Would you Swallow all your Pride?

Chapter Forty-Three: Ruby.

Venable frowned. "What's wrong?" Her lower stomach was still fluttering sweetly, but she ignored it. They both sat underneath the covers now, next to each other.

"It's... it's Emma."

"Emma?" Wilhemina repeated, just to make sure her head wasn't playing a trick on her. Billie nodded, eyes still down on the phone. "What does she want?" Billie Dean bit her lower lip. It was best to just show Venable and let the cat out of the bag. Hesitantly, she handed her the phone. With a frown still gracing her features, Wilhemina reached for it and began to read the notifications. 'I've warned you, Billie Dean', read the first message, 'I've told you to stay away from her. Who do you think you are?' read the second one. Venable's blood began to boil as she kept on reading the messages. 'I'll tell her about Terry. I'll let her know just how much you love your employees, just how much you care about their wellbeing.' 'Do you think I don't know you just want to fuck her? Do you think I can't see the way you look at her? You did the same thing to Terry... you use people. You use everyone to get what you want.' 'How fucking pathetic are you? You can't see a new toy that you have to have it. You think you deserve everything and anything, but you don't. You do not.' 'She's not like the whores you get to take home and just fuck all night long. You'll hurt her. You'll hurt her like you hurt Terry.' 'You've been warned. And if you as much as imply you're going to take my job away, I have the means to expose you and your filthy ways to everyone willing to listen. And you know many people are.' When Venable reached the bottom of the texts, her hands had already begun to shake. She closed her eyes for a second and took a deep breath, heart pounding in her ears. Who was Emma to talk to Billie Dean like that? Who did she think she were to just throw so many dirty words against Billie? New toy. Wilhemina gulped as her molars were back at hurting from all the tension in her jaw. I've warned you. What did that even mean? Venable didn't know; what she did know, however, was that she was one step away from getting into her car and driving all the way to Emma's place, ready to confront her and tell her some of her own thoughts. But she couldn't do that; she couldn't, not with the way Billie Dean looked down at her hands so ashamed, and played with her own fingers so nervously. Forcing her lungs to slowly fill in with oxygen again, Wilhemina set the phone aside and slowly looked at Billie again. What do I even say? Venable gulped. "That woman..." Billie Dean nodded without looking up at Venable; she couldn't. She felt was too embarrassed. Wilhemina took another deep breath to try and calm herself down a notch. She had too many thoughts spinning around in her head; why was Emma doing that? Had she done that before? How was their relationship before Wilhemina had stepped between them? Who was Terry? Venable could barely collect her thoughts. "Billie," she tried again, voice struggling not to mimic the harsh way she felt towards Emma on the inside. "Has she treated you like that before?"

Fuck. Billie Dean hadn't planned on telling Wilhemina everything right away; the last thing she wanted was a war between Venable and Emma. She could handle Emma despising her, but was it fair to make Wilhemina despise Emma? Look what she's been doing to me. Still... it left a bitter taste in Billie Dean's mouth. But she had no choice; Venable meant too much for her to start their relationship without honesty. "A f-few times." The words barely reached the air, for they were so low. Billie could feel her chin wanting to tremble again, and fuck! Why am I such a crybaby?! But a hand reached for one of her own before she could dwell too much on the self degrading thought, squeezing it sweetly and soon tangling their fingers together. Honey eyes hesitantly moved up to Wilhemina, finding her offering a sad, clearly anger-hiding smile. She's furious.

"When?" That was all Venable managed to ask without sounding like her feelings were towards Billie Dean. She was holding herself the best she could; forcing her emotions to stay at bay because, clearly, Billie should be the priority right now. But holy fuck did she feel like ruining that woman's life. Her lungs filled with air in a way that felt mechanical, fingers touching and caressing Billie's without really feeling her touch. All of her body felt like it was tingling and trembling with fury