I’m not the coward.
In fact, I’m probably the stronger one.
I would have to be to put up with Michael’s reign of terror.
I just have to figure out how to use my new-found strength to my advantage.
* * *
Walking to work in silence, I listen to the birds singing, signalling another day.
I reflect on Michael’s reaction to Kim. I expected him to be angry with me, I expected him to lash out, call me a fucking parasite, and make me cower. He did none of those things. Instead, he seemed pleased, joyous, smug.
I guess Kim acting the way that she did has reaffirmed some belief inside of him that no one is there for me anymore. He thinks that he has achieved what he set out to, isolating me from my loved ones.
Well, he’s in for a shock because I will get Cal and Kim back, even if it is the last thing that I do.
Entering our main office, I look for Kim, but she isn’t sat at her desk. Michael leads me to the small project room and Tyler joins us a few minutes later.
“Lucy, good to see you,” Tyler says as he comes over and gives me a hug. I’m a little taken aback by his familiarity but I also welcome the warmth. Michael’s eyes are blazing, but I ignore him, intent to show him that things are going to change.
“Shall we get on then,” Michael grunts out, abruptly causing Tyler to let go of me and hastily sit down in one of the seats placed around the table. I notice that he chooses one of the seats away from me as Michael continues to glare.
I roll my eyes, unable to help myself and Michael clenches his jaw. It’s funny how I’ve been a woman living in fear for months, and today, I couldn’t care less.
He broke something inside of me, and I’m ready to put it back together.
“Right, guys, you two have a lot to catch up on,” Tyler says as he produces some papers from his work bag, putting them on the table.
Two coffees and a couple of hours later, Michael and I have been brought up to speed and we all decide to break for an early lunch. My brain has been overloaded with information, so I am grateful for the unanimous decision.
“Shall we nip back home and get some food there?” Michael says, phrasing it as a question that I’m not expected to answer. I don’t have time to do anything as he grabs the top of my arm and marches me out of the office and out of the building. His long strides mean that I have to almost jog to keep up with him, otherwise he would be dragging me along behind him, and his grip is so firm that I know he isn’t about to let go.
It only takes five minutes to reach the apartment. I’m sure that he is looking forward to spending the next fifty minutes of our lunch break teaching me about how Tyler’s hug this morning was totally unacceptable.
We climb the stairs of the apartment block, and when we reach our front door, Michael unlocks it, thrusting it open with a kick of his foot before he pushes me in front of him. I keep myself upright and walk as casually as I can into the kitchen, but my whole body is tense, on alert.
The front door slams shut.
I stay rooted to the spot in the kitchen, keeping my watchful eyes on Michael as he walks down the hallway. Before I can process anything, Michael grabs me and slams me against the kitchen wall, causing me to yelp out loud as pain bursts all across my back. He presses the front of his body into the front of mine, pinning me, using his hands to hold mine by my sides.
“Do you enjoy embarrassing me?” he says, inches from my face, making me feel flustered. Adrenaline pulses through me, but the fear is taking over, stopping me from trying to show him that I am done with this bullshit. “Have a thing for Tyler, do you?”
“Of course I don’t,” I reply, my voice sounding stronger than I feel.
Michael shakes his head from side to side. “I thought that you had learnt from your past mistakes, Lucy.” His tone is cold, and I know that I am going to have to try and persuade his fucked-up brain that he is being unreasonable.
“I have, Michael. I’m sorry if I have upset you, but please, I don’t want to argue, not after the last two weeks with you have been like they used to be.” I prise one of my hands free, lifting it and placing it on his cheek, gently running my thumb along his slight stubble.
“We’re getting back to how we used to be, Michael, so please, let’s not ruin all of our hard work.” I sound pathetic, and nothing like the strong woman that I vowed to be this morning.
But then, maybe that’s the point?
Flip the switch.
Play a different game.
Something different.
