Tainted

9

~Sebastian~

It was 2 weeks before I had an evening free to take Poppy out. I'd dropped by her dad's office for all of 5 minutes on Wednesday afternoon since I was passing anyway. It was short notice. I was very aware of it but I wanted to test out a theory I had and it would be better at the shortest possible notice. I didn't want to leave Poppy no time to get herself prepared, mentally.

She'd come down the stairs in a thin white, long sleeve turtleneck under a tight fitting yellow checked dress. Her hair curled at the ends, covering both her shoulders and I swear, she's wearing nude tights. I wouldn't usually find this weird but it's the middle of July and I have seen her trying to keep cool all night. I try not to think about it. To focus on her tonight and nothing else but I couldn't help it.

She was too quiet tonight. I couldn't pull her out of it. Nothing was working. I'd tried books, asking her about recent reads, paintings, other courses she wanted to do. I was getting the shortest possible answers without it being rude. She'd barely eaten at the restaurant, had a single glass of wine but stuck to her 4 glasses of water. To say I was concerned was an understatement.

I climbed out of the car, rounding the door and pulling it open, helping her out slowly. The first time she'd let me touch her all night and she instantly pulled her hand out of mine like I was diseased.

"I thought you were taking me home." She peered up at the warehouse and I could understand why she looked at me like that right now. If I was randomly brought to the middle of nowhere on a first date with me, I'd be a little concerned. She needn't be. But I got it.

"I have one last surprise." I gently put my hand on the bottom of her back and Poppy practically jumped out of the way. "Sorry. Didn't mean to make you jump." The jump knocked her hair off her shoulders and I got the perfect view of a bruise hidden under probably a dozen layers of makeup, right underneath her ear. It looks red and angry and I'm furious. Because I know for a fact she hasn't left her house for 2 weeks. I know that bruise is from someone she knows and I have no doubt If I took off this fucking long sleeve shirt I'd find them all over her.

"This door?" I nod at her and she reaches forward. Bruised wrists. I can see the fucking rope marks. I take a few deep, slow breathes to try and calm myself down. I don't know the whole story. She could be sleeping with someone and they tied her a little too tight. This is exactly why I didn't want to give her any time. Because I knew I'd seen bruises in the library and I needed to know if it was a onetime thing or not.

I followed her through to the first space which looked like a reception area and she turned to me. Cocked an eyebrow.

"This place is completely empty so we can take as much time as you want looking around."

"Looking around? It's like an office." I leaned my hand up, tracing a fingertip over the bruise on her neck. She stepped back, pulled her hair over it and crossed her arms. "So, there's more?"

"Mhm." I turned, taking a seat in one of the chairs, sitting back slightly.

"Are you going to show me?"

"In a second. Come sit down." She didn't move and I sighed, shifting the chair until it was on an angle. "I won't make you Pip but I'd like it if you did." I watched her closely, eyes moving down her for any other signs that she was hurt somewhere. Silence is a very powerful tool at getting people to speak. I wouldn't touch her like I would anyone else I wanted an answer from.

"I burned myself. That's all."

"Come sit down beautiful. Please." She swallowed took slow shaky steps and slipped into the spot, right on the edge of her seat. "Thank you. I'm gonna take a look okay?"