Escaping to the CEO

Chapter 14

Cassandra POV

I watched Eric drive away through the window. I hated watching him leave, however I'm just not ready for a relationship, not just yet. I need to figure out who I am and what I want out of my life. I need to get officially divorced and have Joe out of my life for good. One problem at a time.

"Hey, you're back!"

"Yea just walked in, actually."

"So tell me how was your weekend?"

"Incredible."

I told her everything. How we cuddled and made out and just enjoyed spending time with each other. I left out that he asked me to move in with him. I'm not sure how she'd react to me saying no. I feel like I'm putting her out by always being here. I'm hopeful once I make some money I can get a small place of my own.

"So I want to start the proceedings of getting divorced. How can we go about that?"

"Well, there's a lot to it, actually. First we need to file a protective order against him. Luckily, I took pictures of your body the day we helped you escape him. Did you ever take photos or have medical records from before you went to prison?"

"In my dresser upstairs there is a flash drive that has everything on it. I hid it in the box that Joe had moved to the new house. I found a bunch of boxes in that storage room he called mine."

"Great we can use that evidence to show the judge how abusive he can be and that will help speed up the divorce process too. Now is there anything you want from him?"

"No. I want nothing except my freedom."

"Is there anything you can think of that he would want from you?"

"In all honesty, I don't know what he could want from me. I have nothing to my name, I owe nothing. All I have is clothing and some cheap costume jewelry and even something that he wouldn't want. Besides him having possession over me, there's nothing I have that he would want."

"Alright, this will make the paperwork easy then."

I went upstairs and grabbed the flash drive. Anna had her computer out, and she was starting to get the paperwork together to make everything simple and easy to get divorced and a protective order in place.

"I have a friend who works in a courthouse in New York City. We can head there at the end of the week if we can get him to sign the divorce agreement. I'll call Tommy in the morning and see if we can get his help to have him trick Joe into signing."

"So easy-peasy?"

"Easy-peasy lemon squeezy."

She had full divorce paperwork typed, printed and ready to be signed. I grabbed a pen and was about to sign when she stopped me.

"Don't sign yet. If he sees your signature, he'll be more likely to read it. Leave it blank until it comes back."

"Oh I didn't think of that."

She got on her phone and started calling someone.

"Hey Boss. Sorry for calling so late. I need Tommy's number. I have a plan on how to get CD officially divorced, but I'm going to need his help."

"Yea, I know, I know I'll owe him big. But this is worth it, don't you think?"

"Alright, I'll bring the paperwork in with me in the morning."

"Yes, I'll tell her you said hi."

"Eric says," Hi, and that he loves and misses you."

"Ugg fine."

"OK, I totally made up that last part."

She mouthed to me. 'Not really. He actually does.' I heard "ANNA" on the other end before she quickly yelled bye see you tomorrow, as she was hanging up the phone. She was giggling and kicking her feet like a school girl as she placed the phone down.

"You know Eric has been obsessed with you since you were kids. He keeps an eye on you, making sure you're protected and safe as much as possible."

"I know. He told me."

"Well, how does that make you feel?"

"My feelings are so complicated. I've been in love with him since we were kids. He was forced to move away, I was forced to forget about him. I was practically forced into a marriage of "convince" by someone I don't know. I was beaten to the point of a miscarriage, and then thrown in prison for the last five years, by my husband, I might add. Then, on the day of my release, I was beaten and raped by my husband once again for almost two weeks till you guys saved me. I still love Eric. I've been in love with him for a really, really long time, but things are so complicated, and I need to take care of the heavy before it implodes on me."

"I get it. How about I cook up some dinner, and you pop open a bottle of wine, and we can watch some chick flicks and take some time to relax before we start tricking your husband into divorcing you.?

"That sounds amazing."

We spent the rest of the night watching Ann Hathaway movies and drinking wine.

I woke up with my stomach flopping and my head felt like I had been hit by a truck. I shuffled quickly to the bathroom and vomited whatever was in my belly. Ugg this was going to be a great first day. I need coffee and a shower. That will make me feel better.

As Anna and I were sitting back at home after our long day of work, I was still feeling like I was run over. Ugg I needed to lay off the wine.

"So I got a hold of Tommy. He had me send over the divorce agreement online. He's going to hide it in a stack of papers that he needs to sign and once they're signed he'll meet us in New York City on Friday morning with them. So we only have to wait for a few more days."

"Alright, I can definitely wait a few more days. I know it's going to take longer for the divorce to go through anyway. But I'm hopeful about the order of protection, the proof of the beatings, abuse and mistreatment. Also, the fact that I don't want anything, we can get through this rather quickly."

"I'm hopeful too. Maybe he won't even notice that he's divorced and the order of protection will stop him from coming after you. Or if he does, it'll land his sorry ass in jail. Maybe he'll become Bubba's b***h in there."

Thinking of Joe and his scrawny, weak, dark, skinny ass being railed by a big biker with multiple tattoos brought a big smile to my face. I just want him to get everything that he deserves and more. I want him to receive the abuse he has given me. I want him to know how it feels to be raped and beaten. I want him to know how it feels to be helpless and trapped.

Over the next few days, I woke up feeling sicker and sicker. Strong smells would cause my stomach to flip. I knew this couldn't be from drinking the wine, since that was many days ago. Maybe it was some new virus or something. Once my health insurance through this job kicked in, I'd find myself a doctor or go to a minute clinic or something. I hate feeling like this, but sadly there is nothing I can do.

Thursday night I'm packed up and ready to go. Anna and I hop into her car and head down to New York. We got a hotel room near the courthouse so we wouldn't have to go far, and we would be there early enough to meet Tommy and get my signed divorce paperwork. My belly is flipping with butterflies at the thought that the end is insight and soon.... soon I will be divorced. Soon I will be free to live my life without looking over my shoulder.

We pull into the hotel and the hair on my arm instantly rises. I feel like someone is watching me. Like I'm being stalked.

"Anna?"

"hmm?"

"Something's not right."

"I feel it too. Let's get into the hotel and where cameras can see us. I want to make sure we're seen at all times."

We both kept looking around bags slung over our shoulders, and we stayed in the camera sight the entire time. I can't take the feeling and my butterflies are going crazy. I'm nervous and scared. The feeling won't go away.

We get to the consigere and get the key cards and room number. She was very kind and even gave us bottles of water and a warm chocolate chip cookie. We turned around and there they were Tommy and Joe.

"Well there you are, wife. You know I've been looking for you for a long time. I think it's time you came home. Don't you?"