready.”

“Can I see them?”

“Yes, do you want to see some of the ad campaigns we’ve been working on?” She pulled out some of the designs she had already finished along with the sketches she was working on and Serena’s photographs.

“They look amazing, Serena looks amazing,” I gushed. I was completely surprised with the photos, they looked ethereal.

“She’s gorgeous that one. She’s been working hard you should be proud.”

“I am.”

******

Walking into the flat, I did not expect to find Serena curled up in a ball on the couch with blankets covering her from head to toe with her sad b***h playlist blasting throughout the living room. I sat beside her and pulled the blanket from her face and noticed that her eyes were puffy and red signaling she has been crying.

“Serena what’s wrong?” I asked pushing her hair out of her face.

“Sacha and I broke up,” she sniffled.

Not saying that I expected this to happen, but I also wasn’t not expecting it. Serena gives into her whims very easily and is very impulsive when making decisions.

“Why?”

She sat up and hugged me burying her face in my shoulder as she continued to cry, “I don’t know, we just got into an argument and the next thing I knew we were done.”

“What were you arguing about?”

“He said he was offered a position with a team in Spain and he was going to take it. He didn’t even talk to me about it,” she broke down.

I was already bad at handling her on a daily basis, and now she’s crying. I can’t deal with crying people, not because I don’t want to, but I begin to panic and then laugh. No one wants to see someone else laugh while they cry. I end up looking like an insensitive human being.

“S, you have to understand, you two just started dating and he’s worked hard to get to where his is, he shouldn’t have to give that up.”

Her crying would not seize and panic was building up, I was beginning to feel an unwanted smile creep up on my face. I was glad that her face was still buried in my shoulder because I wouldn’t be able to calm her down otherwise.

“Liam would do it for you,” she blubbered, making me freeze. He wouldn’t do that, right? I didn’t know what to say to her, because I didn’t even know what to say to myself.

“That’s different,” I murmured while untangling her hair.

“So that’s just it, we’re done?”

“You should talk. If it’s meant to happen it will,” I tried telling her in my most convincing voice, but when I was having personal doubts about my own relationship, how could I give her sound advice.

“This feels like the end.”

After she finally dried herself out from crying, she went to shower and fell asleep in her room. I would occasionally take a peak to make sure she was okay, but even in her sleep she was sniffling, and her face was red and blotchy.

Liam came over, and we decided to just stay in and watch a movie. We were sitting on the couch with my legs casually placed over him as we watched the movie. The entire time, I couldn’t get what Serena said out of my head.

I wouldn’t say that I want him to just leave, because I would miss him. But I also don’t want him to give up a great opportunity in furthering his career.

“Did you know that Sacha and Serena broke up?” I questioned him, drawing his attention away from the tv.

“He mentioned it. Where is she now?” he asked pulling me onto his lap.

“Sleeping, she’s been crying all day. You know I’m going to have to kick his ass, she’s still my baby sister,” I told him looking him straight in the eye. Sacha is basically like his little brother, so if anything, Liam should be the one to kick his ass.

Liam simply sighed and rested his chin on my head, making me feel all warm and fuzzy. “They’re young Dinah.”

“Is that all?”

“He’s going back home before he moves to Spain,” he responded.

“Are you going?”

“I haven’t decided yet.”

“Do you want to?”

“Do you want me to?” he countered running his hands down my thighs. He was distracting me and I needed to stay focused for this conversation. I had no idea what he was playing at, but he was doing a damn good job at it.

I shook my head and peeled his hands off me, surprising him, “Your career choice shouldn’t depend on what I want.”

“No, but you’ll be a major part of my future so you should have a say,” he said pulling me in closer.

I moved to where I was straddling him, and held his face in my hands. Liam’s eyes pierced right through me, with their icy gaze. His beard stubble grazed my palms sending tiny sparks throughout my body.

“You know the last time we were in this position I was engaged to another man,” I pointed out jokingly. He however, did not seem to appreciate my sense of humor.

“Thank f**k that’s over with,” he groaned into my neck.

I pushed him back so I could see his face again, “Do you remember what you said to me?”

“I vaguely remember something about being in love with me,” he smirked, then proceeded to kiss my jaw.

I pulled his face upward, making sure he wouldn’t get distracted and he would actually hear what I had to say. “Well it took a little over a month, but you were right. I am utterly in love with you and I’ll support whatever decision you make. We’ll make it work as long as you want to.”

I rested my head on his shoulders with my arms snaking under his arms and across his back. He felt warm and like home, something I haven’t felt in a very long time. I promised myself that I wouldn’t give up this feeling.

A small little voice in my head was telling me to not get too comfortable, especially as Jacob’s words kept replaying in my mind. It was pure torture not knowing if he was serious about knowing where I am. What if he does show up here? What if this is too good to be true?