A/N: Trigger Warning Domestic Violence

Chapter Two

Lunch From Hell and the Aftermath

"Mercedes sweetheart, how are you?"

"Hey moma. I'm doing okay." Mercedes said to her mother who was scanning the menu at their favorite Italian restaurant.

"Well don't you look just... what on earth are you wearing baby?" Her mother Georgia asked giving her a once over with a displeased look.

"It's called a suit." Mercedes retorted sitting down and grabbing her own menu even though her mind wasn't on food, she was thinking about Sam and how good his hand felt against her skin.

"Sweetheart you shouldn't be wearing that to see your husband. You have a lovely figure why not show it?"

"You know damn well Shane doesn't like for me to wear form fitting clothes." Mercedes said rolling her eyes.

"Oh... well if this is what he likes then good for you for pleasing him." Her mother said quickly changing her tone and patting her daughters hand just as the waitress approached them. They ordered and had a small dispute on Mercedes getting wine but ended up agreeing one glass was fine.

"So how's the Interior decorating business treating you?"

"Great.. busy, busy, busy."

"And Shane's okay with you working?"

"Is he ever okay with anything I do?"

"Honey you have a man not a child and he only wants what is best for you... maybe you should take a break and work on having a baby I know he's expressed that he wanted kids. Why haven't you given him any yet it's been 5 years."

"I can have a child and work... I'm just not ready." Mercedes said lying because she wanted kids just not with him. She looked at her mother for a moment and wished her father was still alive because she could talk to him about anything.

"I know you can but if he doesn't want you to, you shouldn't. Have you be pleasuring him regularly?"

"Excuse me? That's none of your business... he takes it whenever he wants it if you must know." She replied hoping her mother heard what she said but she seemed to only care that her son in law was satisfied.

"That's good honey, it'll happen soon enough." Georgia replied as their food was brought out to them. They are in silence only speaking every so often before Mercedes couldn't take it any longer.

"Moma... I want to leave Shane." She said softly but sternly. Her mother closed her eyes and took a deep breath before placing her fork down and wiping her mouth.

"Why?" She asked looking at her daughter with dark eyes.

"You know why! I can't deal with it any longer... it's becoming too much."

"If you did as he told you wouldn't have those problems."

"You're blaming me? I'm your fucking child not him!"

"Watch your mouth and if you didn't insist on pissing him off so much maybe things would easier. Now we both you have a mouth on you and you need to learn to keep somethings to yourself, I've given you everything, you owe me and it's time you pay me back. I've grown accustomed to the lifestyle he's provided for me and you so you will not be leaving him and you will start acting better! Now fix your face and finish your food."

"I owe you? I didn't give birth to myself! I didn't ask to be here and I damn sure didn't asked to for this fucked up marriage! Since you like him so much why didn't you marry him?" Mercedes said through her napkin on her plate and sitting back in her chair.

"He didn't want me, he wanted you so I gave him you." Her mother replied rolling her eyes and shrugging.

"Goodbye, moma. Oh and you know damn well daddy wouldn't have allowed any of this shit!" Mercedes said before getting up and leaving, she knew coming to her mother would end this way but she'd hoped that she would at least treat her like a mother treats a child they love, but that was the thing... her mother only loved her when she could do things for her and Shane just so happened to be the best thing. She pulled out her phone and saw there was missed calls from Shane and one from Tina and another from and unknown number, she knew she would call Shane back but didn't have the energy to entertain his bullshit so she texted Tina and told her she'd call her back later and dialed the unknown number.

"Hi, yes I had a missed call from this number?"

"Hi Mrs. Tinsley." Mercedes froze when she heard the voice.

"Oh umm hi Mr. Evans... how- how can I help you?"

"I wanted my lie to be convincing." He said with a soft chuckle before continuing.

"You were right by the way. He came about thirty minutes after you left."

"That's Shane for you. I hope he wasn't rude.."

"No, I understand I would probably be that way of you were my wife."

"I would hope not, don't ever treat your wife the way he treats me." She said without thinking.

"How does he treat you?"

"Huh?"

"You said don't ever treat my wife the way he treats you so I asked how does he treat you."

"... umm I didn't meant anything by it just... I should probably go and I'm happy I could help keep the lie intact."

"I didn't mean to pry."

"No. It's nothing you said just had a rather intense lunch with my mother so I'm a little on edge."

"Care to share? I'm a great listener."

"I'd rather not but thank you I'll keep it mind."

"Well Mrs. Tinsley, I called because I really am interested in redecorating and wondered if you could come by and give me an assessment?"

"I ... ah umm, don't see why that would be an issue. When were you wanting to have me come over?" She asked pulling out a pen and one of her note pads to write down his response.

"Are you free next week... say Wednesday at 11?" He asked

"That sounds great. I'll have my assistant call you tomorrow to get your information and address and get you scheduled."

"Sounds great Mrs. Tinsley! I look forward to seeing you again."

"Please call me Mercedes."

"Well Mercedes I hope your day gets better and I'll see you Wednesday."

"You too Mr. Evans." She said smiling hanging up and handing the valet her ticket so they could get her car for her. She was excited about working with Mr. Evans and couldn't wait to tell Tina.

…

Mercedes walked into her office and was greeted by her assistant and good friend Tina with a warm smile and a shot in her hand.

"Figured you'd need after having lunch with your mother today." She said handing her the s shot and taking her purse. Mercedes laughed and quickly downed the drink and letting out some air and it went down her throat. She took off the suit jacket and hung it up unbuttoning her blouse slightly and letting her hair down, her office was her sanctuary she was able to be Mercedes Jones not Mrs. Tinsley or Shane's wife.

"I needed that… hey I have a new client too." Mercedes said as Tina sat down in front of her.

"Yeah? You also got a fax and someone sent over these, I can tell they're not from Shane because there's a card." Tina said nodding over to the vase of flowers that were on the counter, Mercedes tilted her head and looked at them suspiciously before grabbing the card and opening it.

It was lovely meeting you today Mrs. Tinsley and I look forward to seeing you again for my assessment."

-Sam

"Oh no…" She said taking a deep breath before getting up and grabbing the flowers and throwing them into the trash and putting the card through the shredder.

"Tina, we're closing early and I need to-" Before she could finish the door jingled and she turned around letting out a deep groan.

"Tina go home." She said calmly keeping her eyes fixed on her husband who stood there with a dirty smile on his face.

"You sure, I don't mind staying." Tina said hesitantly not wanting to leave her alone.

"She's sure." Shane answered for her and began moving towards Mercedes who threw her head back and let out a deep breath rubbing her forehead.

"It's fine T, I'll call you later okay?" She turned and said with a smile. Tina nodded and grabbed her things before gently squeezing her hand and walking out of the door, Shane walked backwards towards the door and locked it his eyes growing dangerous and the smile changed to a frown. She braced herself for what was about to come shaking her head and she stood there waiting patiently for him to speak.

"You know, I asked Evans why you were in his office so long and he told me that you agreed to help him redecorate his home but what didn't seem to sit well with me is that you know I don't like you having male clients. So care to explain that?"

"Shane, I was going to give the job to Tina like I always have when I got male clients." She replied looking directly at him.

"You see I would believe you but then I watched you throw those flowers away after reading the note… so that makes me believe you had no intentions of giving the job to Tina."

"What? You were watching me again? You have to stop doing that Shane! I have never given you any reason to think I would cheat on you and I never throw your flowers away so that should tell you something!"

"You love me that's why you never through them away but that doesn't excuse what happened in my office today or you meeting alone with Evans." Shane said moving closer to her, she stepped back and shook her head.

"I had to get my purse and he asked what I did for a living… nothing outside of business was ever exch-" She was cut off by his fist making contact with her face, then another blow made contact with her lip before she could even react he had her on the ground hitting her over and over again before he brought his heavy foot up and kicked her in her stomach.

"Don't let that shit happen again! I don't know why it's so hard for you to fucking listen, oh and don't think for one second I'm done with you! Your mother called me today talking about you wanted to leave me, care to explain that?" He asked but before she could register what he asked he slapped her and pushed her back against her desk so hard the wind was knocked out of her. As she gasped for air he grabbed her hair and pulled her head back so that she was eye to eye with to him.

"You will go him and clean yourself up and you won't leave until those bruises are gone and if you try the same shit you did last time I will shut this little business of yours down. As for Evans, I'll make sure he knows you fell ill and your assistant will be helping instead." Shane said releasing her and walking towards the door then unlocking it and leaving.

Mercedes fell to the ground crying softly and shaking, her head was spinning and she knew one of her ribs had to have been bruised or cracked but knew better than to go to the hospital looking the way she did. She sat there asking why this was happening to her and wished her father was there to save her but she knew she would have to save herself. She stood as best as she could, her vision was blurry and she tasted the blood coming from her lip as she slowly walked to the door and locked it so no one else could come in and see her that way.

She went to her bathroom and cleaned her face before lifting her shirt and seeing her brown fleshing already turning blue and purple, her hands were shaking but she needed to feel if it was broken or just badly bruised. Since it wasn't her first kick to the stomach she knew the difference and was thankful this time it was just badly bruised, she rain her hands through her hair and felt the warm sticky liquid and felt a small patch of hair was missing. She heard her phone buzz and knew it was Shane, she quickly cleaned the blood off of the sink and off the floor that dripped from her mouth then she cleaned up her office finding her hair and wiping down any surface she could find that had blood on it before answer his text telling him she was headed home now even though that was the last place on earth she'd rather be…

So... this was a heavy chapter and it doesn't get much better in the next... also I hate her mother and I really hate Shane! This will be a slow build to Samcedes but bare with me because it will get better!