The Billionaire's Secrets

Chapter 23 Flood gates

Tears flood my cheeks as if it were the ocean. My chest just heaved and I sobbed for what I lost, who I was and everything that was wrong. Everything that had been locked out of my ice chamber had infiltrated its way back into the enemy camp. The enemy's defences crumbled, the ice melted and everything was now just a mess. One that you couldn't even figure out where it started or ended, they had melded.

I wasn't even aware of what was happening around me. I vaguely remember us reaching the airport and being carried in someone's arms. I had no strength or life left in me anymore. Everything I based myself on was thrown out the window. Gone was the composed, in control and ruthless person replaced by a weakling- a hot mess that couldn't even stand her own self up.

When we reached home, I didn't even bother when James carried me to my bed and gently laid me back, removing my shoes and clothes replacing it with a t-shirt and sweatpants –which I refused. I just curled in a ball wrapping my arms around my legs and wept facing away from him. I just couldn't look him in the eyes. He has never seen me in this state. No one has ever seen me this lost. I switched the light off signalling him to leave.

And sleep never came. After a while, still sobbing, I went straight to my dance studio and fell to the floor. I put the stereo on and blasted the music letting it drown the sounds of my screams and cries as I soaked in my tears. Thankfully the room was soundproof. And I stayed in there losing track of time and everything going on around me. Later Enrique came in briefly – I presume he had been looking for me-but left when he saw me just lying there limply staring into nothing understanding that I wanted to be alone. He would bring me meals but I never touched them. He tried getting me to eat and I pushed away at every attempt.

I was lost. I lost all sense of self. The door had been open. It had been 4 days since I'd been in the studio. I hadn't eaten. My throat was so parched and dry that it was painful to even swallow my own saliva. My hair dishevelled, cheeks tear-stained, eyes that were bloodshot red and glossy, brimming with freshly made tears. My nose blocked from all the crying. And marks. Marks everywhere. Bruises from all the biting. I heard distant glimpses of conversation between the clique and Enrique and James- shouting and then footsteps down the hall. Not even that could make me even bother.

All that ran in my mind was how unworthy I was. How ugly I was and good for nothing. I was nothing but a mere toy-plaything. That I was unlucky and such was my fate that happiness never existed. I should've killed myself when I could. How I wish I was dead. I felt empty and cold. My head hurt from the crying but nothing could stop the crying. I just seemed to sob harder as I placed my head in my hands attempting to muffle the strangled cries-when I felt someone tap me on the shoulder.

"Storm? Storm baby its Mic. Look at me." I look up and see I'm surrounded by the clique and tears are just rolling down my cheeks. Quickly swiping away at my cheeks furiously, I stand up, a little unsteady but I manage. What the fuck are you all doing here?! Did I not say I don't want anything to do with you? Who the fuck do you think you are to come to my home after what you did? Do you have no shame? I want all of you OUT NOW! LEAVE! I scream at them. I stare right through them whilst their faces mirror expressions of horror, shock, gasps and screams, trying to reach out to me but I turn away and motion to Enrique to make them leave. I can't bear this. The clacking of heels against the wooden floor as Bells runs out. "Storm what's wrong? Please talk to us. We are here for you."

I hear nothing but the thoughts running through my mind. Sinking to my knees, my shoulders heave up and down as I sob with my head in my hands blocking everything and everyone out of my sight. "Please leave" I hear Enrique say. "Miss Hunter wants to be alone."

I hear someone walk to me. "Storm..." It's James. He gathers me in his arms and carries me as he sits in the rocking chair. I don't even fight it. James knows everything. Somehow he always does and he knows what I need. He understands me and what I need. He rubs my back as he rocks me back and forth like a lullaby. I can't stop crying and everything just plays like record in my head. I clutch his suit jacket and hide my face in his chest as I sob my heart out. I hear James say something but don't hear it. Soon Enrique comes and places a blanket on top of us. I hold onto James tightly and he wraps his arms around me tightly, murmuring lowly words of comfort and kissing my forehead and head whilst wiping away the tears.

I remembered the times when my mother would tell me how I was a burden and she'd wished I wasn't born or that she'd aborted me when her family told her to do so. I was born out of wedlock and my mother struggled to bring up my brother and myself. There were nights when we'd be having black tea –if there was even any- with bread and maybe even spread with some margarine. Or when she'd get angry and violent and beat the shit out of me until my skin was blistering red with marks and lacerations. Or when I'd be struggling for breath as she put her hands on my throat and squeezed the life out of me. She'd swear and call me names- bitch, whore, slut, you name it, and she called me it. I still have the scar on my arms when she burnt me with the iron not once but twice. And when I got raped- I couldn't even bring myself to do or say anything. Memories just flooded back and I couldn't do anything to block them out. I had slipped into that depression again and I needed to snap out of it. I needed to be reminded. So I decided to call the one person who I knew I could go to- Demetri.