Chapter 15 (Tanya)

This dinner was turning out to be a disaster and it hadn’t even started.

As I sat there, I could hear the men talking about me. If they thought they were whispering, they obviously did not know the definition of the word.

I didn’t ask to come here – I was coerced.

So, I tried my best to swallow my pride knowing that if I didn’t, I’d be without a job or worse. What if Everett tried to sue me? Then I’d be screwed. I’d probably find myself in jail. It was hard to believe that Everett would stoop this low but I had seen him use dirty tactics before and I guess I was no different.

“What is she doing here?” Everett turned, eyes burning with hatred.

It was the second time I was seeing the blonde woman. A few weeks ago, she had barged into Everett’s office. This must be the ex-girlfriend.

Great, just great.

“What is she doing here?” Nettie returned, pointing a manicured finger in my direction. “Shouldn’t she be at the office filing papers or something?” She snorted before sitting down at the table, whipping her hair behind her shoulder.

“Get out,” Everett demanded.

“Now, Everett, be civil. You wouldn’t want to ruin dinner, would you?” His mother asked, waving a hand as if that would melt away all the tension building in the air.

It didn’t.

I feared that Everett would pounce across the table at any moment. I had never seen him look this angry. It terrified me.

“Sit down.” His father ordered. “Now.”

Everett hesitant but eventually, with a huff, he sat down, staring at Nettie across the table. Once the food was served, he stabbed into his meal, tearing at his meat like a rabid animal.

“So, Nettie, what have you been up to?”

“Oh, you know, not much. Just got a new modeling job. It’s a Paris company, but they have a branch here in the states. It’s a few blocks down from Everett, actually.”

“Great.” He grumbled.

“Now, don’t be rude.” His mother shot him a reprimanding glance.

“And you, Tanya, do you do anything outside of assisting my son?” This time, his father spoke up, watching me carefully.

I gulped, feeling small under the heat of his gaze. “Um…”

He frowned. “I thought as much. I honestly don’t know why you’re wasting your time on this woman.”

Everett growled. “Do not insult her.” He tightened his grip on his fork. “She is my date, and I demand that you treat her with respect. Tanya is an intelligent –”

He was interrupted by Nettie’s laugh. “Intelligent? You can train a lab monkey to do her job. Don’t kid yourself, Everett. You just feel sorry for her because she’s fat and she won’t ever get someone else.”

Her words pierced through me like bullets.

Was that what this was? A pity party? Was I just the fat girl he could manipulate into having his child? Unable to stand another minute of this horrible experience, I got up from my chair and stormed out. I didn’t even bother to look back, door slamming in my wake.

***

I ran as fast as I could, legs carrying me as far as they could before my knees threatened to buckle.  I looked up, finding myself in the middle of town.

The sidewalks, usually crowded with pedestrians, were deserted. No doubt, most people were at home, enjoying time with their families.

The thought filled me with a soul-crushing sense of loneliness. Was I the only person who had no place to go? I bit my lip, trying to hold back the tears but they came all the same. I broke down, slumping into a nearby bench. All I wanted was a family. Maybe that’s why I had so foolishly agreed to be Everett’s surrogate. But, I didn’t want things to be like this. It was a nightmare.

Tears streamed down my cheeks. I couldn’t even remember the last time I had enjoyed the holidays. Every year, it was the same. While everyone else was happily opening presents or sitting by a warm fire, I was home alone, curled up with a book, trying not to cry. When Everett had invited me to the Christmas ball, I thought, maybe, just maybe, it was the start of something.

I guess I was wrong.

Depression weighed heavily on my shoulders, making them sag. All I wanted to do was disappear. No one cared about me, anyway. Nettie thought I was some pathetic fat girl. Everett’s father obviously didn’t approve of me. And Everett? He was just using me. I was a damn fool to think it was ever anything else.

Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.

At the sound of approaching footsteps, I quickly wiped the tears from my eyes before looking up.

To my surprise, Nettie was standing there, a smug, triumphant look on her face.

“What do you want?” I snapped. “Come to add insult to injury?”

“As a matter of fact…” She grinned. “Well, it’s not a bad thought, but no, that’s not why I’m here.”

“Then, what do you want?”

“You’re going to help me.”

“What? Why would I help you when you just insulted me? It’s obvious you want Everett. Take him. I don’t care.” Even as I said these words, I knew they weren’t true. Despite everything, I still cared for that man.

“Because you don’t have a choice. You see, I’ve had my eye on Walton Corp for a long, long time. I just need a little bit more information, and you’re the perfect person to get it for me.”

“What are you talking about…?” I got to my feet, eyeing her with suspicion.

“I need to get into Everett’s office.” She said as if it were obvious.

“Why?”

“Because I need something.”

“I’m not going to let you break into his office.” I protested. “I’m not going to betray him like that.”

“Really? Even after what happened today? Don’t you get it? He’s just using you. He doesn’t give one shit about any of the girls he ‘dates.’ He just wants us for our bodies, and then he throws us away like yesterday’s garbage. Take it from me, sweetie. You saw how he treated me and I did nothing wrong.”

“I don’t believe you for a minute.”

“I could pay you.”

“No,” I said, holding my ground. “I’m not betraying him. I don’t care how much money you pay me. His trust means a lot to me.”

Nettie laughed. “You really are stupid. But, if you won’t do this the easy way, then I guess we just have to do it the hard way.”

“Hard way…?” I repeated, stepping back, already feeling a little wary. What was she up to? What was she planning?

“You better start running.”

“Huh?”

All of a sudden, two muscular men appeared out of the shadows. They cracked their knuckles, smiling like madmen. And then they charged right toward me.

Fuck.