The CEOs pregnante maid

Doctor

So what? - he let go. Then he ran his hand through his hair, walking

from one side to the other. - That's my fiancée! - He looked hysterical, he was screaming.

- But the two of us... on graduation night... - I said, still hoarse from his grip on my neck.

- But what were you thinking? I EAT WHORES LIKE YOU every f*****g weekend. What did you want? To be special? An engagement ring? Please, girl, I don't even know you! Stay away from me and my fiancée before I file a f*****g restraining order. You f*****g psychopath.

I looked right into his eyes, smoothing my neck from side to side. How could he treat me like that, assault me? He was nothing like the gentle Luck I always saw smiling and joking around.

- You're going to stay the f**k away from me. You're going to disappear from my life.

I just shook my head, looking anywhere but into his eyes.

- Okay. I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bother you. - I lowered my gaze and ran out into the street. I didn't go back to Starbucks, let alone call Matthew to take me back to school. I flagged down a cab and got back in.

I got home and cried myself to sleep; I can't remember ever being so humiliated in my entire life. I believed he was a nice guy. Jesus! Why didn't I just listen to my friends? I gave him my virginity, my first kiss. How could he do that to me? Hurt me like that? I turned off my cell phone, I didn't want any questions about what had happened. My mother would probably land in Tennessee because I hadn't gotten back together with Matthew or answered her calls. But you know what? I didn't care, I just wanted to cry, to be alone.

I woke up at 8 a.m., having slept for about thirteen hours. I had an excruciating stomach ache, probably the result of the cappuccino that barely went down yesterday afternoon. I got up slowly to go to the bathroom. When I looked in the mirror, I looked terrible, pale, eyes swollen, nose still red and, worst of all, my neck was scarred. Clearly handprints. That made my eyes fill with tears again, it was proof of what had really happened. I ran my hand over the purplish, sore skin. I cried softly as I washed my face. Remembering what Luck had done to me made me nauseous.

To try and distract myself, I went to Google, avoiding social networks as much as possible. Incredibly, I ended up on a blog that talked about Stockholm syndrome. And the part that surprised me the most was that, contrary to what I had imagined, Stockholm syndrome was not just a characteristic of kidnapped people. A few years ago, a new line of research characterized Stockholm syndrome as a psychological phenomenon in which the victim begins to feel sympathy for their aggressor, tyrant or even rapist. Even if you're not a prisoner or have been taken by him.

A very interesting part of the article said that Stockholm syndrome is not a syndrome as such, nor is it a disease or mental disorder in the usual sense of the word. Rather, it is a variant of psychological defense, or coping strategy to deal with the excessive stress that develops in a traumatic situation.

Such as physical or mental abuse.

That's when I understood everything. My body was shaking with tears that wanted to come down, but I just couldn't give in, because if I did, I'd fall so hard I probably wouldn't be able to stand it.

The loud knocks on the door startled me. It was probably Madeleine picking me up.

- Just a second," I replied. I put on a turtleneck and answered.

Surprisingly, it was Vivian and Alice, who came in and gave me a big hug.

- Girl, you look bad - Vivian commented, looking me up and down. - And that blouse is awful.

- What's gotten into you, Nicole? You disappeared without any news, we were worried.

- I'm just not very well. I think I've got the flu.

- Yeah, you look like you've got the flu. If you want, we can go to the doctor with you.

- Thanks, Vivian, but it's not necessary. I'm already on medication.

- Okay, Vivian? Are you sure you don't want to tell us anything? - Alice commented, sitting down on my bed.

- No... Like I said, I'm just sick with the flu. - I tried not to look at them so they wouldn't notice my lie.

- Hey, Nicole, how long are you going to keep this up? We already know. It's impossible not to notice when we look at you.

I looked at Vivian in a cold sweat.

- I'm sorry, girls. I thought it would work out, I never imagined it would come to this. I wanted to, for once... - I burst into tears.

- Shiiii. Hey, it's not right to run away from Matthew. He'll end up talking to your mother. Having rules isn't bad. - Vivian rolled her eyes.

- Sooner or later, you'll have to take over your mother's company. Don't be like that, it could be good for you.

What? What do you mean? What do you mean? I thought they were talking about Luck, but they thought I was ill because I had to leave. They thought I was freaking out because I didn't want to accept Madeleine's rules anymore.

- When we got to Starbucks yesterday and couldn't find you, we called your cell phone and you didn't answer. Then we called Matthew and he said he had left you there half an hour before. We didn't want to make a fuss, so we told him that you probably needed some time alone to get used to the fact that you were going to have to leave.

- Of course, we did this after calling the school to see if anyone had seen you go upstairs. I know it's not easy - Alice gave me a bear hug. - But we can see each other during the weekends. You don't have to almost kill us with your heart. - She loosened the hug and wiped away my tears. - Well, enough of this morbid talk. How about lunch together today?

I looked like a friend and said no.

- Nicole, this is a summons, let's enjoy our days together. - Vivian made a dramatic pout.

- It's true! You won't even go if you're dragged! - Alice stood up from my bed, staring at me.

- All right - I agreed, since they weren't budging. I pretended to cover my ears when they screamed hysterically.

At lunchtime, I just nibbled my food, I'd lost my appetite. My body was there, but my thoughts were on Luck.

We spent the rest of the three and a half weeks buying things for my trip, updating my closet and getting my passport. I wasn't one for spending a lot, but it was a way of forgetting everything that had happened and moving on.

That morning I felt terrible, I don't know exactly if it was because I was only three days away or because I wasn't eating very well. I was packing the rest of the things I needed to send there into boxes. Vivian and Alice insisted that I hire someone to do it for me, but I didn't want to, I didn't have much. Besides, the more distracted I was, the better.

I was about to stack the last box when a wave of dizziness hit me. I leaned my hands on the box, trying to hold myself up, but I was too dizzy. I fell to the floor. I could see everything spinning around, and it was hard to see clearly normally. Another wave of vertigo hit me and I ran, still dizzy, towards the bathroom, but I threw up before I could reach the toilet. God, I was sick. I felt waves of cold crawling up my skin as I vomited. When my body calmed down, I lay on the cold bathroom floor, feeling my stomach ache and waves of dizziness come and go. I could only be dying, no doubt about it, I can't remember ever feeling so ill in my entire life. I needed to call for help. I picked up my cell phone with trembling hands and dialed the first number on my call list. Vivian was slow to pick up, she and her habit of singing the song before answering the call. Voicemail.

- Damn! - Clinging to the toilet, I threw up again. My phone rang. I answered on the first ring, getting vomit all over the screen from my dirty fingers.

- Vivian... - I said. - Please, I need you.

- Okay? Are you in your room?

- Yes... - I replied, before throwing up again and, once more, lying down

on the cold floor.

- I'm close, I'll be there soon.

A few minutes passed when I heard footsteps in my room. Then Vivian knelt down beside me.

- Oh my God! Nicole, what's wrong with you?

- I don't know... I think I'm dying," she said, curled up on the floor with her hand on her stomach.

- Don't talk nonsense. Come on, I'll help you up. I've come with Matthew, we're taking you to the doctor.