Chapter 79 The Cage Tightens
The delicate peace that Annabel and Troy had found was abruptly broken when the door of her room slowly opened in a silent ominous act.
With a snap of their heads, Annabel and Troy released their embrace. The bright light of the hallway framed a figure standing in the doorway.
Carson. His jaw was tight his eyes were dark pools of rage and his face was a mask of icy rage.
Bridget stood next to him with a broad smile on her face. Annabel felt her heart sink. She wanted to disappear into the ground and escape this oppressive reality.
From her to Troy and back again Carson's eyes shifted. The warmth and affection she had grown accustomed to were absent from his eyes.
They were acerbic and hostile. In sharp contrast to the melodic tone he typically employed with her his voice was low and menacing as he asked “What is this Annabel?”
Annabel felt a surge of confusion. What did he mean? She opened her mouth to say something but nothing came out.
With mock sympathy in her voice Bridget took a step forward. “Carson I told you. I found her in here like this with this man She just started yelling at me when I tried to reason with her and have a conversation.”
Annabel became confused.
“She came in here and began insulting me but that isnt what actually happened. I was referred to as a maid.” Anabelle explained.
Carson squinted. “Troy is that true?”
Troy who had been quiet, opened his mouth. “Carson she was not in line. She was calling Annabel names and harassing her. She should back off I told her. That is all.”
Bridget chuckled. “Oh please. Carson she was in his grasp. Like this.”
With a ruthless smile on her lips she imitated their embrace. “I saw them both hugging tightly. I only wanted to help but she was really antagonistic.”
Annabel's voice shook with a mix of incredulity and rage. “She’s lying. You claimed that I was only Carson's plaything. You claimed that after he was finished with me he would discard me.”
There was an overwhelming silence in the room. Carson's gaze flicked back and forth between Annabel and Bridget.
His face looked like a cloud of thunder. “Is that what she said?” he asked in a low menacing voice.
For a brief moment Bridget's face went pale but she soon recovered. “Carson I just told her the truth. This is not the place for her.”
“I am Carson's girlfriend.” When Annabel said that her voice was trembling but firm.
Bridget let out a sharp short and humorless laugh. “Oh dear. You are merely a transient diversion. Carson himself told me so.”
Carson's gaze wavered. He turned away his jaw clenched. “That’s enough Bridget.”
With her heart racing in her ears, Annabel turned to face him. He was acknowledging it. He was merely telling Bridget to shut up. Her breath was taken away from her as the harsh cold reality of Bridget's words struck her like a physical blow.
With her voice hardly audible Annabel whispered “Is it true Carson? Am I simply an interruption?”
Carson's gaze was fixed on her a mix of anger and something else she couldnt quite place in his eyes.
No it couldn't be guilt. With a flat voice he said “We will discuss this later Annabel. I would like you to answer why you are in here with another man right now. Bridget informed me over the phone that she had found you with a man.”
“I was only a toy for you.” she said. “When you're lonely you pick up girls like me.” Annabel reiterated raising her voice. “Why are you not standing up for me?”
Stepping into the room Carson stared at Troy. “Troy please leave my house.”
Troy got to his feet a stone mask covering his face. “You can't allow a woman like her to come here and torture her.”
He pointed to Bridget.
Anger contorted Carson's face. “Stop giving me instructions in my own house. I'm telling you to get out right now.”
Annabel begged “Carson he's just trying to help.”
“Annabel please leave this alone” Carson yelled. “This is a private matter between us.”
“No it's not” Annabel said her voice trembled. “I am not a kid. I have a right to be heard. This woman is insulting me and calling me names so why are you upset with me for being in the same room as a friend?”
Carsons face became stern. “Annabel even though you are a guest to my house you are not a child. You must also behave yourself as my guest.”
“Behave myself?” Annabel repeated with a voice that rose in shock. “Do you want me to be a perfect little doll that sits in the corner and doesnt make a sound? What does that even mean? Should I have just let her call me names and insult me? Should I have just let her tell me Im worthless?”
Carson remained silent. His expression which was a mix of anger and something else was simply fixed on her.
Annabel saw the truth for the first time when she looked at him. He would not stand up for her. She wouldnt be his first choice over Bridget. Even though he had brought her to his home she wasn't his.
As Bridget had stated she was only a moment in his life a diversion from his loneliness.
A tear trickled down Annabels cheek but she chose not to wipe it away. All of a sudden the lovely sophisticated house she had imagined living in felt like a prison.
The silence oppressive.
“I'm leaving” Troy stated in a firm yet quiet voice. “Bur Annabel is going with me.”
Anger flared in Carson's eyes. “She won't go anywhere with you.”
“Carson please” Annabel stated in a pleading tone. “ I'd rather not be here any longer.”
His expression was unreadable as he gazed at her. She briefly believed that he might agree.
“No. You won't be leaving Annabel.” He Said in a whisper
“I am not your prisoner” Annabel said.
His voice was flat as he stated “I'm not keeping you here. But you can't go with him.”
Annabel glanced at him then at Troy who was standing motionless with a mask of cold rage on his face. Tension-filled silence lingered between them. Carson turned and left at last his steps heavy and irate.
A tiny victorious smile appeared on Bridgets face as she followed him. She turned and shot Annabel a chilly glance as she went by the doorway.
“Annabel” Troy said quietly. “Are you okay?”
Speechless she shook her head. She made no effort to conceal her tears which now came freely. Troy extended his arms in her direction.
With silent sobs trembling through her body Annabel collapsed into his embrace. She had been incredibly strong and courageous but now that Carson's betrayal was weighing on her she was unable to contain it any longer.