Here's the teaser. Hope you enjoy--
Laguna Beach,
California
Patrick followed
Anna inside. Looking down, they were walking on marble floors.
Looking up, the ceiling seemed to go to the sky.
“It’s larger
than most museums I’ve been in.” She chuckled a little at him.
“Wait until you
come here for their Christmas party or their Fourth of July blast.”
He didn’t have a chance to respond as a fit looking elderly
gentleman came into the room. By the cut of his pinstripe suit,
Patrick was pretty sure he was not the butler, and to look at him it
was hard to really say he was elderly. He looked healthier than most
men half his age.
“Anna! My dear!
You look wonderful!” Anna grasped the extended hands as they
kissed each other’s cheeks with the familiarity of close friends.
“Anthony, I’d
like you to meet Patrick Rueschel.” She turned to him.
“Patrick, this
is Anthony Wolffe.”
“Patrick,
welcome to my home.” Anthony smiled and was instantly friendly.
Anna was right, he was easy to like. As Anna went to change, Anthony
showed him around the grounds and explained what they would be doing
with the commercial.
Anna quickly went
upstairs to the room Anthony kept there for her. The thought of it
made her smile. It was what her mother would do if she went home for
a visit. Her mind focused back on the present as she opened the door
to the room that was almost the same size as Gracie’s apartment.
This time, though, as she went inside she froze to her spot by the
door. Matthew was less than ten feet away, smiling wickedly.
“Oh, no you
don’t.” She shook her head.
“You can leave
this instant, or I will.”
“What and
disappoint my father? You wouldn’t dare. Besides I wouldn’t
touch you.”
“Why am I
talking to the devil?” She turned and started to leave. Quickly
he jumped up from his seat, and grabbed her by one shoulder, pulling
her back in and shutting the door.
“Or would I?”
Fear encircled her, but she knew better than to show it. She’d
known since the first moment she met him he was not trustworthy, and
the longer she knew him the more she hated him.
“I’ve got to
get my clothes. I’m expected downstairs in a matter of moments. I
don’t need more of your power plays.” She tried to move out of
his grasp, but with his other arm, he pulled her close so she could
feel a growing part of his body against her tail bone. His hands
reached underneath her waist band massaging her hips and forced her
to move with the rhythm of his body.
“In a matter of
minutes we could do something else. You have to dress in those
clothes, after all.” His lips moved along the back of her neck as
he spoke.
“I could help
you undress...” Fear and emotions she had never felt before
pinnacled inside of her. Her body quivered and shook. How did she
get out of this situation?
“No.” She
forced out the word that should have stopped him.
“No, this is not
what I want.” She spoke louder, but he kept up, unzipping her
pants.
“Matthew stop,
this has gone too far.” She tried to wiggle free, but that only
made it so he could turn her to face him. Then his arms wrapped
around her again and he pulled her close, pushing her pants down.
“No, Matthew!
Stop!” She screamed hoping someone would hear her.
“Matthew,
stop!!!!” Quickly he covered her mouth.
“Shhh. You
don’t want anyone to hear. I might have to go after someone you
care about.” He stepped her back until she stumbled and then
forced her to the floor.
“Don’t do
this.” The words were muffled. Slowly he took his hand away from
her mouth.
“I’ve never
been with anyone!” She screeched as she tried to wiggle free of
him. Surely he wasn’t going to rape her. He wouldn’t.
“I don’t want
the first time to be like this.” He looked up with a smile as if
she had given him some kind of gift. For a moment he did stop, and
she thought for a brief second he was going to listen.
“That makes it
all the more fun. I’m the first... Wow. Not even my father could
win that lottery.” Then with his legs he forced hers apart,
unzipped his pants with one hand while he held her wrists with the
other. When his pants were undone, he grabbed her hips and started
to forced her to him.
With everything
inside of her she bellowed. He was not going to do this! Someone
would hear her! She twisted and tried to get away.
“You fight like
you have something to protect. You weren’t joking, you really are
a virgin. How about that!” Once again his hand covered her mouth.
“Listen,
sweetheart.” He whispered threateningly.
“I know about
you, Anna Lattimier......” Suddenly the world was dark.
“I know all
about you, Pastor Anna. Your church raves about you. Those
teenagers really look up to you.” Tears swelled in her eyes and
ran down her cheeks.
“I always get
what I want, and if you’re not quiet maybe I’ll go visit one of
those girls...” Horror filled her soul. Then she thought of the
nails she so tediously took care of.
“You will not go
near them!” She roared. The long nails were only good for the
modeling world, and perhaps escapes from these kind of situations
where she had no other way to fight. Without warning she clawed him.
“You bitch!”
The back of his hand slammed into her cheek as she drew blood on one
side of his face.
“I will tell
your father! As soon as I’m downstairs I will be calling the
police!” This would be a narrow escape, but it was an escape.
“Those sweet
girls will be delicious...” She turned back to him terror settling
deep inside of her.
“You say a word
to anyone and I will haunt them, find them, and have my fill.” She
reached down and gave him a second scratching just for good measure.
Sometimes cat nails had their uses.
Thirty seconds
later she left the room with the clothes she was suppose to change
into, while Matthew lay on the floor holding his face and his groin,
wreathing in pain. Her world was dark. His threats reverberated
inside of her.
After scrubbing
clean those precious nails that bought her way out of the almost
rape, she changed her clothes with lightening speed in one of the
downstairs bathrooms. Trepidation filled her. What if he did as he
had said? She paused. For the sake of her youth girls she had to
keep her silence. What if Anthony noticed? Or Patrick? She glanced
in the mirror. Purplish pink bruises were already showing up on her
face. Closing her eyes, she pushed the fear deep down where she
would deal with it later. She brushed her hair and left it down to
shield her face. Then she noticed the discoloration beginning on her
wrists. There was no way Anthony wouldn’t see. Could she get to
the make-up crew before Anthony would see her? Could Anthony’s
experts cover this up? She didn’t know, but there was no more
time. She was supposed to have been dressed and ready fifteen
minutes ago.
A few moments
later she found Anthony, Patrick, and Cheryl by the swimming pool.
Thank goodness the patio was shaded and they couldn’t see the
damage she had suffered. With a deep breath to keep the pain out of
her voice,
“Here is the
first outfit...” she twirled in a circle as she called. The skirt
swirled around her like a flow of teal water.
“Oh Anna, you
look like an angel.” Anthony cooed, as she put on her best fake
smile. He was too far away to see the damage she had sustained.
“I’ve the hair
and make-up team ready for you over there.” He pointed to the
terrace close to where she stood. She turned without a word and
slowly walked across the shaded patio as Frank Randolph, the make-up
and hair man arched a brow. She stopped before him and his
knowledgeable gaze took in every imperfection. Her skin was crawling
from Matthew’s abuse. What she really needed was a good stiff
brush and a boiling hot shower. Could she scrub away this dirty
feeling? With a deep breath she focused on what she needed to do
here.
“Mon Cheri, you
look as though you’ve been through ze French Revolution!” The
tenderness in his French accent promised help. Arching one brow, she
smiled slightly barely hiding the strange vulnerability.
“You’re damned
close.”
Randolph clapped,
grabbing the attention of all his helpers.
“Strong lemon
water now! You...” He pointed to another assistant.
“Ice mask now!”
He turned to another as the other two ran to do his bidding.
“You-- My
make-up case. Now!”
“Frank, can you
cover the bruises?” She looked up to him, worried. Randolph was
the only person Anthony trusted for his models.
“Anthony has
enough problems with his son.” She excused, but she was not
prepared to expose her life in Chicago and the threats made to
anyone.
“He doesn’t
need to know about this.”
“Oui, Cheri.
I’ll hang Matthew by the danglers between his legs for doing this
to you, but that’s after I teach you how to hide such things as
zis.
Forget that bourgeois
now.
You are one of the most elegant ladies around and you deserve to be
tres belle.”
She smiled a small but sincere smile.
“Thank you,
Frank.” His kindness and comedic vengeance helped her to relax and
to her surprise Randolph made the damage disappear.
An hour later, she
joined Anthony, Cheryl, and Patrick, laughing at the stories and
jokes that were told. Within her hid the threats that had been made;
frightened that Matthew would act. To Randolph’s request she
sipped on lemon water all day, and each time she changed outfits once
more he applied a new ice mask. Even the film crew knew nothing
except she was beautiful like nothing was wrong.
“Come with me,
Patrick.” Anthony instructed as Anna was changing into the last
outfit for the commercial. Patrick went with the older man into the
house and into a large room. In the room he opened doors to an even
larger walk in closet.
“I keep extra
suits and tuxedos in here in case I have a guest and something
happens that they need one.” He explained as he pulled out a few
different suits.
“Would you mind
humoring an old man? Anna seems so happy with you here, and I’d
like just to have a little fun.” Patrick half smiled.
“I guess...”
Fifteen minutes
later, Anna quietly stepped by the pool, slightly worried about
Anthony and Patrick’s disappearance.
“You know my
father, better than almost anybody...” Cheryl sighed with a shrug.
Anna nodded as she
slowly spun around in the pale pink chiffon gown she wore. The sun
was dipping closer to the horizon, and so she silently walked over to
the edge of the yard near the gazebo. From there she could hear the
Pacific surf. The crashing sound of the waves off in the distance
brought a melancholy little curl to her rosy lips. This was where
Patrick found her when he returned from changing into the navy blue
tuxedo. She was amazing in her own world walking and every once in
awhile slowly twirling. He wasn’t sure what she was thinking
about, but she was lovelier than anyone he had ever seen. He was
about to cross the grounds to her when a hand on his shoulder halted
his advances.
“Patrick, wait.”
He stopped and turned back to Anthony.
“Take off the
tie. No tie, and unbutton that top button.” Patrick did as he
asked then he hurried across the yard as Anthony cued his film crew.
They had been waiting ever since she came back out to the yard. Now
they filmed both Patrick and Anna.
“Anna...” She
turned and her smile returned.
“Oh, you are
dashing!” Exclaiming she grasped both his hands.
“Anthony did
this, did he?” He laughed.
“He asked me to
humor him.”
“Yes, he likes
this kind of thing.”
Together they
danced to an imaginary song and all the while oblivious to the
filming cameras.
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