Shattered

Surprise guests

I am in shell shock, Charlotte was not joking when she said this place is perfect for us. It's even close to my favourite fast food plug.

I smile to myself as I pack the novels I stole from Nathan's office.

"There's no way he let you have that." She says walking into my bedroom.

She eyes the Pride and Prejudice and The Great Gatsby that are in my hands.

"He didnt give them to me, I stole them. Are you done unpacking?" I ask her. She nods.

"Oh, you're badass. I'm done with my room and Ethan's ." She praises herself.

"We're actually going to leave in ten minutes to go to Tyler's. Are you going to be okay?" She asks.

"I'm going to be fine Char. Have fun and take of my baby. I'm going to order pizza and then sleep." I tell her.

It is a few minutes past two in the afternoon so I'm just going to get a nap and relax the rest of my Sunday away.

"Okay. Later." She says as I plop onto my bed.

True to my words I fall asleep. The bed isnt as comfortable as Nathan's,  or as warm as his or even–

Gosh stop if Gemma.

I stare outside at the city skyline. It's been a while since I saw it. Nathan's house is towered by trees.

Well now I'm all out of sleep. I sit up and begin reading a novel called Only Time Will Tell by Jeffrey Archer.

The Cliftons are sure living a tough knock life.

A knock on the door has me walking downstairs.

It's probably the Pizza man.

I trudge down in Nathan's hoodie and my own leggings.

I smile when I see that Charlotte cleared up the room and it looks nice and neat.

I open the door and almost faint when I see the origin of the knock.

"Hello Jenny. " He says and I almost faint in surprise.

I find my voice choking me in my throat. I stare deep into his cold blue eyes and I feel the tears.

He pushes me in the house and I scurry to the kitchen and I open a cupboard  looking for something sharp, but when I find none, panick settles in my chest.

"What are you doing here Jeremy?" I ask him. He stares.

"I've come back for what's mine." He snarls. Sending shivers down my spine.

"Its a nice place you've got here." He says looking around which only makes me growl.

"There's nothing of yours here." I grit.

He looks taken aback. Yes bitch, I've grown balls.

Well that sure sounded wrong.

"Oh? So you now answer to me?" He asks.

Before I can answer he is already beside me punching the hell out of my body.

I pull a knife out and I grit through my teeth. I fight him.

"Leave." I say lowly.

He kicks my leg hoping that it will make me loose balance. But I have a three year old, balance is the one thing I have.

I stare deeper into his eyes, and I push the knife further.

"I said leave!" I say.

He lifts his hands to show surrender.

"This is far from over." He says as he leaves. He says this before leaving.

And here I was thinking that my life is going absolutely well. Something just had to go wrong right?

I sigh, thinking how I'm going to get out of this.  For a moment I actually believed that I survived him.

I head into my bathroom and I rub a tub of hot water and bubble bath.

I sink my body into the water, sighing in relief that there are no angry marks on me. I dont know how I'd explain it.

I call Charlotte to find out how things are going for her.

"Hey sis." She greets.

"Hey Char." I tell her.

"Are you bathing?" She chuckles.

"Yes, I just wanted to find out how Ethan is, I really miss my baby." I sigh into the phone.

"He's having so much fun with Ricky. I doubt he'd want to come back. Plus Roxy is awesome, and super welcoming. No match to you but she's trying." She says and I chuckle.

"Im glad you're okay, I'll call you guys later okay?" I ask as I dry my body.

I walk downstairs in a bathrobe and sleepers.

A knock sounds and I grab the knife that was settled on the island.

I open the door slowly.

It's a tiny pizza guy. He looks more or less sixteen.

I smile as pay for the pizza. Tipping him very generously.

I walk back into the house and I eat my pizza while binge watching some series. I have to admit, the house feels lonely when Nathan isnt here.

My phone pings and for a moment my heart feels joyful that it's him.

Instead it's an email.

Something hits me hard that he hasn't even thought of calling me after so long.

The email is from a Rickelle, oh it must be Soraya.

Evening Ms Summer. I have heard that you are a great designer. I'd love to do business with you.

I will be calling you in a few minutes.

Is all the email says. That has to be the weirdest emails I've read in my life.

And true the email, my phone rings.

I put it on my ear.

"Hello?" I greet.

"Good evening Ms Summer. You are speaking to Mr Rickelle.  I assume you've read my email." He says.

I can hear his stupid smirk from here. I don't know what it is about him but I dont like this man.

"Yes I have. What kind of business do you want to do with me?" I ask feeling a but puzzled.

He laughs, the sound is weird. Almost forced like he is doing it to keep himself calm.

I brush it off.

"I cant really tell you about it on the phone. I'd like to meet with you over coffee to speak about my proposal." He says.

I think to myself what the hell he wants. But I doubt he'd do anything stupid, he knows Nathan could hurt him any second.

Why do I entrust Nathan with my life like this? This is so unhealthy, toughen up Gemma! Stop it!

"Sure, how does tomorrow morning sound?" I ask.

"It sounds perfect, I cant wait." He says sounding a bit too excited. So I just end the call.

Wondering what the hell he wants, I trudge upstairs to bed. Once I'm warm and tucked in, I fall right asleep.