Chapter 16

Maya

As soon as James left, I hurried to pack my things. I had already arranged an Uber and was on my way down when I bumped into Darek Dillon in the elevator.

“You look like a woman who’s going somewhere in a hurry,” he said, as I entered the elevator with him. I dropped my bags on the ground at his feet. I’d only packed the things I’d recovered from Craig; the things that were my own, and made sure to leave anything that James had provided.

I didn’t want to owe him anything. I wanted to make a clean break and move on with my life.

I’d considered if I was doing the right thing but knew if I stayed, things would end in tears. I was falling too fast and too hard to let it go on.

I wiped a single tear from my eye hoping he’d think it was allergies. “You could say that.” I pushed the button, and he leaned against the rail, and I turned to see him giving me a judgmental look. “What?”

“Are you running out on James Thomas? I hope it isn’t because of what happened at the party. I mean, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t trying to hit on you, but I didn’t realize how serious things were with you and him. You didn’t exactly let on that there were feelings between you.”

“It’s not because of that, but that was what made things spark the most. You might say you threw a match on things.”

“Well, apparently, that wasn’t the best thing I could have done. You might be staying, otherwise.”

“He’s a good guy; it’s just not going to work.”

“For some reason, I think there’s more to it.” He folded his arms as the elevator stopped and the door opened. A man got in, and I pushed my bags out of the way, and the two of us were quiet until he got off on the fiftieth floor.

“Well, he did make me question his integrity. But, it doesn’t matter. Everything I touch turns to ruin. I only moved out here hoping to get into the fashion business, not to be someone’s assistant. I don’t even know who he is, you know. Besides, I’m tired of settling for less. It’s time to do something for me.”

“Good for you. Where are you headed?” Darek held his thumb up and smiled as the elevator made it to the ground floor. “May I help you with your bags?”

“Sure, and wish me luck. I’ve got to go try and get my phone back from my ex and then I’m headed to the airport. I want to be home in New Orleans by the evening. I’m going to stay with my friend, Rosie. She said there might be a job opportunity where she works.”

“That’s wonderful. I hope you get everything you want. If I’m ever in New Orleans, come on down to one of my seminars. Show this card.” He reached into his pocket and handed me a business card. “I’d love to see you after and maybe take you to dinner.”

“Thanks. I’ll do that.” Darek was a nice guy, and I wondered why James didn’t like him. James was hard to understand at times. But then, weren’t we all.

Darek wished me well at the car, and then helped the driver load my bags. He waved as I drove away, and I cried all the way to Craig’s. I was worried about what would happen when I showed up and demanded my phone. I wondered if he’d try to fight, or worse, ask me to stay. I wished I’d never met the guy. My life would have been so much better. I’d quit my job and left everything after putting my trust in him. I’d uprooted it all to have nothing. Now, I’d make the most of going home, and at least I’d be around people I knew and loved.

My heart ached. People I loved. Deep down I’d wanted to love James, and maybe I did, but it was all too much too soon, especially after Craig. Maybe I was just confused and clinging to the first man who tried to rescue me from that fucked up situation. I couldn’t use him as a crutch or force him into a hero role, and if it was meant to be, he’d look me up in New Orleans. He had to know that’s where I went. I second-guessed leaving without saying goodbye, but if I had, he’d only talked me into staying.

I went up to my old apartment and held my breath hoping that Craig had left my phone behind this time. I never expected him to be home on a workday.

He stood in front of the door when I turned the key and pushed it open. “Well, well, well. I wondered if you would come back.”

“I’m not here to fight, Craig. I want my phone. I’m on my way home, and I need it. People are expecting me.” He stepped closer, but I knew it was only to intimidate me. It worked.

“I threw it out.” He shrugged.

“It’s no matter. I just hoped to get my contacts. I’ll call the company when I get home. My plane leaves in an hour.”

“Where’d you get money to fly home? You know, I heard you came here to get your things with some man. I guess you fucked him to get your way home. Did you think it was love, Maya? Did you think it could be like what we had?” I wanted to engage, and tell him I hoped it was better, that the sex was better, and that I hate him, but I knew I was better off leaving. I turned and stepped toward the door behind me, and he rushed forward, putting his arm around my front to pull me close.

My whole body went rigid as fear gripped me, but he reached his other arm around and held my phone in front of my face. I reached up and placed my hand on it, but he didn’t let go. “I’ll be a good guy and let you have this. But I want to know if you did it. Did you fuck him? I bet you did. I knew you were a filthy little whore when I moved you up here. All of those dirty little things you used to do for me on the camera. Remember our sessions? I do, I still think about them. What are you going to do to get your phone back?”

I gripped the phone tight as I brought my foot up behind me and kicked him hard in the groin, but despite, doubling over in pain, he grabbed hold of me twisting my arm as I tugged to get away. He grabbed my hair, and I swung an elbow at his head, and when he fell away, he let me go long enough to get to the elevator and luckily, I shut the door before he could follow. I had my phone, and Mr. Uber was still waiting for me. I jumped in the car and told him to punch it. As he drove away, I looked back to see Craig running out behind the car.

I turned around in my seat and caught my breath as the man drove me toward the airport. I clutched my phone in my hand and decided to turn it on. It was dead. “Do you have a phone charger?” I had to get some charge on the phone, so I could call home. I hadn’t considered that he’d let the battery run out, but then, why would he do anything to help me?

“Sure, here.” The man handed me a wire, and I plugged my phone in.

With any luck, it would charge by the time I got to the airport. “Thanks.”

“Are you okay?” the guy asked.

“Yes, I’m fine.” I wasn’t fine at all. Was I doing the right thing?