Chapter Twenty-nine

Chapter Twenty-nine

Oh no! Ethan!

I was totally dumbfounded as I heard his voice over the phone that I didn't know when the phone dropped from my hand back to the bed. So he had been there all along, with Mia? How couldn’t I see through her pretence on time?

God, why did I even call? I should have just ignored and played along with all her games!

“Come to our usual spot, Galena… I’m here with Mia. You don’t wanna be late.” His words reechoed in my mind like some sort of incantation. He was threatening me. Was he planning to tell Mia now? Gosh, how was I gonna face her now? A murderer accusing a friend of betrayal?

Oh no! My head is bursting! Somebody help!

Would it be unwise of me to go? And… what could be the worst that would happen if I didn’t go? Do I have to go there alone? God no, please! I can’t even think straight! What is this mess I have gotten myself into?

“What to do? What to do? What to do?” I asked myself in pain as I fidgeted around the room.

“You don’t wanna be late.” His words hit me again, and I found myself flying to the bathroom to get myself all cleaned up and set.

Going there alone would never be the best idea. Still, if Ethan was determined to do something, he’d do it anyhow, whether or not I was with someone I trusted.

“When we get to that bridge, we’ll cross it somehow. For now, focus on how you’re gonna escape this dungeon.” I whispered to my reflection in the mirror before walking into the shower.

* * * * *

I need not tell you how I disguised myself as a maid, in order to escape the prying eyes and the angry faces of Brandon’s bodyguards.

Yes! I was almost caught just when I was about to sneak out the main door into the front yard. For once in my life, I thought I would get a medal for lying, because that lie was too good, I mean sweet! I felt like a professional conman, smart and manipulative.

I didn’t know this part of Galena. Not at all. Well, who would’ve known if I weren’t caught in some shit? The fact that I could boldly look that man in the face and cry, accusing him for easily forgetting me after we had a night together, when I served him his meal some weeks back, is something I still find so funny. Come to think of it, he actually begged me to keep my voice still before someone else found out.

Jeeez!!! That guy really had some shady deals with one of the maids! So he was easily swooned. That’s some shitty thing to do, but I’m glad he did it, or else, my lie would have been invalid.

I decided to give Jake a call and ask him to meet me at Gramercy Tavern, the restaurant Ethan and Mia were at, and he was at first, reluctant, but after talking him over, he finally agreed to meet me there, to my relief. I decided to use my new found maid’s clothings to meet Ethan there, just so I could be less desirable to him.

I walked over to our usual spot and he was there, fondling Mia, kissing her neck and laughing at the same time. I scoffed at them as I took my seat opposite them with folded arms. I looked daring and arrogant with the maid uniform adding some spice to it.

They immediately adjusted when they saw me there, with Mia looking suddenly apologetic. I scoffed and glared at Ethan with questioning eyes - why did he ask me here?

They both looked surprised to see me in a maid’s uniform and I could see the surprise turn into amusement in Ethan’s eyes. Mia seemed confused and looked like she wanted to question why I was dressed that way, but she held her peace when she saw the daggers that were shooting from my eyes.

No, let her dare! Let her dare ask me why I was this way, she’d be so dead!

I think what gave me the new courage was the fact that I still caught them cheating, even after all the fake apologies and blackmail. They were the true betrayers here! If anyone were to ask me, I actually defended myself. It wasn’t planned at all. But still, I couldn’t live with the trauma of stabbing someone I literally grew up with, played with, laughed with, cried with.

“Snap out of it, Galena.” Ethan said, snapping his fingers at my face with mockery and amusement in his face and voice.

He stared at me lewdly, it almost felt like his eyes could strip me naked, even though I wore clothes that were not in any way enticing.

“I’m glad you could afford this after everything.” he said with a knowing smile and my fists tightened under the table in anger.

“You look prettier in this anyway,” he said with a lascivious grin, as he studied me lewdly under his intense gaze.

“Get up and spin around for me baby.” he said, grinning down at me lustfully, but I glared at him, clenching my teeth fiercely in utter disgust.

“Go ahead.” he said again in a sing-song voice, nodding towards the direction he wanted me to stand.

“Ethan…” Mia tried to protest, but he glared at her with a knowing look and she melted under his gaze. Wait, what effect did he just have on Mia? How could he silence her so easily?

“Galena!” he crooned angrily. I knew I would be in soup if I didn’t just do what he wanted. He was blackmailing me here. Killing me slowly, heartlessly. Despising me in front of the world.

I blinked back the mists that were forming in my eyes, and before I could get up, a waitress walked up to our table with a tray of mouth-watering dishes and wine, then she placed it directly in front of me with a smile, taking everyone by surprise, including me.

“I didn’t order anything!...” Ethan tried to protest but she cut him off immediately.

“The man over there asked me to give you this.” she said to me meekly, nodding towards the direction of the man before walking away,, and my eyes widened in horror.

He winked at me before facing the extremely beautiful woman that sat across him on the table. How could he be flirting with me when he had a date? Oh, Brandon!

I turned shyly away from him quickly, and my eyes landed on the note he left on the tray which read: “I thought a pretty girl like you should eat while talking to her dumbass boyfriend.” Then he signed his name below it “Brandon” with a heart and smiley face. So he could be this romantic!?

I had no idea I was giggling until I looked up to meet the angry face of Ethan and the confused look on Mia’s face. I quickly hid the paper in the pocket of my dress as I stared at him timidly.

He had a cold, disastrous expression on his face as he said in an icy tone; “I remember that fucker from the hospital. What have you two been up to?” I could feel my skin melt off my bones and fall to the ground at the dangerousness in his voice.

I was tongue-tied as I stared at him anxiously, with my brain taking its departure and leaving me stranded on what to say.

“Answer me!” he thundered, pushing the tray of food roughly off the table, and making its content splash on the floor and on me. I shrieked in pain and terror as some hot soup got into my skin, drawing more attention from the diners towards me.

I hurried off to the bathroom to wash it off with a tear stained face, and when I turned around to leave, Ethan appeared before me like some monster in horror movies, with a menacing look plastered on his face, and a small dagger in his hand. He gently locked the door behind him before turning to face me with a victoriously lewd look as he said;

“Finally, we can have a me-time together.”