Thirteen (Betsy)

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Monday morning, I put my two weeks' notice in at Chapman Holdings. I didn't bother letting Anthony know I wasn't going to return to work for him on the tenth floor. I figured that was a given. So, I'd let the head of the janitorial staff know.

Working those last two weeks, I'd been on pins and needles, wondering if I'd see Anthony or if he'd come looking for me. There had been no reason to worry however. I didn't see him the whole time and when I left, on my last day I'd stood outside the building. I glared up at the tenth floor, but even that hadn't conjured him, so I turned my back on the building and headed for the bus stop.

I planned on attaching myself to a beach chair and getting lost in a good book for the entire weekend, because Monday morning I was scheduled to start a new job. Ironically, the coffee shop that Anthony had tried to hostilely take over had been looking for an assistant manager. It had been a long shot, as I didn't have any managerial experience and I'd expected backlash from being associated with Anthony, but I'd been pleasantly surprised.

Henry and Paulette Henderson were two of the nicest people I'd ever met. When I'd shown up for my interview, Paulette had said, "I've had a feeling about you, even when you arrived with Anthony Chapman before. You're not like those Corporate jerks."

Their grandson, Riley, hadn't been so sure. He'd conducted most of the interview and he really put me through the ringer. I hadn't minded though and had, in fact, been expecting that. So, I'd laid everything on the line. By the time I was done, the Henderson's knew everything there was to know about me. From losing my parents, to my grandma, to foster care, to Chapman Holdings, and even about falling in love with The Beast. It was probably too much to reveal such personal things, during a job interview, but it worked out. They'd hired me on the spot, and I was so excited, but nervous.

Now, however, I had one last thing to do before I could move onto the next chapter of my life. So I took the bus downtown, to a little café I'd never been to before. I'd managed to track down a phone number for Grace Mitchell, a few days ago, and set up a time to meet with her. I just needed someone to talk to who also knew Anthony. It maybe wasn't the best move I'd ever made but I had nothing left to lose.

"Betsy, hi!" Grace waved me over as soon as I entered. I declined ordering anything when a waitress arrived, but Grace was having none of that. "Oh, you have to try one of their flavored teas, at the very least. They have a dozen different flavors, and they make them with real fruit!"

I smiled at the waitress, "Strawberry tea, please."

"Now, to what do I own the pleasure of this meeting? I'd been hoping it would be a meeting with happy news, but the long look on your face tells me otherwise. What happened?"

"He's...I've tried, Grace. I can't get through to him. He's so stuck in the past and seems to continue to blame himself for things he had no control over. I just...can't get through and I can't keep putting myself out there for him to keeping stomping on me. I may be in love with him, but there is only so much I can take. I mean, I was a virgin before him!"

"Oh, my Goodness."  Grace placed a startled hand on her chest and glanced around, nervously checking to see if anyone had overheard me.  I was past caring.

I kept going, "And what does he do the next morning? He goes right back to being a jackass. He showed me how sweet he can be and then took it right back. He's giving me whiplash and I can't put up with it anymore. I mean, I wasn't expecting a proposal for God's sake, but would it have killed him to tell me good morning? Instead, he yelled at me for going through his things. I opened one drawer to get a damned shirt!"

"Well, it sounds like your mind is made up. What do you need from me?" Grace asked, softly.

"Permission to let him go, I guess." I muttered, while tears began to flow down my cheeks.

"You don't need my permission, Sweet Girl. You need to listen to your head, as well as your heart. What are they telling you?"

"They're not on the same page." I whined.

Grace smiled and nodded, "Your head is saying let him go, but your heart disagrees?"

I nodded, sadly, "I quit Chapman Holdings. I guess I don't know if you even know I worked there. I've worked there for over five years, but Anthony and I just met recently. Is it even possible to fall in love with someone so quickly?"

Grace shrugged, "I don't think there is any set time. I think our hearts know even before we do sometimes."

"He thinks he's a villain." I blurt, at random.

"Anthony?" Grace asked, frowning.

"Yes. He told me his Grandfather whispered some nonsense about heroes dying young and villains living a long time...or something. I think what happened to Gloria and the baby...it broke him and now he sees no other option than to be the villain."

Grace shook her head, "It was long before Gloria that he thought this. I think he saw Gloria as an escape of that life. When he met her he finally believed in love and family. Before and after Gloria...not so much. Look, Betsy, I can't tell you what to do. I can't see into the future and tell you if Anthony will ever get over his past. I can only tell you that you must look out for yourself first. Take some time. Start your new job. See what happens. You never know, Anthony may surprise you."

"You think so?"

Grace shrugged, "Miracles can happen."

I sighed. Sure. Miracles happened every day, but not usually to me, I thought. We finished our tea and hugged when we left. She was a very nice lady, and I knew it couldn't be easy to talk to the woman who wanted to step into her daughter's shoes, where Anthony was concerned, though. I was going to take her advice and give it some time. I knew I didn't need to worry about another woman worming their way into Anthony's heart, in the meantime. He was too guarded for that. Only time would tell if we had a chance. Anthony had panicked the last time he thought I'd quit, so I could only hope he'd come after me when he realized I really did quit this time.  My hopes were dwindling though.

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