Page 51 of Desire

“Do you think it’s a good city for our daughter to grow up in? I mean it doesn’t seem very clean compared to Beverly Hills. What is the drug addiction rate? What are the reports like from her school? I hope you’ve checked the teenage pregnancy rates? The last thing I need is a headline like that.”

“I’ve done all of that, Simon. The city is perfect for her to live in. I grew up here, and I’ve never touched drugs, and my only pregnancy was with your child. Izzy’s getting superb results in class, and her school is the best in the area. She’s learning French, and I know she can choose another language soon. She’s mentioned Spanish. I would never scrimp and save on her education. I have money and can afford the best for her.”

“Shame you don’t dress her in the best clothes.”

“There’s no point. With the dust in the area, she’d end up filthy at the end of the day anyway.”

“Well then she should be taught to keep herself clean.” Simon slams his cup down on the table with such force I’m surprised it doesn’t shatter. My heart rate quickens. I know what my plan is, but actually going through with it is completely different. I look up into the corner of the room where I know the video camera is recording everything happening. It’s part of my security system. “I won’t have press reports of her being a wild child. She needs to be a princess for the press to adore her. Too many children of the Hollywood elite are getting bad press for their families nowadays. I don’t need that. It won’t be good for my career.”

“I can assure you Izzy is a good kid. She always will be.”

“Shame her mother is a news grabbing whore,” Simon spits at me.

I recognize the venom in his voice.

“We both know that’s the last thing I am. I’ve always loved acting, but I’ve never wanted the fame side of things. I only decided to participate in the dance show because I wanted to do something for myself, and with it being here in New Orleans, I could still look after Izzy while doing it. I didn’t think I’d even get through the first round.”

“But you did and started a relationship with a long lost friend. Is he the guy you lost your virginity to?” Simon leans forward in his chair, his fists clenched.

“He is. But as you know, we hadn’t spoken in years. However, I’m glad I got to meet him again.”

“I bet you are. Do you actually fuck him good or just lie there like you did for me?”

“I’m not going to discuss private aspects of my life with you, Simon. We’re divorced now, and you’ve lost all rights to that,” I reply adamantly.

His words mean nothing to me. I would have once been scared by them, but they don’t confuse and hurt me anymore. He’s the man with issues. He believes everyone else is out to destroy him, but the only person doing that is himself. He’s weak and foolish—a self-obsessed narcissist. Why didn’t I see it before? What have I been so worried about all these years?

“You don’t get it do you, Elise? I’ll always be in your life and not just because of our daughter. I’m in your head. I’m under your skin. Leo may be the one fucking you right now, but he’ll never keep you satisfied. Sooner or later, you’ll push him away and come running back to me like you’ve always been meant to. I’m the only one who can give you what you need. Deep down, you hate yourself and the pain I inflict lets you know just what a worthless piece of shit you really are.”

I take a deep breath and stand.

His words mean nothing.

They are his insecurities not mine.

I’m a strong woman.

“This conversation is not going down the route of making plans to ensure Izzy is taken care of. It’s time for you to leave.”

Simon is out of his chair in a flash, his hand circling around my neck as he restricts my breathing. I’m slammed against the wall behind me while he sneers.

“I’m not going anywhere, my little wife. I’ve told you before…you’re mine. You’ve let another man touch you, and I’m going to punish you for that.”

His fist comes fast into my ribs, and I cough, trying desperately to get air into my strangled lungs.

“You fucking whore. You’re dead set on ruining my life, and I won’t let it happen. You made a fool out of me in court. I’ve never been spoken to in the way that judge did when he told me off. Nobody talks to me like that. I’m Simon French, the best actor on the whole goddamn fucking planet. I rule Hollywood. Nobody does anything without my say. I’ll not have a bitch like you take that away from me.”

Two more quick punches come to my body and then one to my face. I’m in agony, but I know this is the only way to put a stop to everything.

“Maybe I should show you just what I’m capable of. I’ll stop this nonsense and take you back to Hollywood where you can play the perfect wife you were meant to be. I didn’t break you enough last time, but this time, I will.”

Simon spins me around and thrusts me up against the wall again, facing forward. I feel his body cover mine from behind. He’s hard, and I realize what he means to do. He’s going to rape me. I never thought him capable of that. I’ve underestimated him. Things have gone too far. This wasn’t part of my plan.

Instinct takes over, and I frantically push against him. I can’t let him do this. I kick out as hard as I can behind me, and it catches his legs. He shouts in pain and momentarily lets go of me. It’s all I need to get away from him, and I run for the front door. He’s quicker, though, and recovers just in time to grab me before I get to the safety of the street. He pulls me down, and I land with a heavy thud on the floor. It knocks the wind out of me, and I struggle for breath as he kicks me in the torso a few times and lays down on top of me. I can’t escape. He struggles to pull my leggings down my body. I’m screaming, and he’s shouting obscene words into my ear, calling me ever derogatory word I know. Then just as suddenly as it started, it all stops. I feel weightless as Simon is lifted from my body and thrown across the room by Leo, my hero. He’s come back, even though I told him to stay away. Leo kneels down beside me, scanning over my injuries.

“Did he?” His eyes flick to where my leggings are pulled down my body.

I know he’s checking to see if I’ve been raped.

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