“Are you jealous because your date is lacking in the same category?” she spat at him. Obviously, the wine she had gave her some confidence. She had never talked back to Stewart. That was part of the problem and she knew it. She was not an assertive woman when it came to men. She wanted a man that she could trust enough to lead her, especially in the bedroom, but so far all she met were control freaks and womanizers. Stewart was almost as evil and manipulative as Frank had been. The only difference was that Frank actually abused her and nearly killed her, where Stewart verbally abused her and feared confrontation. At least with the same sex he did. Women he could push around and control, but when a man confronted Stewart, he was such a wuss.
Stewart raised his eyebrows at her as his finger remained on the bodice of her dress. She turned slightly right so that his finger fell away from her. But then she felt the wall against her back .
He stared at her with eyes filled with disgust and anger. She swallowed hard. He loathed her and she waited in silence for his verbal attack.
“She’s a model and has to watch what she eats. She cares about her body, unlike you.” There it was, another strike with his tongue, and damn it, she felt it again in her heart and her confidence.
“Well, then, it’s good that you’re going home with her. She’s more your type.”
“More my type? What is that supposed to mean?”
“She’s vain just like you, and so you two deserve one another. Now if you’ll excuse me.” She began to walk away when he grabbed her upper arm and shoved her hard against the wall. She looked around and there wasn’t a soul in sight.
His teeth were clenched and his fingers dug into her skin.
“No man will ever want you for anything but a quick fuck. If they tell you otherwise, then they’re lying so you’ll spread your legs. You’re nothing, Millie. You were a meaningless fuck and no man will ever take you as more than that.”
His words tore at her heart and her body shook at his abusive grip. It reminded her of Frank and she fell speechless. Perhaps all men were like this. There was no other explanation. Why was she always getting involved with men that wanted to hurt her and treat her so badly?
“Leave, Millie. You disgust me.”
He shoved her as he released her arm and she felt the tears sting her eyes and the pain collide against her flesh.
This evening couldn’t get any worse than right now.
She wanted to leave. Stewart was right. She was nothing and obviously meant nothing to him.
She hurried toward the door, her purse in hand, and out to a waiting cab. Once inside, she leaned her head back and willed the tears away. She left her award back at the table and hoped that Clare would pick it up for her. Millie felt like crap and she wondered what she was going to do with her life. She felt as if she were at a crossroads. The circle she was in would always bring her to events like these and around people like Stewart. Why couldn’t she find love and happiness? Was she meant to be alone without a partner in this world?
She gave the cab driver her address and she noticed the
way he looked over her breasts in the rearview mirror. She cleared her throat and unsuccessfully crossed her arms over her chest. It was useless. She had always been big up top. Just like she always had that soft swell over her belly and a stocky figure. She was strong, too. She swallowed hard as Stewart’s words came crashing back to her mind, and then the cab stopped in front of her apartment complex. She dug out the fare for the ride and exited the car. It was only nine in the evening, an earlier night than she had expected and worse results than she had imagined.
Millie entered the elevator and began to think about the city and her life there when her cell phone rang. The elevator chimed and the doors opened as she dug out her keys and the phone.
Fumbling with her keys and unlocking the door, she answered her cell phone.
“Hello.”
“I’ve missed you, Mill. God, your voice sounds great.”
Millie closed the door and dropped her bag on the floor. She froze in place and felt the blood drain from her body.
“What? You’re not happy to hear from me? I’ve done nothing but think about you while I was rotting behind bars, serving my time.”
Millie swallowed hard. Frank.
“I really don’t have anything to say to you, Frank.”
“Ahh, baby, come on. Don’t tell me you’re still upset with me for what happened?”
“Of course I am, Frank. You nearly killed me and I spent weeks in the hospital.”
Her voice was shaking. Her entire body was. She should just hang up. But then she wondered why he was calling and where from. Could he be in the city? Was he outside of the complex? Fear gripped her hard.
“What do you want?” she asked as the tears rolled down her cheeks.
“What I’ve always wanted…You.”