A Married Mans Pawn

Chapter 4

Nicolette

The bell on the door chimed as I entered the small establishment and looked around at my surroundings. Music played softly in the background, stools sat at a long grey counter and booths sat along the walls covered by large windows. Few people sat scattered around.

"Will you be alright miss?" My driver asked me.

"I'll be fine." I snapped. "You may go." I knew if I let him stay I would over think my fortunate turn of events and leave.

He nodded before he turned and left, with the sound of the bell once again chiming. I held the letter in my hand, two fingers holding each side as I held it in front of me.

I was here early. That much I could tell.

Slowly I made my way over to a booth at the far corner and delicately sat myself down and slid myself in. My clothes squeaked against the leather. I gritted my teeth before stopping and sitting completely still.

I waited, sitting completely still as I looked down a the menu I pulled form behind the napkins and tried to read over what I would like.

A waitress came over to me multiple times to ask what I would like to order but I repeated the same line over and over.

"I'm still waiting for someone."

She nodded, gave me a courteous and sad smile and left me my own devices until finally she came over and handed me a coffee.

I looked up to reply to her but she smiled and shook her head. "This ones on me." She tucked her tray under her arm. "It looks like you need it." She turned on her heel and quickly left before I had time to argue.

An hour or so passed as I sat there, drinking my slowly growing cold coffee and was left to my thoughts, and every time the bell dinged my head would shoot up in anticipation.

But no one showed.

Until the hands on the clock hit 11:22. At that point I was ready to call my driver and tell him I wished to leave. I had given up hope of looking at the door, when suddenly someone sat down across from me.

I looked up and there he was. The same way I saw him last night, except he had a light bruise on his temple and his lip was slightly swollen.

He shook his head at me to stop me from even beginning to ask him what I wanted to. "Don't worry. I'll be fine."

I nodded unwillingly. I knew he was stubborn and that he would not ever tell. "So why did you call me here? Your letter was vague."

He nodded.

"I couldn't let you go."

"What?!" I exclaimed. Quickly he put his hands out to cover my mouth. Some people started to turn but with the silence filling the air and continuing they ignored it and went back to their previous engagements.

"I'll let go but stay calm." I nodded and slowly he removed his hands.

"You know I'm married right?" I hissed. My heart was pounding against my ribcage and I felt my hands shake slightly on my lap.

He nodded. "I know, but I can't let you get away from me again. Not after what happened last time."

"What did happen?" I asked.

He looked down and immediately I felt my heart start to pump blood furiously through my veins.

"Your father and mother told me to stay away or they would hurt my family and it would look like an accident."

I gasped.

I knew they were cruel but I did not know they were even close to that cruel. But I should've known. With all the torture from all these years it should've been obvious to me by now.

"I'm sorry."

He shook his head. "It's in the past now." He looked up at me with those stunning eyes of his and said "I'm gonna get you away from all this and I won't take no for an answer."