Chapter 99 Untitled Chapter

Chapter 99 Untitled Chapter
GIANNA

Sometimes, I find myself staring at the scar on my palm; it has healed, and yet I can still feel the phantom pain I had felt when my hand made contact with the burn barrel.

The desperation, helplessness, and fear I had felt in that moment was the worst thing I ever felt.

Greater even than the humiliation and mortification of knowing people are watching my sex video probably even now.

While I feel better I can't say that I will ever stop worrying about that fact. What I have gone through has made me realize a few things about my life.

I have the rest of my life to live and be happy, and despite my parent's neglect, I still have people who love me unconditionally.

It also taught me that I have so much I haven't seen or done, but could now do.

Colton and Benji were tried and found guilty of kidnapping, assault, and murder. They are now in prison, and Gram's money has been recovered.

As to my sex video that had gone viral, Damon was the one who took it down from social media. He'd apologize and even offered to pay me for the damage his ex-employee had caused me.

I had refused to take a cent from him. Though he, Dane, Jax, and Grams had done everything possible to take down the video. Despite their efforts, there's still a chance of it being out there.

There has been news of us on every social media outlet for the first couple of weeks; I was depressed and in a bad place for days.

I couldn't eat, couldn't sleep, I couldn't even leave my bed. Knowing thousands, probably millions, of people had seen it.

Seen me at my most vulnerable.

I was fortunate and grateful to my family. Their love and support saw me through that difficult period. I couldn't go to work or leave the house for fear of someone recognizing me.

We all know you can't stop people from talking about you. Grams had insisted I shouldn't go out at least for a few weeks until the whole thing fizzled out.

She also insisted I see a therapist who visited the house three times a week. I did it for her so she put her mind to rest and wouldn't worry about me. At least for two weeks before I put a stop to it.

But as with everything, life goes on, and with the passing of days, the news about my sex tape was also gradually being forgotten, and probably soon it might be swept under some new scandalous stories.

The most disturbing thing is we still haven't found the person who had signed me up with NYME.

Honestly, I'm just so exhausted and didn't care to know anymore as long as it wouldn't come back and bite me in the ass.



The following day just like Bridget had said. I had no choice but to take the flight out to New York; since she'd insisted it was work, I had no right to refuse.

She was still my boss. I told her I wasn't ready as I didn't even know about the transfer until late last night.

She told me I didn't need to get ready, that my bag was already packed, and that my plane ticket was booked. I don't know what got into her or why she suddenly sent me packing.

Though a part of me suspected it had something to do with Dane and Jax. She probably thinks I would seek them out. I wish I had the courage to do just that.

My plane landed late in the night. I didn't leave Chicago early. And when I arrived here in New York, I was exhausted, so I just took the key card to my new apartment from the manager who had come to receive me from the airport.

The rest were all foggy as I was half asleep when I walked into my penthouse.

Holding the hot cup of coffee I had just finished making to help sober me up the next morning, I stride towards the three girls—Chloe and her two college friends she'd invited to come to help me move into my new penthouse apartment.

They had invited themselves inside while I was still in bed bearing gifts and had woken me up with their excitement.

Grams and Aunt Layla had already sent all my things with the movers. The boxes glared at me as I walked past them and sat on the dining table.

They had given her the important task of taking care of me as though I were a little girl to Chloe. This explains why she had the password to the penthouse.

I mentally reminded myself to change it the instant she and her friends left.

To be honest, I didn't need anything because the penthouse was fully furnished tastefully and had all the amenities I might need except for the lack of any sort of personal touch and of course, foodstuffs and groceries.

Which explains the boxes. I don't need much; it's not like I'm a great cook or anything if I cook at all. I can just eat out.

I will just pick a few things like cereal, milk, coconut water, coffee, etc. Maybe buy a few boxes of chocolates and wine.

“We've stocked up the cupboard with canned foods; you have fruits and veggies in the refrigerator. There are cereal, crackers, and pretzels. We also bought you chamomile tea, honey, and more coffee; there are two bottles of wine, red and white, in case you want to drink and unwind, and lots of coconut water,” Chloe rambled an hour later. Listing everything on her fingers. I was on my second cup of coffee.

“I'm a grown woman Chloe. I could have taken care of all this myself; there's a grocery store nearby.”

“But now that I've done it for you, I've saved you time. You're welcome,” she said gaily. I smile.

“Thank you Cuz, and thank you, Cindy, you too, Jenn. I appreciate the help.”

“You're welcome.” Just then the doorbell rang.

“Are you expecting anyone?” Chloe asked, wiggling her brows. I rolled my eyes.

Frowning I walked and opened the door to a beaming Tessa. She threw her hands around me and gave my cheeks a loud wet kiss. I hugged her back, my hand wiping her saliva from my cheek.

“I'm sorry, I wasn't there to pick you up last night. I was in a meeting with our CEO, and I couldn't leave,” she explained as she walked into the living room.

“It's okay. I didn't expect you to leave your job and pick me up and it's not like you knew I was coming, right?” I said, turning to stare at her.

“Er. Of course not. Here.” She hands me a bag. I look inside, it's a bottle of tequila. I take it and stride to the open-plan kitchen and place the bag on the counter, then walk back to join them.

“Hello, ladies,” she greeted, walking around the penthouse.

“Hi, Tessa,” Chloe greeted before introducing her to her friends. They shook hands and chatted with each other, asking each other what they do, where they live, etc.

“This is nice,” she said after the greetings were over, running her eyes over the place appreciatively. “I wish I had gotten a place like this when I moved to New York, years ago.”

“There's nothing wrong with your place.” I saw her condo, I even slept there sometimes when I came here for work. She smiled.

“No there isn't, but the first apartment I rented was meh. I hated it.”

“So, what are we doing?” she asked, throwing her purse on the couch.

“We plan on binge-watching the Witcher series and ordering pizza, but I'm open to suggestions,” Chloe replied as though I had agreed to that.

I sighed knowing it was pointless to tell them I wasn't in the mood and they should leave so I can go back to my bed and sleep some more.

It's a Saturday, for God's sake; they should be on a date or something. But both Tessa and Chloe are tenacious bitches who wouldn't listen to me especially because they think I would be thinking and depressed if left alone blah blah blah.

As the day progressed, I found myself having fun with them, laughing and screaming. We barely even watched the series. What we had was a party.

We danced, sang, played games, ate pizza, burgers and fries, chicken wings, and Chinese food, and drank the two bottles of wine and the tequila Tessa had brought for me.

By the time we realized the time it was already ten pm. I was pretty buzzed when they all left, first Chloe with her friends back to campus and then Tessa.

I had tidied up the mess we'd made, at least the one I could; I will do the rest in the morning. Chloe promised to find me a maid to help with cleaning the place at least twice a week as I would be busy.

It was my first time going back to work. I wonder if Bridget had transferred me here because she didn't want me to have to face our employees back in Chicago.

I'm sure there would be a lot of gossip; some might even celebrate what they probably think of as the ice queen's downfall.

I shake my head dislodging that thought as I walk into my bathroom. I put my hair in a messy bun, stripped, and dove under the shower head.

Five minutes later, after my hot shower and brushing my teeth, I was dressed in pink silk panties and a matching slinky night dress. I decided to come downstairs and see if there was anything interesting to watch.

Despite the busy day I had, I wasn't ready to retire to bed just yet. Maybe it was the shower that refreshed me. I had just sat my ass on the couch, my legs covered with a blanket I brought down with me.

The TV remote was in my hand when the doorbell rang for the second time today. I switch on the TV before walking to the door. I wonder if it was Tessa or Chloe.

“I just knew you'd be…” I started as I opened the door but the words froze in my throat as I watched the man standing right outside my door.

Standing so tall looking like a GQ poster boy. Grinning at my shocked expression but there was nothing about him that was remotely boyish. He's all man.