A/N: For those of you who complained about it being Caitie/Tyler, Caitie
will most definately not be with Tyler at the end.
*
Several years had passed since their wedding. They lived in a brand new tudor-style house in Buffalo, New York. They had a beautiful young daughter named Lizzie. They were living quite well, as not only was Tyler rich since his parents had been, but also his executive job was bringing plenty more money. Indeed, they could buy just about anything they desired. They should be happy, right? And they were.
Or so she thought.
She was at home, alone; Tyler was working late at the office and Lizzie was playing in her room. They had just finished eating and Caitie was working on clearing the dining room table and putting the dishes in the dishwasher when it happened.
Caitie looked up when she heard a low buzzing noise. She wasn't surprised to find Tyler's beeper vibrating on the kitchen counter where he had left it. He was paged quite often for work; it was nothing new. She tried to ignore it as she loaded the dishwasher with detergent. But...if it kept skittering around like that, it was going to end up falling on the floor. She might as well shut it off. She picked it up and casually glanced at the LCD as she turned the vibration off. A frown creased her forhead. 33? She had never seen that number before. She was about to disconcern it...but something about it tugged at the back of her mind until she couldn't take it anymore.
She flipped open Tyler's cell phone, which he had also left on the counter, and pressed 33, then call. If it was one of his friends from the office, she would just tell them he would call them back when he got home and hang up. But her breath caught in her throat when a woman answered.
"Hello, sweetie! Where are you? I thought you were coming at seven?"
Caitie quickly found her tongue. "Who is this?"
"I..." The person on the other end, who spoke with a rather suggestive French accent, faltered.
"Why are you calling my husband?"
"Oh my God! I'm sorry-"
"What's your name?"
"I...I had no idea...I'm sorry...I better go."
"No, you're not hanging up until you tell me what your name is or what the hell you're doing calling my husband!" She demanded.
But the strange woman only said "I'm sorry" one last time, and the line went dead.
Caitie couldn't believe this. No, no, there had to be a logical explaination for this. There HAD to be.
* * * * * * * *
Lizzie was fast asleep by the time he got home. Caitie was in the livingroom, picking up her toys, when he approached her.
"She paged you," she said, feeling his shadow fall over her.
Tyler looked bewildered. "Who?"
"Number thirty-three."
His smile visibly faded.
She looked up at him, her eyes shining with tears. "Who is she?"
Tyler ran nervous fingers through his sandy blonde hair. "Look...Caitie...I'm sorry..."
Those words were like a sharp knife twisting in her heart and looked away as she began sobbing.
"No, no, please don't cry..." he knelt down beside her, pulling her into a strong hug. "I'm so sorry...it was a stupid thing to do, and now more than ever, I wish I hadn't. But I promise, it was only a one time thing, and if you don't want me to see her again, believe me, I won't."
She looked at him incredulusly. "Of course I don't want you to see her again!"
Tyler shrugged, like it was just that simple. "Okay. Done."
Caitie couldn't believe this was happening. How could Tyler be cheating on her with some...some French slut? And how could he just apologize and say it wouldn't happen again and expect all to be instantly forgiven?! She rubbed at her eyes with the back of her hand. "Why, Tyler? I thought you were happy with me..."
"Oh, I am, I am!" he quickly nodded. "I just...I just don't know what I was thinking at the time...I wasn't thinking..."
Caitie hugged him back, burrying her face in his shoulder. She really wanted to fogive him, she didn't want to believe something like this could happen...
* * * * * * * *
A week had passed since the incident. Tyler was gone on yet another business trip. Caitie wasn't sure whether to be suspicious or not. Should she be questioning his honesty now? Should she be wondering if he was really alone? He said he wouldn't see that French girl anymore, but what was the signifigance of the thirty-three? Did that mean there were thirty- three other women? Maybe more? Caitie's head felt like it was going to explode.
This time Tyler had taken his cell phone and pager with him.
He was due home tonight, after being gone for two days. She would just...casually ask him about it then. She began setting the table for dinner when a pair of headlights marked his arrival as his car, a red BMW 850i, pulled into the driveway.
"Hi, honey," she greeted when he walked through the door.
"Hey," he gave her a hug and a peck on the cheek, but she pushed him away disgustedly.
"Chanel?"
"Hmm?"
"You reek of her perfume."
"I-"
"Save it, dinner's ready." She turned away bitterly.
Tyler hung his coat up. "Okay, so I went over there-"
"You promised you wouldn't."
"Okay, so I couldn't help myself, shoot me."
"Believe me, I would if I could."
"Well, isn't it better this way? No more sneaking around, or lying, or fake business trips...I can just say 'Okay, I'm going to Theresa's, be back around midnight,' and everything will be fine."
"You mean you're not going to stop seeing her?!" Caitie couldn't believe they were having this conversation!
"Stop?" Tyler laughed. "Why should I stop?" Caitie was speachless. "I mean, this is my house, I make all the money," he smirked. "So I set all the rules."
"Are you saying that if you want to go off and sleep with some other woman, it's okay and I have no say in it?! Doesn't the fact that I work too, that I clean and take care of your perfect house, that I'm raising your DAUGHTER account for ANYTHING?!"
Tyler snorted. "You call your pathetic little job at that diner work? Six or seven dollars an hour isn't a paycheck."
"You know what? Enough is enough! I don't know what the hell your problem is, but this has got to stop! I love you, and I thought we were happy, but I'll be damned if I'm just supposed to stand here and take it!" She yelled defiantly at him. "I'm not a doormat, I'm your wife! You can't just do this to your wife! hear that? You can't do this to me!"
She was silenced by the back of his hand.
"What?" he asked, indifferently. "I can't hit you? Caitie, I can do anything. I told you, I make the money, I make the rules."
"Well fine!" Caitie shouted back, clutching her stinging cheek. "Why don't you keep playing your stupid game, and keep making up your stupid rules! Why don't Lizzie and I just leave then-"
"You can't just run away with Lizzie, she's my daughter, and I love her. And I love you too, Caitie. Look, ever since I was younger, it's no big secret I've always gotten what I wanted, you know that. I guess you could call me spoiled. Well, I still want you. And even if you pack up and leave, I won't rest until I have you back here. And believe me, you have no idea just how far I'd go. Okay?" He smiled cheerfully. "I already ate at Theresa's house, so I think I'll just head to bed early now. Goodnight!" And with that he turned and walked towards the bedroom.
Caitie was nearly hopping with rage. WHAT RIGHT did he think he had to do this to his own WIFE?!
One thing was for sure, though. Enough was enough.
* * * * * * * *
The next day, Tyler was gone again. he had left early in the morning, before anyone had woken up. Who knew where he went, but Caitie didn't care. She was tired of wondering and worrying about him, and besides, his absence would make her job a lot easier.
She got up and got dressed, applying as much make-up as she could to hide the dark purple bruise on her left cheek.
Waking up her four-year-old daughter, she drove her to school, then made her way to the police station to find out a bit of information.
"Um...hello," she forced a smile as she walked up to the front desk.
"Hello, how can I help you?" the police man politely replied.
"I have a question...my...my friend, she has a husband who beats her up...how would she go about reporting that?"
"Well," he answered, "all she would have to do is fill out a report against him, and if she shows us any marks or injuries on her person, we can go out and arrest him."
"And what if he's rich, can he bail himself out?"
"Erm...well, yeah, if he has the money, yes, he can post bail on himself."
"So if my...friend goes out and gets him arrested and pisses him off, what's to stop him from posting bail and coming after her?"
"Well, you could get a restraining order."
"Oh, gee, a little piece of paper that says 'You can't come within ten feet of me?' And what does she do when he suddenly pops up at her house? Crumple it up and throw it at him?"
"No, she would call us."
Caitie chewed on her bottom lip, thoughtfully. This was not going the way she had hoped. "And what if there's a kid?"
"There's a child involved?" The officer seemed surprised. "Well, if it can be proven that the husband is a threat to the child, then the mother would get sole custody. But if it can't, then that's a matter for the family court to decide."
"Thank you," Caitie sighed disappointedly, walking out of the police station. The cops were of no help. But she wasn't going to let him walk all over her anymore. She would find a way out.
*
*
A/N: See, it wasn't as lame as the first chapter sounded, was it? Please review if you'd like me to continue.
*
Several years had passed since their wedding. They lived in a brand new tudor-style house in Buffalo, New York. They had a beautiful young daughter named Lizzie. They were living quite well, as not only was Tyler rich since his parents had been, but also his executive job was bringing plenty more money. Indeed, they could buy just about anything they desired. They should be happy, right? And they were.
Or so she thought.
She was at home, alone; Tyler was working late at the office and Lizzie was playing in her room. They had just finished eating and Caitie was working on clearing the dining room table and putting the dishes in the dishwasher when it happened.
Caitie looked up when she heard a low buzzing noise. She wasn't surprised to find Tyler's beeper vibrating on the kitchen counter where he had left it. He was paged quite often for work; it was nothing new. She tried to ignore it as she loaded the dishwasher with detergent. But...if it kept skittering around like that, it was going to end up falling on the floor. She might as well shut it off. She picked it up and casually glanced at the LCD as she turned the vibration off. A frown creased her forhead. 33? She had never seen that number before. She was about to disconcern it...but something about it tugged at the back of her mind until she couldn't take it anymore.
She flipped open Tyler's cell phone, which he had also left on the counter, and pressed 33, then call. If it was one of his friends from the office, she would just tell them he would call them back when he got home and hang up. But her breath caught in her throat when a woman answered.
"Hello, sweetie! Where are you? I thought you were coming at seven?"
Caitie quickly found her tongue. "Who is this?"
"I..." The person on the other end, who spoke with a rather suggestive French accent, faltered.
"Why are you calling my husband?"
"Oh my God! I'm sorry-"
"What's your name?"
"I...I had no idea...I'm sorry...I better go."
"No, you're not hanging up until you tell me what your name is or what the hell you're doing calling my husband!" She demanded.
But the strange woman only said "I'm sorry" one last time, and the line went dead.
Caitie couldn't believe this. No, no, there had to be a logical explaination for this. There HAD to be.
* * * * * * * *
Lizzie was fast asleep by the time he got home. Caitie was in the livingroom, picking up her toys, when he approached her.
"She paged you," she said, feeling his shadow fall over her.
Tyler looked bewildered. "Who?"
"Number thirty-three."
His smile visibly faded.
She looked up at him, her eyes shining with tears. "Who is she?"
Tyler ran nervous fingers through his sandy blonde hair. "Look...Caitie...I'm sorry..."
Those words were like a sharp knife twisting in her heart and looked away as she began sobbing.
"No, no, please don't cry..." he knelt down beside her, pulling her into a strong hug. "I'm so sorry...it was a stupid thing to do, and now more than ever, I wish I hadn't. But I promise, it was only a one time thing, and if you don't want me to see her again, believe me, I won't."
She looked at him incredulusly. "Of course I don't want you to see her again!"
Tyler shrugged, like it was just that simple. "Okay. Done."
Caitie couldn't believe this was happening. How could Tyler be cheating on her with some...some French slut? And how could he just apologize and say it wouldn't happen again and expect all to be instantly forgiven?! She rubbed at her eyes with the back of her hand. "Why, Tyler? I thought you were happy with me..."
"Oh, I am, I am!" he quickly nodded. "I just...I just don't know what I was thinking at the time...I wasn't thinking..."
Caitie hugged him back, burrying her face in his shoulder. She really wanted to fogive him, she didn't want to believe something like this could happen...
* * * * * * * *
A week had passed since the incident. Tyler was gone on yet another business trip. Caitie wasn't sure whether to be suspicious or not. Should she be questioning his honesty now? Should she be wondering if he was really alone? He said he wouldn't see that French girl anymore, but what was the signifigance of the thirty-three? Did that mean there were thirty- three other women? Maybe more? Caitie's head felt like it was going to explode.
This time Tyler had taken his cell phone and pager with him.
He was due home tonight, after being gone for two days. She would just...casually ask him about it then. She began setting the table for dinner when a pair of headlights marked his arrival as his car, a red BMW 850i, pulled into the driveway.
"Hi, honey," she greeted when he walked through the door.
"Hey," he gave her a hug and a peck on the cheek, but she pushed him away disgustedly.
"Chanel?"
"Hmm?"
"You reek of her perfume."
"I-"
"Save it, dinner's ready." She turned away bitterly.
Tyler hung his coat up. "Okay, so I went over there-"
"You promised you wouldn't."
"Okay, so I couldn't help myself, shoot me."
"Believe me, I would if I could."
"Well, isn't it better this way? No more sneaking around, or lying, or fake business trips...I can just say 'Okay, I'm going to Theresa's, be back around midnight,' and everything will be fine."
"You mean you're not going to stop seeing her?!" Caitie couldn't believe they were having this conversation!
"Stop?" Tyler laughed. "Why should I stop?" Caitie was speachless. "I mean, this is my house, I make all the money," he smirked. "So I set all the rules."
"Are you saying that if you want to go off and sleep with some other woman, it's okay and I have no say in it?! Doesn't the fact that I work too, that I clean and take care of your perfect house, that I'm raising your DAUGHTER account for ANYTHING?!"
Tyler snorted. "You call your pathetic little job at that diner work? Six or seven dollars an hour isn't a paycheck."
"You know what? Enough is enough! I don't know what the hell your problem is, but this has got to stop! I love you, and I thought we were happy, but I'll be damned if I'm just supposed to stand here and take it!" She yelled defiantly at him. "I'm not a doormat, I'm your wife! You can't just do this to your wife! hear that? You can't do this to me!"
She was silenced by the back of his hand.
"What?" he asked, indifferently. "I can't hit you? Caitie, I can do anything. I told you, I make the money, I make the rules."
"Well fine!" Caitie shouted back, clutching her stinging cheek. "Why don't you keep playing your stupid game, and keep making up your stupid rules! Why don't Lizzie and I just leave then-"
"You can't just run away with Lizzie, she's my daughter, and I love her. And I love you too, Caitie. Look, ever since I was younger, it's no big secret I've always gotten what I wanted, you know that. I guess you could call me spoiled. Well, I still want you. And even if you pack up and leave, I won't rest until I have you back here. And believe me, you have no idea just how far I'd go. Okay?" He smiled cheerfully. "I already ate at Theresa's house, so I think I'll just head to bed early now. Goodnight!" And with that he turned and walked towards the bedroom.
Caitie was nearly hopping with rage. WHAT RIGHT did he think he had to do this to his own WIFE?!
One thing was for sure, though. Enough was enough.
* * * * * * * *
The next day, Tyler was gone again. he had left early in the morning, before anyone had woken up. Who knew where he went, but Caitie didn't care. She was tired of wondering and worrying about him, and besides, his absence would make her job a lot easier.
She got up and got dressed, applying as much make-up as she could to hide the dark purple bruise on her left cheek.
Waking up her four-year-old daughter, she drove her to school, then made her way to the police station to find out a bit of information.
"Um...hello," she forced a smile as she walked up to the front desk.
"Hello, how can I help you?" the police man politely replied.
"I have a question...my...my friend, she has a husband who beats her up...how would she go about reporting that?"
"Well," he answered, "all she would have to do is fill out a report against him, and if she shows us any marks or injuries on her person, we can go out and arrest him."
"And what if he's rich, can he bail himself out?"
"Erm...well, yeah, if he has the money, yes, he can post bail on himself."
"So if my...friend goes out and gets him arrested and pisses him off, what's to stop him from posting bail and coming after her?"
"Well, you could get a restraining order."
"Oh, gee, a little piece of paper that says 'You can't come within ten feet of me?' And what does she do when he suddenly pops up at her house? Crumple it up and throw it at him?"
"No, she would call us."
Caitie chewed on her bottom lip, thoughtfully. This was not going the way she had hoped. "And what if there's a kid?"
"There's a child involved?" The officer seemed surprised. "Well, if it can be proven that the husband is a threat to the child, then the mother would get sole custody. But if it can't, then that's a matter for the family court to decide."
"Thank you," Caitie sighed disappointedly, walking out of the police station. The cops were of no help. But she wasn't going to let him walk all over her anymore. She would find a way out.
*
*
A/N: See, it wasn't as lame as the first chapter sounded, was it? Please review if you'd like me to continue.