A/N: Hello, it feels a little odd posting something other than a chapter from A&F hehe. I honestly have no idea where this came from. I was in bed one night and this idea just popped in my head. I wanted to write it down before I forgot about it, and somehow, I just kept going. It was like my hands were connected to the keyboard. I couldn't stop writing! This is also something a little out of my comfort zone. I would normally would never write about something like this, but it just short of happened.
I really don't know what this will became as my main focus right now is finishing Always & Forever, but I just wanted to get this out there to see if it is something I should even consider continuing. Let me know if you want more, or if I should not bother. Either way, I am finishing A&F first, but I just wanted opinions. Thank you!
Warning: There is sexual harassment in this story, while there are not graphics or does it go super deep, it does happen. If that is something you are not comfortable with, I completely understand. I would recommend you do not read this. Thank you!
Chapter 1
Haley sighed, smoothing her dress as she walked into the bank. She hated this time of year. Tax Day was officially a few days away and she needed to make sure everything was on track. Between Nathan playing in the NBA and buying the new house, their income changed drastically and because of that she had been in this place more times than she could count. Haley Scott should know this place inside and out, yet, somehow, without Nathan with her, she felt lost.
He was finishing up his last practice of the season and Haley couldn't be happier. This year had been the hardest year of her life. Nathan was never home, and Jamie was growing right before their eyes. It killed her that she couldn't share these moments with her husband. The only thing keeping her going was the thought his season would be over someday. She couldn't wait to see him. To be able to kiss his beautiful face and look at those breathtaking blue eyes. To sleep next to his body each night instead of the cold sheets. Yep, Haley Scott was over the moon about seeing her husband again and she wasn't ashamed to say it.
Nathan called her and said he would meet her at the bank. Haley wanted to wait until he got here, but she was already late for their appointment with the accountant. Taking one more deep breath, Haley marched her way to the front desk.
"Hello, my name is Haley Scott. I have an appointment with Larry Struss."
The lady starring at the computer screen in front of her simply looked up and pointed to the elevator "Floor 23"
Haley smiled a thank you and headed in the direction the woman pointed. Once alone in the box, Haley took her phone out of her purse and texted Nathan that she was headed up to meet Larry. She felt oddly nervous to be meeting with this man without her husband. She had met this man multiple times, but Nathan normally did all the work; she would just follow along.
The elevator beeped, indicating she had made it to the 23rd floor and Haley felt her stomach start to twist. Smoothing down her green dress once more, Haley stepped out of the elevator and made her way to the guard.
She stood beside the buff man and smiled, "Excuse me, I'm Haley Scott and I'm here to see Larry Struss"
"Do you have an appointment?"
Haley nodded, "Yes, I'm supposed to be over there now"
"Wait one minute and I'll see if he's ready"
The officer walked away, and Haley closed her eyes. She knew she was being silly and she shouldn't be so nervous but somehow, she couldn't help it. She felt her phone buzz in her purse and felt a rush of relief flow through her body. She knew it was Nathan and she prayed it was for him to tell her he was here. Digging through her black bag, Haley finally found the object she was looking for. Her hope was crushed when his text said he would be a few minutes late. Probably another 5-10 minutes. She sighed and stuffed her phone back in her purse.
The tall guard came back over and directed her towards Larry's cubical. She politely thanked the man and sat down.
"Hello, Mrs. Scott. It's nice to see you again" he smiled warmly
Haley reciprocated the smile, "Yes, you too"
"So, is your husband joining us today?"
The young woman nodded, "Yes, he's stuck at practice right now, but he should be here soon" Haley smiled. She only hoped he would be here soon.
"Okay, well, why don't we move to my private office if we are talking about taxes" Larry motioned towards the office behind them.
Haley never remembered going into a private office before, but he must know what he was doing right? She followed him in and watched him shut the door. Something inside her made her feel uneasy. Haley prayed Nathan would hurry up.
After settling down in their seats, Larry said, "Why don't we just get started?"
Haley wished they wouldn't. She wasn't very good at all this stuff and would feel better if Nathan were here. But, she would feel bad wasting this man's time, when she was already late, by saying no. So, instead she responded with, "Umm sure"
Mr. Struss went into all the normal things about their income and things they filed for this year. All the changes that came about for their family and so forth. He picked up a piece of paper and slide it in front of Haley.
"Soo, I'm just gonna have you sign here" Larry said pointing to the line
"Umm, I'm sorry. What am I signing exactly?"
"Just…confidential stuff"
Haley saw right through his cocky smile. This wasn't right. "You know what, I'm sorry. My husband will be here soon and I'd just like him to look over everything before I sign anything."
Larry reached his hand over and cupped Haley's. He gently rubbed his thumb over her knuckles and spook in a soothing voice. "You know you can trust me, Haley. We've known each other for years"
Haley whipped her hand away from his grasp. She did not like where this was going. God, where was Nathan. "Maybe so, but I still don't want to do anything until Nathan gets here."
It was then that Haley felt this man's foot reach across from under the desk and start to play footsie with her.
Haley immediately scooted her chair back and stood up. "I'm just going to run to the bathroom really quick"
She bolted for the door, but he beat her to it. He blocked the exit and leaned into her.
"Hey, come on. You know I was just playing. There's no need to run away"
Haley swallowed the lump that formed in the back of her throat. How could this be happening? And God, where was Nathan. Haley knew she needed to get out of there, but how? Her thoughts were running a million miles a minute. She saw this man attacking her, someone she had come so close to. Why did it have to come to this? She figured the best thing she could do was go sit back down. She couldn't force him out of the way. He was too strong against her tiny frame. It would never work.
Just as she was about to make her way back towards her seat, she felt his hand reach up and touch her cheek. Haley shivered at his touch and not in a good way. She fought so hard to hold the tears.
"You're so beautiful. I've wanted you ever since I met you. But you were always with your husband. Not today. Today, I can finally get what I've always wanted…you"
Haley had never been so scared in her entire life. This man was harassing her. In her whole life, she never thought she would end up in a situation like this. Nathan was always there to make sure that ever happened. Oh, God, Nathan. If he walked in, this man would never see the light of another day. Nathan would kill him, and she was sure of it. Haley suddenly felt his lips brush against hers.
Haley never reacted so fast in her entire life. She pushed him away with as much force as she could conjure up and watched him stumble backwards. Larry's eyes turned dark as he laughed. "So, you wanna play rough. Even better"
He started walking towards her again and Haley ran around him for the door. He acted quickly by wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her into him. Haley fought against him, but his strong hold was no match for her. He threw her back against his desk, making her whimper in pain.
She took advantage of the small space and kicked him in the leg. Making her way towards the door again, she was stopped when he grabbed her again. She screamed, hopping someone would hear her, but nothing happened. Larry threw her up against the wall, making her head collide with the thumb. There was nowhere for her to go. Her eyes darted around the room trying to think of something anything she could do to stop him. It was too late as his body was leaning against hers. Haley closed her eyes and chocked a sob.
This couldn't be happening. It just couldn't be happening. She felt his lips start to kiss the open skin on her shoulder. Her body trembled with fear. She was stuck. He was slowly moving his lips up her neck, stopping in one particular spot and Haley couldn't take it. She belonged to Nathan and she always will be. No other man would ever touch her. Haley moved her knee up Larry's leg only to make enough room as she jabbed him in the groin with the other.
The man bent over in pain as Haley bolted out the door. She was moving so fast with tears streaming down her face she didn't even notice the figure walking in front of her. She plowed into his chest and felt a pair of arms wrap around her body.
The feeling of another stranger around her scared Haley to death as she fought hard against the figure. She twisted and punched the man only stopping when she heard that voice. His voice. "Haley! Haley! Baby, it's me. It's me"
Haley looked up at his face to see his features filled with nothing but concern and fear. Letting her body shake with relief, Haley cried, "Oh, God. Oh, God" as she fell back into his chest. This time, clinging to him as if her life depending on it. Being in his arms had never felt so good than it did right in that moment. He made her feel so safe and loved. She was his and no one else's.
Nathan rocked his distraught wife back and forth, kissing her head and whispering over and over, "It's okay. I'm here. I got you. You're safe"
He was well a where they were standing in the middle of the hallway and people who owned cubicles were staring at them. Quite frankly, he didn't care right now. Haley was obviously hurting, and he needed to be there for her. It made him uneasy to think about what might have happened to upset her so. He knew Haley didn't get this riled up over something small. Something big was happening and he wouldn't sleep until he found the person who hurt her this way.
After a while, Nathan heard Haley's tears suppress as he kissed her head one last time. He leaned down to whisper in her ear, "Why don't we go home?"
Haley simply nodded in reply, keeping her head buried in Nathan's chest. She was too embarrassed to let anyone see her face. She made a scene with her outburst and it made her face turn bright red. Feeling Nathan's grasp around her waist tighten, he whispered, "Come on" and they left the building.
When they made it to Haley's car, Nathan get in the driver's seat and turned to face his wife. It was the first time he got a good look at her face and it broke his heart. Her eyes were puffy and red from crying and they held some short of shame and fear. Seeing that, only made Nathan's worries clime higher. Who did what to his wife?
"Do you want to tell me what happened?" Nathan started slowly.
Haley closed her eyes and leaned on the head rest. His words only made more tears form in her eyes. "I'm so stupid" She cried
Nathan was not expecting those to be her first words. He took her hand in his and rubbed it gently. He felt her yank her hand away at his touch. That scared him. Haley never pulled away when he tried to comfort her. If anything, she leaned more into his touch.
Nathan felt his throat close up as a horror crossed his mind. No, that couldn't happen. Could it? The flinching, her fighting him, the tears. It all added up, but could it be. He felt as if there were no oxygen surrounding him as he struggled to breath. It couldn't be.
"Hales…did…did someone put their hands on you?" He prayed to God it wasn't true. But her face said it all. The way her eyes welled with more tears and her bottom lip was pulled between her teeth. Oh, God it was true. He felt like someone punched him in the gut taking his breath away. Someone hurt his baby. All his fear quickly melted away and was replaced with nothing but anger.
"Who put touched you, Haley?"
Haley knew this was going to happen. She knew from the beginning. Nathan was going to kill Larry. She wasn't scared for Larry Struss, she hoped he rotted in prison. She was scared for Nathan, that he would do something stupid and end up in jail.
"Nathan…" She begged
"Who?!" Nathan demanded. His eyes were burning with fire.
Haley shook her head, closing her eyes.
Nathan grabbed her shoulders and shook her. "Damnit, Haley! Who put their hands on you?!"
Haley knew she had no choice. She had to tell him. Struggling to breath, Haley chocked another sob, "L-L-Larry Struss"
His world stopped turning in that moment. Larry was a friend. Someone he trusted. Nathan didn't even know what was happening. It was like his legs had a mind of their own. The next thing he knew, he was getting out of the car and heading for Larry Struss's office. He was going to kill that man.
He heard Haley's screams as they echoed throughout the car garage. "Nathan! Nathan! Please don't do this!"
She grabbed his arm in an attempted to hold him back.
The man turned around in furry His fists were bunched in tight balls. He spoke with fire, "No, Haley! No one has the right to put their hands on you! I'm going to kill that man!"
"Please, Nathan, don't do this"
Nathan softened his eyes at the sight of the woman standing in front of him. She was so broken. The way her red puffy eyes were pleading with him, he couldn't leave her. His eyes connected with hers and then moved down her body. It was then, he noticed the red splotchy mark showing on her collar bone. That did it. This man took advantage of his wife. HIS wife. And that son of a bitch was going to pay for it. Nathan charged down the stairs with furry, leaving a distraught Haley calling after him.
Nathan Scott didn't even take the elevator. He charged up 23 flights of stairs taking 2 at a time. He was wasting no time. When he finally reached the floor he was searching for, he attempted to bolt past the guard, but this man was not having it.
"What's your name and who are you here to see?"
"I'm Nathan Scott. My wife met with Mr. Struss earlier. I need to speak with him. Now" Nathan made sure to emphasize the now part. Nathan Royal Scott had one thing on his mind and nothing was going to stop him. He wasn't leaving until he gave that man a piece of his mind.
The guard made a face as if he knew exactly who Nathan was. "Oh, yes. He is in his private office in the back"
He marched all the way down the hallway Larry's office. He burst the door open, to find the man sitting in his desk. Nathan slammed the door shut and charged Larry with furry, taking himself and the man down. Nathan gave him a straight punch to the jaw feeling the blood collide with his fist.
"DON'T YOU EVEN COME NEAR MY WIFE AGAIN OR I WILL KILL YOU"
Larry chucked at the man hovering him. "Ms. Scott is a slut. She loved it, every minute of it"
The temperature in his veins reached another high as he gave Struss another punch in the mouth.
"MRS. Scott to you, buddy"
"I don't think she's a Mrs. anymore… or at least not after today" Larry smirk underneath Nathan.
Nathan moved his hands around the man's neck. He hissed out the words slowly but made sure they were efficient. "This is your first and only warning. If you ever touch my wife again, I kill you"
Nathan held his hold for one more minute before he stood up and marched for the door. He took one last glance at his once trusted friend before storming out of the office.
He was met with the officer in front who said, "Excuse me, sir. You need to schedule your next meeting before you leave"
Nathan looked at the sheet then back at the man. "No, my wife and I will never be back in this building to do business. I can promise you that"
With that, Nathan Scott left the building with nothing but anger and hurt flowing threw his body.
He found Haley in the exact same stop he left her, still hysterically crying. Wasting no time, he pulled her into his chest and felt her shake with tears. "Wha-what did you do?"
"He's never going to hurt you again" Nathan replied
"Nathan…"
"He's never going to hurt you again. I promise"
He saw her nod and fall back into his chest. "I was s-so scared"
Nathan pulled her tighter into his body, if that was even possible. How could this happen to Haley? He should have been with her. Once again, his stupid job got in the way of his family. He was so selfish. This wouldn't be happening if he had just left practice early to meet her. But, no. He had to stay for the whole thing because he had to prove to himself he was good.
"I'm so sorry, Hales. I should have been there with you"
"N-No. This isn't your fault, Nathan"
"Yes, it is. I had the opportunity to leave practice early and I didn't. I could have prevented this. I could have kept you safe"
"Nathan, shhh" Haley placed her hand on his cheek "This is not your fault. It isn't"
Nathan fell into her touch. She had a way with him that made the entire world stop revolving and it was just them.
Nathan moved his arm around her waist and rested his hand on the small of her back. He saw her wince in pain and he immediately removed the placement of his hand. "What's wrong? Did he hurt you, Hales?"
Haley shook her hand and held back more tears.
"Let me see"
"Nathan…"
"Haley, let me see" His eyes were demanding, but not in a mean way. They were full of hurt and concern. He was just loving her, and she couldn't be upset by that.
She turned around and he lifted her shirt reveling a big bruise in multiple colors. His heart broke at the sight. "My God, Hales. What else did he do to you?"
Haley turned back around and sighed, "I want to go home first"
Nathan nodded, and they headed back to the car. He helped Haley in the passenger seat and closed the door. He took a deep breath before walking over to his side and getting in. He wasn't sure if he could handle hearing what she was going to tell him, but he knew he had to.
Once they reached home, Nathan helped Haley out of the car and into the house. They only had a few hours before Jamie came home from school, he was going to spend every minute of it with Haley. He was going to comfort her and love her like he has never done before.
He watched her shuffle her way over to their living room coach and sit down. She hadn't cried since they left the garage, but he could tell she was holding them back. He took a seat next to her and placed his hand on her thigh. She flinched slightly, and it stung his chest. She was in so much pain.
The silence broke when he heard her say, "I'm so sorry, Nathan"
"Hales, this is not your fault"
"I should have been more cautious and when he pulled me into that office. I should have known better and said no"
"Haley" Nathan started, until Haley stood up and started pacing around.
"No, Nathan. I mean how could this happen. How could I have been so stupid?" Her eyes filled with tears as she choked out the last sentence, "Why did I have to be so stupid?" She placed her face in her hands and started crying.
Nathan stood up and wrapped his arms around her. His heart was already broken in a thousand pieces, but he felt like it was breaking even more with each word she said.
"You are far beyond stupid, baby. You did absolutely nothing wrong. We trusted this man and he betrayed us. You did nothing wrong."
Haley pulled her head back to look into his eyes. "I-I was so scared. I didn't know what to do"
Nathan swallowed the lump that formed in his throat as he listened to his wife. He motioned for them to sit back down. When she was comfortable, he placed a hand on her back, making soothing circles.
"Tell me what happened, Hales"
"Everything started off fine, we were at his regular desk and he greeted me very nicely. After I told him that you were going to be late, he led me into his back office. I-I thought it was weird that we were there, but I shrugged it off. I shouldn't have. He wanted me to sign something and I told him no because I didn't feel comfortable signing anything without you. He then grabbed my hand and told me I could trust him. I quickly yanked my hand away. I then felt his foot start to rub mine. I knew what he was trying to do, I just didn't want to believe it"
Haley took a deep breath before continuing, "I immediately stood up and told him I need to use the restroom. He-he stood up too and blocked the exist. I couldn't get out…I was so scared. I didn't know what to do"
Nathan felt his heart chipping away bit by bit as he listened to Haley struggle to get the words out. He moved his hand up and down her back, letting her know it was okay. She took another deep breath and continued.
"He told me that he always wanted me and now he finally could. He started rubbing my cheek and then he k-kissed me. I pushed him off me… but it only made him more interested. H-He shoved me into his desk and tried to kiss me again. I kicked him and ran for the door"
Haley had to stop and whip the tears that were falling from her face. She was embarrassed to be this upset over something that could have been a lot worse. She could feel the anger, pain, and guilt swarming in Nathan's eyes as they stared at her. His hand rubbed up and down her back again, letting her know it was okay. Haley took a deep breathe and continued, "He-he grabbed me and threw me against the wall. I screamed but nobody could hear me. He started kissing my neck and m-moving his hands up and down my body. I was so scared, Nathan. I thought he was going to…." Haley trailed off as her mind wouldn't even allow her to say the words.
Nathan tense as she trailed off. The thought of having someone else run their hands over her or kiss her neck pushed him over an edge he never knew was possible. Haley was his love, his life, his forever. No one will ever, ever have the right to even talk about his wife in such a way, let alone do it.
Nathan knew this was an event that was going to live with them forever. Nothing would ever make them forget about this day. He heard Haley whimper again, and he moved his hand on her back to around her, pulling her into his chest. Nathan whispered in her hear, "It's okay, Hales. You're safe now. I'm never going to let anyone hurt you again."
Haley buried her face in his shirt and cried. She never felt so dirty or used than she has today. She belonged to Nathan and she always will. After she was fresh out of tears, Haley lay in Nathan's arms.
The silence surrounding their home was interrupted when Haley spoke. "I kicked him"
Nathan wrinkled his face at the words that just fell from his wife's mouth. "What?"
Haley sat up and repeated herself, "I kicked him. That's how I got out. I kicked him and ran down the hallway, until I ran into you"
Nathan closed his eyes and pulled her back into his chest. He wished he could take all her pain away. His anger from this happening was still fresh in his veins, but now was the time to bury that. He needed now more than ever before to show Haley how much she is loved. How much he loved her, how he would never let anything like this happen again, and most importantly, how this is not her fault.
Having her blame herself for this was unacceptable. He wanted to show her in every way possible that he was not disappointed in her or angry. He was angry that this happened to her. There was always the fear in the back of his mind each day that something like this could happen, but it just never seemed real enough to actually happen.
There were a million things he wanted to say to the woman curled up in his lap. His brain was pulling him in ten thousand different direction, but when he felt his angel grab tighter to his shirt, the only words that fell from his lips were, "I love you, Haley"
A soft barley heard, "I love you too" escaped from her lips before she buried her face more into her husband's strong chest. His touch and love were all she wanted to think about and feel. He loved her and no matter what, she belonged to him forever.