Chapter 5: Taut abs at 40

Amelia

I wake up to a smell of after shave, my eyelids open but suddenly I'm met with a wet, draining—hot body. He just came out of the bathroom, but his body was—Damn!!

It sparkled, dripping with water as his taut abs looking edible. I could squirm.

He notices soon enough how I look at him, I started to long.

“So you've been awake.”

“I just woke up.” I lied turning my head over to the other side. 

“I know you're lying.” 

“I'm not lying.” I defended myself. Vance looked so edible and beautiful. His broad chest was the least of my worries because my attention was fully on his abs. How that body could do so many things to me.

Choke me maybe?

“You don't need to day dream about me.” His voice snaps me out of my thoughts.

“Hell, no I'm not!”

“Mimi—you don't have to lie about it. I saw your eyes on my waist.” I turned my face and meet him standing with crossed arms on his chest—the bulge of his arms.

“I'm not lying.” He comes close to me, watching me closely. My pink blush creeping up my cheeks. 

“I know when someone lies to me, and you are doing just that Mimi.” Hearing my name roll out of his mouth—my chest beats so fast. The way he threatened with his eyes, the smell of his manly aftershave, the way he called my name.

“I need to go.” 

“The door is right in front of you.” 

“Yes,” was all i could say as I stood up headed for the door. 

“Oh and Mimi— “ He called making me turn

“You should watch your step this time. We don't want our bride to hurt herself.” He laughed comfortable with his stupid jokes.

I hurried off to my room and dialed my bestfriend's number. My phone was beeping with notifications of my seemingly wedding. There was no way I was going to get married to Ramon Lawson—no way.

“Hey.” My bestfriend's voice resounded on the other end.

“I need to stop this engagement.” was all I could say.

“It's everywhere now Mimi, the press won't let a juciy news as this die down.”

“I know but I just—I need to stop it. My dad's doing the same thing he did with my sister. I don't want that for myself.” 

“I know. Come out to our favorite restaurant—maybe we could talk about all of this?” 

“I don't know Cassie. I feel so choked up—

“And I'm here for you.” she completed.

“I need to let my dad know he can't control me like this.”

“Have you tried speaking to Ramon? Maybe he too doesn't want this marriage. You guys could come to an agreement.”

“He wants this marriage Cassie—he does. If he didn't the f***ker would have called it off a long time ago.”

“True.”

“I just need some fresh air—time to think.”

“Whenever you are ready—you know where to find me.” My bestfriend said with the most supportive voice ever. I've been friends with Cassie from childhood. She was there after what happened to my mother.  Cassie has basically been the only friend i have—my inability to be sociable catches up with me alot. No one really wants a trauma and mentally unstable girl as their friend, would they? People always want to perfect daughter of Mr Barry Reynolds—the perfect Mimi and maybe i don't want to be the perfect Mimi anymore.

******

I stood on the road side waiting for Ramon Lawson to meet me exactly where we discussed after the last message i sent to him about meeting him personally.  I had to go alone, so the chauffeur left hours ago. It was a lonely, dark street —it was the only quiet place I could find in the whole whole New York to escape the press or people taking pictures.

I checked mu phone again—no message from him. I sent another reminder message. The breeze was f***king cold today, my short skirt and half exposed top didn't do enough justice.

“Hey, pretty lady!” A strange man passed, his body wet. My arms went round my body as a means and protection not until a group of men approach me. 

One of them sniff me like a dog, reeking of sweat and cheap beer.

“You look good darling” he said trying trying touch my rear end.

“Excuse me sir.” I try leaving but get blocked when all of them form a circle around me. 

“We just want to talk pretty lady.” 

“We can talk if you just let me pass sir.” i said.

The one that looked like their leading grabs me—forcefully.

This place was quiet, no one was here but i tried shouting but the five men were way stronger than i was.

“You look like one of those h***s that strip at the bar down the road—you should st**p for us too. “ He said.

“No—let me go.” I pushed through but it was of no use because i couldn't see the road itself because of their large bodies. I close my eyes but it tries to adjust to the pair of headlights that immediately come on—directed at me. The person drove recklessly, dividing the circle the men had around me.

“Hey—watch it man!” one of the men shouted. Vance came out of the car in the black leather suit, revealing his chest region. His black hair sleeked back and had his hands on his button—he looked comfortable.

“Here isn't ths right place for a gang bang!” he shouted to the man,moving forward.

“You don't own the streets man, I do what I want.” the leader responded

“Yes but certainly not here—look at the girl, holding definitely wants to go to a room to get it on.”

“Just shutup and mind your business.” the leader responded

“If you would stop harassing girls.” Vance replied with a punch straight to the guys face bursting his lip from the contact.  

“What the f**k!Get him boys.” It was punches —sprains and blows flying around. Vance broke one part of their body, it was so cool. I feel like a princess and him my prince charming. The last guy fell to the floor like a vegetable and all of them ran off.

Vance walked to me, “You know you shouldn't be out here all alone at night!” He rose his voice—felt like and scolding.

“Don't tell me what I can or cannot do.” 

“Fuck—Amelia. What if they really did something to you? What if I wasn't here?”

“But now you're here and nothing happened.”

“Fuck it! Why do you get so angry every time?” 

Our faces match each others. His eyes were filled with anger and a little bit of worry—I think.

“You are not allowed to be around these places at this time.”

“For the last time—don't tell me what I can and can't do. I'm not a kid.”

“You're 22, what do you know?” That's it—I've had enough of this. Enough of him! I'm 22 and I'm a f***king adult.

I start walking,passing the direction of his car.

“Where are you going? Amelia!” He called my name but I'm not going to listen. I'm not! He just saved me and i felt all sorts of things—the ache in my stomach, the vibration that ran through my legs and all he did was reprimand me after calling me a kid. I won't!

“Amelia!” His ran, catching up with me.

“What the f**k do you think you're doing?” 

“I don't know Vance—maybe you should tell me since I don't know what to do. I'm a baby that needs feeding. Tell me!”

“Why are you so stubborn!”

“Why do you treat me like I'm 15?! Like I'm still a child? I'm not Vance—I'm not.” 

“Do you think I liked it when I saw those men touch you? Do you really want to know how I felt? I wanted to cut their fingers one by one for f***king touching you.” his words come out—leaving me in shock.

“Why does the way they touch me bother you so much?” I wanted to hear it. I really wanted to hear him say something—something a part of me is hoping to hear.