He's the same man!

Laura

I woke up to an empty bed, the sheets still warm from where he had been but he had already left. My head throbbed slightly from the drinks I'd had the night before, but that wasn't what made my stomach churn. It was the sight of the envelope on the nightstand. I reached for it slowly, hoping, maybe, it was a note or some suspense. But as I picked it up, the weight of it told me otherwise.

I ripped open the envelope, and there it was, a neat stack of bills. My hands trembled as I counted it out, each note feeling like a slap to my face. My throat tightened, a mix of anger, shame, and something I couldn't quite name burning in my chest.

What did he think this was? Some kind of transaction? A night of passion for a handful of cash?

I shoved the money back into the envelope, tears of frustration stinging my eyes. Last night was supposed to be a celebration, a moment of freedom. I had let myself believe, even for a few hours, that I was moving on. But this… this made me feel like I was right back where I started, being used, being degraded.

I dressed quickly, trying to ignore the knot in my stomach. I couldn't stay in that room, in that bed, for another second. Grabbing my things, I shoved the envelope into my purse and left, avoiding the gaze of the bartender as I made my way out.

Outside, the morning air was cool, crisp against my flushed cheeks. I needed to get home, and forget this ever happened. I got on the bus and found myself still stuck in the moment. I couldn't shake that feeling of embarassment, the sting of stupidly letting my guard down… again.

I found a seat by the window and stared out at the passing streets, trying to calm the storm inside me. But my mind kept drifting back to him. Jake. He'd never told me his name, but I'd heard someone call him that as we went upstairs last night. He'd been charming, yes, and God, he was freakishly handsome. But that was no excuse for treating me like this.

As the bus jerked to a stop, a man across the aisle rustled his newspaper, and something on the front page caught my eye. A job ad. I leaned forward, squinting to read the address. It was for a marketing intern position at a company downtown. I didn't recognize the name, but I wasn't in a position to be picky.

Arlene had been carrying all my expenses since I arrived in Atlanta, and as grateful as I was, I couldn't keep leaning on her forever. The therapy had helped, and I was starting to feel stronger. It was time to stand on my own two feet, to start rebuilding my life.

I copied down the address, feeling a flicker of determination. This was a chance to start over, to prove to myself that I could do this. I wasn't going to let my past define me. Not anymore.

As the bus rumbled on, I stared out the window, lost in thought. I didn't get to meet my mom, she died giving birth to me, and my dad followed five years later. The little memories I have of them are the stories and pictures Aunt Sylvie showed me when she took me in after my dad passed away. She raised me with love, believed in my modelling potential and even got me into one of the best agencies, where I met Jackson.

My life was black and white before I met Jackson, he was the color. He was my favorite place in the world. Tall, handsome, and persuasive. All the girls crushed and wanted him but he chose me. He offered to be my manager and I didn't think twice. He was a celebrity fashion stylist so he had top connections and strings which he pulled into my career. In no time, I became a hotcake, making waves and money.

I didn't care about the sixteen years age gap between us when he asked me to be his girlfriend. He had vowed to love me endlessly when he proposed a month later. Aunt Sylvie, was against it though, she felt we were moving too fast, I was just starting off my career and marriage might steal that from me but I was too lost in love to listen. We got married a month later. I'd been so young, so naive. Just 22, and I thought I was in love. Jackson had swept me off my feet, made me feel special, like I was the only person in the world who mattered.

But that had all been a lie.

I closed my eyes, the memories flooding back like a dark tide. I could still see his face, the way it had twisted with rage that first time he hit me. It was over something trivial, a misplaced phone charger, I think. I couldn't even remember now. What I did remember was the look in his eyes, the cold fury that had replaced the warmth I thought I knew.

He'd apologized, of course. They always do. But it hadn't taken long before the apologies stopped, and the abuse became a routine, a cycle of violence and control that I couldn't escape.

He made me quit modeling, isolated me from my friends, my family. By the time I realized what was happening, it was too late. I was trapped, a prisoner in my own life. I'd endured it for four years, too scared to leave, too ashamed to admit what my life had become.

Until that night. The night I finally got a chance to escape. I took nothing but a bag and whatever cash I could find. I didn't even have a plan, just a desperate need to get away. I'd run to my aunt, prepared to get a scolding for ignoring her warning but she didn't. I couldn't stay in the city, and her daughter's place in Atlanta was the only choice, and it had been the right one. Arlene had taken me in, helped me piece my life back together, bit by bit…

I opened my eyes, taking a deep breath as the bus pulled up to my stop. Those days were behind me now. I was free. I had to keep reminding myself of that.

The next morning, I stood outside the building from the newspaper ad, nerves twisting in my stomach. It was a sleek, modern office, sixteen floors, all glass and steel, and I felt small and out of place. But I needed this. I needed to prove to myself that I could do it.

The marketing department was on the fifteenth floor, so I got in the elevator and punched in the floor number. I felt a mixed feeling of excitement and nervousness as I rode up the floors. I quickly straightened my shoulders and took a deep breath just in time for the elevator door to open.

"You can do this!' I muttered to myself as I looked up and my heart stopped.

Right there in front of me was the last person I expected to see.

Jake. The man from the bar. The man who had left me feeling like a cheap fling. His eyes widened in recognition, then narrowed locked eyes and I felt my confidence evaporate. My breath was caught in my throat and my heart pounded hard in my chest as I moved closer to him. It suddenly got hot when I found out he was the CEO, I became weak immediately.

He was standing next to my potential supervisor, a stern woman named Karen. She greeted me with a tight smile.

"Laura, is it? Let's see what you've got." She retorted.

I could feel Jake's eyes on me as I handed over my resume, and that made things worse. My hands shook, my voice faltered. I was a mess, and once Karen started to ask me questions, I lost my voice. It wasn't any better when I eventually found my voice, I stuttered through the simplest questions. I could see Karen's patience wearing thin, and I knew I was blowing it.

As if that wasn't enough, Jake stepped forward, snatching the folder from Karen's hands.

"Let me see this." He let out as he flipped through the pages, his expression darkening with each turn.

"Is this some kind of joke? What do you think we do here? Clown around like you? You clearly shouldn't be here wasting valuable time. This isn't one of those places where you can waltz into with incompetence and expect a paycheck the next morning." he slammed fiercely at me and then threw the files at me.

I felt the sting of his words like a physical blow as the papers scattered all over. The office was silent, all eyes on me. They might not have understood what his words meant but I did. My face flushed with embarrassment and I wanted to disappear so bad and fast. I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes. But I refused to let them fall. I wouldn't let him see how much he got to me.

I quickly packed my files and turned to leave. I had only taken a couple of steps when something inside me snapped. I wasn't going to let another man make me feel worthless.

I straightened my back, my voice trembling but determined.

"You're an arrogant bastard, you know that? You think treating people like dirt makes you powerful? It doesn't. It just shows how small you really are." I snapped, surprising myself with the venom in my voice.

"You don't know anything about me, so before you judge me, maybe get off your high horse first because you are no different. Till then, you don't have that right." I added firmly and then reached into my purse and pulled out the envelope, flinging it at him.

"And here, take your money. I don't need it, I hope you get the gist now, huh?" Gasps went on around me but I didn't care, he's not my boss and who cares if he's good-looking? I won't take such disrespect anymore.

I finished and stared at him squarely in the eyes, waiting for him to say something so I could pounce on him again.

He didn't.

For a moment, he said nothing, his face unreadable. Then, without a word, he turned and walked into his office, slamming the door behind him.

Eyes were still glued on me so I gathered my things, and left the building.

The bus ride home was a blur. Once inside, I crashed into the couch, replaying the humiliating scene in my mind. Tears of frustration and anger streamed down my face. If I had any a chance before, I ruined it with that outburst. There was no way I would get the job. I felt defeated… again.

Arlene found me there, and after relaying the whole thing to her, she spent the rest of the day cheering me up and trying to get me other job openings online. We ended up scrolling through vacancy threads after threads till we got exhausted and stopped…