Chapter 1 Spa Day
It's been a week since the day I was kidnapped by some crazy chick who was so desperate for money she'd actually go up against a hacker like Ben. Honestly, not the brightest idea on her part. Ben could've destroyed her, but we've decided to let the actual authorities handle it.
Of course, we will both be called in to court to recount our stories. I'm not looking forward to that. I don't want attention like that. I don't want to be scrutinized by lawyers and crosschecked.
The only good thing about it is, Jenny and Stephanie, along with their husband/boyfriend will also be in the same boat as I am. My heart goes out to all of them, even if I hadn't been one of them.
I guess Ben made sure that he got something out of all this, and now his name is officially off the 'list' of hackers the FBI keep track of. He found the culprit, so I guess it's fair.
I understand desperation makes people do stupid things, but she didn't have to fucking beat me, Jenny and Steph near to death. I guess she really didn't want us to get away. I wonder what she would've done if Ben (and all of his friends) hadn't come to rescue us?
I look down at my arms and grimace. I hate that I look like something that had been trampled on... Because I had been. I've tried coverup, but the bruises keep bleeding through. Luke told me it will take a few weeks for the bruises and scrapes to go away. Lucky me.
I've been in contact with both Jenny and Stephanie. Luke took a look at them and declared they were dehydrated, malnourished but other than that, it was all superficial, just like me. He did tell us if there was anything we needed to come to him about it.
And just like Ben promised, then next morning he took me to a jewelry shop, very classy, and got me a ring. He picked it out, and I've gotta admit, the man has good taste!
It wasn't a diamond. It was a ruby! It was set in rose gold with rose petals holding the ruby in the center. It was almost like Ben had had this created just for me before he even asked me! Come to think about it, he might have. He went right to it and declared this was the ring for me.
It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen! It is unique, just like me. It's fiery when I let it into the light. It almost matches my hair as well.
"It will match your tattoo," he winked at me. I didn't even think about that! But he's right. It looks almost like the tattoo I normally keep hidden on my shoulder blade.
I look down at my ring, thinking about everything that I've been through just to get to this point. I remember the first day I'd met him. Sam had needed my help, and I flew into New York to see him waiting with his sister.
Of course, she'd told me all about him before I ever came to New York. I'd been aware that he is one of the biggest players on the East Coast, along with her own significant other that she'd been trying to deny for ages.
I had been fighting my attraction to him for over a year now, and I guess he was doing the same. I didn't know he was serious about me. I kept waiting for him to find a new toy that would fit his norm. Blond. Big breasts. The IQ of a carrot. I would never fit into that mold.
But he never did!
And then before I was even kidnapped, he'd told me he wanted me. (Of course, I'd been packing to move back to New Jersey, and I guess that lit his ass on fire and decided to tell me the truth.) I still didn't believe him. I was insecure because I'm just a girl from Jersey. I'm not rich. I'm just me.
And now, I'm wearing his ring. I'm still in shock from the whole thing. It seems like everything has gone so fast in the last week, I'm still trying to catch up with everything in my head.
He sent me a text this morning saying he had a job with Ares, which doesn't surprise me. I mean, he is the head of his cyberteam after all. I guess he really does have to go into work at some point. (Though I doubt Ares would fire him... And Ben doesn't actually need the job. The guys a billionaire himself!)
I hate to admit this, but after I was kidnapped, I've been nervous to even step foot outside of the apartment. I hate that I feel like I have to look over my shoulder now. I hate that I have anxiety, even though Luke told me this is normal for someone who has gone through a trauma like I had.
Actually, I've been afraid to leave Ben's side all week! And this is the first time he's let me out of his sight. I know he was scared to death something else would happen to me, so whatever Ares needs Ben for, it must be important for him to leave me alone like this.
I know I sound like some kind of helpless damsel, and I hate that. I'm not normally like this. Normally I'm brave and fierce. I can stand up for myself, and my friends too! I don't feel like myself at all!
I'm considering seeing a therapist (Eve suggested it to me. She said she saw one after her ordeal as well) just for a little while. I want to feel strong again, and I don't know if I can on my own.
Sam has been calling me all week (actually, all the girls have been calling me non-stop, telling me that what I've been through was a trauma and how I'm feeling is nothing to be ashamed of... I wish I could believe them.) but this morning, she must've known Ben wasn't by my side.
"We are having a spa day!" she announced, unapologetically. "I've been waiting to see my best friend all week and now is the day! So, get dressed and get ready to have a special day!"
I blink my eyes. "Say that again?" I think I'm a little confused. I used to love going to the spa and hanging out at the mall with my girls. But I just haven't felt like it since Melissa went psycho on me. "I don't know, Sam..."
"Come on Mar! I haven't seen you since before you got kidnapped! Ben's been hogging you all to himself, and now that he's out of the way, it's my turn!" Samantha stated. "I think you deserve to have a day to relax and feel like yourself again."
I snort. My bestie. Of course she would pick up on all this. But I still don't know if I'm ready to leave the apartment yet... I come up with the first excuse I can think of.
"What about Tammy?" I demand. "I don't think we can have a spa day with your baby! I'd spend the whole damn time cooing over her!" I make the excuse.
Well, it's the truth. I love Sam's baby girl. I am the best auntie! I love babies. They make me happy. To be honest, I love all the new little kiddos! Eve's got Damian and now Fallon has Trixi! They are so adorable! They don't judge me for who I am.
"Maybe we should just hang out at my place, and you can bring your baby and..." I decide, thinking this would be a much better use of my time today.
"No can do! The girls and I have the whole day planned out!" She teases me.
"What?"
"Well, I may or may not have had something to do with kicking my brother to the curb today. He needs to get to work anyway! What the hell is Ares paying him for is he's just playing house with my best girl?!" She demands indignantly. "Besides, Mom is in town and she is babysitting!"
I blink.
"Linda and Dan are back? I thought they were still in Europe!"
"They came in yesterday. They heard about... Melissa and everything. They are both super worried about you and I told Mom I wanted to take you out for a special spa day, and she insisted she takes care of the littles today... Well, she's got help," she chuckles.
"What do you mean?"
"Tera, Eve's sister is here with her parents wanting some "Damian time", so we decided to have the grandparents here to watch the kiddos."
"Is Trixi coming with us?" There is no way Fallon is leaving her new baby girl behind. She worships that baby!
"No. Fallon is handing her over to Tate. So, we're all good!" She cheers. "Fal has said Tate has been complaining because he doesn't get enough daddy daughter time! So, it's perfect!"
Shit! Well, there goes my excuse of not being able to leave...
"Fine!" I sigh in exasperation. I know my bestie. When she wants something, she gets it... even if she has to get backup to do it! Sneaky little bitch! But I love her anyway. "I'll be down in 5," I say since I know Samantha Beck! She's probably already downstairs in the lobby waiting for me!
"Good to hear!" She states and I can hear laughing in the background. "I'll be waiting, very impatiently, might I add. It's been way too long since you've shown your face! I miss you! We all miss you!"
I guess they all showed up before I even knew I was going! The traitors! And yet, I can't help but feel a tiny spark of love for each of my girls. I know I'm not the only one who went through a trauma. Every single one of them went through something similar... Maybe that's a sign that we should move out of New York!
I quickly grab some jean shorts and a long sleeve top. I'm still uncomfortable with my bruising that hasn't gone away yet. I grab some slip-on shoes and my phone.
I type a text to Ben.
Me: I see you were shanghaied into this too. I guess the girls have the day all planned out for me. Why didn't you tell me?
Ben: Don't hate me babe. Sam has been on my ass all week trying to get to you. She even convinced her hubby go call me into work 🙄Anyway. Hope you have fun. Treat yourself. You deserve this after everything you've been through. Love you.
I sigh as I grab my purse and book it down the stairs to be surrounded by my girlfriends.
"First stop, the spa!" Chelsea announces with those dimples on full blast.
When we get to the spa and they start to massage out all the kinks and knots in my back, I start to realize that maybe this wasn't such a bad idea after all!
