He Set The Test, I Set The Divorce

Chapter 2

The next day, while we were having dinner, Bianca called. She said a friend's company was holding an exclusive jewelry showing at Bellamy Club and was short a receptionist for the event.

"No selling, no pouring drinks. You'd just handle check-in and show guests in. It pays $2,000 for one night. I thought you'd be great at it, Helena, since you've worked part-time at a hotel, so you were the first person I thought of."

Neil looked up. "That much?"

"Yes. The guests are all high-profile people. You'll get tips, too." Bianca paused, her tone softening. "But you still have to work during the day, Helena. If it's too tiring, forget it."

Neil set down his fork. "It's just standing for a few hours. How tiring can that be? I need money for my interview next week. Just do it for one night."

He said it as if it were nothing, as if he weren't the one who had taken $1,200 from me yesterday.

I'd wanted to refuse, but then I heard the name Bellamy Club.

The Glenhaven project was preparing to add high-end retail space, and my supervisor, Chase Graves, had just asked me to put together a competitive analysis report. Bellamy Club's layout and membership services made it a perfect benchmark, and it rarely opened to outsiders. This was an opportunity.

I thought for a moment. "Send me the address."

Bianca laughed. "Don't worry, Helena. I've already put in a word for you. They'll take care of you."

After work the next day, I arrived at Bellamy Club. I had just finished check-in when the event manager handed me a low-cut dress. "Put this on and go up to the VIP suite."

I didn't take it. "Isn't this event reception?"

"The guests upstairs are event guests, too." He glanced at me. "Aren't you short on money? If you do well, the tips will be more than your pay."

I called Bianca. She didn't answer and only texted.

Bianca: They're all people I know. Don't be nervous, Helena.

When the suite door opened, the smell of cigar smoke and liquor hit me. A middle-aged man patted the seat beside him. "Ms. Frazier wasn't kidding. She's pretty."

I set the wine on the table. "I'm only here to work the check-in."

The man laughed. "You're already in here. What difference does the job make now?"

I turned to leave. He grabbed my wrist and yanked me back hard. My side slammed into the corner of the table, and wine bottles crashed to the floor.

"You want to leave just like that?" His hand moved down my lower back.

I grabbed a wine bottle off the table and threw it in his face. When his grip loosened, I bolted out of the suite.

The event manager chased me to the elevator, shouting, "Felix, the client, picked you out. That's an honor! Do you have any idea what this will cost you?"

I didn't dare stop. I ran a long way before I flagged down a cab.

Heavy rain hit the car window. In the back seat, I saw a ring of purple bruises on my wrist. The zipper on the dress had torn, too.

It was already 11 p.m. when I got home. Neil was sitting in the living room. When he saw me soaked through, he stopped short, then stood up. The phone on the coffee table was paused on a surveillance clip. Even so, he chose to interrogate me.

"Why did you throw wine at Felix?"

I looked at him. "Is that really what you want to ask me?"

Neil pressed his lips together and pushed the phone in front of me. The video started when I picked up the wine bottle. The earlier part, where the man grabbed me and dragged me, had been cut out. "Bianca went out of her way to find you a job, and you worked less than 2 hours before you offended her friend's client. Helena, what is wrong with you?"

I clenched the hem of my soaked shirt. "He was touching me and tried to drag me onto the couch."

Neil frowned. "Bianca said Felix just drank too much and accidentally touched you."

"Was this accidental, too?" I pulled up my sleeve. When Neil saw the bruise, his expression wavered.

Just then, Bianca called. He put her on speaker.

"Neil, has Helena gone home? It's all my fault today. I thought she could handle this kind of occasion. I didn't expect her to be so upset." She sounded full of guilt. "I've already apologized to Felix for her. Helena has never had it rough, so it's normal for her to be upset. Don't blame her."

Neil's tense expression slowly relaxed. "You don't have to speak for her."

After the call ended, he looked at me. "Bianca is still cleaning up your mess."

I laughed. "You believe whatever she says?"

"The surveillance footage is right here."

"It's been cut."

He frowned. "Are you saying Bianca deliberately found someone to humiliate you?"

I didn't answer. I only asked, "If it were her who'd been dragged into that suite tonight, would you tell her to endure it, too?"

Neil was silent for a moment. "Bianca wouldn't let things get like this."

"So because she has her act together, I deserve it?"

"That's not what I mean." He avoided my eyes. "But I'm having such a hard time right now, and you can't put up with a little discomfort. You keep saying you're willing to go through hard times with me, but when I really need you to sacrifice something, you're the first to bail."

I looked at him. "Neil, do you want me to go through hard times with you, or do you want me to let people humiliate me?"

"Don't be so dramatic." He took the phone back. "Tomorrow night I'll go with you to see Felix. You apologize, and this will be over."

"I won't go."

His face went cold. "Then don't say you love me again."

I didn't argue. I went back to the bedroom and threw the torn dress into the trash.

So he wasn't testing me with money alone. He was testing my dignity, too.