Page 23 of The Bargain

“I’ll be right back.”

Opal waited for Jeremy to leave before turning to me.

“You know, Eddie might have been a lost drug addict, but he was a better man than you. He was never mean and belittling just to make himself feel good,” she said with such an even tone, it was like she was scolding a child. Didn’t she know, nobody ever dared talk to me like that?

“How dare you express an opinion about me? Any kind of opinion.”

She shrugged. “It’s not an opinion; it’s a fact.”

I grabbed her arm. She winced as I applied pressure, but she didn't try to remove it. She didn't complain. No, she wanted to show she was stronger than that.Oh, I will enjoy breaking you down.

“Yeah?” I nodded. “Tell that to my sister, who gave him so many chances only for him to steal her credit card and buyyouover ten grand’s worth of jewelry!”

She frowned with confusion.

“Please don’t play fucking dumb with me. He admitted it. He was completely under your spell and where is that jewelry now, huh? You clearly didn't spend it on medical bills or shelter.” I squeezed her arm even harder, making her gasp and yet, she didn't struggle. “I bet that money is running through your fucking veins, so save your sermon and other platitudes for someone who actually believes you. I don’t give a fuck about what you think. I’m not that person.”

Timothy chose that moment to start crying.

She looked down at my hand biting in her forearm. “Could you please let go? My son needs me.”

I let her go at once and she rubbed her arm as she went to the crying child.

I looked at my hand. I hadn’t meant to hurt her, at least not really, but she was destabilizing me, taking away some of my cold rationality I adored. It had to stop.

“I’ll leave you to it, the nurse should be here soon. Just tell them to find me when you’re done.”

She nodded and started to undress the child to, I presume, change his diaper. “I’ll let you know what they say.”

“No need. I’ll have the full report before this evening,” I added, leaving the room at once.

I walked briskly to the business center, the scowl never leaving my face. I needed her gone. I needed her gone now and I knew exactly how to do it.

I rubbed at my arm and the faint bluish bruises Dean Beaumont’s fingers had left there. It had been three days and they were finally starting to fade.

I sighed, putting some hydrating cream on my arm. I knew he hadn’t done it on purpose, at least, not really. He just hated me - well Opal, so much.

But truth be told, no matter what he thought had happened with his brother, it was no reason to treat me the way he did. Dean Beaumont was probably the most horrible, infuriating man I’d ever met.

I huffed, tightening my hair into a ponytail before looking back at my reflection in the small ensuite bathroom. My face was radiating with anger and frustration, something I was doing my hardest to hide when he was around.

I was sure he was getting off with every jab he was throwing my way. Showing him he was getting to me would most likely only enhance his pleasure. No, I would not give in.

I walked into Timmy’s room and watched him play in his crib. I now knew the exact extent of his problems. We now had a treatment plan and just for that, anything Dean Beaumont could throw my way was worth it.

“What do you say we go get some apple jam? Yum yum!” I smiled at this beautiful innocent child, who had come into this world under all the wrong circumstances and yet, was just a happy little fighter.

I got him out from his crib. He’d already had his bottle and had been bathed and dressed. Now was the time for his heart medication. Dr. Hunt had prescribed him something much more efficient than what I had been given at the free clinic.

I held Timmy closer. Burying my nose in his soft neck, I inhaled his baby scent.

“I love you so much, my little boy,” I whispered. “So, so much.”

A small knock made me swirl around to find Dean leaning against the door frame, his hands in his pants pockets.

“May I assist you with something, Mr. Beaumont?” I asked, holding Timmy tighter against myself.

“I have to go to Philadelphia today.”

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