The Winner

Saving Grace

*Julia*

After our sunrise at the beach, I felt so content. I felt good.  I should have known that wouldn't last long.

It's already shaping up to be a spectacular Monday morning. Both Paul and I needed to use the bathroom before my first session thanks to traffic on the highway, so we plan it to go at the same time so I'm not in the hall alone. Apparently, whoever I'm supposed to have for a nurse today is also running late due to the traffic, so she's not here yet.

I pee and wash my hands when the door opens behind me. I look in the mirror and grab on to the sink.

"Get out." My voice is already shaky.

"Can we just talk for two seconds?" Jeremy comes in and leans against the door.

Now, these particular bathrooms near the office are male or female. There's only one toilet and no lock, so Jeremy can easily just say I didn't pull the no-vacancy lever, and he walked in on me by accident. It's the very first thing I think of when I see him. He's a smart man. Did he fricken wait for this one moment I'm alone?

Take a deep breath, Julia. You can NOT spiral out of control here. He holds your medical documents, your future, in his hand. He's in control here, not you. Not yet.

I stand up straight and look at Jeremy through the mirror, unable to turn around. Unable to function properly.

"Julia." He takes a step closer, putting him right behind me now. The second his hands touch my shoulders, I close my eyes and begin to shake.

"Please go." I plead and close my eyes tighter when I feel him slide both hands down my arms slowly. He's now leaning into me so close I can feel his breath  hitting the side of my neck.

"It was one mistake." He says softly close to my ear. "Please. Let me help you. You know I'm good at my job. I can get you back to where you were. Give me another chance. Just one more chance."

I feel his hands lift off me as he opens the door and leaves just as quickly as he comes in.

I stand in the bathroom, still holding on to the sink, with my eyes still closed and my body still shaking when I hear a knock on the door and Paul's voice.

When I'm unable to say anything, he swings the door open and sees me tense up.

"I just saw Donovan walking down the hall. Wanted to make sure you were good in here. Julia.... Julia, did he come in here??" Paul realizes he was two seconds too late when I opened my eyes and nod.

I can tell by the look on the bodyguard's face that he's disappointed in himself for not catching Jeremy in the act, but I shake my head.

"It was quick. Like less than a minute quick." I choke out.

"Moretti. Look at me." Paul advises, and I turn around and look him in the eyes.

"Hold it in. 4 hours, ok? Two sessions. We'll talk about it in the car. Focus on me and only me. You got this, ok?"

I nod, and Paul escorts me out of the bathroom. We wait on the bench in the hall for someone to show me where to go until my nurse comes. I hear a bit of talking in the main office, and then the door opens.

"Looks like you're with me today, Miss. Moretti."

I glance up at Jeremy and literally feel the color drain from my face. He's doing this on purpose. He probably volunteered when he heard how short staffed they are from the traffic jam.

I can do this. I don't have a choice. I HAVE to hold it together. Both Paul and I stand, and he stares at me, subliminally reminding me that I can't freak out. We follow Jeremy into the session, and I immediately go to the back of the room and sit right next to Cara like last time. Jeremy sits behind me with the other nurses. Paul, unfortunately, has to wait in the hall during group sessions.