His Ruthless Revenge (A Dark Bully Romance)

Chapter Fifty

"Do you want me to come with you?" Chase offers, pulling up outside my work.
"I'll be ok." I reply confidently. "It's closed by now so no one will be in there. I just want to pick up a few things while it's quiet."
I glance up at the building where I work and notice how empty it looks. It's starting to rain and it causes me to shiver, encouraging me to head on inside.
There's no way Miranda would still be working by now and the building is in complete darkness which is enough to convince me that everyone has left.
"Ok, well I need to swing by my apartment but give me a call when you need me to pick you back up. I don't want you walking alone in the dark." Chase reminds me, brushing my lips with his before I exit the car.
"I'll probably be an hour or so." I inform him, hoping that will be alright.
"That's fine." He assures me, smiling warmly. "See you in a bit."
He waits until I unlock the door and let myself in before he drives off and I quickly lock it behind me before taking off my wet coat and hanging it up.
I'm in complete darkness so switch on the main light and wait a few moments for my eyes to adapt to the brightness. Exhaling slowly, I make my way around the main desk and scan through the list of bookings we have in for tomorrow.
Most of the massages we offer take thirty minutes to an hour and I need to make sure we have enough people working to cover the amount of clients we have. I'm also due back at work tomorrow myself and instantly spot Miranda's name in the diary as well as my own. I sigh deflatedly, realising that we're both scheduled to work the following afternoon and the thought fills me with dread.
Running my fingers through my damp hair, I decide to make myself a coffee and flick the kettle on as I enter the room we usually eat lunch in or take a short break. I grab a seat at the small breakfast bar while waiting for the kettle to boil and listen to the torrential rain falling outside.
It lashes at the windows which causes me to shudder as memories of the warm cabin we just left behind come flooding back to me. I close my eyes for a few moments, trying to visualise it in my mind.

A sudden banging on the front door yanks me out of my contemplation and I freeze for a moment, holding my breath.

Who the hell is that?

It can't be Chase as I said I'd call him when I've finished and no one else knows I'm here. Clutching my phone in case I need it, I step towards the reception area. I'm on my tip toes and pray my shoes don't make a noise on the hardwood floor.
"April, open up!" A voice yells, pounding on the door once again.

Miranda.

I inhale sharply and clench my fists, straightening my clothes and combing my fingers through my hair before facing her. I want to appear calm and composed even though I'm feeling the exact opposite.
Miranda is standing in the middle of the downpour and she's absolutely soaked. Her hair is plastered to her face and her make up is ruined. My protective instincts kick in and I scramble to open the door and hurry her inside.
"Miranda, you're soaking wet! Come on in."
She glowers at me for a couple of seconds before following me inside, pushing me away when I try taking her coat from her.
"I saw the lights on." She murmurs quietly, turning her back on me as I close the door behind us. "What are you doing here, April?"
"I just wanted to check on the place and grab a few things." I reply softly, unsure about her demeanour and her true feelings towards me.
"Where have you been?" She demands harshly, spinning around to face me.
"I... I just needed to get away for a few days."
"Finn has been worried sick about you." She snaps coldly, narrowing her eyes at me in contempt.
I hate to admit it but just hearing Finn's name is painful and the thought of having to face him is overwhelming to say the least.
"Has he?" I reply despondently, trying to hide how I really feel about seeing him again.
"You don't even care, do you?" She confronts me scornfully, her anger boiling over.
I've still no idea if Miranda knows why I left but I can't see Finn telling her he cheated on me. I also don't know if she's figured out that I've been with Chase the last few days and my uncertainty is making me even more uneasy around her.
"It's not my place to say." I reply hastily,  hoping she'll drop the issue.
"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. You're obviously upset and it's late. Why don't we get some rest and discuss all of it tomorrow?"
"You're not the boss of me." She scoffs disdainfully, almost mocking me. "Oh, wait... yes, you are."
"I'm also your friend and I care about you." I remind her sincerely, hoping my words will somehow get through to her.
"You almost sound convincing." She retorts sharply, rolling her eyes at me.
"It's true. I want you to be ok and know that you're alright."
"Don't make me laugh, April. You've only ever cared about yourself." She insists stubbornly. "Or maybe you care about Chase now as well."
My body freezes as I realise what she's insinuating. Miranda knows about me and Chase and my heart aches for her.
"W-what do you mean?" I stammer, struggling to form a coherent sentence.
"Don't treat me like an idiot. I know all about the two of you!" She cries helplessly, her emotions spilling over as she finally breaks down in front of me.
"Who told you?" I murmur, sighing deeply.
"I figured it out when Finn told me you'd left him. Your disappearance made sense when Chase broke up with me at the exact same time and you both vanished."
"God, I'm so sorry you got mixed up in all of this, I really am. I never wanted you to get hurt or involved in any of it." I apologise profusely, wanting to reach out and comfort
her.
"That's pretty irrelevant now, don't you think?"
"I still want you to know how sorry I am. You're my friend and I wish Chase had never got you mixed up in our messed up history. He had no right to do that."
"Chase doesn't care about me." She sneers derisively. "He never did and you know that."
"Trust me, I know how much Chase can hurt you. I've felt betrayed by him before."
"Don't compare yourself to me." She snaps bitterly. "I was actually good for him 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 his heart as well even though he won't tell me what you did."
"I know I still need to speak with Finn and sort things with him. Do you know where he is?" I ask her, eager to change the subject and bring an end to our conversation.
"So now you're chasing after him again?" She taunts me spitefully. "You don't have any shame at all, do you?"
"I just want to talk to him, that's all."
"That's too bad because you owe me an explanation first." She declares boldly, stabbing her finger against my chest.
"I just don't think this is the right time to talk about any of this, not while you're so upset." I argue gently, trying my best to reason with her.
"Can you blame me for being upset? You stole my boyfriend from me, April!"
"Miranda, it wasn't like that. I had no idea you were dating Chase until I met him in person, remember? He gave you a false name and lied to you for months."
"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 fiercely, shoving me backwards.
My feet stumble but I grab onto the desk behind me and somehow manage to steady myself, regaining my balance before facing her directly.
"I left Finn for a reason and even though he's not completely innocent in all of this I still care about him. I care about you both, Miranda."
Her hand suddenly reaches out and slaps me across the face. My cheek feels like it's on fire but I don't touch it, refusing to give her the satisfaction.
"You're not going anywhere, April." She whispers darkly, narrowing her eyes as she moves even closer. "Not until I find out the truth."
"This isn't you, Miranda. Please stop." I plead softly, shaking my head as I try and placate her.
"It's what you've turned me into." She sobs desperately, tears rolling down her face as she fights against her own torment, choosing rage instead.
"I didn't mean to hurt you. I know it sounds meaningless right now but hurting you was never my intention. You're my friend and I care about you."
"Liar!" She screams fiercely,  grabbing hold of my shoulders as she pushes me again.
My back slams against the front door and I cry out in pain, struggling to free myself from her grasp.
"I'm not lying!" I cry frantically, trying to reach behind my back so I can open the front door and escape her clutches.
"You've lied about everything from the very beginning but I see you for what you are now." She insults me venemously, mascara running down her cheeks as she continues to block my one and only exit.
I struggle to break free from her grasp but eventually succeed, bolting straight into the toilet nearby and locking the door behind me. My hands are trembling but they're still clutching my phone.