Jerry

Laura's POV:

The next day, I sat behind my desk, answering calls and liaising with clients competently. 

Reiner hadn't arrived at work yet. He was late. This was a big relief to me because it made my job way more easier. 

It took me a great deal of effort to prepare for work and leave my hotel suite. It also took me a humongous resolve to seat down behind my desk and pretend to work as my usual self.  

I had arrived much earlier than Reiner so I could arrange his office and draft out his schedules for the day. I also took the extra efforts to read his mails and sort out the most pressing message he needed to reply to. 

My goal was to avoid frequenting his office throughout today. I didn't want Reiner to call me into his office over minor things. I took care of the big tasks so he would get himself busy with the little ones.

So far so good, I didn't see any reason why I should walk into his office for the rest of the day. This office has become the most dreadful place in my entire life. 

The memories of what happened last night between my boss and I still screams wildly in my head. I knew I would lose it if I kept coming in here throughout today. 

I was more than glad to leave Reiner's office when I was through and returned back to my desk to get down on my work. 

While I was planning and organising events on my monitor, I came to realize that I couldn't concentrate. 

I kept thinking about Reiner and last night. What's going to happen between us? Is he going to be demanding more intimacy between the both of us? Was this some one time affair or was this just the beginning?

I was so engrossed in my thoughts I ended up making bunch of mistakes. I wouldn't want last night to repeat itself. 

My worries were with Reiner. If he threatened me with my job again just to get into my underwear, what will I do? 

Suddenly the telephone rang noisily on my desk, startling me from my thoughts. Taking a deep breath, I reached out and picked up the telephone. 

"Laura Patterson?" The receptionist called. 

"Yes?" I replied. "What is it?"

"A man is here to see you. His name's Jerry Patterson. He claims he's your fiance."

I stiffened in shock. Jerry was here? 

Jerry had never come to my place of work since I got this job. I wonder what he wants. Now wasn't the right time to see him. I can't even face him not after what I've done. 

"Umm..." My voice was shaking. "Tell him I'm not available."

"That wouldn't be possible," the receptionist replied. "I already told him you were busy but he's adamant to see you. He's pacing around the lobby, swearing and cursing. I might call the security guards on him if he proves stubborn."

That seemed to be my only solution but I know it's not the best way to resolve this. Calling the security guards on Jerry would only make matters worse for our relationship. I decided to go down there and see what he wants before Reiner arrives. 

"I'll be there in a jiffy," I said and hung up. 

                            * * * *

Jerry, my fiance, was still pacing aimlessly in the lobby when I came walking out of the elevator. 

It was embarrassing watching him make a fool of himself around my co-workers. I rushed up to him, hoping to persuade him to leave. 

Jerry swore under his breath when he saw me. "Where the hell have you been, Laura, huh?"

His voice was loud and raspy. I knew right there and then that he was going to cause trouble. 

"Jerry," I tried to calm him down. "Now's not the right time nor place. Can we take this talk outside?"

Jerry towered above me, barking down at my face. "You haven't answered my question, you slut. Where the hell have you been? Why weren't you returning my calls?"

Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw the receptionist reaching out for her telephone. 

"I'll tell you if we go outside," I answered, praying Jerry would be considerate and not cause a scene. 

But Jerry grabbed my shoulders and shook me so hard that my neck snapped back and forth. 

"Let me explain something to you, you little bitch," he yelled at me. "I am your fiance. You don't leave my house and neglect my calls, is that understood?"

I whimpered in response. He was hurting me really badly and he knew it. I tried to stop him. 

Mustering all my strength, I pushed him away and shouted at the top of my voice, "Just leave me alone, Jerry! I've had enough of you already. I can't possibly live like this anymore."

Jerry then did something I never thought he would do in public. He walked straight up to me and landed me a hot loud slap to my cheeks. 

The impact of the slap traveled across the lobby, sounding in everyone's ears. I held my cheeks and stared pathetically at him, tears filling my eyes. 

Jerry stood over me and yelled at my face. "Don't you ever dare raise your voice at me, bitch. Know your place."

A ball of tears escaped my eyes and rolled off my cheeks. I knew I had lost. Jerry had never hit me in public. He always does his belting away from public eyes. This was the first time he hit me outside our home and I won't lie but it's the most painful experience I've ever faced since we got engaged. 

"How dare you!" A breathlessly angry scowl sounded from the doorway. "How dare you lay hands on her!"

I felt a chill ran up my spine as I recognized whom that scowl belongs to. 

Jerry turned around to see Reiner charging up at him like an angry bull at loose. Reiner took a swing at Jerry and landed a devastating left hook on Jerry's jaws. 

The punch took Jerry's weight off the floor and crashed him against the lobby tables. 

I screamed with all the strength that was left in me. "JERRY!"