I was relieved beyond words when Jack and I were seated twelve or so rows away from one another.
From the moment he'd picked me up that morning, I'd felt uncomfortable. Which was ridiculous given Jack had been nothing other than professional! The whole way to Sea-Tac he'd kept up a friendly description of what to expect at the book fair. Even though a lot of my duties would be administrative and boring, he stressed that even getting to know the other assistants would be profitable, at this stage, as they were the ones who would become editors in the future.
The more I heard, the more I appreciated what a big deal attending the book fair was. I did appreciate Jack bringing me along, but it didn't diminish my misgivings. And more than anything, I was worried that I hadn't heard from Christian. I'd texted him at 10:00 pm last night explaining I'd be away for the weekend, and here we were, twelve hours later, and nothing. I hoped he wasn't going to be angry, but I feared he would be.
It certainly didn't help that I was disappointed I wouldn't see Christian tonight. Since his email more than a week ago requesting dinner, I'd been cautiously optimistic we might be able to find a way to make things work. I'd been horrified when he'd showed me what a real flogging felt like, but I was hoping that maybe we could take that off the menu? I was hoping that he cared enough to meet me half way.
When Jack and I arrived at the airport, Jack had tried every trick in his arsenal at check-in to get us seated together. However it hadn't been possible, and I'd happily accepted another seat. I'd ended up situated between two elderly ladies in coach at the rear of the plane. Still, I was grateful. I'd prefer six hours of innocuous, friendly chitchat than sitting beside Jack with his intrusive questions.
After a couple of hours, my travel companions settled in for a nap, and I decided to do likewise. I closed my eyes, my mind wandering to the last time I flew. I'd been blown away when I'd been upgraded to first class. It was just another example of the sweet things Christian did to look after me. My darling fifty. In the short weeks I'd known him, Christian had come to mean so much to me. Not only had he taken my virginity, I now knew he'd taken my heart.
I must have had a pleasant nap because I had a smile on my face when the flight attendant woke me a few hours later for a meal ahead of landing. My companions were also awake, so I settled into listening to more talk about grandchildren, craft, and social clubs.
I was one of the last to disembark at New York, but Jack was waiting for me in the arrivals lounge. I'd never been to LaGuardia or New York before, so I was grateful to have Jack there to guide me.
"I'll grab a trolley for the boxes," he volunteered. We'd both brought our clothes in carry-on baggage, but we'd checked the dozen boxes of materials for the book fair, so we'd need to collect them from special baggage claim. However, in less time than I thought, Jack and I were in a taxi and on our way to the Sheraton.
"New York is enormous," I gasped, my eyes as wide as saucers as we were in the back of the taxi headed for the hotel. I'd always wanted to go to New York, and I almost had to pinch myself to believe here I was.
Jack chuckled, shifting over toward me on the back seat of the taxi on the pretext of leaning over to point out some sights on my side of the vehicle. He was close enough that I could feel the heat of his body on my back, his breath on my neck making the hair there prickle uncomfortably. I wish he wouldn't sit so close, I thought, easing myself closer to the door.
"What's that over there?" I asked, spinning to point to something on his side of the taxi. I'd moved quickly, and rather than follow my gesture, Jack was regarding me with more interest than I liked. The expression on his face was unfathomable, but it gave me an uneasy feeling. Not for the first time I questioned the wisdom of coming on this trip. While it was indisputably an excellent opportunity, my subconscious kept warning me to keep my wits about me. Meanwhile, my inner goddess was sulking. Two days in New York meant two days more without Christian. As if seeing evidence of alarm on my face, Jack slowly turned to face the other window, moving back to his seat as he pointed out sights on his side of the vehicle. And then we were pulling up to the hotel.
We checked in within minutes, Jack handling the process while I people watched the foyer. A few other groups were checking in with copious boxes, so I pegged them as book fair attendees, too.
"We're all set," Jack said with a grin, passing me a cardboard pouch with my electronic room key. "We're both on the thirtieth floor," he explained, shouldering his bag. A bellboy was already wheeling the trolley of boxes toward the lift. Stepping inside, Jack kept up a steady stream of chat.
"I thought we could both freshen up, then go to the Library Bar? There are drinks there for the book fair attendees," Jack explained gesturing to the plastic card attached to a bright-red lanyard. "Because the arrangements for you to attend were made so late, I haven't had a chance to register you, but I'll do it tomorrow morning. In the meantime, you can come as my plus one."
I gave Jack a tight smile. Something about the way he'd said that made my skin crawl. I was relieved when I closed the door to my room a few minutes later, agreeing to meet Jack at the lift in fifteen minutes.
The room was lovely. Facing the opposite direction to Central Park, my view of the New York skyline was still enough to excite me. Flopping onto the king sized bed, I dropped my travel bag beside me, pulling out my phone. I was disappointed to see no messages from Christian. Maybe he was so angry he wasn't speaking to me? It was unlike him not to respond, although he could be mid-air, I reminded myself. Walking back to the doorway to my room, I snapped a couple of photos of the room and the skyline.
Landed safely and am at the hotel in New York. Hope to hear from you soon. I miss you so much, Ana
I sent the message and the photos before drawing the curtains and stripping off, climbing into the large shower. Giving myself only a minute or two under the spray, soon I was standing at the foot of the bed, trying to decide between a calf-length sweater dress or a tighter more form-fitting knee-length belted navy blue pencil dress. Recognizing this would probably be the only time all weekend I wouldn't be lugging boxes or doing some other manual labor, I settled for the blue with a pair of three-inch heels. Back in the bathroom, I pulled my hair into a high ponytail, carefully pining loose strands of hair back from my face. I spent the remaining few minutes applying mascara, a little eyeshadow and a neutral color lipstick. I wasn't going to fool myself that I'd be the best looking woman there, but I hoped I looked professional enough to blend in.
At the last minute, I realized I didn't have a suitable clutch with me, and an unfortunate side effect of the stretch material of the dress was that I didn't have any pockets. I didn't want to have to hold my room card, so I carefully tucked it in my bra.
'Not bad,' I thought, giving myself a final glance in the bathroom mirror before stepping out into the hallway, walking to meet Jack.
"You look sensational," he drawled, unashamedly looking me up and down as I approached where he was leaning against the wall beside the elevators. It wasn't the words themselves that creeped me out; it was the way Jack said them, and the look on his face. When Christian told me I looked good, his eyes would be filled with admiration. Jack's eyes looked calculating. Almost predatory. I shook my head and as my eyes met Jack's again, the moment was gone, and he had his usual slightly amused expression on his face.
"Shall we?" he asked as the lift doors opened in front of us. We stepped inside, only for Jack to recognize an associate from Random House. The two greeted each other, Jack quickly introducing me before focusing all of his attention on the other editor. And that suited me just fine! I trailed the two of them into The Library Bar, pausing at the entry to look about me. With large oversized sofas and walls filled with books, the bar looked just about perfect, to me.
Jack put his hand on my lower back, and I suppressed a shudder as he steered me across to another group of people he knew. Introducing me, he helped me join in their conversation before excusing himself to get us both a drink. A moment or two later he was back with a beer for him and some pink sickly-sweet looking confection for me. I regarded the cocktail, pursing my lips slightly. I'd much rather be drinking white wine like most of the other ladies present.
"I forgot to ask what you wanted, so the bartender recommended this," Jack smiled, passing it to me.
"That's fine, thank you," I replied, taking a sip.
For the next two hours, Jack worked the room, giving me a little background information on each group as we approached them. He was careful to introduce me, and include me in his conversations, and I was pleased to notice I wasn't the only assistant here. By 9:15 pm, the room was starting to clear, and we'd spoken to pretty much everyone there.
"How about I get us a final drink before we head upstairs?" Jack suggested.
I'd been careful to nurse the cocktail for as long as possible and fill up on the canapés servers had circulated around the room. I knew I was a lightweight where alcohol was concerned, and I didn't want to be like some of the others I'd witnessed tonight who'd had more than they should to drink.
"A white wine would be lovely," I said sinking onto one of the sofas, glad to be off my feet.
"Well I think that was a very successful start to the book fair," Jack grinned, returning with wine for me and another beer for himself. He seated himself at the other end of the sofa, chatting about inconsequential work matters. We'd only been sitting there for a few minutes when I felt myself starting to sweat. I was trying to follow what Jack was saying, but my mind was beginning to wander.
"Ana? Are you ok?" Jack asked, looking at me with concern.
"I'm not feeling very well," I stammered out, alarmed when I heard my voice slurring.
"How about we get you back to your room?" Jack suggested, standing up and offering me his hand. I used the armrest of the sofa to help me into an upright position, but I immediately started to sway. "I think someone's had a little too much to drink," Jack chuckled. "Let's get you upstairs so you can sleep it off."
He wrapped an arm around my waist and helped me across to the elevators. We climbed in, the car's only occupants, and then he was all over me. Forcing me up against the wall of the lift, Jack was pushing himself against me, his mouth capturing mine. And even in my confused state, I could feel his hardness against my thigh – his hands where they restrained mine.
My subconscious was screaming at me that he'd planned this. Jack had spiked my drink and was now going to try and force himself on me. He was so much stronger than me, and the ride in the elevator seemed to go forever. When the lift doors opened, I pushed Jack away from me with all my might, spinning to run down the corridor. If I could just get to my room I'd be safe, I reasoned. But in my befuddled state and wearing heels, I didn't stand a chance.
I felt Jack's hand grab my arm, and I started to stumble as he pulled to keep me upright.
"Don't be like that, Ana," he said, his blue eyes dancing with mischief and menace. "I just want to have a little fun…"
"Fun?" I repeated, trying to buy myself some time as Ray's instructions echoed through my head. Eyes, nose, knees, crotch.
"C'mon baby, don't you want to have some fun with me?" Jack coaxed.
Taking a small step back, I willed my aim to be true. And then I raised my foot, using the top of it to kick Jack as hard as I could between his legs. He bellowed in pain and outrage, sinking to his knees, and I used his incapacitation to escape. I wobbled as fast as I could – by some miracle finding my room, and the plastic card in my bra, and letting myself in.
I was sweaty and nauseous, and the room was tilting in a truly alarming manner. I tried to get to the bed, but a wave of nausea overcame me. I was on my hands and knees, vomiting on the floor. I knew I had to let someone know I was here and I was sick. I willed myself to crawl toward the phone, but the room was spinning now. I laid down on the floor for just a moment to refocus my energies. I didn't get up.
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