CHAPTER 17
Rayna
I was in the middle of the shift and busy with bookings when I heard someone walk inside of the main office. It was locked at all times, so I knew it had to be Lana or one of the higher-ups, which was unusual. I finished an appointment and glanced to see Lana with Angela, who looked upset as they walked into my small room. “Hey, guys.” I looked at Lana, who gave me an imploring gaze before I looked at Angela. She looked broken and could barely meet my eyes before Lana led her forward.
“Rayna, I didn’t know. I’m so sorry,” Angela told me as she dropped weakly into the chair across from me. I was glad that I was the only one here, knowing what this was about. She lifted her eyes, and they were pleading with me to forgive her. “I heard him say your name and then caught a glimpse of a picture. I didn’t know that he was your husband.”
“Oh, Angela. I’m not upset with you.” She stared at me. “I’m mad at him, but not surprised. Does that make sense?” She shared a long look with Lana, who patted her hand.
“Her hubby is an asshole, Ang. I told you that she wouldn’t be mad.” She sat down on the edge of the desk and sighed.
“I knew that he booked you, but I was never mad at you. We’ve had a terrible relationship from the beginning.” I reached out and took her hand.
“I didn’t hear affection in his voice when he said your name, nor have I ever sensed it from him. He is an asshole,” she said glumly as I frowned. “He pays well…shit. I shouldn’t tell you that. I sound like a bitch.” Angela rested her face in her hands, and I noticed something on her pale skin, reaching out to touch the bruise. “Angela?” She jerked up with horror on her face. “Did James…do that?”
“I told him after that I was done with him,” she replied as she tilted her head at me. “He hurts you, doesn’t he? It wasn’t the first time with him, but I was just so tired of it.”
“What the fuck, Rayna? He hits you?” Lana asked, her voice rising as I heard a ding from the computer. I glanced down to see booking waiting as well as a message from Declan.
“Among other things,” I replied vaguely as her eyes flashed. “I didn’t want to tell you the details, Lana. It’s…complicated.”
“Complicated, my ass. You need to get out of there.” Lana looked at Angela. “Are you okay?”
“He just got rough a few times. I'm all right, but I am done. The money isn’t worth it.” Angela smiled weakly as she stared at me. “Are you okay?”
I glanced at Declan’s message and told him that I’d be there right after work before answering. “I am fine. I actually packed some stuff today. You know he’s gone for a while, but I’m considering not being home when he comes back.”
“If he’s not home, then why did you pack?” Lana asked, her brow raising as I blushed. “Rayna, what’s going on?”
“I…I have been seeing someone,” I confessed in a whisper as her mouth dropped open. I looked at them both with a scared look in my eyes. “You can’t say anything. If he finds out, I don’t know what James will do.”
“How? You work and go home? Right?” Lana asked as I nibbled on my lip. “Did you meet someone here?”
“In a manner of speaking,” I responded as I watched the wheels in her head turn through her expressive face. “You remember that one night?”
“Him? You’re seeing him?” Lana asked in shock as I nodded. She asked me with her eyes if we could clue the lost Angela in and I nodded slowly, realizing there was little to lose at this point. Lana told her about my one night in the escort life and that it was just the one time, turning to stare at me with accusing eyes. “He was looking for you. I remember now!! You responded?”
“I meant to tell him to leave me alone and…caved. It wasn’t supposed to be anything, and I know it shouldn’t be. It’s so wrong, and he’s a good man, but I like it. I like being with him.” I shrugged and looked at them both for a moment.
Angela offered me a smile. “If James is anything like I think he is, then I can’t blame you. You deserve a lot better.”
“It’s just that there is my family, too. They love him, or at least what he does for them. It’s a business thing.” I looked across the desk at Angela. “James does not know that I work here. Nobody in my real life does. I made up something about a freelance job just to get out of the house. He’d be livid.”
“I won’t say anything. I want you away from him more than anyone else, I think. He’s a cruel man.” She took a deep breath. “This other man is good, though?”
“Very. He wants me to leave him, encourages it even. I don’t want to bring this negativity into his life, but I have money for my own place. I have been saving. I just know that James won’t let me go that easily, even though he doesn’t love me at all.”
“I live in a gated complex and have an extra room,” Lana offered as I smiled at her. “I’d be happy to have you there unless you have another place to stay.”
“We’re spending a lot of time together while James is gone. I mean, apart from working here.” I shrugged, and Lana giggled.
“Want some time off? You’ve earned it, working so much.” I looked at her curiously. “Maria is bored and wants to book from home while she recovers.”
“Are you serious?” I asked as Lana nodded. “I didn’t even plan on asking like he wants me to. He can work from anywhere.”
“What’s his name?” Lana asked as I blushed. “The guy from that day when we were walking in? He stalked you?”
“He calls it being persistent,” I said as she laughed. “I want to keep as much about him as I can a secret for now. It might not work out at all, you know.”
“Or it might be the best thing that ever happened to you!” Lana said as her phone rang. “Shit. I was hoping that Tom would forget to call me.”
“Customer?” I asked as she shook her head.
“A very open-minded guy that wants to date me. I think he’s fucking insane, but he’s wining and dining me well. It’s just weird.” I sat back in my chair, trying to picture Lana in a settled life, a relationship or marriage. I could. “I suppose if I find the one, I could give it up. I’ve been putting money away for the future and even invested some.”
“Me, too. This isn’t forever.” Angela nodded as I smiled.
“I’m going to call him, and I have a client in just a bit. How about you?” Lana asked Angela as she stretched.
“Half an hour,” she replied as she leaned forward and looked at me with a bright smile. “I just wanted to talk to you tonight as soon as I could. I am glad that you’re thinking about leaving him. You know that we’re behind you, right?”
“I do,” I assured her, feeling hope inside as we said our goodbyes. I had a very black and white view of the industry before working here, just as close-minded as my family was just about everything. Now, I knew that it was just a way for them to get ahead in their lives. They were kind women that all had a story to tell.
Sure, there were aspects of the job that were unpleasant. It was an ugly world, though, and we all had to make our way through it the best that we could. A lot of people thought that my life was perfect when it was so dark behind closed doors, so who was I to judge anyone else?
I just needed to stop judging myself so harshly.
I got back to work, booking everyone for the night as I chatted with Declan in between. He mentioned that his wife called him, making my heart jump into my throat until Declan mentioned that he told her that he wasn’t interested in getting back together. In fact, he sounded more annoyed than anything else just by the way that he was telling me about her.
I’d seen a photo on a shelf in the living room of them. She was beautiful with auburn hair and a gorgeous smile, though I noticed that Declan wasn’t smiling as brightly as she was. I knew better than anyone else that pictures meant nothing since there were several with James acting like the loving, attentive husband at various places. My parents had many displayed for their friend to see, making me shudder.
I finished my night, excited to tell Declan that I could get some time off. I was going to surprise him when I got back to his place and plan what to do together. Lana sent me a text a short while after she left, telling me that I could start vacation the following Monday, which was just three days away. I was going to be gone for two weeks. Lana encouraged me to see where this was going and I planned on it. Even if it ended up going nowhere, I felt good having friends that supported me. I was glad that I’d spoken to them about what was really going on at home.
Seeing Angela’s bruise made me hate my husband even more than I already did. I knew that I had to leave him and just deal with the reactions of my parents, his parents, and other people in that world. It was going to be hot gossip for a long time, and I’d end up being the one shunned, but I was starting to care no longer.
I had a life away from that now.