Chapter 7 7
Blair wiped the last tear off her cheek and forced herself to keep walking, her footsteps echoing through the hall.
Behind her, the receptionist’s voice drifted faintly through the air — low, hurried.
“Sir… she turned down the offer.”
Blair’s chest clenched, but she didn’t look back.
She pushed through the glass doors and stepped out.
Three jobs, she told herself. I’ll do three jobs if I have to. Anything’s better than facing that monster every day.
Her hands trembled as she flagged down a bus, eyes red but determined. She didn’t care how hard it would be.
She’d survived worse.
And she wasn’t going to let that man — or her past — ruin what little strength she had left.
——
“MOMMY!”
The small voice rang across the playground, bright and full of joy.
Before Blair could even take another step, Maverick came running toward her — his tiny backpack bouncing, his curls wild from play. She barely managed to drop her purse in time to catch him as he threw himself into her arms.
“Hey, my love,” she whispered, hugging him tight, breathing in the warm, sun-drenched scent of his hair. “Did you miss Mommy?”
He nodded eagerly, his grin wide. “Uh-huh! the nanny gave me extra cookies today!”
Blair smiled, brushing the crumbs from his cheek. “Oh really? You charmed her again, didn’t you?”
Maverick giggled, his small hand reaching up to touch her face. “Mommy, you look tired.”
She smiled faintly, hiding the ache in her chest. “Mommy’s fine, baby. Just a long day.”
He didn’t notice the way her smile wavered, or how tightly she held his hand as they walked home.
Blair fumbled for her keys, balancing Maverick on one hip as she reached for the doorknob. The hallway light flickered overhead, humming softly.
She’d almost turned the key when a hand shot out from behind, yanking her hair so hard it tore a gasp from her throat.
She knew who it was already without having to turn around.
“Let me go, Mr. Cole!” Blair gasped, twisting against his grip, but his hand only tightened in her hair.
“Rent was due two weeks ago,” Mr. Cole said, his voice low, too close. “You think you can just smile and get away with it forever?”
She froze. “I told you, I’ll have it by Friday. Please, just—”
He laughed under his breath. “You’ve been saying that for months.” His eyes dragged over her face, then down. “You know, there are other ways to pay, sweetheart.”
Blair pushed Maverick behind her, heart pounding. “Don’t call me that.”
“What? You think I don’t notice how you look at me? All shy, all polite.” He leaned closer, breath thick with stale whiskey. “I could make things real easy for you.”
“I’d rather sleep on the street.”
His grin vanished. “You’ve got a smart mouth for someone who owes me three months’ rent. Maybe I should talk to child services—bet they’d love to know you can’t afford your own kid.”
Her voice trembled. “You wouldn’t.”
He brushed a strand of hair from her cheek, the gesture soft and sickening. “Wouldn’t I? One night, Blair. One, and you never have to worry again.”
She slapped his hand away, shaking. “Touch me again and I’ll scream this whole building down.”
Mr. Cole’s face twisted, his tone turning cold. “Ungrateful little girl. Don’t forget who keeps a roof over your head.”
She shuts her eyes in disgust hugging maverick tighter.
“Come here, sweetheart,” he murmured, his hand brushing her cheek. “You don’t have to worry anymore. I’ll take care of you. You and that little fatherless boy of yours—”
He chuckled, breath sour. “He can even call me Daddy.”
Mr. Cole’s hand moved toward her face, his fingers grazing her chin—
but before he could say another word, Blair kicked him hard between the legs.
He doubled over with a grunt, clutching himself, eyes blazing in shock and pain.
“Go to hell,” she spat, shoving Maverick behind her.
Her heart pounded so hard she could hear it echo.
This was the first time in years she’d stood up for herself—really stood up.
No tears. No begging. No giving in.
Mr. Cole staggered upright, his jaw tight, face red with fury. “You’ll regret that,” he hissed, his voice low and shaking. “You and that bastard kid of yours.”
But Blair didn’t flinch this time. She met his glare head-on, her voice trembling but steady.
“I already regret ever trusting you.”
He turned sharply and limped away, muttering curses under his breath.
When he was gone, Blair pressed her back against the door, hands trembling. Maverick peeked up at her, eyes wide.
“Mommy, are you okay?”
She forced a small smile and knelt to his level. “Yeah, baby. Mommy’s okay.”
Mr. Cole had always found ways to torment them —
if it wasn’t Blair, it was Maverick.
Sometimes, when she was out working late, the old man would corner the boy in the hallway, his breath thick with alcohol.
“Your daddy ran off, you know that?” he’d sneer. “Probably some beer-drunk loser who didn’t even want you.”
She’d come home to find Maverick quieter than usual — his toy car clenched tight in his hand. She didn’t need to ask. Mr. Cole had said something again.
Blair had warned him never to talk back, never to answer — but she knew how those words stuck, how they carved deep into a child’s heart.
That night, after the confrontation, she had finally managed to get him to sleep.
She tucked him in, brushed his hair from his forehead, and whispered,
“Don’t listen to anything he says, okay? Mommy’s here. Always.”
The apartment was silent except for the faint sound of the refrigerator and Maverick’s soft breathing.
Until—
BANG. BANG. BANG.
The door rattled under the force of the knock.
Her heart jumped into her throat.
She froze, clutching Maverick’s blanket tighter.