The clattering of my keyboard and the low hum of fluorescent lights filled the air in the now basically empty office. My fingers dance across the keys, as I attempt to finish the last email before I have to leave. Another Tuesday night, another tedious task in the monotonous routine of my life. I used to enjoy working in this office. It was bustling and vibrant, it was everything I aspired to be. A lawyer. My father never wanted an 'educated' daughter, he was allowed to be a superstar with the biggest firm in the city and in his eyes, my job is to be a wife. The closest I could get was a secretary job at a law firm, with nowhere else to go and even that was a struggle to accomplish.
"Engaged." The word echoed in my mind as I caught my new engagement ring on a thread of my sweater, again. A constant reminder of the commitment I made to a man who, on paper, was perfect. Our engagement was nothing more than another box my father got to check off making me even closer to his perfect daughter.
As the clock inched closer to 8:00 PM, the anticipation of my fiancé weighed heavy on my stomach. He was supposed to pick me up tonight, like clockwork. Yet another thing my father didn't want his perfect little housewife daughter to be able to do. Stephan made sure I knew that it was the biggest inconvenience for him to pick me up from work. No matter how many times I asked him to teach me how to drive, he refused. He claimed it was insulting, especially when he could more than provide for us, and I chose to work instead of plan our wedding. Let's just say things hadn't improved with the ring on my finger, if anything it has made everything worse. I rose from my desk just after 8, not realizing how lost in my thoughts I had become. If Stephan has had to wait on me at all, I know damn well I'm not making it through the night without some kind of bruises.
"Juliet? You're still here? I'm sure Stephan isn't too happy about this slip up," I turned my head as I gathered my stuff and grabbed my jacket, spotting Autumn. She was the closest thing I had to a best friend, having just graduated law school. We went through every second together. She never really wanted to be a lawyer, but her parents owned their own firm in the city and wanted her to take over when they 'could finally retire'. In reality, they just couldn't give up control, and Autumn knew it.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCH3cJ3o2DX
"Ah, yeah. Hey Fall, I had no idea you were still gonna be here." She knew firsthand how Stephan was, having been on the phone with me before when he lost it. More than once, she had to come and get me from the house before things got too scary to come back from.
"I texted him around 3 letting him know it was looking like I was going to have to work late. He read it," I said with as much confidence as I could. Autumn looked at me, scanning my face and frowning. We both knew what this meant.
"I promise Fall, he's gonna pick me up. I talked to him about it like you said, we're all good. I promise, you can go home." I gave her the biggest smile I could, but it felt weak, like it was gonna fall off my face without a warning. I never ended up talking to him about it. The last time I told him I was working late, he never showed up to pick me up and I got Autumn to drive me home. I walked into the house to see the next door neighbor 6 feet in the air pressed against the wall with her legs wrapped behind stephans arms. Let me tell you, walking into MY house witnessing some strange woman mid-orgasm due to my ever so loving fiance. Just to be screamed at, have shit thrown at me and hit, is not the way I want to finish a 12 hour working day.
"You know how much I hate that I'm listening to you but, I have to be at dinner.... right now" She says glancing at her wrist and starts into a face jog. " Fuck, I promised Austin I wasn't going to be late. Okay, I have to go, I will call you after dinner. I love you!" She shouts at me from the far side of the parking lot as I stand under the front awning.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8kEnZEWFs
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"I love you too!" I shouted back, my stomach sinking as I watched the last car pull out of the spot and head towards the lot exit, Autumn waving with a sad smile from inside. 8:04. Well, he's only 4 minutes late... so maybe he's still coming.
8:37 my watch read back to me. I couldn't ignore the nagging feeling any longer. He's not coming. Pulling my coat tightly around me, I stepped out into the crisp night air, tiny cold raindrops pelting me in the face. The city lights cast long shadows on the deserted streets, and a chill ran down my spine. Dialing his number, I listened to the rhythmic tones of each ring, each one a reminder of the growing distance between us. No answer. A mix of frustration and disappointment welled up inside me. The feeling of being abandoned gnawed at my heart yet again. I squeezed my eyes shut, pulling in every ounce of courage I had, and with a deep breath, I opened my eyes and headed towards the city.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZlCf0uhzZ
As the raindrops fell, memories resurfaced, taking me back to a night when the storm wasn't just a metaphor.
Raindrops tapped against the windowpane, a melancholy rhythm that mirrored the growing tension in the room. The air was thick with unresolved words and unspoken grievances between the two of us. I stand by the kitchen counter so I can stare out the window to watch the rain pelt the already puddling streets. It's unusual to have this much rain this time of year.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FvAcrah3S
Stephan paced back and forth, his frustration radiating through the room. "I can't believe you're choosing that job over us, Juliet. What kind of fiancée puts work before her family! Over planning her own wedding?"70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOI0kayYTE
My jaw tightens and I struggle to keep my breath steady. "It's not about choosing a job over you, Stephan, or choosing this job over a family. I want a career, a life beyond these walls. I thought you understood that."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4t5iEqEI2E
Stephan scoffed, his anger simmering beneath the surface. "Understood? You're prioritizing some fancy job over our future. Do you even care about us? Do you even care about all of the problems you're causing? What about the fucking wedding Juliet, that's your fucking job to do and now you got this office job where you can whore yourself out for extra cash and act like I don't fucking know that's what all the late fucking nights are in those kind of buildings." His words snap fast and hard as I watch his body start to tense and vibrate.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTi5RY1Pwt
Tears welled up in my eyes at the aggression of his words and frustrations curled in the bottom of my stomach "Of course, I care Stephan! But I won't let go of my dreams just to fit into your idea of the perfect fiancée. I constantly give up what makes me happy and proud to fit myself into a smaller box for you." A sob catches in my throat, I feel like he isn't listening. I feel like he doesn't care. "We're supposed to be partners, Stephan, not one person just constantly dominating the other."70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSA0bkp0sNo
His eyes grew dark and unrecognizable as they flashed with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine. In a fit of rage, he slammed his hand on the kitchen counter, making me jump. "Partners? You're delusional if you think your precious dreams matter more than our relationship. The only thing your dreams have done for me is; Push off our wedding AGAIN, steal you from the house during the day so now I have to order food. No one is here to bring me coffee or reschedule my appointments. I've had enough of your fucking selfishness Juliet. I am the one taking over your fathers firm, Do you understand me? You are nothing more than a housekeeper with a pretty face that I get to fuck when I want. This job is insulting to your father and myself Juliet but I bet you never thought about that." My heart breaks at his words and my chest grows so heavy and full I can't breathe. My stomach is both in my throat and out my ass and I stand here feeling nothing more than conflicted at his words. He's never spoken to me like this.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULHMam6hlf
"You have only ever thought about what you wanted and haven't given a shit about anyone else. Your father arranged this marriage and you were ungrateful enough to argue with him, threaten to run away. You disrespected your father, and you disrespected me." He pushes himself off the counter and starts stalking over to me. A thick sense of unease fills the room and it's even more suffocating. "You tell the world I'm not good enough for you or the firm. You tell the world your father and I can't provide for you. You tell the world that you are ungrateful, entitled, and selfish." Stephan stands directly in front of me, fists clenched so hard one of his hands bleeds.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpgJBfNX917
"That was never my intentio-"
Smack
"You know better than to lie to me Juliet." Stephan says darkly as he roughly grabs my chin squeezing in. I shoot my eyes up to meet his "Did you just fucking smack me?" I stare at him with complete shock as the side of my face burns. "You fucking smacked me! You just fucking smacked me and you're gonna tell me how I fee-" Another smack makes contact with my face, this one snaps me out of my anger and brings some stars inside of the house. My head feels both heavy and floating, the side of my face radiates with pain. I bring my hand up to touch my cheek and it feels slick, like I'd been crying...
I pull my hand back and there's blood. My heart stutters and my stomach tightens as I look back up into Stephans eyes. He was out of control, beyond reason "Don't you dare defy me, Juliet. You're mine, and you'll do as I say," he spat, his voice a venomous whisper as he grabs my wrist. "And if you don't, I'll know. I have eyes and ears everywhere, and I see everything you do. You try to defy me, and you'll fucken learn." He lets me go, and stomps away grabbing a jacket and swiftly out the door without another thought, or care70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbx7Ogfc2s
