Page 26 of Lies You Told
“Why did you never tell him the truth?” Kate asks, taking a sip of her drink.
“I was scared,” I whisper, ashamed for the first time in years. Ashamed that I didn’t speak up. It’s my one regret in life. “I was twenty-one, and he was my Professor. He had a position of power. I’m a girl who was raised in a one-income Jersey City family. I didn’t think I had any power.” I feel myself closing off from her, and I hate that. Telling Greyson was the hardest thing in the world, way harder than telling Blake. It pisses me off when people say well, why didn’t the woman come forward?
Why did she let it escalate? But people who say that haven’t been in my position. Why, when a person comes into my office and tells me something like this, I listen. I don’t pass any judgment. Half the battle is coming forward or finding someone who will listen. But I don’t just take their word for it. The world is a cruel and unusual place, and for every person who doesn’t speak up, there is always someone who wants to cash in, and that’s the awful world we live in. “Greyson wanted me to. I was worried it would hurt my career.” I laugh, finally getting out of my own head. I look at Kate and see it on her face, and she gets it.
“You’ve known Greyson a while, then?”
“Yeah, you could say that. I applied for the Huntington Scholarship, and they only usually offer it to people who want to enter the entertainment industry. I’m the only person they’ve put through law school. Now Greyson is my biggest client. He’s like a dad or uncle, maybe.” It feels weird thinking of him that way. “He’s the only man in my life who’s protected me and looked out for me, and for that, I’ll always be grateful.”
“No dad?”
I laugh. “No, my mom never spoke about my dad. He’s not on my birth certificate. I don’t think she even knows who it was.”.
“Greyson sounds like a great guy, though.”
“He’s the best.”
“Maybe it’s time to let someone else in. Someone who can give you everything you deserve.”
“When did you get so wise?” I ask, smiling at her, no longer hungry.
“When I slept with my boss last year,” she smiles, wagging her eyebrows at me.
“Ha ha ha. I’d heard about that.”
“Yeah, I don’t want you to miss out on something you want. Don’t be like Mike and miss what’s obvious to everyone around you. Jax can give you everything you want. You just have to let him in.”
Kate’s words keep playing on a loop in my head. I know she’s right. Jax and I could have been friends a long time ago. He was different than most of our social circle. Like me, he was also on a scholarship–neither of us had the wealthy parents of our friend group. Getting to know some of the submissives tonight was good, too. We’re all unique in our own way. But we’re also strong too. We’re not in this lifestyle because we want a guy to walk all over us or because we are damaged somehow. We’re in this lifestyle because we need this power dynamic, even if it’s just in the bedroom–or, in my case, to feel something. Samantha, who’s been a member for a couple of years, asked for my business card. I seem to be the go-to lawyer for the submissives at the club. My phone buzzes.
Jaxson: Tomorrow, I don’t want to give you time to change your mind.
Jaxson: I’ll make reservations.
I looked at the message he sent earlier. Reading it again and again. I notice the three little dots on the screen. A small giddy feeling comes over me, butterflies in my stomach. I’m also getting that nervous sweat under my arms–not sexy at all. This feeling is new, and I’m not sure I like it. I can’t be falling for Jaxson Hill.
Jaxson: Either you’re typing the world’s longest message or just staring at my message.
I drop the phone on the bed, startled.
Jaxson: Don’t go shy on me now.
I see the screen staring up at me. Maybe this would be a good ice-breaker before we meet tomorrow! ‘Get a grip, Chloe. Over the years, you’ve spent tons of hours with the guy. Just because most of those hours were spent in animosity still counts.’
Chloe: Busted!
Jaxson: It took you ten minutes to write that? (smile emoji|)
Chloe: Didn’t know you were such a comedian!
Jaxson: There’s a lot about me you don’t know.
Chloe: Like?
Jaxson: I can be very creative when I want to be.
Chloe: Sounds… fun!
Jaxson: Hopefully for both of us.
