"Ginny," Leah prompts breaking my Hunter obsession, moving in to my line of vision so that I refocus on her, "Caleb can't make dinner, he is held up at work, Matthew will meet you there," she offers quietly, as she starts collecting all the empty bottles and glasses with Sara.
"Leah and Sara, thank you ladies for arranging today. I know you had a hand in it and I appreciate it. Will you join us for dinner?" I ask.
"Do you honestly think we would miss it? No chance, we are coming to enjoy the night with you. We will follow in an Uber though. You go," Leah fusses. "We have cars downstairs waiting for everyone, please, go, enjoy!" she claps as she speaks, dismissing all of us.
Hunter finishes up his call in the waiting room, before I watch my mother walking up and pulling him into a tight hug, that leaves me somewhat perplexed. It looks like a reunion of sorts.
We make it downstairs and are walking towards the cars when I realise for once in my professional life, I have left my briefcase upstairs. Grandpa comes up behind me, when I look over my shoulder and up the expanse of glass, to my office, wondering if I will have time to run up.
"Ginny, one night. Just leave your bag there for one night. Come on tonight is about celebrating new ventures, new relationships and everything in between," he doesn't leave any room for argument and shuffles me into the nearest cars. Pushing me forward so that I am squashed up between the door, Grandma and him, on the soft cream leather, Aunt Addy and Mum opposite us.
"Matthew also called Gin, he is joining us for dinner tonight but will be a little late. Now tell me how clever I was getting Hunter on board," he waggles his goddamn eyebrows at me. I want to be angry, I am but at the same time that's the thing about life sometimes. Things happen, for good or for bad. All I have learned is that sometimes you just have to let it happen.
I wangle out of his arm, grabbing a small bottle of mineral water and listen to Grandpa recalling the surprise and events of our board meeting to Mum, Aunt Addy and Grandma. Aunt Addy kicks my feet when the talk turns to Hunter. But I pretend not to notice, instead, I turn to stare out of the window, relaxing as the bubbles from the champagne distract me from any lingering negative thoughts listening to their happy chatter and gossip.
As we pull up to the curb, I notice the other cars already there and waiting, the cool night air seeing everyone jiggling from one foot to the other. I am just climbing out after Grandma when I spy Hunter off to the side looking suspiciously like he is waiting for someone. As my other foot alights out of the car I notice what it is he is waiting for. A beautiful fucking woman.
All the happy bubbles from my champagne evaporate in that moment and a smouldering, burning feeling replaces it. It only takes me a second to catch up to recognise my own jealousy, surprising me by its intensity. I turn on the spot before anyone else can see my nasty green eyes, leaning back into the car taking the time while I thank our driver, to calm myself. I have no claim on Hunter it seems, despite fates lingering hand and our interesting drink at Hartley’s just nights ago. I am not terribly surprised though, the man looks and acts like god's gift to women.
After closing the door, I look at everyone again with a giant smile on my face and then I wrap my arm in Grandpa's elbow as he does to Grandma and we make our way into my favourite restaurant.
Of course, the Chef is ecstatic that the Bellafonte team are all here, although the sheer amount of food that he keeps delivering to our table, presented in his usual exuberance, confirms that this night has been planned for a little while. The wine and chatter around the table is full of good cheer and laughter and despite the gorgeous woman sitting next to Hunter, who has not stopped talking intently with him, it is a wonderful night.
Dinner is just about served when Matthew rushes in, looking absolutely dapper in his black suit, a crisp white shirt hugging his chest firmly. The small earpiece is the only evidence that he is security. Everyone around the table knows Matthew, not Hunter though and his eyes narrow as Matthew walks, watching as he takes the time to greet everyone on his way over to me. Matthew leans over my seat, once he knows he has my attention as well as everyone else's, and swoops down low to put an unfriendly, friendly kiss on my lips, whispering his congratulations. He leans in further to my ear on the opposite side and murmurs slowly, making me blush, "Sorry I was late honey, I had to go see Caleb at work quickly. The man is insatiable. But we have both agreed that it's time for a little more fun in your life," he pulled back, a wicked grin spread on his face before leaning in to kiss me again.
"Matthew!" Grandpa admonishes him before calling a waiter to get another seat. Everyone around us shuffles down to make room for him, so that he can sit at my side. Conversations quickly restart once he settles in, with a San Pellegrino in his hands. Quickly the table is filled again with the clang of cutlery and talk of the delicious food we are sharing.
"Excuse me," I offer quietly halfway through mains, pushing up off of my seat. The table is crowded and Matthew offers me his hand, so that I could balance as I get up. I make my way to the restroom, leaving the noise of the festivity behind me. It really was a very enjoyable day and the only reason that the smile had left my face is Hunter, and his fucking ugly, damn it, gorgeous hussy sitting next to him. My irritation has grown during the evening as he continues to discreetly watch me. I never thought that Hunter would be like that, throwing off come hither vibes whilst sitting next to a woman that obviously knows him well, very well.
I am so distracted and lost in my thoughts of Hunter’s stolen glimpses, that I don't notice that I am not alone in the long corridor to the bathroom. Not until I walk into a body. The impact sends me stumbling back, but the tight grip on my arms digs into my shoulders, hurting me, keeping me upright. My eyes fly up wide in alarm as all the air rushes out of my lungs in my shock. My feet try to find backward traction on the tiles in my escape.
"Next time I send you fucking flowers Verginius, don't you be so bitchy and send them on to my fiance. I don't know what game you are trying to fucking play, but you stop that shit now," Dom's eyes are dark in his anger and it stills my movements.
"Strange you have nothing to fucking say now isn't it. Even after all the shit you spewed to Drew. I won’t waste my time again. Next, I will just tell them all that you are begging me to fuck you again. I really don't give a shit. You will not embarrass me anymore. Do you understand?" His hands squeeze hard into my shoulders and he shakes me aggressively, with each word he speaks.
"You best take my call on Monday morning, you little whore. You stop this stupid shit. Threats of criminal investigations and restraining orders, bullshit. And John is back on board," he snarls, his spittle hitting my face.
He rag-dolls me again waiting for an answer and all I can do is nod my head in agreement. Eager to get out and away from this psycho.
All of a sudden he lets go of me, maybe it is the sound of someone's approaching feet echoing down the hallway, but either way he drops his hold on me and only moments later the back door to the restaurant slams shut. Pretty much in time with my ass dropping to the floor. The impact throws my head back into the wall and little black stars dot over my vision.
It could have been mere moments or minutes later, my panic ensuring I lost all semblance of time, until I feel the hulking presence of Hunter. I know it is him before he even reaches out for me on the floor.
He bends down in front of me, his hands outstretched as his worry sounds in my ears, "Gigi, what the fuck, Gigi? Are you okay? What happened?"
I scuttle away from him on my hands and knees, my panic driving me away, I need to get to Matthew. We had talked about what to do before. I know that I need to get to Matthew, even though the temptation to fall apart in Hunter's arms is racing through every facet of my soul.
"Matthew," I whisper as I start crawling from him. I start towards the back door only to remember that Dom just left that way. My head whipping side to side in my desperation to find an escape. I think Hunter must sense that I am mid-freak-out as he crouches low before backing up away from me.
"Matthew," I repeat as the first lot of tears fell from my frantic, unseeing eyes.
"Not Matthew Gigi, me, Hunter. I am fucking here for you," his hands are outstretched in hope and I very nearly reached them, being guided by something instead of burning fear. But a looming shadow over both of us changed it all, not stopping until I was scooped up, safe in the arms of my security guard.
"What the fuck did you do Hunter? What the fuck?" Matthew snarls low and angrily, as he holds me tight, cradled like a baby to his chest. I think he is getting ready to rearrange me up and over his back, so he can free his arms, ready to fight Hunter.
"Fuck off you idiot! I found her on the ground, mid-fucking-panic. So yeah, what the fuck?" Hunter yells, his thundering voice filing the hallway with his increasing anger.
I flinch at both of them, the frustration they are both voicing, mixing with my fear has me cowering in his arms. It makes me sad inside. I am a big ball of emotional turmoil. Matthew spins us both so that his back is to Hunter as he rocks me in his arms, trying to convey to me that I am safe once again. "What happened Ginny?" he says very softly, leaning down into my ear.
His words are lost to my thundering pulse, galloping at a rate I can’t control as my lungs restrict. My breathing is erratic, one second I am panting as I try to pull a breath, the next a heavy wheeze comes out of my mouth. Eventually, I find the ability to speak.
"Dom," I whispered back before I faint.
