64

64
Betty.

“You can’t keep dragging me around like a child,” I muttered as Duke's hands fixed around my wrist pulling me towards the exit. 

I didn’t even get to have a drink, and the fact that he did that right in front of so many people was even more embarrassing.
As soon as we stepped out into the night, the cold air brushed my skin, instantly giving me goosebumps.
“What’s going on with you Duke? Huh, tell me,” I shrieked, yanking my wrist off his grip violently. “ I never knew you were this abusive, maybe if I had the slightest idea, I wouldn’t have agreed to come along with you.”
He grabbed my hands again this time, it was rougher than before. My wrist burned from his tight grip, he held me like he was scared I’d run off and never speak to him again, well he was right. 
“You are hurting me…” I moaned and he let me go. “What was that about, Duke?”

He clenched his jaw adjusting his black shirt, his breath sharp and fast, like he’d run a thousand miles. “That bartender was being rude to you, I couldn’t stand there and watch some lowlife embarrass my woman!”
I scoffed, “First of all, I’m not your woman, secondly, she isn’t a lowlife, that lady is working hard as I am too, you forget so quickly that I’m a professor, I don’t have a fancy job like you do and news flash, I love my job!” I shot back.

“You don’t understand!” He objected, pointing into the bar, then he paused. “Okay, I’m sorry for calling her a lowlife but that doesn’t change the fact that she was rude to us.”
“How? Tell me?” I asked, blinking twice, trying to see how the innocent lady was rude.
“There was a bottle of sex on the beach on the shelf but  she wouldn’t sell it to us!”
“It was sold out, Duke!”
“Then it shouldn’t be on the shelf,”
I took a few steps away from him, running a hand through my disheveled hair now. “This argument is pointless.”
“Really? Is that what you think?” he questioned.

“Yeah, just a day ago, you almost made that waitress at the restaurant lose her job, you were screaming at her like she wasn’t a human like you.”
He shrugged, “That’s because she was incompetent.”

“Do you  even hear yourself?”
He took quick strides close to me and I moved backward. “ I was only trying to make sure you were comfortable.”

A faint smile played on my lips as I folded my arms across my chest. “No, that wasn’t your intent, you just wanted to show them you were on top, and that’s fine, you’re rich, but you need to learn how not to speak down on people because you don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow.”

He tried to reach out to me but I pulled back. “I’m sorry, Betty…”
“No, Duke, you need to work on yourself,” I cut him off stepping onto the pavement. “Bye, Duke.”
I flagged a cab that took me far away and stopped at my apartment. Finally, I was away from all the chaos and troubles. 
Sometimes I asked myself if I was overreacting. But then he wasn’t right to speak down on anyone, irrespective of what they do, everyone deserves respect.
“Thank you,” I said to the driver after paying, he drove off and I hurried into my cozy apartment. Kitty was asleep by the time I got in. I didn’t even bother to take off my shoes. I just threw my purse on the ground and fell on my back on the bed. 
I couldn't find sleep, so I began to stare at the white ceiling but deep down my mind was replaying the events that took place at the bar, Duke’s disgrace, and the look on Michael’s face when I saw him watching us, I’m sure he saw Duke drag me out like I was a kid. 
Michael would never do this, he would handle me with care, but fuck me so rough in bed. But I preferred that, not this thing that was going with Duke.

What the hell was Michael even doing at the bar?
I let out a sigh, pouring myself a glass of water, “Why can’t he just stay away from me?” I asked rhetorically.
Why does he keep showing up during my worst days? But I wasn’t ashamed, he’s seen worse things happen.
Just immediately, my phone beeped, it jolted me out of my reverie and I sat up going through my cellphone, it was an unknown number calling.

I paused, thinking whether I should decline or accept.

I picked the former and fell into bed once again, letting the mattress engulf me. Sleep was nearly creeping in when I heard two loud knocks.
My heart raced as I sat up. Who on earth could be at the door at this time?
I swung my legs off the bed and strode towards the door, I checked the peephole hole and what I saw almost made me choke.

A man in black stood in front of a black van.

I swallowed hard, watching every movement he made. He was dressed in black pants, a black jacket, and a creepy face cap. I wasn’t expecting anyone, not even Duke. 

Maybe he was sent by Adam to attack me, but what if he wasn’t?
He knocked again, this time louder. I opened slowly, not completely but just enough to see his pale face.
“Ms. Betty?”
“Yeah, that’s me.”
“Here’s a delivery for you,” he chortled.
“From?”
“He wants to remain anonymous.”

The word, anonymous, even made things more weird than they already were.
Instantly, he opened the van's back doors, and in it was a massive bouquet of red roses, there were so many that they filled the whole compartment. They smelled fresh and expensive too.

“Where do I drop them?” He asked.
“Eh…. Uh… the kitchen, in the water,” I stuttered.

He smiled and carried it in, I almost fell to the floor when the flowers hit me by mistake. 
I was still standing and wondering who it could be when I heard a familiar baritone voice from behind.
When I turned I saw Duke standing right behind me.

I rolled my eyes, but my gaze softened when I realized he looked truly sorry. He looked nothing like the arrogant man who spoke down to the bartender tonight. 

“Hi, Betty,” he began, in a soft tone.
“What do you want?” I asked, looking away. 
He nodded, “I know you don’t want to speak to me, but I just needed to see you, and make sure you’re alright.”

I let out a sigh. “As you can see, I’m good.”
“I’m so sorry…”
“Please Duke, don’t put me in a position where …”
He went on his knees, “Please, forgive me, Betty, I know I’ve been horrible but I’ve been through so much lately, work has been hectic, the workers drove me crazy, I’m sorry for taking it out on everyone, on you.”
Wow! No man had ever kneeled before me. Especially not the high and mighty, wealthy Duke. 
“Please don’t do this, anyone could pass…”

“I don’t care, let them see, I’ve been so careless, you’re not even my girlfriend yet and I keep pushing you away, maybe this is why I’ve been so single for so long.”
I stared at him with pity, he looked genuine with the apologies but then the delivery man cleared his throat, announcing his departure, the van roared off.
“Did you send those flowers?” I asked gently.

A smile curled on his face. “Yes, I did, you are a queen, Betty, you deserve to be treated with love and I failed, please let me make it up to you.”
“What if I dispose of them?” I asked.
“I deserve that, I won’t blame you if you did.” He said innocently and that touched my soft heart.

I walked up to him helping him ride slowly to his feet, “You don’t need to kneel,” I muttered, our faces meeting, and our noses touching.
He grabbed my waist, gently, pulling me close. “Betty…” 
“Duke…” I breathed, our lips had already melted against one another.
It was a slow but passionate kiss, it took every piece of me not to fuck him right there, my anger melted away instantly at his touch and I forgot all he had done to me.

When we pulled away, I looked away in shyness.
“We are good,” I breathed.

“Really?” he asked, to be sure. I smiled, 
“Yes, I forgive you.”
“But I want you to promise me that from now on we will understand each other, you don’t have to scream at everyone, you need to learn to control your temper if you want this to work.”

“Okay, I’d do that, what else?” He asked.
“I’m ready, it’s time I dive into your world, so make a choice, do you like to dominate?” I paused, swallowing hard, “or  be dominated.”