Page 18 of My Ex-Boyfriend's Daddy

I finish cleaning and call Michelle to finalize our plans for the weekend.

“Are you sure about this, Sidney?” she sounds worried and it worries me. But I refuse to be daunted.

“Of course. Mich, I’ve been like a prisoner for almost a year now.”

“Now you’re just being dramatic.”

“Count how many months there are between February and October.”

“Dang! You’re right, Sid. You deserve this break.”

“Exactly. Now, like I said, there’s this one guy who is a little more relaxed than the others. He’s usually on duty on a Saturday evening. He’s always on his phone, especially when he doesn’t think I’m watching him." My voice lowers as I add, "Sometimes, I even have to remind him that I’m there. Last week, I took the garbage downstairs, and he let me go alone. I came right back, of course. But it means I can do that again. This time, I’ll be out clubbing with you, girl! I can’t wait!” I squeal with joy.

“That makes two of us. It feels like ages since we’ve gone out, Sidney. I’m actually looking forward to Saturday now. But what if Archer finds out?”

“How will he find out unless Ben reports me missing? Ben can’t make a report because it would mean he wasn’t doing his job of watching me. We’ll go out for a few hours, have a few drinks and dance, come right back, and Archer won’t be any wiser.” I throw myself on the couch and a shockwave rushes through me as I stare into the camera in the corner. For a split second, I wonder if my plans will come to naught before they take flight. Then I remember – no audio!

“So, about nine is good?”

“Nine is perfect. We’ll talk later, Sidney. I’ve got to call this client.”

“Okay, hon.”

Saturday can’t come soon enough. And when it finally does, I’m on pins and needles all day. But, as planned, Ben is on duty. I text Michelle a few hours later to let her know that I’m ready when she is. She responds and says she’ll let me know when she is downstairs. I pace my apartment in nervous anticipation. It’s hard to think that I haven’t been out of my apartment without a guard in months, eight months to be exact. I check my outfit carefully once more. It is warm enough for October. I’m wearing leggings and an off-the-shoulder blouse. I plan to cover it with an oversized sweatshirt when I walk past Ben with the garbage bag. My boots, purse, phone, and jacket are in the bag and I plan to stuff the sweatshirt and slippers I have on right now into it and leave it in the foyer until I get back.

My stomach is in knots at the thought and anticipation of ‘escaping’ my prison. The phone rings and I grab it before it rings a second time. My heart is in my mouth.

“Hello?” I whisper.

“I’m here,” Michelle whispers back.

I take a deep breath. “I’ll be right there.”

I end the call and muster the courage for the act of a lifetime. I drop my phone and keys into my purse and place them in the trash bag. I step outside, discreetly locking the door behind me. Ben is sitting on a camping chair in the corner on his phone.

“Making a trash run, Ben. Be right back.” I smile tightly at him.

“Okay.” He nods.

I step past him, my heart racing. I creep down the staircase slowly, wondering if I look behind me, I’ll find that Ben has changed his mind and is following me after all. I get to the lobby alone and swiftly divest myself of my disguise. I get my boots and jacket on quickly and grab my purse. The cold October night air hits my face the second I step outside. I look around and find Michelle standing by the curb. A relieved squeal leaves my mouth and we run off like two little children up to mischief. We find a club and order a few drinks to start the evening. Being out without a guard breathing down my neck feels so exhilarating. Before I know it, the drinks begin to creep up on me and my tongue feels looser.

“I’d like to propose a toast. To good friends,” I say.

“To good friends!” Michelle clinks her glass with mine and we down our drink. I play with the rim of my glass a little, looking at Michelle with a small smirk on my face.

“What is it, Sid?” she asks, “You’ve got that ‘I’ve got a secret’ look.”

I laugh. “You know me too well.”

“Oohh! I love a good secret. Tell me! Tell me!”

I laugh. “I’ll give you three guesses.”

“Is it a person, place, or thing?”

“It’s a person, a place,anda thing.”

Michelle throws her head back and laughs. “Juicy. Tell me.”

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