Page 100 of Before Eve
I don’t understand. I look at Grayson, who remains silent while the man leaves and comes back with a metal tray that contains three objects—a pair of latex gloves, a tube of lubricant, and a silver speculum.
My blood drains.
The short man nods at Grayson, letting him know he’s ready.
To me, Grayson says, “Take your underwear off and get up on the table.”
The last time, it had been Grayson’s personal physician under the guise of administering my first physical. That doctor had been kind and gentle, recognizing the awkwardness of the situation. I had a gown on and a sheet for privacy. This short, bald man hasn’t even made eye contact with me. There will be no gown or privacy sheet.
Inside, I scream with mortification and injustice.Why? This is about Noah. I know it is. Someone, anyone, HELP ME!
“Laura, I will not repeat myself.”
Bile rises. “Are you leaving?”
“No.” He turns around. “But I will give you my back.”
The short bald man snaps the gloves on. He levels indifferent eyes on me. They are eyes that bulge from his pudgy head. Like if I had a pointy object, I could pop them right out. He sniffs, waiting. Who is this man? Is he even a doctor?
I take a deep breath. Just get it over with. I reach up under my skirt, slide my underwear down and off, and then climb up on the table. My limbs quiver as I lie back. The short, bald man grabs my legs, and I jerk. He pushes them up and wide, and I cover my face with my hand. I bite my lip so I don’t cry. The other doctor talked me through everything about to happen.
This man squirts almost the entire tube of lubricant, pushes the speculum inside, widens it, and a few seconds later says, “She’s a virgin.”
He pulls the speculum out and tosses it onto the tray. I sit up quickly, covering what I can with my skirt, feeling the sliminess of all the gel.
The short, bald man snaps the gloves off, tosses them on top the speculum, and with the tray, he leaves my room.
Grayson turns back around.
I hate him so much. “Is this about me being a ‘commodity?’” The next words are thick in my throat. “Is this about Noah Riley?”
“Noah’s a very generous man. I made him promises that I intend to honor. I have to say, you please me, Laura. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do if you weren’t still a virgin. But you are. So, well done.”
“What exactly is your plan? You can’t become the leader of this country and just give me to Noah Riley.”
“Can’t I? You would be surprised at the things I currentlyget away with. And those to come.”
“I won’t go quietly. I’ll shout it from the rooftops, what a monster you are.”
“You won’t have the chance. Now, clean yourself up and wipe down the table. I’ll get it later.” With that, he leaves, and I’m left alone, humiliated, my thoughts wildly grappling with time left and hope that I, at a minimum, make it to Sunday again.
I do make it to Sunday. We sit in our usual spots in the front row. Amelia and her young daughter join us.
When it comes time to greet each other, I turn to Brynn. We hug tight, and as we do, her hand cradles the back of my neck. Something drops down my dress. It slides, catching at the thin belt around the waist.
The minister delivers his sermon. Demurely, I sit, my focus on the pulpit, all the while my heart racing. Slowly, I slide my hand between my back and the pew, tucking the object into a more secure spot in the elastic of my underwear.
A mini camera.
I knew she’d come through for me.
When I get home, I hide the mini camera between the many books lining a packed shelf.
It’s connected via an app to Brynn’s phone. Straight into the camera, I say, “No matter how bad it gets, wait for my signal. Do not do anything until I tell you.” She has no way of communicating with me, and so all I can do is hope that the connectivity works.
The rest of Sunday comes and goes. Night rolls in. My bedroom door opens.
Grayson steps in, preceded by Amelia and… Noah Riley.
