Page 17 of Diamonds in the Dark
“Sounds great George, but I do have something else I want to talk to you about.”
“Okay, shoot little lady,” he says.
“I, first off, want to thank you for everything you have done for me, especially since everything with Edward…”
“Gwen.” He interrupts me before I can continue. “I will be frank with you. When I came into the office this morning, the first thing I heard was what happened last week. I was working from home Thursday and Friday, so I didn't get to hear about it last week. It has opened a can of worms here, and apparently opened some eyes as well. Edward was fired Friday, from what I understand, and to top it off several of the women here are filing sexual harassment charges against him as well. Apparently, these women were afraid to come forward because of who his uncle is. They were afraid of losing their jobs or worse. When it got out that he was arrested and what he was arrested for, these women started coming forward to the Human Resources department. After so many complaints, H.R. contacted the police department. It seems Edward was completely out of control, but he thought he was above the law within this building, which in some ways, he was correct, until he majorly crossed the line like he did with you last week. Now all of the truths are coming out. Big bad uncle Anderson Mason himself is the one who came in Friday and fired him. Apparently, he was given one hour to clear out his office and Mr. Mason stood and watched as he did so,” George says.
“George, are you serious? I didn't know he was out of jail yet,” I whisper.
“He’s out on bond, I believe. If I understand correctly his parents posted it for him. I wouldn't have if I were them, not with charges against him like he has. I think it’s about time people see him for who he really is. This is just the beginning for him, it seems. I knew he was a snake, but I didn't realize how horrible it was until this morning when all this came out,” he declares sternly.
For a minute I am rendered speechless, I hadn’t thought about what Edward’s actions could cause around the office. If I am honest with myself, I figured it wouldn't affect anything there. He's the perfect nephew and the upcoming star attorney. I thought he could get by with anything. Maybe there is a line you can't cross after all, even if you are Edward Clark.
“Wow, I honestly didn't know he was harassing so many women! I feel like such a fool George,” I murmur.
“Gwen, you are no fool. You just fell into his trap, and he thought he could get by with it. I am glad the truth came out before you married him. I am sorry I interrupted you, but I thought you needed to know and before you continue. I think I already know what you are going to say. You are turning in your notice… Am I correct?”
That catches me by surprise. I didn't expect him to know I was going to turn in my notice. “Yes, George, I have been given an opportunity to start over and I think I want to take it and clear myself of anything Edward. I am so sorry.” By the end I am almost whispering and have tears sliding down my cheeks. I adore George so much and hate leaving him, but I cannot work in that building anymore, even with Edward gone.
“Sweetie, you have nothing to be sorry for. I can't blame you for wanting away from this place, with all the memories, and I support you. I will pay you for the next two weeks and mail the check out to you today, but you are free of Mason and Clark from this minute on. I am going to miss you, but I want you to be happy and as far away from the memories of this place and Edward as you can get. Thank you for all you have done for me Gwen. I don't know what I would have done without you the last five years.”
I am at a loss for words, “George, thank you.” is all I can get out.
He tells me to keep in touch and hangs up.
That was a lot easier than I thought it would be. I am proud of the women there for stepping forward, even if they should have done it sooner, but I understand they were afraid to go up against Edward. No one deserves to be treated the way he treats women. I hope he gets what’s coming to him. I guess Karma really is a bitch. For the first time in a long time, I feel an enormous weight lifting off my shoulders. I feel a smile take over my entire face.
Since I didn’t do much this weekend except hang out with my dad, watch movies and eat, I throw some laundry in the washer, do some cleaning, and of course feed and love on Sam. I haven't seen much of him this weekend. He's not a people cat and hides when someone is here, so he spent his weekend in his secret hiding place. Maybe later I will order some takeout for dinner and curl up on the couch with Sam and a good book… not the one Becca got me either. That book needs to be tossed in the trash.
I walk towards the laundry room to transfer the clothes from the washer over to the dryer when I hear someone knock on the front door. For a moment, I just stand there frozen in fear, hearing that Edward is out on bond has me a little on edge. When the fear finally passes, I walk to the door and look out the peephole. To my astonishment, Asher is standing outside my door, as if I had summoned him here by thinking and dreaming about him this morning. I open the door, and we just stand there looking at each other, both of us not sure what to say.
“Asher, Hey, how…how did you find me?” I stutter.
“Gwen, please don’t be upset… I was concerned because you didn’t show up last week and then you didn’t come out the rest of the week. I was worried, so I went to the library and looked up your address. I almost didn’t come, but I had to know you were okay. I will leave now if you want me to. I just wanted to know you were okay,” he declares.
“No, Asher, please come in. I am not the least bit upset with you. I am glad you decided to come by. I could use the company.” I realize I am being truthful. I am grateful he is here. I hate being home alone since what Edward did.
We walk into the living room and we both take a seat on the couch. We are quiet for a few minutes. I watch him as he takes in his surroundings. I feel almost giddy at the fact Asher is in my home, which makes me feel utterly stupid and immature. He looks over at me and I watch his face change, he looks pissed off, why the sudden change in him?
“Gwen, can I ask you something?”
“Yeah”. I answer carefully.
“What the hell happened to your neck?” he asks with heat in his voice.
I sigh. I had forgotten all about the bruising the minute I saw Asher standing at my door. I am not sure I am ready to answer this question. I wish I had remembered to cover it somehow before I answered the door.
“Well, my ex got a little rough with me…a few nights ago. That is why I didn’t show up last week. I haven't wanted people to see me this way, so I haven't left the house.”
He grits his teeth and I see the tendons in his neck tighten. “What did he do to you?” He asks quietly, He is trying to control his temper and it shows. He's not very good at hiding his emotions.
I sit looking at the floor, saying nothing, letting the silence between us stretch out, trying to decide if I want to get into all that has happened the last week between me and Edward with Asher. He is still a stranger to me, though it has never felt that way. Something about him makes me want to tell him, even though it’s a subject I would rather not talk about right now or ever again.
I give in and start telling him about Edward, and once I start talking, I can't stop. It just flows out of me like water. I tell him the entire story from my mom instantly not liking Edward and how she begged me to keep my options open. She claimed she couldn’t see anything good in him, that he gave her bad vibes. Dad didn't feel any better about him, but felt it wasn't his place to tell me who to spend my life with and who not to spend it with. I continued on with him cheating on me numerous times, the incident at the office with his secretary, all of the control issues he has, and ended with him trying to rape me right in my own doorway. Asher listens so intently, I feel like he is mentally experiencing everything I am saying, feeling what I felt, and am feeling at every moment of the story. His facial expressions tell exactly what he is thinking. I can tell it is upsetting him, but he pushes me to continue every time I think I have said enough or too much.
I take a deep breath once I am finished, and tears start descending down my face. I wipe at them, angry that I still have tears to shed. You would think I would be completely cried out by now, but yet again here come the waterworks. After reliving everything, I feel mentally exhausted. I end it by telling him everything George told me this morning about the other women coming forward.
Asher reaches over and grabs my hand and starts stroking it gently with his thumb.
