Free Phoenix: The Beauty in Between (A Beautiful Series Companion Novel) by Lilliana Anderson Page A

up,” he
growls. In a panic, I do as he says and climb back onto the chair
in front of him, my whole body shaking in fear as I do. “Now tell
me exactly what happened.”
    I take a deep
breath and relay everything that went on in the bathroom and how I
escaped the cop. I couldn’t meet his eyes while I was talking. I
was too afraid of what I’d see there.
    When I finish,
he’s still standing in front of me, his hands on his hips as he
shakes his head from side to side.
    “What are the
rules at those things Paige?”
    “Sell until
they know I’m there and leave before I’m found out,” I rattle off
immediately.
    “You stayed too
long,” he accuses me.
    “I got held
up,” I protest in a whisper.
    He grabs my
face roughly in his hand and squeezes my cheeks together. “You
don’t get held up!” he yells into my face, pushing my head back
forcefully as he takes a step away from me.
    “I’m sorry!” I
cry out pleadingly. Tears start to burn hot in my eyes, but I
refuse to let them fall.
    “So am I Paige!
I’m fucking sorry too! The cops know what you look like. I can’t
take you out anymore. You’re no good to me. Do you understand that?
You’re fucking no good.”
    “Jeff no! It
was only one cop. Just one! The other one didn’t even get the
chance to see me.”
    “And you
knocked her out, then kneed him in the fucking balls!
He’s not likely to forget you anytime soon!”
    “We can change
my hair! I can still sell, I promise you! It won’t ever happen
again.”
    “Just. Just get
out.”
    “What?”
    “Get the fuck
out Paige.”
    My mouth falls
open as I realise he’s serious.
    “No. Please
don’t do this to me. I can still sell! Just give me another
chance!” I beg.
    “Get. Out.” he
growls through clenched teeth.
    “Please Jeff!
I…I love you!”
    Suddenly he
starts laughing. “You love me? Oh my god. You love me?! Really?
Wow. You are far more stupid than I gave you credit for.”
    “Why are you
laughing!?” I screech.
    “Because Paige.
You’re just a little girl, and not a very bright one at that.
Actually, I’m stunned that you didn’t get found out sooner than
this. And it’s been good Paige, it’s been fun. You’ve got a sweet
cunt and a tight little arse. I’ve enjoyed you. But if you can’t
sell. You’re a liability, and I don’t do charity.”
    I just sit
there staring at him, shaking my head from side to side in
disbelief.
    Suddenly he
holds his finger up, and starts walking backwards, away from me.
“You know what. You made me smile just now, so let me help you
out.” He disappears into the bedroom and returns with a back pack,
stuffing handfuls of my clothing inside it and shoves it at my
chest. “Now get out.”
    “No please,
we’re good together. Don’t do this Jeff. Where will I go?”
    “I don’t care.
I really couldn’t care less.”
    He pushes me
roughly toward the door, and I fight against it the whole way. I’m
petrified of being on my own again. I drop my bag as we reach the
door and put my arms and legs out against the frame so he can’t
push me through as I beg him not to throw me out.
    But he’s
stronger than me and pins my arms and legs to my body, then
physically throws me on the front lawn outside. I land with a thud
that knocks the air painfully from my chest. In the time it takes
to get back on my feet, my bag has come sailing out and he’s locked
the door.
    “Shit!” I say
to myself, slapping and kicking my heel on the damp grass beneath
me. “Fuck!” I get up to my knees and pick up my bag, pushing
everything inside it so I can at least close the zip.
    I can’t believe
this just happened. I can’t believe someone I cared so much about
could do this to me. We’ve shared our lives together. How can this
just be over so suddenly?
    My mind does
its usual thing, and reminds me that my parents were supposed to
love me, and they threw me out for a lot less than this. Why
wouldn’t Jeff do the same thing?
    I stand and
look at the