Chapter 72 WORRY
The training days with Greg were intense, especially when I managed to escape from the plastic handcuffs. He taught me self-defense techniques, like unlocking doors and freeing oneself from cloth and tape bindings, and he constantly reminded me:
“You don’t need to be stronger than your enemy, just smarter and faster!”Greg repeated this while taking me to the floor of the mat several times, insisting that I get up and try again.
“I’m starting to think you’re the one who wants to kill me.” I clenched my fists, bringing my broken nail to my mouth. “Dignity? We don’t have that anymore.”
He laughed at my comment and replied, “Better a broken nail than a broken bone, don’t you think?” He extended his hand to help me up. “Does the chip in your skin bother you?”
“No, I actually forgot it’s there.” I smiled awkwardly. “Are you sure it’s working perfectly?”
“Yes, my team has been monitoring your every move and sending me detailed reports.” Greg nodded, indicating it was time for us to step back and resume training.
“Reports,” I sighed, disheartened. “Patrick hasn’t responded to me in days; I’m worried about him. How do you know he’s okay?”
“We have a signaling code, and my team is completely reliable. If anything had happened, I would know.” Greg studied me carefully as I lowered my head, my eyes brimming with tears.
“Then why isn’t he responding to me?” I murmured, looking down.
“Morgan is an extremely busy man. With your absence, he’s probably drowning in paperwork, not wanting to worry you.” Greg smiled and approached me, lightly tapping my hands. “Stop thinking silly things about your dream boss, and let’s train!”
“Dream boss?” I frowned, then burst out laughing. “You know we have the same boss, right?”
“I don’t sleep with my boss.” Greg teased, revealing a new side bit by bit.
“If he’s so busy, why doesn’t he send me some tasks? I can work perfectly well from home.” I got into a defensive stance, ready to be attacked.
Even though it was just training, whenever I was grabbed or restrained, I relived the dark memories of that monster.I spent hours begging him to stop hurting me and let me go!
“Don’t wander off; focus on the now!” Greg called for my attention. “He doesn’t want to worry you. Your training is more important at the moment.”
I bit my lips, nervous.
“I just need to know if Patrick is okay... If something happens to him,” tears rolled down my face. “He’s an idiot, but he’s my idiot, you know?”
“I’m his friend; of course I understand and share the same sentiment.” Greg gave one of his rare smiles. “If you want to protect him, start with yourself. Protect yourself first.”
I nodded, wiping away the tears.
“Let’s fight. Show me how to take down a stronger opponent!” I lifted my chin, determined.
Greg showed me pressure points where I could strike or press to destabilize the opponent, buying precious time to escape before he fully recovered. I absorbed each technique, engraving it into my memory. Despite my aching body, it didn’t compare to what I had endured at the hands of my ex.
“That’s enough for today. Go eat well and rest.” Greg ordered.
“I can handle a bit more training.” Panting, I adjusted my posture. “Let’s go another round.”
“I admire your stamina, Mrs. Elisabeth, but I have other matters to attend to.” He left the ring without looking at me. “I know what you went through from the reports, but I have to ask, was it really that bad?”
“It was worse!” I got off the mat and grabbed the water bottle from the floor. “Once, I made our dinner. Normally, I would do it with my hair tied up, but that day, my scalp was so sore from his pulling that I just couldn’t bear to put it up.”
I looked at Greg, drinking more water to swallow the lump that formed in my throat as the memory hit me hard. He turned in silence, waiting for me to continue.
“Unfortunately, a strand of hair fell into his food, so he grabbed me by my hair and dragged me to the bathroom.” I sighed, slightly trembling. “He took the clippers and shaved my head because I was ‘filthy’!”
“You don’t need to continue.” He started, and I raised my hand, silencing him.
“I was forced to wear a wig for almost a year until my hair was ‘nice and pleasant’ enough for that monster to look at.” I squeezed the bottle hard, denting it. “There are things, Greg, that a piece of paper can’t tell you or convey the intensity of the damn suffering I went through at that bastard’s hands.”
“We will kill him, Mrs. Elisabeth, I promise!” Greg said, clenching his fists, walking past me and stopping by my side, giving a light pat on my shoulder. “Use all that hatred you feel for him; it’s your most powerful weapon.”
I exhaled heavily, rubbing my eyes. “Forgive me, I had to ask.” He sighed, still looking firmly at me. “I’ll ask Mr. Patrick to contact you to calm your mind a bit.”
“I appreciate it. And Greg?” I hesitated before speaking. “Who is Gabriel?”
I saw his eyes falter. He lowered his head and said, “It’s not for me to tell you.” Greg left, leaving me in the place with two guards at the door, full of doubts.
I walked back home, passing by the pool where I admired the water before heading to my room. My days had been like this: intense training, some time with my grandmother, lots of longing, and some time to write!
I realized I had passed the halfway point of the book, and a smile crossed my lips at the subtle thought: “What would Patrick think of the intensity and boldness of my characters?”
I shook my head, checking my device in the hope of finding some message from him, but nothing—not a sign of life. It was driving me crazy; was I being foolish?
The secretary saved by the CEO being kept in the dark in his mansion, while the billionaire playboy might be out there, enjoying the company of various women?
“Or with Heloise!” I spoke out loudly and angrily, rolling my eyes. “How childish you are, Elisabeth. He’s protecting you from a monster, putting himself in danger, and you’re feeling jealous? Insecure?”
I nervously bit the edge of my broken nail, reprimanding my own thoughts, and opened the search tab to find out as much as possible about her.
“Who are you, Heloise Forbs?”