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Chapter Two

He needs to show me off. Hold me on his arm like a cute little Japanese candy. People vote him in because they think he’s in touch with the minorities just because his wife is half Japanese. I resist the urge to scoff as we parade around the room.

He’s so fucking far from touched with minorities. If anything, he’s racist. I mean, he beats on me constantly. Belittles my heritage. If only they knew. Conversation bounces off the intricately designed wallpaper. Clinging glasses, and a soft orchestra of music compliment the conversation. I stare yearningly at a glass of champagne, knowing if I touch one I’ll deal with the consequences later. What a fucking hypocrite. He can drink whatever and whenever he wants, but I’m not allowed to pass alcohol by my lips. It’d make being his wife easier.

“What do you think, Akira?”

“Hm?” I blink quickly and realize fellow senator John Reese has addressed me. I bat my lashes quickly and cast him a gentle smile.

“I apologize, what?”

Wilson does his fake chuckle and squeezes my side so hard, I think he’s bruised it. I don’t let my smile falter. John waves his hand, and laughs.

“No worries. I was just wondering what your opinion about tonight’s vote?”

“Oh, um, I think you made the right decision. It’s admirable what you all do,” I reply, mumbling the same spiel I do every time I’m at one of these events. He nods and places his hand on my arm.

“I’m telling you, Will. You’ve got yourself a keeper.” Will smiles, and nods.

“I sure do.”

Liar.

John excuses himself and Wilson tilts his head my way, and whispers menacingly in my ear.

“Pay attention.”

“I am, I’m sorry.”

“You will be,” He grumbles, and lets his arm fall back to his side. I sigh a breath of relief when he disappears from me. Every moment he spends with his arm wrapped around my waist makes my skin crawl.

Champagne is too inviting. I glance around, eyes narrowed, focusing on where Will is. I spot him across the room, placing a chaste kiss on a red-headed woman’s hand. She bites her lip and blushes like it’s the best thing that’s happened to her. If I was her, I’d burn my fucking hand just to get the feeling of his lips off me. I feel sad for that woman. Laughing and flirting with a monster. They’re all fools. As was I.

A glass of bubbly is in my hand before I can take a breath. It’s too my lips before I can blink. I polish the drink off, and a second is placed in my hand. I thank the server, and start sipping the glass.

Two glasses in and I actually start swaying to the music. I forgot what it felt like to be buzzed. It makes me forget for a while what my life is like and relax. I giggle watching a woman fight with the train on her dress, she yanks, and stumbles, grabbing onto the jacket of the man in front of her.

I’m offered another glass and I gladly accept, a giant grin on my face. Oh, I’m so defiant right now. The thought makes me laugh harder.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”

Will’s voice doesn’t have the same depressing effect on me anymore. Instead, I spin, a casual grin on my face, and beam brightly at him. Kill em’ with kindness.

“Honey, enjoying the party?” I dare raise the glass to my lips, and sip in front of him. His eyes are wide, murderous, but he contains his rage. Public places are truly the best protection.

“Something wrong, Will?”

He smiles and speaks through clenched teeth.

“You’re gonna fucking get it when we get home,” He replies low enough for only me to hear him. He thinks he’s intimidating me, but the alcohol has washed that away. Liquid courage is real.

“Why not here? Show them the real Will. Go right ahead,” I taunt. He might as well give me my beating now. He doesn’t like my answer. He huffs and points a finger at me.

“Don’t fucking tempt me,” He hisses, before walking away.

I shrug and take another sip. What’s done is done. No need in wasting this drink.

“You look more out of place than me,” a voice grunt from behind me. I spin around, curious, and raise my brow at the man in front of me. Thick blonde locks, chiseled, muscular, and striking brown eyes. Tattoo’s line his neck and peek out from under his sleeves, on his wrists.

His tie is slightly loosened like he’s been pulling on it. I wouldn’t blame him. I’ve had one wrapped around my neck, doesn’t feel comfortable. I reach my hands up to my neck with horrible memories of Will almost strangling me with it. I shiver and focus.

“You’d fit in more if you were drinking and laughing like the rest of these morons.” The words leave my lips before I can filter them. Fucking alcohol.

“Hm, give me a taste then,” He challenges, holding out a large hand with thick fingers. He probably has more muscle in his finger than Will has in his entire body. I swirl the champagne around in my glass and contemplate quickly. He gives me a look and I relinquish the rest of my drink to him.

“Tastes expensive.”

“Well you’re in luck, it is.”

His chuckle is deep and smooth. It’s a sound I enjoy hearing. Unlike Will’s villainous cackle. I move my eyes to Will, who narrows his at me, and gestures for me to come to him. My disappointment is evident by the way I sigh.

“Enjoy the drink,” I mumble sulkily.

I take a step forward and feel a hand on my arm. The man has ahold of me, and his gaze is more cunning and mischievous.

“Tsk, Tsk, Tsk. Leaving so soon?”

I excuse the fact he’s touching me and manage a polite – wife-of-a-politician – smile.

“Sadly, duty calls.” I wiggle the finger with my wedding ring on it. He blinks, and that bottomless dark pit of emotion disappears from his eyes.

He holds up his hands and takes a step back from me.

“Of course, Mrs. Carpenter. Tell your husband his vote is much appreciated.”

“Will do,” I respond. Something in his words makes the hairs on my arms stand. He slips away into the crowd before I have a chance to ask him his name.

I saunter back over in the direction I last saw Will. He’s harder to find now. Lost in a sea of idiot, obedient followers and fellow coworkers who are all trying to drain the last pennies from the working class. I frown and stop to spin around the room.

When I find Will, he grabs me by the arm after everyone’s attention has been stolen away towards the front of the room. They won’t be able to see his composure slipping. He digs his nails into my arm, knowing the long sleeves will hide the bruises.

“Where the fuck were you? I told you to come.”

“Sorry,” I mumble and try to pull myself away. He blows out an anxious breath and lets me go. “I was speaking with one of the donors,” I lie. It’s the easiest way to get him to relax. I don’t need to add more things to tonight’s beating. “He was congratulating us about your vote.”

He raises impressed brows and nods. He’s satisfied. For now.

He holds out his arm. I slide mine through his and step closer to him.

“I love your dress tonight, Akira. How long has it been since I was able to remove one from you, huh?”

I gulp.

Not long enough – dances in my brain but I clamp my mouth shut and shrug.

“Too long,” He replies.

Nope.

I know he’ll get drunk when he gets home. I can already smell the alcohol on him now. By the heaviness of his eyelids, and how blood shot his eyes are, I know he’s already about four beers in. When he takes a step forward, my estimation jumps to about five.

“Are you okay to walk?”

His eyes are wide, and I know if we were alone he would’ve hit me.

“I just don’t want you to fall,” I counter, hoping to continue this lighter mood, but he clenches his jaw.

“You fucking bitch,” He hisses. “Let’s go. I’ve already said goodbye to everyone. I can’t wait to get you home.”

To any outsider who’s overheard him, it could be confused with playfulness. A few people smile at us with acknowledgment as they pass by, smiles which we return, but I know mine doesn’t reach my eyes. We’re leaving too early. He won’t be hammered enough before we leave, and the beating I’ve been trying to avoid will come swiftly.

“B-but Will, we always stay for the announcement of how much money has been raised,” I stammer, pulling gently on his domineering arm as he drags me along side him.

“How about I break those fingers?”

“Sorry.”

I sulk. I can’t help it. My face falls and there’s no hiding the disappointment and misery. My mouth downward, and my eyes are cast to the floor as we make our way down the hallway to the front door where Valet will assist us.

I want to run back towards the party – towards the crowd of people who don’t know it, but give me a shred of sanity and safety, if even for an hour. I feel myself getting worked up, sweaty palms, a racing heart and darting eyes. I attempt again to get him to agree to stay.

“I thought I saw the mayor in there, he mentioned chatting to you about some business-related things. Maybe we should go back,” I press. “Honestly, it’s not good to leave a party early, Will. I just want you to have a good time,” I lie. I’ll do anything to avoid going home right now. I try every tactic I can think of, but he’s not budging. Finally, when he’s fed up with me, he places his hand on the small of my back and leans down towards my ear.

“Enough. Don’t think I’ve forgotten about your little champagne stunt in there.”

When Will’s car pulls up and outsteps the mysterious stranger from inside, my eyes widen. He winks at me, after handing Will his keys. What the hell is he doing working for Valet, when he was just inside at the benefit? He doesn’t have a vest like the Valet, but still Will thanks him with his fake customer service voice and moves to the drivers side.

I don’t realize my jaw’s fallen open slightly, until some drool dribbles onto my chin, and embarrassed by my blatant staring, I wipe my face, and reach for the door handle.

The man stares at me as I slip into the car.

“Hurry the fuck up!” Will’s screaming when the door closes, but I drown him out. Instead, I’m mesmerized by the man. Just as we pull away he brings his finger to his mouth and makes a ‘shhh’ motion, and a chill so powerful, makes me shake.

Who is that man?


He doesn’t hit me on the way home. He lets his anger build until we pull into the parking lot of our condo and lays a blistering gaze on me.

“How dare you fucking embarrass me,” He accuses. “Now everyone thinks the senators wife is a slopping drunk. A slutty and sloppy drunk,” He spits at my dress, seething with hatred in his gaze. I reach for the handle, knowing it’s better to distance myself from him, when his painful grasp on my arm holds me back.

“Will, please. Not out here. Someone could see,” I reply. He groans and lets my arm go. He knows I’m right. The press could be anywhere, lurking, waiting to reveal his true self, and he can’t have that.

“Upstairs, now.”

I obey. It’s easier too. I feel the exciting buzz from the alcohol fading with every step towards the front door of the building. He pulls out his key card and scans himself into the building.

We pass a few people. One-man nods and mutters, “Senator Carpenter.”

Will smiles. He loves the recognition. He could fucking drown it for all I care. Let them smother him to death with their ‘affection.’ Kill him – before he kills me.

Whoa. I blink a few times as the floor jumps at me. I hold out my arms, steady myself – Will’s ahead of me almost fully down the end of the hall to the elevators, when I glance up and swear I see a head of familiar blonde hair.

“W-wait,” I mutter softly, reaching out towards the stranger who looks familiar, but he’s disappeared into the building. Probably just another tenant. Maybe the alcohol is still doing it’s job after all. I sigh, and hurry to catch up with Will.

The elevator doors close behind us, and I look appreciatively to the video camera recording us. If that wasn’t in here, he’d smash my face against these walls too.

When we step out into our apartment from the elevator, I hear the phone ringing.

Will looks at me expectantly, and when I don’t move fast enough, he curses and shoves me out of the way.

“I’ll fucking get it. You’re useless.”

I quickly go to the craft room where Phoenix is waiting, thankful I asked one of our neighbors – Lola – to let him out and take him on a walk. We were gone too long for him to sit, having to pee, in this house. I dare not bring him out unless Will is asleep, gone, or showering. He wags his tail when he sees me and jumps up as I close the door behind me.

I yelp when Will pounds his fist against the door.

“Akira, I have to go back to the benefit….”

“Oh, why?” I shield my excitement.

“That’s none of your fucking business. I’ll be back later.”

It isn’t until I hear the door slam, and wait thirty minutes after, that me and Phoenix roam the house, freely. He sniffs around, happily and I decide now’s a good time to hop in the shower. Anytime that Will’s gone is my opportunity. I don’t ever want to give him a chance to catch me off guard and naked.

The water’s warm on my back when I get in. I’m so relaxed and calm, the thought of touching myself pops into my mind briefly, but there’s no merit. I can’t even get myself aroused enough to finish. My fingers twitch uselessly at my side. Living with Will is hell. I haven’t been turned on since a week after we got married so it’d be more of a challenge to try and please myself now.

An image of that attractive stranger I met at the party flashes in my mind.

You could always think of him….

It’s tempting. Insanely tempting. But I can’t. Despite how attractive he was, a bunch of confusion comes to my mind while thinking of him. Who the hell is he, and what the hell was he doing there? Everything about him seemed odd, and suspicious.

In a charming way…

Ugh. It truly has been too long.

Phoenix scratches at the bathroom door. I hurry up and wash up, deciding it’s better to just call it and early night and sleep in the craft room with the door locked. I don’t know when he’ll get home and what state of anger he’ll be in.


Phoenix’s whining wakes me.

He sits at the door, pawing the floor, the hallway light shining through. I swore I turned it off.

I sit up, rub my eyes, and blink a few times as the small light I have plugged on the wall near the desk, illuminates the room.

“What are you whining for?”

I sigh and listen carefully.

Nothing. No television.

The clock reads ten minutes past four, and the sky is still dark. I’m guessing he’s not back yet. Or he may be. I pull the blankets off me with anxiety holding me back, before I force myself off the chair, to walk towards the door.

I unlock it and pull it open and listen. No sign of Will.

The kitchen light is on as is the bathroom, but I’m pretty sure I left them on. Just so he can see when he gets home – or else he’ll bitch about it. Phoenix runs past me to the living room where he jumps up on the couch. I wave him over but he’s being stubborn. I groan.

“Stubborn ass dog.”

Twisting on my heel, I walk down the hall to our bedroom. The room’s dark. No signs of movement that Will’s here. I reach for the handle, and my heart almost beats out of my chest when a small sound emanates from the room.

My chest feels tight, fear almost crippling me as I raise my hand slowly to the light switch by the door. I don’t want to call out Will’s name. I know he isn’t here. If he was he wouldn’t hide.

The switch turns on and I gasp.

Sitting on my bed is the stranger from the party. A thick, sharp blade in his hand, and an unlit cigarette between his lips.

“W-Who are you?”

I press my hand against the wall, like if I pull away I’ll be ripped backwards.

He chuckles. It has the same soulless ring to it.

“Someone you’re going to wish you hadn’t met.”

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