Chapter 23 DOUBLE TROUBLE

*VIOLENCE AND INAPPROPRIATE TERMS. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK. NOT ALLOWED TO MINORS.*

The day is so fine that all Betty sees are employees shining brightly even under the cloudy atmosphere of the company. She is unbelievably happy for only one reason. The kiss.

“No. I shouldn’t feel happy for it.” She mumbled to herself making her way in their office, shaking the thought out of her mind.

Thomas Dawson is sitting on his throne with his eyeglasses on, a glass of coffee on his right, and neatly stacks of paper to his right. He is too focused on signing papers that he doesn’t notice Betty going in.

“Good morning.” Her voice croaked with a taste of awkwardness in it. Their kiss keeps flashing on her mind just like a broken record. Her feet moved in accord like they have their own mind closer to Tom’s office table.

She silently placed his lunch box and laptop bag on the center table. Tom snapped his head to her with a surprised look on his face. A smile slowly crept on his face like he just saw his favorite person. The whole kiss thing does not bother him that much. The fact that Betty does not respond to his affection last night, broke him to the bones. But he is miraculously okay with it. It’s just that he is also professional in hiding his emotions as well.

“Hi, good morning.” Mr. Dawson gave her a tight smile that she can’t help but glance at those full pink lips.

“Hi.”

Nothing could get more awkward than these two. It looks like they just entered the phase of teenage. Had it been more than ten years and they should be talking about something like marriage or careers. Something blossomed between the two but they are just too ignorant and helpless about it. Mr. Dawson giving the first motive, now the ball belongs to Betty. They had been through a lot with their past relationships and still coping up with it. Are they ready now to take things to the next level?

“Uhm… Mr. Dawson, what happened last night—”

That stopped him from scribbling on his papers. Tom is sensing like he wouldn’t like what the next words are. So instead of hearing her out, he is taking things into his own hands and cut her off entirely.

“I didn’t mean it. I must have not in the right mind last night. I’m sorry.” Short but weighs heavy on Betty’s heart. Her head snapped to Tom’s and saw him staring straight her into her eyes.

“What?”

“I’m sorry if I put you in this situation. I must have been overwhelmed last night. I’m sorry.”

A humorless laugh escaped from her mouth can’t believe what she just heard. Why say sorry all of the sudden? It’s not like you can kiss somebody and ask sorry for your actions. But Betty being Betty, shrugged it off and probably overthink everything later on.

“Yeah, it’s no big deal. Not at all.” A smile crept on her mouth with slight disgust in it. Tom’s actions is clear to be opposite to what he is saying. His let foot is rocking up and down, his constant tapping of pen on the table and mouth opened as if he wants to say something. Or say that he is just joking and he really meant it when he kissed her. But knowing Betty, she kept the straight face with a small smirk on her face and nod her head in understanding.

“Actually, I was going to say the dinner was great and I enjoyed it. A lot. I’ll get going now. I have a meeting with the other assistants. Don’t want to be late.” She turned around and walked out of the office like her ass is on fire.

However, Tom is gritting his teeth and is pulling his hair out in frustrating why lie to the person he likes. He thought she is taking the conversation back last night when he kissed her and tell she doesn’t like him, or she isn’t ready to be in a relationship just yet.

He just blew his chance.

That’s what you get for trying the save a ship already emerged under the water. Trying to save his pride, from hurting his ego then look what he got. He just blew his only chance.

“You’re an ass, Tom.” He said to himself finally losing hope for the only thing that has been keeping him up all this time.

Meanwhile, Betty dragged her heavy foot to the conference room where a huge group of assistants was gathered waiting for the meeting to begin. She is all over the place again, can’t focus on the meeting, and ended up scribbling circles on her notes. Tom’s words affected her that much that she is unable to function well.

“What? It’s just a kiss. I can kiss anyone I want and say sorry too.” She murmured but loud enough for others besides her to hear.

The meeting ended with them being asked to be prepared for the Annual Conference Meeting of all executives and more stuff to do. You know the usual task of an assistant. The meeting lasted for the whole day and it’s already 5:30 in the afternoon when it was finished.

Contemplating whether to return to the office which also happened to be the office of her boss. He should be done with his meetings and is probably spending time looking at some documents. She decided to spend more minutes in the reception and talk to Elizabeth.

“Hey.”

‘Hey, are you okay? Why you look so sad?”

“Me? Sad? No, I’m okay. I’m not sad.” She smiled masking the disappointment in her eyes.

“Where’s your boss? Why are you taking your time here in the lobby?”

“It’s already 4:30, Liz. Thirty minutes and then we’ll go home.”

“Okay, stay here. I have something to do first.”

Liz being the busy woman she is, answered phone calls here and there, logged all the documents that arrive, and assists visitors, she can’t take a moment to talk to her sulking best friend that is casually standing over the counter picking on her nails. She is still distracted, words are repeating in her mind and she can’t get rid of his face while he was kissing her that night. It’s so good to be sorry for. It felt good to be just a joke.

Betty took her time and enjoyed observing Liz assists her visitors until the emergency buzzer went on surprising them including some visitors, no one dared to move.

”All employees are asked to stay calm and leave the premises immediately. Again…”

“What is happening?” Betty asked with panic in his eyes, as Liz tried to calm down the visitors and assisted them out of the building. Betty took the elevator immediately and hurriedly went to their office. Employees were now carrying their personal belongings half-running to the emergency door exits. She has to find Mr. Dawson first and she should assist him out of the office. Well, it’s still part of her job as an assistant. Risk your life first, and save your boss no matter what.

“Miss, let’s go. Where are you going?” One female employee asked her as they passed by each other.

“In my office, I have to get Mr. Dawson first.”

They didn’t wait for a response and went to each other’s way.

“Have you seen Mr. Dawson?” She asked almost all of the employees them shaking their heads.

She had been ringing his number but to no avail. Just a few steps away from the main office door, the lights went off. Pitch black covered the whole building. Along with the slight screams of employees and the ringing of the emergency buzzer, Betty firmly stood on her ground with shaky hands and heavy breathing. She can’t see a thing and instead, she ended up touching the walls as her guide to the office. The ringing suddenly went off but can still hear the commotion from other offices.

“Mr. Dawson?” She called walking blindly with her heels clicking on the floor and heavy breathing. Something rustled behind her, increasing the erratic beating of her heart. She began to sweat feeling scared and hot at the same time. The rustling began to sound prominent and loud.

“Mr. Dawson, is that you?”

No one answered. Just rustling of fabric and footsteps toward her. Her pace increased as well as her breathing like she just ran a marathon.

“Who is that?” she asked with panic in her voice.

“Who’s that?” she repeated now with voice croaking with fear along with the wavering sound of her heels on the marbled floor. Until a hand clamped on her mouth and everything went woozy and out of control.

Betty woke up with the sound of tapping on the glass surface and the smell of cigarettes. Her arms and legs feel numb and realized it was all tied up behind her and onto the legs of the chair on a tight knot. Her eyes zoomed in to the man in front of her wearing a checkered polo shirt, a black cap, and brown leather shoes.

“Where am I? Who are you?” she croaked, throat dry from lack of water.

The man is staring at her like she just did the most horrible thing in the world. Where in fact, it was him who kidnapped her and might be the mastermind with the sudden emergency alert in the company. Pure disgust and hatred are in his eyes and any moment now, he could hurt her. Chills run down her spine knowing that it was only her and this stranger is left in the company since all of the employees already evacuated for no one knows how long now.

“Do you remember me?” the man asked twirling a pocket knife with its end on the ground. She looked around only to find out they are on the rooftop, 26th floor almost 1000 ft. above the ground. The wind is strong that you can hear it whistle.

She did find the man familiar. The way he stared at her, the smirk, and the tone of his voice. He was the man who tried to barge into her apartment.

Betty recollected her memories that night and she is really on the verge of crying. Now that the man succeeded in getting her, she doesn’t know what he would do to her.

“HELP! Somebody help me!” she screamed assuming someone would hear her cry. Tears brimmed in her eyes blurring her vision. The man laughed from her attempt for help. ‘cause literally no one can hear them.

Betty cried when she remembered she left her to watch in the office when she went to the restroom and went directly to the conference room. That watch could possibly be the only way for the police to come.

“You’re idiot, Betty.” She sobbed and realized how unlucky she is tonight.

“No one can hear us, missy. Shout all you want. You are only wasting your energy.” The smile on his face gave goosebumps to her body. Like million ants crawling on her skin, making her sob in a hopeless manner.

“What do you want from me?!” she asked while tears nonstop falling from her eyes. She is certain that this is the end of her.

“It’s so hard to get to your boss. So, I have to target his weakest point. Sadly it’s you, missy.”

“I don’t have any idea what is your relationship to him. Just let me go, please…” she begged, her eyes now ran out of tears from crying too much. Is she seeing her end?

“Sorry, I can’t do that. I have to get my revenge first. And to do that, I have to do something with you.” He smiled creepily, stood on his feet, and crouched down to her level.

The smell of tobacco lingers on his breath as it fans her face. He is eyeing her up and down, staring at her lustily and she is feeling bad for this one. Oh please, no. Can someone please help me?

“No, please. Just let me go. Please…” she begged and begged until the man raised his hand and ringing in her ears is the only thing she heard. He had slapped her so hard that she tasted blood on her lip. It’s busted, blood and saliva dripping from her mouth to her white chiffon blouse.

“Shut up, you btch. Do you know how hard it is for me to imagine that you are the dumbass boss of yours? Damn hard that I can kill you right now.” He said through gritted teeth while wiping his face with his now red hands holding the knife tightly.

Rusty and salty taste began to register in her brain as her tears and blood combined in her swollen and busted lip. Whimpering with pain, dizziness and the ringing in her ears makes her feel so helpless and at any moment now, she could pass out.

“What do you want from me?!! Just please let me go… ” she shouted with her remaining breath and energy. The man smiled at her and now twirling his knife on the ground.

“I just want your boss to see what I am capable of. Now, let’s start the show.”

The man stood and fumbled something in her back pocket. He retrieved a phone and positioned it in front of Betty on video mode.

“What are you doing? Why are you recording this?” Panic is in voice, squirming from the tight hold of the rope on her wrist. He must’ve been planning something. Something she would never like.

“Shut up, stop asking questions.” Pressing the red button, the man walked toward her on long strides and snuck the knife on the spaces between the spaces of her blouse buttons. Betty screamed, kicking her foot to the guy which just earned him to pull a bunch of her hair and put a dirty handkerchief to her mouth. Muffled screams enveloped the dark hallways of the building, tears pooled in her eyes when the man started to unbutton her blouse showing her white bra and skin.

“No wonder Thomas can’t get a hold of you sometimes. Don’t you know that I’ve been watching you two since the first day you stepped foot in this fcking company? You two became close instantly but the dumb-ass Thomas must have something on you. Can’t you see that? No? ‘Cause I can see it. That’s why you are here.”

Her voice now hoarse from screaming as the man teasingly touched her thigh with the knife riding up her skirt inches apart from her undergarments.

“No, please… please don’t do this. My friends might have noticed I’m gone and the police are coming their way already. Please, stop it.”

Betty is now shaking her head pleading for the man to stop. Heartbeat erratically beating as if it burst out of her chest when he yanked her blouse completely showing her upper body in the display. The man stared at her with hunger and lust.

“I don’t care. Let it be the police or your boss! I’ll get my revenge no matter what. Shh, stop crying. I won’t hurt you, I promise. This won’t last long.”

The man yanked her head and kissed her on her neck and all she can do is cry to the extent her voice now sounds like a pig on a slaughterhouse. Blood-curdling whimpers and begging are the only response Betty can give. The man continued to devour the lady in front of him but she squirmed and was able to kick him on his treasures.

“Fcking bitch!” The man rolled over putting two hands on his crotch. This might save her time and try to untangle the knot that binds her hands on the back of the chair. But as soon as she was about to untie it, the man came flying to her and strangle her.

“You have no idea how I want to kill you right now. Look at the camera! Say your last words to your freaking dumb-ass boss whose only hobby is to punish people with his money. Useless scumbag. Say your last words! ‘Cause I’m going to kill you now.”

Betty lost all his faith and hope that someone would notice her disappearance and help her. Flashes of memories of her in the orphanage, with her foster mom, her first day in the company, Elizabeth, James and… Mr. Dawson. She realized that no matter how hard you try to stay away from trouble, there will come a time when life surprises you and slap you in the face instead. She is still in a daze at how this all happens in the most unexpected way. She was just attending the meeting then stayed a little bit in the lobby and then here she is, lying almost half-dead from the brutality of this man.

The man yanked her head once again and slapped her face over and over again. Forced her to look at the camera with a busted lip, broken nose, and some blood clot in her eyes. The man continued to harass her, pulling and tugging everywhere that she can no longer feel anything. Her eyes felt so heavy that all she wanted right now is sleep. All she saw is the angry man in front of her mouthing and saying something to her but she is too sleepy to make out the words. And then everything went black. Again.