Page 3 of Taking Control
“All the more reason that you should be with me, so I can keep an eye on you,” he says with a smirk.
“Of course,” I respond robotically.
Any hope that had flared up within me is quickly snuffed out.
How stupid of me to think that he would have left me here on my own.
Chapter Three
Face the music
“Lucy, it’s so good to see you,” Mr Collinson says as Michael escorts me into his office. “Please, take a seat.”
“Thank you,” I say as I sit down, Michael sitting on the chair next to me, his hold on my hand tightening slightly.
“How have you been? Are you sure that you’re ready to come back to work?” Mr Collinson asks, a look of deep concern on his face.
“Lucy is doing much better than she was,” Michael answers for me.
I watch as Mr Collinson’s eyes divert to Michael, quietly assessing him and wondering why Michael has answered instead of me.
Mr Collinson looks back at me, his eyes softening. “I’m glad that you’re doing better, Lucy, but I don’t want you to feel like your job is more important than your healing process. I can’t imagine what you have been through,” he says, and I feel my brows furrow.
Why is he acting so concerned?
I don’t understand the pity that settles in his eyes.
“You are a strong woman, Lucy. Lord knows how it feels to lose a child,” Mr Collinson says, and if I weren’t already sitting down then I would definitely have collapsed from his words.
A child?
A fucking child?
My eyes dart to Michael’s, his bore into mine, and his grip on my hand tightens in warning; a warning for me to say the correct thing.
The bastard has told everyone that I lost a baby?
A miscarriage?
Fucking asshole.
I don’t voice my thoughts, and Michael needn’t have bothered tightening his hold on me. I know what is expected of me, I know the drill.
I plaster a small smile on my face, unable to make it reach my eyes as I speak. “Mr Collinson, thank you for your concern, but I need to come back. I’m a little restless being stuck at home, so I’m looking forward to returning and getting back to my daily routine.”
Michael smiles and I know that I have fulfilled my role, done my job, fooled another person.
“And we’re very pleased to see you back, Lucy,” Mr Collinson says as he gives me a heartfelt smile.
Guilt at going along with Michael’s lie rears its head, but I push it down.
I can’t allow the guilt to consume me.
I have a plan, a focus, and that is the only thing that I can allow myself to think about.
I’m going to get away from Michael.
I’m going to make it out of this toxic relationship.
