The Proposition 3 by H.M. Ward

Author:H.M. Ward
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: H.M. Ward Press
Published: 2014-03-24T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 11

I should feel embarrassed, but I don’t. The next day I sit with Maggie on the couch while Neil is out. She’s been very quiet since I picked her up from her old place. Maggie stares into space, and I know that memory is tangling with the new one and playing over and over again in her mind.

“Do you want to talk about it?” I ask, already knowing the answer.

She inhales and shakes her head, before offering me a forced smile. “There’s nothing to say. Same old shit. Nothing’s changed, but it hurts more now.” She smiles like something’s funny. “I would have thought it hurt more when I was a kid. Guess not.”

“What’d he do?”

“The same old stuff. Victor likes to own things.” She shifts in her seat and then stands, putting distance between us. “I was supposed to set him up with a girl. He has a type, round hips, dark hair, and pale skin—like Nicole Kidman—but a brunette. So every week, I bring him someone. They get a few hundred and he does what he does. On weeks that I can’t find anyone, I sub, but this time.” She stops speaking and shakes her head. “I shouldn’t have. It’s usually just rough sex. He slaps me around and nails me. I go home and that’s that. But this time…” She shakes her head and looks over her shoulder at me. “I don’t want to talk about it. I tried to get away and then gave up when he said what he’d do to me, and then to you. He slapped me around for a while, taking me however he wanted, and then I heard your voice and was scared to death that he’d get you too. I’m so sorry, Hallie.”

“It’s not your fault.” I feel horrible that I let her life crumble like this. We were supposed to be there for each other. “I should have gotten there sooner. I would have. I wish I could take it all back.”

Maggie smiles sadly and wraps her arms around her middle. “Yeah, me too. So now what? No offense, but I can’t stand Neil.”

I nod. “I was thinking that I should get a place of my own before the wedding. It’ll be me and you.”

Maggie’s gaze sweeps the floor. “You’re seriously going to marry him?” I nod and give her a look that says don’t press it right now. She adds, “I’d love to, but you know I can’t afford to do it.”

“Yes, you can. I got part of my advance. We can go house hunting whenever you want, oh, and this part isn’t optional—you work for me now. I’m going to need a personal assistant to tell me what to do, you know, someone a little bossy.”

Maggie giggles and shoves me, then slaps her hands over her mouth, and repeats the action. “No way!”

“Way.” It’s so good to see a burst of happiness flash in her eyes for a brief moment. But as soon as she blinks, it’s gone, lost within the depths of agony that fill her soul.

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