Chapter 6: Thoughtless
Mary rushed out to her car and started the engine. She knew where she was going, Greg had mentioned where he was staying to her plenty of time that day. The drive there was a short one. The only thing on her mind at the moment was Greg. How Greg had managed to turn one of her friends into a trader and then an innocent man into a drunk. All to get to her. This was as far as she could handle.
Once she arrived at the hotel, she got up to the right floor and located the room. Taking a minute, she closed her eyes and gathered herself. Gently then, she grabbed for the doorknob and opened the door.
"Mary?" Greg asked. He was sitting on the edge of the bed looking over a file. He closed the folder and tossed it to the side. "What are you doing here? Finally come to your senses?" Slowly, he stood up and started to walk towards her.
"You know damn well why I'm here!" she hissed as she backed away from him.
"Please," Greg said. "Inform me."
"That's what I would like you to do. All you have done since you have gotten here is try to torture me! Is this some sick and twisted way of trying to win me back?" Mary was desperate, but she tried her hardest to cover it up. The last thing she needed was to be vulnerable around him.
Greg smiled. "Now come on, I'm not that stupid. I don't think that all of these little stunts, the listening in on you and Rhoda during and telling David about little secret, are going to make you like me."
"Lunch?" Mary asked. Her face softened as she started to star off into the distance. "You followed Rhoda and me to lunch?" she asked. Now she was just more shocked than anything. She was also beginning to feel bad for what she had done earlier, going in and yelling at Lou.
"Well, it was more like you followed me, but whatever story you like better." The smug look on his face was enough to make her want to strangle him.
"So naturally you tell me that Lou told you?" she asked. There was no questioning why, it was obvious.
"Of course. It was more fun that way. As a matter of fact, the only reason I let you in on my little secret now was only because I wanted you to know."
"Excuse me?" she asked, not quite understanding what he was trying to get at.
Greg leaned on the arm of the couch and smiled to Mary. "I wanted you to know how much I can mess with you and your life. I want you to see just how miserable I can make you. How I can twist things to turn you against your friends. I mean, look at what had just happened. You believed that Lou really had told me about the baby. You left work steaming mad at him, and then probably sat at home crying to either Rhoda or Phyllis about how life isn't fair and how you trusted him and he let you down."
Mary stood there, shocked and angered by his words. Never before had felt both this threatened by someone, and this much actual hate towards someone. Never before this had she even known that she could actually feel hate. "Fuck you," she sternly said and then turned and started for the door. That was one of the first times she had ever said that to someone, but this time had certainly called for it. As a matter of fact, that was the nicest thing she could think to say to him right now.
"You wanna know what I want?"
Mary stopped before the door. She hesitated for a moment, but then finally turned back to him. "Will you stop all of this if I say yes to whatever you're about to ask me?"
"Yes," Greg said.
Mary sighed and completely turned to see him. "What is it?" She knew she was going to regret those words, but whatever it was, it couldn't be any worse than what he was doing right now.
"I want custody of the baby," he said.
Mary laughed. "What?" she nervously asked.
Greg stood up. "My wife found out that she couldn't have a baby. You, however, happen to be carrying mine. I think I want it."
"You can't possibly be trying to bargain a human being," Mary said. Without thinking about it, her hand slid over her abdomin. For the first time, she had really began to feel protective over this baby. "I'm sorry that your wife has to suffer for this, but you don't deserve a child. I don't even think you're capable of acting like a half way decent father."
Greg sighed. "All right, look, I get it. Okay? You don't want to completely give it up. How about visiting rights?"
Mary had to quickly think. "I don't want to give it up because I'm not keeping it Greg! I'm not keeping some bastard child formed from a cheap, filthy affair!"
There was a look betray in Greg's eyes. For the first time, she had seen something in his face, a vulnerablity to him. She had truly just hurt him. "What? You mean an abortion? Just got rid of it?"
"Yes," Mary said.
"I want to be there when you have it done," Greg said.
"You can't," Mary argued. "Its a private procedure, they would never let a man stand in there and watch."
"I don't have to be in the room. I can just stay out in the waiting room."
Mary shook her head. "No!" Her eyes began to water, but she didn't bother to hide it anymore. "This is something that I have got to do alone."
Greg was getting irritated. "Fine!" He went over to her. "I'll help you out then." He raised his hand and punched her. He was going for her stomach, but Mary quickly turned and crouched causing him to hit her sighed as he stood back and watched her. "Just what I thought," he said. "You don't want it gone. You just want me gone."
"And why do you think that is?" Mary stood up straight and warily looked to him. "Right now I am willing to do anythign to get rid of you, even get rid of the baby." She stopped and sniffled as she wiped her eyes. "I don't care if you go out and ruin my reputation, cheapen my name, I don't care. Just as long as you leave me alone. I might even let you hit me once or twice more, anything, just as long as you stay the hell away from me afterwards." She was now just starting to ramble. Desperation and exhaustion were never the best two things to be when in a situation like this.
Greg crossed his arms and looked her over for a moment. "Anything?" he asked raising his eyebrow.
Mary sighed. "What do you want?"
"We're alone right now. Go ahead and see if you can guess."
"No!" Mary quickly snapped. "You already made me the other woman once, I'll be damned if you think you're going to do it again." Mary turned and started to storm out of the room, but he rushed over and grabbed her wrist. Mary froze and then turned back to glare at him as she tried to pull free, but his grip was getting tighter and tighter. She could feel her wrist beginning to bruise. "Let go or I'll scream rape," she warned.
Greg sighed as he let go. "Fine, but this means that I won't be leaving you alone anytime soon. I hope you're happy with your decision."
Mary left the apartment and slammed the door behind her. She had had enough for one night and just needed to go home. The last thing she wanted to think about was how she was about to deal with all of this the next day at work. There was no telling what he was about to do, but she did know one thing now, she could trust everyone but him, even Mr. Grant.
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
Mary went to the first place that she had thought to go to. To see the person that she needed to see, that she needed right now. The one that she knew would never betray her, and had never betrayed her.
Standing there at the door, she tried to gather herself before she knocked. It didn't take long, but once she was ready, she went ahead and knocked. There was some noise and soon enough, the door opened. "I'm sorry," she said as soon as she saw him there.
Lou stood there and looked her over. Hair messy, make up stained around her eyes from crying, a bruised shoulder and wrist. "What happened?" he asked in shock. This was not the way he ever expected to see her. Now he truly was worried. In the back of his head, he knew what had happened. It didn't take a genius to narrow down the men that she had been talking about lately, to figure out which one had a reason to hurt her.
"I talked to him," Mary said.
Lou stood there with his mouth agape. "And he did this to you?" Lou asked as he gently lifted her wrist.
Mary just nodded. Lou put his hand on her back and lead her inside and over to the living room. "I really am sorry about earlier. I should have known to trust you more than that creep."
"Its okay. Really." Lou continued to stare at her. He look as if he were trying to figure something out, plan something, "Now, he's staying at the same place right?"
Mary looked up to him with surprise. She had seen this man get angry before. On a good day he would yell at Ted a few times. She had seen him chew out the entire staff before. But the anger that was in his eyes right now, was something that she had never seen before. A lingering hate that was waiting to break loose. It left her in a guessing game as to what he was going to do next, and it scared her. "Mr. Grant, I really think," she started, but got cut off.
"Think what Mary? That I should just ignore what he did?" He paced over towards the coat rack and grabbed his coat. "You know what I think? I think you should tell me where he's at and not worry about what's going to happen next."
Mary sighed in defeat. There was no stopping him, and as much as she hated to admit it, part of her was glad. "Same place as last time. About five or ten minutes away from where I live."
Lou went over and stood by the door. "Tell my wife I'll be back soon." As soon as the door was open, he was gone.
Mary watched him leave, and then leaned her head back on the chair and closed her eyes.
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
Greg sat on the chair in the room as he stared off into space. The one thing that he wanted more than anything was the woman that had just left him. Something that he knew he could never have again. He wanted to be with Mary, and the fact that she hated him, somehow made him want her even more. What once was a fun little romance was starting to turn into some twisted obsession. A goal set in his mind, one that would not allow him to rest until he accomplished it.
"Greg?"
Greg jumped and looked over towards the door. "What is it Lou?" he asked, making it known that he was annoyed by his presence.
Lou shut the door behind him. "Did you know that before you, Mary had to be one of the happiest people I knew?"
"What about it?"
Lou walked closer. "I don't think you understand where I'm getting at," he said as he leaned on the back of another chair that was facing Greg.
Greg sat up and huffed. "No, I don't. I would appreciate it if you would please just make your point and get the hell out of here."
Lou stood up and raised his eyebrow. "My point is, you hit her again, even touch her, and I'll make sure that you'll never be able to bother her again. You got it?"
Greg stood up. "That a threat?"
Lou shook his head. "No, just some useful advice from one friend to another."
"I don't need any of your 'advice'."
"Look, just watch yourself. That girl that you just hurt is like a daughter to me. And trust me, I don't put up with any bullshit from punks thinking that they can screw with one of my daughters. She comes to me one more time with any signs of abuse and you'll be lucky just to be alive after I'm through with you."
Greg nodded to show his understanding. Carefully, he walked over to the door and opened it. "I think you've made your point," he said as he motioned for him to leave.
"As long as you understand," Lou said and then left.
Greg stood there and watched him leave before closing the door. "She had better not go running to him any more."
I understand
You need to switch the roles around
And despise me for the fact that we didn't last
And I will be your punching bag
If you'll stay in my past
I understand
To want to have mature dialouge
Is too much to ask
And I will be your one regret
If you'll stay in my past
~ If You'll Stay in my Past by Maria Mena
Sorry about the long delay. I was gone on vacation. I hope this one was worth the wait. Let me know what you think.