Bad Reputation

35.

I fell asleep on the couch not long after I laid down. I was tired, was stressed about the whole thing and I had to go to England soon to do some sim work.

I woke up an hour later by someone who was ringing my doorbell very aggressively.
I looked at the clock, it was 3am, it could only be one person who would be in front of my door this late.

I jumped off the couch, ran to the intercom and quickly pressed the button. "Hello?"

"Lando, sorry for disturbing you this late, but I-I.." Francesca stuttered. "No no, it's fine, I was still awake" I lied, didn't want her to feel bad.

I pressed the button to let her in, unlocked the door and waited for her in the doorframe.

I was relieved that she decided to come to me after all, but it also meant that she felt terrible, that he treated her like shit.

Otherwise there wouldn't be a reason why she was ringing my doorbell.

I leaned against the doorframe as the elevator stopped on my floor.
Francesca walked out, stopped in the hallway and looked at me.

She wasn't wearing sunglasses right now, and her arms weren't the only place were she was bruised.

"Fran-" I started, but she immediately ran to me, right in my arms. She started crying, and my heart broke for her.

I pulled her inside, to the couch and I held her for a long time, couldn't tell how long exactly but I just held her until she stopped crying.

Until she was ready to talk.

I didn't want to push her into talking. I wanted her to be completely ready, to feel safe.

She looked up at me, her eyes red and puffy. "He's completely insane" she said, still with tears in her eyes.

"You deserve better than someone who put his hands on you" I said, wiping her tears away. "You deserve nothing but the best"

She sighed, put her head on my chest. "I left, I don't wanna go back"

"You don't have to go back, you can stay here if you want"

"I do want that" she wrapped her arms around me, cuddled up to me.

She fell asleep next to me on the couch. I don't know how to feel. She was here with me, something I wanted for a while now.

But she was here because Jordan treated her like shit, I felt so bad for her.

And I was going to England tomorrow, such a bad timing.

I brushed my fingers against her back. I didn't want to leave her here, not when Jordan was here.

There was only one thing I could do, and that was take her with me.
Take her to England and treat her like a princess.

Even if she made it clear that she didn't want a relationship with me, I just wanted to protect her.

Jessica (bartender Monaco)

Jordan is looking for Francesca.
Is she with you?

Yes don't worry
She's with me

Thank God

I will ask her to text you tomorrow
She's asleep now

Okay thanks Lando
Just so you know..
You're a good guy

I try
I just care for her

I can see that
Thanks for that
Really