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Fifty-Three
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Breanna felt like she was a teenager entering a new school when she walked into the office building. As she readied herself for work this morning, her stomach was in knots. What would her co-workers think of her new look?
Ashley was the first to see her. Her jaw dropped, and she jumped out of her chair so quickly it bumped against the cubicle wall.
“Oh… my…” Ashley shook her head. “What happened to you?”
Because of Ashley’s loud voice, the others in the room were alerted to Breanna’s presence. Within seconds, all of her co-workers swarmed around her, oohing and ahhing over her hair, new dress, and shoes. Breanna didn’t really want to tell them every little detail, so she explained that the party had convinced her to get a new look.
Ashley laughed and elbowed Jackie standing next to her. “Yeah, I bet it was Monte who changed Breanna’s mind.”
Heat rushed to Breanna’s chee
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Breanna blinked her teary eyes and shut the door. Tom had just left her apartment, angrier than she’d ever seen him before.Just as she thought, he didn’t like her new look. His first reaction was accusing her of being with another guy. Guilt had nearly choked her, but she couldn’t confess who had really instigated her transformation.When Tom began throwing insults her way and calling her degrading names, she knew it was time to put her foot down. It scared her half to death, but she told him to leave her apartment if he couldn’t calm down. He’d shouted out a few more degrading names before storming out the door.This wasn’t how she wanted things between them to go. It was hard not to remember what Monte had said about Tom. Could Monte have been right all this time? Because of Tom’s reaction, she could see that he was trying to control her. All these years, he’d been suffocating her, and she hadn’t even real
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“Of course I wasn’t thinking of you,” she lied and turned back toward the paintings. “If you must know, this house and the paintings, reminds me of the Victorian era, and I was just imagining what it might have been like to live back during that time.”Monte moved beside her as his attention shifted to the paintings. “Believe it or not, I would have loved to live back in those days.”She stared directly at him. “Really? Why?”“Because people didn’t look down their noses at the sons of rich men. Back then, people didn’t mind if the son of a rich guy didn’t do anything during the day. In fact, having a laborious job was frowned upon by high society gents and ladies.” He folded his arms across his wide chest. “Sons of rich men were the kind of guys the old bats wanted to marry their ugly daughters to.”Breanna understood the point he was trying to make, but she st
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“I understand now,” she whispered. “And I appreciate your attention toward me. Too bad some wonderful man couldn’t have swept Linda away.”“You don’t know how many times I think that. If only someone cared about her, she would be alive today, and she would be a successful woman. If only she had waited, her life would have changed. I just know it.”She nodded. “I wonder what my life would have been like if my parents had lived.”He rubbed her fingers. “But it’s useless to look back. We must move forward.”“So true.”He closed the space between them and cupped her face with his hands. “Tyger, my love, thanks for being here with me tonight. You don’t know how much it means to me that you came.”“You’d mentioned that you’d go crazy by yourself, and I… I didn’t want that to happen to such a sweet man.”
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Monte couldn’t wait to get out of the bedroom. Several times he’d wanted to kiss her passionately. But she’d broken his heart already, and he didn’t want to continue feeling that pain. Strange to think they’d only known each other a few days, and that he had allowed himself to be struck by Cupid’s arrow. That had never happened to him before.If they had remained on his bed, he would have succumbed to temptation and kissed her, and never stopped. Yet, he knew she was only here because she and Tom had argued. She confessed that she still didn’t know her feelings, and Monte couldn’t push the issue. He needed to allow her to think this matter through clearly. All he could do was pray that she’d consider him over Tom.When they reached outside, he stopped them. She looked at him with wide, questioning eyes. He grinned and pointed out toward the yard. The outdoor lights were lit brightly, making it easy for her to see th
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Breanna hadn’t been able to catch her breath since last night with Monte. She’d almost told Monte she loved him. Why would she do that? She really needed more time to figure out her feelings for Monte. If she wanted him just because Tom was being a jerk, that wouldn’t be fair to Monte. She definitely didn’t want to hurt him.She sat at her desk at work, staring at the computer screen. Once again, she couldn’t concentrate. Monte had filled her thoughts so often since she met him, and she couldn’t decipher her own feelings.Or could she?She’d lain awake most of the night thinking about Monte and thinking about the wonderful things he’d done for her. He had made her feel like a woman. Tom had never accomplished that. Monte had made her laugh, and she wasn’t afraid to speak her mind with him. Not Tom. She was afraid of his temper. And Monte had made her feel beautiful. Never in her life had anyone made her feel
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Just as Breanna finished her project and sent it to her supervisor’s email, she leaned back in her chair and sighed. For a while, she wondered if she’d be able to complete it at all. Monte had definitely put her under a spell, and she couldn’t stop smiling and laughing. Her co-workers noticed her change, and they even commented on it. Remarkably enough, it didn’t embarrass her.Whatever Monte had done to her, he’d given her more self-confidence than she’d had in a long time. He’d made her feel good about the person she was, inside and out.The phone on her desk rang, and she quickly answered it. “Thanks for calling Upbeat. This is Breanna. How can I help you?”“Hi.”The man’s voice on the other end of the phone was not Monte’s. Disappointment crashed over her, but when she recognized who it was, her nerves jumped with anxiety. She repeated in her mind, Tom will not
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Monte’s mind scurried in several different directions. There must be a way to break free. Tyger had the right idea. They needed to get these bindings off their wrists first, and then they could plan their escape.He breathed heavily for several seconds, trying to calm himself in order to think properly. Suddenly, and idea sprang to his mind and he sat up straight. “Tyger, you might be able to untie my hands.” He turned his back to her.“Okay, I’ll try.”When her fingers touched his, he held them for a few moments, enjoying the feeling of her skin against his. Slowly, she pulled her touch from his. Her fingers awkwardly fumbled with the ropes.Holding his breath, he hoped she’d be able to do this, but her quiet sobs of failure were growing louder.“I don’t think I can,” she said with irritation in her voice.“Don’t give up. I know you can do this.”“I&r
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Breanna was grateful that Todd had given her the day off. After last night’s ordeal, there was no way she could return to work so soon. She’d never been so scared in her life. The police had arrived quickly last night, and arrested the three men. Thankfully, they weren’t completely finished loading their truck and so they were caught in the act. The police had asked Monte and Breanna questions afterwards. The TV stations had wanted in on the action, but Monte denied them any interviews, thank goodness.Being in that predicament made Breanna think clearly for the first time since she started going out with Tom. Now she knew beyond a doubt that breaking away from Tom was the best thing for her. Never again was she going to feel helpless.She realized with all that had happened, she’d forgotten about Ashley’s wedding gift. Breanna shrugged. Her friend would have to get it herself now.Breanna sat at the breakfast table and stared at he
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Justin’s chest ached, and he actually felt her pain. As he continued to stroke her silky hair, he prayed that he’d be able to stay strong for her. She needed comfort and support since nobody had given that to her, and he wanted to be the man who understood. The one man she could trust.His heart broke into pieces as he imagined all she’d gone through. What could be worse than being physically abused and then having friends and family turn their backs and distrust you?“After a few weeks had passed,” she continued in a strained voice. “I discovered I was pregnant.”The statement took him totally unaware, and when she lifted her head to look into his face, he knew she saw shock.“Yes, you heard me correctly.” She blinked away the liquid filling her eyes again. “I had the hardest time deciding whether or not I should keep the child or put it up for adoption.” She pulled herself straight, but he still kept his arms tight around her. “Anyway, my pregnancy started showing and I was beginnin
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A moment of silence stretched through the air as Justin listened to Vince Gill’s song. The singer’s soothing voice echoed through the room, creating a cozy feeling. Justin closed the glass doors to the fireplace, and Brooke’s angelic hum rose above the crackle of the burning logs.Relaxing against the wall, he let himself enjoy the music as her voice blended with the singer’s. It had been so long since he enjoyed anything. Justin’s hectic life kept him going in one direction or another, not allowing a moment for himself. It was a miracle he’d even had time to date Robin, let alone get engaged. Thanks to his meddling mother, he’d somehow found the time to pop the question. Or maybe she’d popped the question. He couldn’t remember.In fact, his mother was the one who purchased the ring because his schedule was so time-consuming and he kept forgetting. His interfering parent reserved the perfect restaurant and she made sure the limousine picked him up from the office to deliver him there
