His Ruthless Revenge (A Dark Bully Romance)

Chapter Fifty

"Do you want me to come in with you?" Chase offers kindly, pulling up outside my place of work.
"I'll be ok." I assure him, glancing at the grey sky above me as I get out the car. "It's closed so no one will be in there. I just want to pick up a few things."
"Ok, well I need to swing by the apartment but give me a call when you want picking up. I don't want you walking home in the dark." Chase reminds me sternly, making sure I take him seriously.
"Thanks and I will." I promise him, reaching for my work keys as I approach the building. "See you soon."
It starts raining and the chill in the damp air causes me to shiver, encouraging me to head on in as quickly as possible.
Chase waits until I unlock the door and let myself inside before driving off. I lock it behind me and take off my coat before hanging it up and switching on the lights.
My eyes take a few moments to adapt as I make my way around the main desk and scan through the list of bookings we have in scheduled for tomorrow.
Most of the massages we offer are about an hour and need to make sure we have enough people working to cover the amount of clients we have.
I'm also due back in work tomorrow myself and spot Miranda's name in the diary as well as my own. I sigh deeply, realising that we're both scheduled to work the following afternoon and the thought fills me with dread.
Deciding to make myself a coffee, I make my way into the back room and flick the kettle on. We usually eat lunch in here or take a short break so I take a seat waiting for the kettle to boil and listen to the torrential rain falling down outside.
It lashes at the windows which causes me to shudder and memories of the warm cabin we just left come flooding back to me. If I close my eyes I can visualise the warm log fire in front of me and hope we can go back again soon.

A violent banging on the outside door makes me startle suddenly and my heart begins to race.

Who the hell is hammering on the door like that?

It can't be Chase as we said I'd call him when I've finished up here and no client would have an appointment at this time of night.
Clutching my phone in case I need it, I cautiously step out into the reception area. The lights are still on so I know whoever is outside will see me straight away.
"April, open up!" A voice yells angrily, their fists pounding on the door once again in frustration.

Miranda.

She's standing out there in the middle of a downpour and she's absolutely soaked. Her hair is plastered across her face and her mascara is streaming down her cheeks.
Without thinking, my need to comfort her kicks in and I scramble to open the front door and let her inside.
"Miranda, you're soaking wet! Come on in." I urge her, closing the door behind us.
She whirls around to face me and glares at me
with pure hatred in her eyes.

Can't say I blame her to be honest.

"I saw the light on." She murmurs softly, her voice a complete contrast to the unsettling expression on her face.
"I just called in to check on a few things." I answer awkwardly, struggling to gage how I should handle the following confrontation we're about to have.
"Where have you been?" She demands fiercely, her question full of accusation. "You just took off out of nowhere!"
"I... I just needed to get away." I reply truthfully, wondering what Finn has already told her and how honest he's been about him and Tamsin.
"My brother's been worried sick about you." She snaps bitterly, narrowing her eyes at me in contempt.
I hate to admit it but just thinking about Finn is painful and the thought of having to face him again is overwhelming to say the least.
"Has he?"
"You don't even care, do you?" She challenges me fiercely, her rage boiling over.
I've still no idea if Miranda knows why I left but  can't imagine Finn telling her he was unfaithful. In addition, I don't know if she's figured out I've been with Chase the last few days and the uncertainty is making me even more nervous around her.
"Maybe you should talk to Finn directly." I advise gently, hoping she might listen and demand answers from him instead.
"But I'm asking you." She persists, taking a step closer towards me.
"Miranda, I don't think this is the right place to discuss any of this." I point out sensitively. "You're clearly upset and it's  getting late. Why don't we get some rest and discuss all of it tomorrow?"
"Careful, you almost sound like you care." She sneers venemously, prodding my shoulder with her finger.
"Miranda, I do care. We've been friends for a long time and I want you to be ok."
"Don't make me laugh." She scoffs derisively, throwing her head back as though she finds the whole thing hilarious. "You've only ever cared about yourself this whole time but... maybe you do care about Chase now as well."
I feeeze as soon as I realise what she's insinuating. Miranda knows about me and Chase and my heart aches for her and how much pain she must be in.
"Who told you?" I whisper, exhaling slowly.
"I figured it out when Finn told me that you'd left him. It all started to make sense when Chase broke up with me and the two of you disappeared at the same time. I knew you were back together."
"God, I'm so sorry." I apologise profusely, hoping she can tell I'm being sincere. "I never wanted you to get hurt or involved in any of this, I swear."
her.
"That's pretty irrelevant now, isnt it? Because I ended up getting hurt anyway!" She cries, turning her back on me as she tries to compose herself.
"But I still want you to know how sorry I am. I wish Chase never got you mixed up in any of this mess. He had no right to do that or toy with your feelings the way he did."
"Chase never cared about me." She whimpers faintly, spinning around to glare at me again.
"Trust me, I know what it feels like to be hurt by Chase." I disclose earnestly, my body can viscerally recall that distinct torment.
"Don't compare yourself to me!" She warns me viciously, pointing her finger at me again. "I was actually good for Chase and could have made him happy but all you've ever done is damage him! You left him all those years ago and jumped straight into my brother's bed. Now you've broken Finn's heart as well as mine and still stand there like you're completely innocent!"
"I'm definitely not innocent in any of this and acknowledge that, Miranda. I just don't think this is the right time to talk about any of this; not while you're so upset." I insist firmly, trying my best to reason with her.
"How can you blame me for being upset? You stole my boyfriend from me, April!"
"It really wasn't like that." I say calmly, longing to convince her. "Remember I had no idea you were dating Chase until I met him in person. He gave you a false name and lied to you for months which was completely wrong of him."
"If you didn't steal him from me then how come you're with him now? Why did you walk out on Finn and go running back to Chase?" She demands harshly, pushing me backwards with all her strength.
My feet stumble but manage to grab onto the desk behind me and steady myself, regaining my balance before facing her head on.
"I left Finn for a reason but still care about him. I care about you both and don't want it to be like this between us.
Her hand abruptly reaches out and slaps me across the face. My cheek burns and feels like it's on fire but I don't touch it; hoping that lashing out  has made her feel better and got it out of her system.
"You're going to tell me the truth." She whispers darkly, taking another step closer towards me. "You're going to tell me how long you've been sneaking around with Chase and how long you've been lying to me and my brother."
"This isn't you, Miranda. Please stop." I implore desperately, shaking my head as I try and remain calm and help her at the same time.
"It's what you've turned me into." She wails hysterically, pacing back and forth in frustration.
"Look, I didn't mean to hurt you or Finn! I know it sounds meaningless right now but hurting you was never my intention. You're my friend and I care about you." I persist relentlessly, hoping my words will finally start to sink in and she'll believe me.
"Liar!" She screams savagely, grabbing hold of my shoulders as she pushes me again.
My back slams against the wall and I cry out in pain, struggling to break free from her grasp.
"I'm not lying!"
"You've lied about everything from the very beginning but I can see you for who you are now." She snarls venemously. "You're a manipulative, deceitful, conniving little bitch."
The expression on her face turns even darker and realise I can't try and reason with her anymore. She's not thinking rationally and I need to get out of here.
Deciding my best bet is to run into the nearest toilet, I bolt inside it and scramble to lock the door behind me. My hands are trembling but they're still clutching my phone.