"Patrick?" I questioned.
What the hell is he doing here?
"Why are you here?" I asked.
"I uh... I tried stopping by your apartment but you weren't there. I assumed you'd be working." He said.
"Well I was working, and now i'm leaving. I don't even know why you stopped by, i'm done, Pat. " I spoke, already irritated by his presence. I turned around to walk away but Patrick's hand roughly grabbed my wrist, stopping my movements.
"What the hell, let go!" I yelled.
"I just want to talk, Grey. Come on!" He shouted back.
Suddenly a different hand came down over my shoulder, giving me a reassuring squeeze. I breathed a sigh of relief when I realized it was Ben standing beside me.
"Do we have a problem here?" Bennett asked.
"And who the hell are you?" Patrick seethed.
"I don't think that's any of your business, Pat! Just leave me alone! Seriously!" I said.
"Aw am I ruining your little date, Grey Grey? Is this even a date or are you just whoring yourself around? Did he pay you to go out with him? Is that what this is?!"
"Are you fucking kidding me? Who are you? Because you're not the same guy from a month ago! Whoring myself around? Are you fucking serious!? When have you even known me to be like that you piece of shit!" I screamed.
Bennet's voice cut in fiercely. His hand tightening in my shoulder, tugging me closer to him.
"You'll take your hand off of Grey if you know what's good for you. I've got a temper and trust me, you don't want to see it. Now take your fucking hand off of him before I remove it myself." He took a breath before continuing. Moving a few inches closer to Patrick.
"And if you ever speak to him like that again, were going to have a serious problem." Ben spoke in a steady, neutral tone.
Even though he wasn't yelling or screaming at him, I could sense the truth behind each and every one of his words. He pushed him back and he let go of the grip on my wrist.
Damn, he's a little scary. I wouldn't want to be on his bad side. Not that I think he'd ever hurt me. I don't think I've had anyone stand up to me like that before.
Patrick has, I guess. But this is different. I can't explain it. He feels more genuine, more meaningful? I don't know.
"Fine! Fuck, Grey. You're so... You know what, whatever! You can go fuck yourself, I just wanted to talk but you're being an immature little bitch!" Pat shouted.
"Come on, beautiful. You don't want to surround yourself with a lowlife assholes like him. Let's go." Ben said, giving me his heart stopping smile, holding his hand out for me to take.
"Ben... I, I can't..." I started.
"You can, and you will. Don't worry sweetheart. You're going to be safe. Everything will be okay." He took my hand, kissing my knuckles sweetly. I smiled at the gesture, intertwining my fingers with his.
I gave him a nervous smile and followed him out of the restaurant.
He opened the door to a slick cherry red Mercedes. Ask me what kind? Not a clue. I don't know cars worth shit.
"Thank you." I said quietly as I got into the passenger side.
I took a look around as he was walking to the to the drivers side. The interior is creamy off white leather and not a single spec of dust on it.
Yeah, my car is no way near this clean.
"I'm going to take you to my place. We should be safe to talk there... Is that alright with you?" Ben asked.
"But what about, you know... the situation?" I questioned.
"I don't care about that right now. What I care about is getting you out of there and to someplace safe." He looked up and connected his eyes with mine.
"I promise I will not hurt you, Grey. Ever." He said.
"I know you won't hurt me. I'm just worried. I don't want whoever this is to hurt you." I spoke sadly.
"I know, sweetheart. Just relax, okay? I don't live too far from here. We'll talk about everything when we get there, okay?" Ben said as he pulled out of the parking lot.
***
Soon after, Ben's pulling into what looks to be a secure underground parking garage. I say secure because he had to use some key, then type in some random code for the door to open.
Within a few minutes were parked and heading up a private elevator that also needs a key to use.
"Fancy place." I chuckled. "This is so high tech compared to my on street parking and single key to entry to my building. God, even the elevator buttons are fancy!" I exclaimed.
He grinned at my words, kissing my forehead softly. "Yeah, its a little overboard, but also good for times like this. It's definitely a nice place, but it's also not somewhere I see myself living forever, you know?" He said.
"Yeah, I definitely don't want to be living in my apartment forever. I think I'd like to live in a house some day, in a nice but quiet residential area. Maybe with a family of my own- Oh, wow that was too much information! Sorry, don't let me scare you off." I winced at my words, waiting to see if he'd actually run from me like I thought, but he grinned widely, pulling me into his embrace.
"That's exactly the kind of life I'd want." He spoke with what felt like complete honesty.
"Really? You mean to tell me you don't want to live in a posh little penthouse forever?" I raised my brow looking questioningly at him.
"You've got lots to get to know about me, sweetheart. Come in, make yourself at home. I'll grab us some drinks." He stood behind me and removeing my coat, and hanging it in the closet.
"Livingroom is just straight ahead and to the left." He said.
I walked through the brightly lit hall. It was painted white and filled with some really cool gold and white pictures, and shelves and little knickknacks.
It made me smile instantaneously. I'm glad he's not one of those men who have a completely bare home with no sign of life. His place actually had color, and a surprisingly comforting vibe to it.
Once I got to the livingroom I sank down into the soft white fabric sectional. I would never get white furniture. Knowing my luck, I'd spill on it the first day of purchasing it.
I say there nervously, looking around until Ben came striding in with two drinks in hand.
"Figured you liked sweet drinks. Don't ask me what it is, because I just threw a bunch of sweet shit in there, but it tastes pretty good." He laughed.
"You're right. The sweeter the better. Thank you." I blushed, accepting the drink from his hands.
Our fingers gently brushed against eachother as he passed me the glass, sending a delicious shiver up my spine.
He sat down beside me, crossing his ankle over his knee as he leaned back into the couch.
"So. Please tell me what happened tonight. Why were you in such a rush to leave?" He questioned.
"A-are you sure you want to know? I told you I don't want to bring you in this with me. It's not your problem." I said, my finger swirling around the rim of the glass.
"Yes, i'm sure. Now, please Grey. What happened?"
"I got a text. He... He said I had to leave. I had to go home and if I didn't, he'd um... He'd cut all your fingers off." I spoke nervously. "He said, and I quote i'm not afraid to make a mess."
Ben's eyes went wide for a moment before he contorted his face back to the all serious, no shit taking business man.
"We should goto the police, Grey." He said.
"We can't! If we do, he's going to hurt me... Or my family, or you. Look, I got this sent to me tonight." I reached into my bag and took out the letter I got. I grabbed the photo with shaky hands and passed it over to him.
"Look." I said.
He took the photo and looked at it with his brows scrunched together.
"I don't know how he knew where I was either. And if he was actually there... Who was he? I didn't see anyone looking at us strangely tonight. I just don't know what to do." I said.
"He knows where I live, where I work, my family... My friends. I don't even know how he got that photo!"
"This is getting serious, Grey. The police can do a ton to help." He stated.
"I know you're scared, but we can't take this lightly... You're staying with me tonight than were going to the police tomorrow, okay?"
"Are you sure this is the right decision? What if he finds out? Maybe he's listening right now. Like through my phone or something! Oh god, I didn't even think of that!" I shouted.
"Turn off your location, and turn off your phone. We won't turn it on until tomorrow, alright? You're going to be okay, sweetheart." Ben said with a smile, caressing the side of my face with his hand.
I closed my eyes, willing my tears not to come.
"I just want him to stop. I just want to forget this ever happened." I stated sadly.
"Come here." He said, opening his arms for me.
I blushed, moving to sit on his lap. My thighs pressed against each side of his leg's and my hands resting on his firm chest.
Ben's arms embraced me tightly. Our eyes found eachother and I couldn't stop myself. I leaned down and pressed my lips firmly against his.
It was a fight for dominance. Even though he clearly wins in that department... But it was magical. His lips were so soft. His tongue was exceptionally skilled. I will never get enough of him. His taste, his smell, his ability to comfort me with such a small action. Why has kissing never felt so... Good before? So utterly perfect. A kiss that I will never forget for the rest of my life. I'm sure of it.
...And in this moment, I've never felt so safe. I know this man will protect me from harm's way.