Page 60 of Bound To Me

I knew that my birth control pill made my breasts a lot bigger and fuller; I could tell Michael enjoyed them.

“Yes.” I nodded.

He shook his head as he slowly walked toward me with his shirt in his hand, his broad and muscled shoulders making my heart flutter.Stop it, Jackie.

“Not anymore. You’re going to bear my children.”

I didn’t even want children. But I wouldn’t tell him that. I only smiled and nodded.

“I would love that, Daddy.”

He smiled and pulled me towards him. “I know you would, baby. Let’s go.”

We took an Uber to the restaurant and my heart raced the entire time, trying to figure out what to do. He wasn’t forcing meto do anything—he only assumed I’d listen to his every demand. He thought I was still obsessed with him. So why couldn’t I just tell him that I was leaving and not coming back?Because he’ll kill you! But what if I got to him first? And he has my fucking phone. I’ll use Meg’s or Lauren’s to call Elliott.I took a deep breath as we approached the building and let Michael take my hand. I thought I was going to keel over and have a heart attack as we walked in and saw Meg taking an order. She quickly looked over and her eyes widened as she took in who was beside me. She said something to the table she was at and then began to approach me and Michael as he pulled me towards the back of the restaurant.

“Jackie, is…is everything okay?”

Oh my God, Meg…please don’t say anything. I was grateful she was worried about me though—she had every right to be.

Michael gripped my hand tightly as he turned and glared at Meg. She was probably 5’2” so he towered over her by nearly a foot as he neared her, but she didn’t bat an eye.

“Everything is great,” he said calmly. “We’re here to gather Jackie’s things, as well as her last paycheck. Isn’t that right, Jackie?” He looked down at me expectantly.

I exhaled a laugh and nodded. “Of course!” My tone was exaggerated and almost comical, but I was nervous not only about our conversation, but also about how I would get rid of Michael.

As Michael pulled me away, I could see the confusion in Meg’s eyes as she stared at us.

We walked through the back door into the break room. Lauren’s office was just down the hall.

“Wait here. I’ll go get it,” I said to Michael, already knowing he wouldn’t let me go alone.

He tightened his grip on my hand. “No.” He pulled me firmly towards Lauren’s office.

I took a deep breath and knocked on her door.Holy shit, am I doing this?

“Come in!” Lauren called out.

Michael grabbed the door handle and swung it open. Lauren, seated behind her desk with a pen and notebook, looked up, her expression shifting to surprise.

“Jackie,” she began, her voice trailing off as she took in the scene.

My heart pounded so fiercely that I felt as if it might explode from my chest.

“I have something to say,” I blurted out, my breath shaky.

Michael whipped his head toward me as I continued.

“I actually don’t want to do this. I think I’ll just stay here and you can leave, Michael.” Turning to him cautiously, I braced myself for the fury I knew would blaze in his eyes.

He scoffed and smiled. “Jackie, don’t be ridiculous. You told me you hated it here.”

I shook my head and turned back to Lauren. “No, I love it here. Michael wanted me to quit to control my finances, but I think this time around, I’m not going to let him control anything about me.”

Explosions of satisfaction erupted in my brain as I observed Lauren shooting an angry glare towards Michael. I pulled my hand from his and crossed my arms as I slowly looked up at him; his eyes were widened with surprise.

“Please leave.” I wasn’t sure if I was holding my head up high, but it felt like it.

Lauren stood up, her gaze shifting between Michael and me. Michael, meanwhile, remained silent, his eyes locked on me with a piercing glare. Was he actually rendered speechless?

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