Page 17 of Vile Emotion
“Please…” Juliana begs me, whispering so that no one can hear the patheticness dripping from her lips.
“Did I ask you to beg me? In public, you represent me so don’t start that bullshit. Now, take my order, wife.”
Juliana doesn't say anything, she just watches me for another minute and she’s taking so long that her manager comes over, placing a hand on her shoulder as if he has the right to touch her.
“Is everything okay here, sir?”
My eyes don’t leave his hand on her shoulder until he gets uncomfortable enough to remove it and then I turn to look at him in his red face. “Why are your hands on my wife’s shoulders? Is that what this is? You go around touching women that don’t belong to you?”
His face contorted in confusion. “We don’t own women.”
My chuckle escapes faster than I need it to. “Do I own you, Juliana?” I ask her.
“Yes.” Juliana answers without hesitation as she moves away from her manager and tries to walk away.
“You haven’t taken my order, wife. Don’t leave your job now, that’s not proper, now is it? Where’s your two week notice?” I taunt her.
Juliana forms a fist and crumples the notepad in her hand while the man looks like he no longer has the air to breathe as she faces me. Her eyes are red with unshed tears and I cock my brow.
“What can I get you, sir?” she grits through her teeth.
The smirk comes back on my face as we engage in a death glare, one that she would have to crawl out of my hell to be able to beat me at.
13
Iran without thinking or having a plan and now… I’m stuck hiding behind a big industrial garbage bin so that no one can spot me. My legs are burning from all the running I’ve done and I don’t even know where I am or how far I’ve gotten, I just know I need to find a way out of this damned city and away from Alaric. It doesn’t matter where I go but if I can avoid being around a Crowne, even if I never met the other ones really, I know it’ll be okay.
My heart skips a beat when I hear a sound and voices but I don’t move no matter what and after a while, it’s gone. That’s when I know I’ve done it. I’m free. Free from anything that’s ever kept me prisoner, including Alaric Crowne.
I know I have to keep a low profile, it’s the only way or else, he’ll find me. I won’t let him find me, no matter what.
But now…nowthat he’s found me, to say I’m embarrassed would mean I have some pride left inside of me… which I do and I know Alaric is trying to snuff it out.
I wasn’t thinking clearly when I ran. All I could think about was just getting some air and space then I found myself pushing my feet further and further away from it all.
This was the freedom I needed. I couldn’t go back to my family because I was too ashamed of what I last said to them when I chose Edwin over them.
I straighten my back as I bring Alaric his burger and fries. I didn’t think he was the type to eat at some diner in the middle of nowhere yet here he is accepting it and even acting normal by adding ketchup to the plate.
I know his type. People deem them rich assholes but they’re just like that on the surface. They wear pocket squares with their suits and actually put them to use. They were practically born and raised in a suit with a diamond encrusted baby rattle with little diamonds inside to make the noise.
I was a part of his world yet we never really crossed paths. His family was known to me in name only.
“Are you going to just stand there and watch me eat or will you go talk to your manager? Help him find a replacement?” Alaric asks me.
“I don’t understand.”
“Alaric Crowne’s wife doesn’t just run off from an honest job, now does she?” He asks as he takes a bite of his fry.
“You’re serious.”
Alaric smirks and reaches into his pocket, setting a red velvet case on the table. “Put the fucking ring on and if I ever see it off, well, you’re going to stay in this hell of yours longer and it’ll be worse.”
“You’re going to let me go?” My eyes widen at this small admission.
Alaric looks me up and down with a raised brow. “Why would I keep you with me for longer than I need? You’re going to serve your sentence for what you did and by the time you’re done withit, you’ll see that your hell was nothing while you were in that little 4 wall cell. That damn solitary confinement will look like child’s play by the time I’m done with you.”
“I don’t understand why you’re doing this. I served my time and I never meant for any of that to happen. I was running fro—.” I stop myself from continuing.
