Where to Next

Chapter 21

As I laid there on the ground covered in dirt, I decided I was going to head back. I needed to head back to my daughter, my sister and my home! Craig was still outfront with our security men. I could see Seth now calling someone. The all seemed to be frantically pacing around in the driveway. I couldn't hear what they were saying, but I could only imagine. I knew I couldn't just walk up to them. Not now, not while Craig was trying to put an end to all of this madness. If I headed up there now it could change everything that he has accomplished. The sole fact that he is standing in the driveway is a sign that things are going the way he wants. I began to wonder what the cost was for our peace. What he had to offer to get his father to leave us alone. I know it has to be big! There is no way he is just letting us walk away without some kind of deal. 

I wanted to get up and get back into Sammie ́s car, but I knew they would see the headlights. I had to wait for them to leave. I had to wait for them to get far enough away for me to head back. As I am laying on the ground, I felt a vibration underneath me. I realized it was my cell phone that Craig gave me back earlier in the day. I pulled it out from my pants pocket. It was Craig calling. I looked over to where he was standing. I could see him pacing back and forth while calling my phone. Behind him in the back, I could see his father standing at the doorway. He was now making his way towards him. I decided I better answer it before Mr. Whitman hears I am missing. 

̈Hello.¨ I whispered into the phone. I was hoping the light would not reflect back towards them. ̈ ̈Jade, where are you?!¨ He then pleaded for me to tell him I was ok. I quickly told him I was. I decided for his safety I would tell him I just took a ride. You know, to clear my head. ̈Are you insane?!”He shouted, but then quickly apologized. ¨I love you Jade.¨ Then he whispered, ̈go home baby and
I will see you there.¨ I knew I had to beat him there, but I couldn't go anywhere until he did. As I looked back over I could now see him talking to Mr. Whitman. I could tell he was agitated from his body language. Both of their men were now surrounding them both. I still couldn't hear anything, but I could tell tensions were high as I could hear muffled voices now. They were either yelling or talking very loudly. 

I wanted so badly to just get in my car and go home with my husband. Go back to our almost perfect lives we had been living up until now. All this time had passed, I thought we were free from this drama. I thought we were free to live our lives and grow old together. We would spend our nights making love and our days raising our children together. I wanted that so badly! As I lay on the ground, thinking about all of the things I have, I began realizing none of this was worth risking it all. I looked back over again, now Craig was leaned in even closer to Mr. Whitman. I could tell this meeting was starting to sour. Craig needed to get out of there, but I knew his temper wouldn't allow him to just leave. I knew there were only a few things that could ever make him back down. One was me and the other Vikki. 

I dialed Craig ́s number, hoping to not be seen. It rang and rang, but he didn't answer. ̈ ̈Come on Craig!¨ I began to panic! This had to be bad for him to ignore my call. I tried again and again. This time I left a message on his voicemail. I looked over at him. He stopped what he was doing to look at his phone. His dad was waving around his hands in the air. Craig finally called me back. ̈ ̈Thank god!” I told myself as i answered. ̈ ̈Craig, where are you?¨ I asked then proceeded to lie to him. I told him I was already home and that the baby seemed really fussy that I needed him to come back. I needed his help I told him. I lied! He told me he was heading right there, but to my surprise he didn't jump in his car and leave. Instead he made another call. I wondered who that could be that he was calling. I wondered why he wasn ́t just heading back home. Nothing was making sense to me!

Whoever he called must of said the magic words because he whispered something to Seth and they all fled to their cars. One after the other began leaving the driveway of the mansion. I was so relieved to see him leaving. I waited about ten minutes before getting up to leave myself. I began pulling off all the piles of tree limbs off the car. As I was taking off the last one, I heard a limb break behind me. I turned to see Mr. Whitman standing there. I was in shock! It can ́t be him! How did he know I was here?! I began looking around and there were several of his other men walking towards me. ̈ ̈Jade, so glad you could join us!̈ ̈ Mr. Whitman said as he walked closer. I began to walk back towards the car. As he kept walking closer, I kept walking backwards until I was finally pressed against the car. ¨You look confused hunny.̈ Mr. Whitman chuckled. Cameras! He had cameras all over his property so he knew the minute I drove up that I was out here. I felt a sickness come over me. ̈Now you ́re getting it!¨ He said with a sick grin on his face. 

I began to vomit! I couldn't believe what I just had done! I left my baby and then lied to the very man that I wanted to save. My mind began to race. I didn't want my last words to be a lie to him. I turned around while wiping off my mouth. ̈ ̈Please, let me call Craig!¨ I begged him. I begged him to let me tell him goodbye. I wanted him to let me make it right so my last words to him were not a lie. I started to cry as I pleaded! Mr. Whitman found this very amusing. He could care less that I was crying. He was truly a sick man! He looked over to his goon and asked him, ̈should I let her call him ̈? Then he looked back over at me. I was a mess. Just short of hyperventilating, I asked him again to please let me call him and say goodbye. 

¨I am impressed!¨ He was now clapping his hands together. He was impressed that I didn't beg for my life, but to say goodbye to the man I love. He sickly found it all amusing. Mr. Whitman was a deranged man! Bring her into the house he shouted as he started to walk away. His men grabbed me and took my phone. I glanced back at my sister ́s car. I wanted to take it all back. I wanted to go home. As we made our way through the foyer, Mr. Whiman told them to bring me into his office. They placed me in a seat that they handcuffed me to. One of the guys threw my phone down on the desk as Mr. Whitman poured himself a rum and coke. ̈ ̈Want one?¨ He asked almost teasingly. ̈ ̈Just get it over with!¨ I shouted angrily. 

̈Where is the fun in that Jade?̈ ̈ Mr. Whitman now sitting down in his chair. He interlaced his fingers and sat there as if he was thinking of some diabolical plan. I couldn ́t believe this is the same man that gave my husband life! I felt so angry! I hated that I lied to Craig. I looked at him with hate filled eyes and spit at him. ¨You know he is going to kill you right?¨ I snarled. I told him killing me was going to be the last thing that ever happens and finally the world would be free from his evil! He didn't care though. Mr. whitman just laughed and laughed! Then he looked at me with this smug look on his face. He got up walking to the front of his wood desk, he sat on the front of it with one leg dangling. ̈So, when did you plan on telling my son the baby isn't his?̈ Now he was leaning closer almost waiting for my response. My heart sank! He knew! My head began to spin.

̈ ̈Don ́t worry, I already told him for you when he was just here.¨ He said while making his way back around his desk. I sat there in shock as he told me that it was all planned from the start. They tracked my ovulation for months and planned it out. I was taking supplements to help the progress so they were almost guaranteed that I would become pregnant. My heart sank further into my chest. He knows I have lied to him and now my last words were a lie. I sat there crying. I didn't care anymore. I wanted this all to end. I wanted him to just get it over with. I said a prayer for myself, my beautiful daughter and my beloved husband. As I sat there a little bit longer just thinking about my family, I looked at Me. Whitman and I said ̈you know I can't help but laugh at the irony of it all!¨. He looked a bit confused so I continued, ̈well my love for Craig started here and my life will end here.¨ Then I smiled at him. He then told me I was incorrect. ¨You mean your love for Craig started here and died her sweetie!¨ he replied as if he was so certain. Then I let him know my love for Craig will never die and I began to laugh. I was no longer scared. I could tell as his face became more somber that was what he got off on. He got off on my fear! As I started to tell him off my phone rang, it was Craig. He must of made it home and saw that I wasn't there. Mr. Whitman quickly grabbed it off the table. 

̈ ̈Let's play a little game¨ he said as he began to answer it. I froze with fear! Just like that he was back in full control! I hated this man so much! Why was he so evil I wondered? I became scared for Craig. ̈ ̈Hello son¨ he answered snarkily. I could hear Craig angrily yelling through the phone. I knew he was already heading back here as soon as he heard his voice on the other end. I began to panic! I shouted, ̈Craig please just stay with Vikki ̈! I knew he would never listen. I knew he would never leave me here to die at the hands of this monster. My fear was, that now we both will!