Curling his hand in my hair, I remember the impact of the wall hitting the side of my face and I was instantly winded, lost in a daze. His fist came next, straight to my nose. I crumbled to the ground, blood sliding down my face. Kicks to my sides soon followed. I could hear him yelling but was barely able to make out the words. He grabbed me by my shirt and everything came rushing back, pain, all I felt was pain. "Where have you been! Your late again! Your job ends at 7:30! It only takes 15 mins to get home! Now Angelina tell me who he is! I won't get mad!" I sputtered, blood spilling from my mouth and sliding from my nose. I won't get mad! That's what he said... now, while he was enraged. The problem is there was "he". Traffic was incredibly tight and the ride home I could barely see with my eyes watering knowing what awaited me when I got home. "Kenji, there is no one else! I swear please bab-" Another blow to the side of my head and another and another. Finally I could barely keep my eyes open. Worry slowly etched upon Kenji's face as curses ripped from his mouth, "Angel, man Angel hang on for me. Let me get you cleaned up. I'm sorry baby!" And then I passed out.
The voices of songbirds awoke me the next morning. The sun hit my body at the perfect angle and as I shifted I felt the hits that I had taken. My body argued against them in shooting pain. Pain was everywhere, just moving was a struggle. Blinking back tears I let out a shaky breathe unable to think of reasonable excuse for his behavior. Then thousands of ideas flooded my mind as to what I would tell my coworkers this time about my battle scars. Maybe this time it'll be tripping on the steps of the house. Wait I used that one last week.... Suddenly the door swung upon and Kenji entered with a mug of tea, a bowl of steaming soup and a cheese sandwich neatly cut in half beside it. I blinked a few times wondering if I was dreaming. But the image didn't waver or change, here Kenji was in the flesh, with brunch in bed. "Baby I'm so sorry I really am, I just... you know how I get. I just..." Sighing, he handed me the tea, his eyes wiping over me as if waiting for my reaction. Ignoring his need for approval I took a small sip of it. My head was throbbing as the soothing warm liquid comforted my swollen body. Placing the black card on the tray, he stood and left, a silent storm. Looking down at the card I pushed it away as I rolled my eyes. The credit card was his apology letter, he let me blow money out of the bank and take me out for dinner. In return I was to forgive him and continue doing whatever he wanted me to do. He always seemed to buy back my affection, but there was nothing else I could possibly want, nothing but love. Closing my eyes I willed all the bad things to go away as I set my mug down on the coffee table by the side of my bed. Curling back into the sheets I just wanted to forget it all. Just forget it all as I drifted back into a peaceful, painless sleep.
I woke up with Kenji's arms wrapped tightly almost painfully around me. He was convinced that I would leave him but he basically drilled the fact that no one was any better out there. Shifting I closed my eyes and began to, pull away then suddenly Kenji's arms tightened painfully around me. "Where the hell are you going?" He asked huskily his voice full of sleep. Wincing, I bit my lip, "Baby go back to bed I have to get ready for work." His eyes shot open and he looked at the time and seemed to simmer down a bit. He nodded, "Ok be home by 8:00 Angelina. I mean it girl be on time." I nodded my head sharply, "Yes Kenji of course." Finally he loosened his grip and I slid out of bed in my gown, heading toward the shower exhausted and soar all over. Slipping out of my gown I stepped into the warm shower as it spray from both ways. Running a hand through my hair I sighed finally at peace and comfortable. Glancing across the room I saw the clock and sighed quickly washing up. I knew the day would be in full swing soon. Stepping back into our room with a towel wrapped around me I found a nice gray pants suit with a peach ruffled blouse. Slipping the outfit on I pulled on the blazer and examined my face. The right side seemed incredibly swollen compared to the left but instead of focusing on one spot I just caked my face with make up. Grabbing my purse I slung it on my shoulder and grabbed a red apple heading to the door and climbing into my Camaro. Slipping on my sunglasses I knew I'd have to face the music sooner or later. My life was a lie and I had no idea what I would do when the truth came out.
Entering the office I was greeted by the usual "Hello" and "Hey Angel", but there was something different. The atmosphere felt so tight and new. Something crazy was going to happen today I could feel it. Suddenly I was taken into a bear hug by my best friend A.J. My other best friend Megan joined our lil group hug that resulted with me gasping for air and wincing in pain. "Omg Angel sooo much has happened! Why weren't you here yesterday?!" Quickly I ran through ideas and selected one out of the blue. "I uh I over slept because the night before I had been working on the proposal the big guy wanted me to revise." Megan looked a little confused but shrugged it away.She was about to continue her rant when a deep husky voice interrupted her in mid thought. "Well Ms.Simmons I hope you got something done while you were ... sleeping?" The voice seemed to play around with the word. I was shocked that someone had the audacity to put themselves in me and my friends conversation. Spinning to face the voice I was taken aback by his handsome features but stood my ground. "We'll excuse me sir, but since when has what I accomplish have anything to do with you?" I all but snarled at this devilishly handsome man. He smirked and let out a contagious laugh. Then his gaze seemed to level with mine. He began speaking, "As long as I am your boss I'd like to know your progress with the work you've been assigned, Ms.Simmons." With a smirk to my friends he walked off. I was left gaping like a fool. Turning I blinked at my friends, expecting an explanation at least. Megan's eyes followed his ass until he disappeared around the corner. A.J. smirked and looked at me, "That's our new boss, Mr.Carters nephew. He's a fine piece of man if I do say so myself." Blinking I glanced at my friends and shook my head, trying to remember why they were my best friends. A.J. was bi sexual and had shaggy black hair, a chiselled jaw and green eyes that made him look like a mix between a serial killer and a girls fantasy. Megan had curly red hair that went to her lower back, a circles face with high cheek bones and hazel eyes. She was also bi sexual. To say they were gorgeous was an understatement. I had almost pale blond hair that wrapped around my body and stopped at my lower back. With a heart shaded face and dull chocolate brown eyes, I never understood how I ended up with such beautiful friends. Kenji made sure to remind how much of nothing I would be if he didn't buy me make up. He made sure I understood I was ugly, useless, stupid, and and that no would ever want me.