Hooked with a Romantic Billionaire

CHAPTER FIVE

Callista Agapov:

With over $2,000 worth of savings, Callista is now finding her financial footing. The pilfering from Jake stopped and having to stay with him has helped her save costs. Add that to the occasional meals she gets after preparing food for Grayson and she has, a whole lot of ways to save money and build up her finances.

Things seemed to be going pretty well for her boyfriend too as he now leaves the house early in the morning and returns in the evening, full of smiles. “I’m going legit baby,” he told her one evening after they had both returned home.

He went on to narrate how he’s been applying for open positions. Anything from a waiter to a receptionist. Any job that needs a guy with a good pair of hands and legs. Callista was happy to hear this. “At last, he’s coming around and will be responsible and lead a good lifestyle.”

Annabeth was happy to hear this. But didn’t fail to ask her friend when Jake was looking to call it all quits. ‘He didn’t say” Callista responded, “but now that’s thinking in that direction, I guess it wouldn’t take much time.”

******************

Grayson had called in from the office, requesting that Philly Cheesesteak and lemonade be readied by the time he got home. Anticipating his return, Callista had set about the task of preparing his lunch.

It was mid-day and he wasn’t yet back. She couldn’t call either because the instruction was to receive the calls and not call. But when the sun began to set, she became apprehensive. As if her thoughts were read, the gates opened and the car drove into the home.

Just like some weeks back, Grayson wasn’t on his toes but was escorted into the house by the chauffeur. Together, they helped him into the living room from where Callista did as the previous time - helping him upstairs.

It was already getting late. The time was a few minutes past 6 PM and she couldn’t leave until she was sure her boss had come around and had something to eat. Stepping into the room for the third time that evening, she drew closer to the bed to examine his pulse.

Bending to roll him over to lay on his side, she noticed one of his eyes was open. Calling out to him softly, she enquired if he could hear her. It was also a trick to prevent him from choking if he started choking due to intoxication.

Several minutes went by and he started to come around. Seeing the bad shape he was in, she knew that leaving him all alone to himself would be useless. If he didn’t choke, he would need to be tendered to until he’s stable. She had it in mind to stay behind for as long as possible until he’s able to at least, talk.

It wasn’t until a few minutes to 9 PM that Grayson came around and she left for the kitchen to fix the meal for home. Coming back to the room, she set the smaller table in position and placed the food on it.

Taking the other chair in the room, she allowed Jake to eat to his fill. No word was spoken. It was embarrassing enough already for him. Done with the meal, she cleared the plates and he went back to bed. Callista came back to the room but this time, Grayson was sleeping soundly and she let it be that way; shut the door and left for home.

******************

“What do you mean you’re just coming home from work? Checked your time yet? What does it say, huh?”

Jake wasn’t having it easy. The last time Callista came home late after tending to her boss following his intoxication, he had flared up and said all sorts of nasty things. Today, she had returned later than before and this got him upset.

All efforts to explain what happened fell on deaf ears as he kept insisting she went somewhere else and not from work. Ever since she took up the job, he hasn’t been fully supportive. “I’d have preferred you work in a walk-in restaurant but if this is fine by you, knock yourself out.”

And it had ended there, or so she thought, until he made a whole new issue out of it anytime they quarreled. Now that she has kept late nights because of the extra care rendered to her boss, she has armed him with more weapons to shred her apart.

“You can’t tell me you’re just coming from your boss’ place” he continued. “Is that the closing time made into the contract?”

After the events of that evening, Callista barely had enough strength to stand let alone answer questions that would turn into arguments and quarrels. She sidestepped Jake as she once more apologized for coming home late.

Perhaps, if she had slowed down a bit, she would have seen it. But she was moving at a quick pace and missed it. Out of the blues, Jake’s hand showed beside him and like a train racing to get to the destination in record time, he smacked her across the face.

Blinded by the pain, Callista, blinded in rage, rushed at Jake and gnawed at him with her fingernails.

When they were done, she slumped in a corner of the room sobbing while he examined the marks she left on his face, neck, and every other uncovered part of his body.

“Jake” Callista called out in-between sobs. “Must we continue this way?”

The pain laced in her voice can’t be hidden, as she choked trying to get the words out. Still concentrating on the marks on his body, Jake didn’t pay her any attention.

“I see you’ve become a tigress in the human body,” he said when he was done looking himself over in the mirror. “See,” he said turning around so she could see the marks drolling the way down to his spine. ‘Here” he pointed to the marks on his face. “Want to blind me eh?” he said pointing out yet another mark just a few inches away from his left eye.

That’s one of the many problems she has with Jake. “When will you ever take responsibility for the things you do badly?” she asked him with a shaky voice. “All you do is point out what you think I did wrong. Maybe you should have looked beyond the marks on your body in that mirror. You should have looked thoroughly at yourself and seen just what you are - a man with an overblown ego!”

Moving with the speed of light, Jake dashed across to her and slapped her hard on the face with his left hand. She lay out flat on the floor and sobbed her heart out.