Dedicated to DescendantsChange OlowuBusolami user78664627  🤎

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Morgan is bold | Mary is italics

"I can't recapture that feeling of euphoric gratitude any more than I can really remember the mortal terror I felt when I was pretty sure I had about four minutes to live. But I know that it really happened, that that state of grace is accessible to us, even if I only blundered across it once and never find my way back."

Morgan Ann Bennett

New York. Population: 19.84 million.

"Shit." I exhaled at the desk.

It's fine, I thought in my head. Just have to narrow it down.

So I cracked my knuckles, downed a shot of Red Bull — all that's been seemingly getting me through the days lately— and continued my extensive search.

"Morgan?" Malcolm's voice thundered from beyond the doors of his study.

Damn it.

He wasn't supposed to be home, yet, he was in Aspen for business. Whatever business he had there.

"I'm in here!" I shouted, thinking if I acted casual he wouldn't suspect anything.

His wandering eyes landed on me, glued behind his desk.

"And why are you in my office?" He questioned, creeping further inside.

I gulped, trying to quickly think up a lie.

As he observed the room, probably making sure I didn't touch anything I wasn't supposed to, I kept my hand on the keypad, trying to close the browser.

He lifted one feathered eyebrow and stalked closer to me. "I'm waiting..."

I started frantically clicking at the browser history, my eyes going between him and the screen.

"I don't answer to you." I finally barked at him, hoping this would cause an argument, deterring him from the laptop issue.

"Oh?" He hissed, the wrinkles in his forehead disappearing.

I kept my eyes on his, staying strong. That is, until the laptop came down hard on my hand, shutting it inside.

I drawled a sharp breath and bent my knees, trying to get out of this.

Malcolm kept his hand there, pressing harder until I answered him.

"Okay!" I screamed in agony, hand throbbing under his weight.

His lips were tight as he pushed one final time and then released me.

I stumbled back against the wall, caressing my hand with the other one that wasn't in pain.

Tears fell onto my now red hand as I sobbed against the wall.

I brought my watery eyes to Malcolm, watching him pull up the browser history I couldn't delete in time.

He recited what was on the screen. "How many architect firms are in New York?"

Malcolm shifted his dark eyes to my body sliding down the wall.

"You think he still wants you, you're broken? He doesn't. He left you, remember that. He's gone. And if I catch you even thinking about going after him, I'll make sure he's really gone, not just out of state."

~~~

All day I had hoped Chris would show up, rescue me. I mean, how couldn't he be there for Teddy? Perhaps he didn't know. Yeah, that had to be it.

"Can I at least go say something to them?" I monotoned at Malcolm in the back of the SUV after Teddy's funeral.

I wish I could call Chris, tell him what happened. Although, I had no way to. Malcolm kept my phone with him at all time, only allowing me to use it whenever I was under his surveillance. So even though I wanted to tell Mary that way she could relay the message, he had The Vaughn's all blocked and threatened to send me with Teddy if I tried contacting them again.

Carter scoffed at the sight of Black Elk Lodge.

"I'm glad they're expanding," he turned his lip up. "I never liked this place."

When I looked at him impatiently for an answer, he rolled his eyes. With a flick of the wrist, he said, "Go on. Hurry."

I braced myself for the cold December weather outside of the heated truck and wrapped my black/gray Prada double cashmere scarf neatly around my neck so no one would see the bruises he left there after his last raging episode.

He didn't hit me, only grabbed me to "teach me a lesson" after I tried to sneak out while he was sleep. The time before that, I bought a plane ticket to Arizona. I made it to the airport before Sage found me there.

Anyway, it was nice to see the cafe decorated for the holidays - my favorite being Christmas but with my niece and sister gone, it didn't feel the same.

I walked in and the bells above the door chimed, alerting the employees and other customers that someone was entering so they all snapped their necks at me.

"Hey, Morgan!" The majority greeted me in unison.

I was taken aback by the sudden outpouring of kindness and didn't know what to say or do. I just walked straight to the counter with my head down.

My fingers stopped at the new laminated menu and I briefed it, taking in all the changes - Malcolm's doing.

I rolled my eyes with a slight shake in my head, wondering how could he come in and act like he has a say in every little thing? If I had the money, I would give it to Alvin and Sherry so they wouldn't have to take his.
As long as they could still do what they loved, though, The Jonses were content, and not scared of Malcolm Jameson. Wish I could say the same.

"Morgan," I heard a mature voice speak to me from further down the bar.

"How are you holding up?" She asked.

I picked my head up to see Mary after a couple weeks of her probably thinking I fled the town or played the world's best quiet game, ignoring her.

When I didn't respond, she said, "I haven't seen you in a while."

I ever so discreetly gandered around the dimly lit cafe, trying to outsmart Malcolm who was more than likely keeping an eye on me somehow.

She said, "You look better."

Mary flailed her arms and tried getting closer to me for a much needed hug but when I backed off, she gasped, shocked I wasn't accepting of her motherly affection for a change. But God, I really needed that hug.

"Morgan," she yelled in a whisper, "Morgan, what is going on with you?"

I sealed my lips and signaled to the new hire behind the bar that I needed a pen. He patted his smock down and then handed one over with a warm smile before going to tend to another customer - dark haired girl that looked somewhat familiar but not really. I'm usually good with faces and hers was a distinct one so I figured if I didn't remember her then she wasn't relevant.

Tearing my eyes from the thin, bug-eyed girl, I began to write on a napkin for Mary.

Act natural, don't look at me

She reached out to put her hand on my back and I flinched, scribbling away.

You can't touch me. We shouldn't even be talking

She snapped her fingers for the male employee to get her another pen and he obliged.

Mary frantically stroked the napkin with the pen and made it so I could see without having to reach my neck further and blow our cover.

What's going on? Tell me now or I'll call the cops

You can't. They work for him

Malcolm?

Yes. I don't have a lot of time

What has he done to you?!

I threw my head back and patted my fist — the one that was bandaged after he basically broke it with the laptop— on the countertop, trying to fight off tears as I relived the day he captured me.

She wrote again:

Are you okay? Hurt?

You got rid of their things... rented the room

I'm sorry I had to. Your parents asked for it

How's Chris

I heard Mary sigh before she picked up her pen.

Haven't heard from him in days. He's good

Carter?

He's sorry

Have you visited New York yet?

We are for Christmas..

That's next week

I wish you could come. I'll tell him you asked for him

Don't. I don't want him to worry

But you still love him?

With my whole heart

I listened to her sniffle before she blew her nose into a cloth from the pocket of her peacoat.

Good. I know he still loves you

Has he asked about me at all?

No. I'm sorry

he moved on?

No. No that he's mentioned

I sunk in the seat and assumed the worst. I'm sure there's some easy girl there who's sunken her claws into him by now. I guess I wouldn't blame him if he did anything to get over me.

Mary wrote again:

I doubt it. He keeps to himself a lot.. in the house by 8 usually

That made me feel better. I replied:

Please just tell me he didn't get a puppy

Mary cracked an audible laugh that brought a smile onto my paling face.

No, he didnt get a puppy

Good

I miss you a lot

Please tell me how I can help

I'm scared

This isn't like you. It's breaking my heart. What can we do?

I sniffled, about to write, but collected myself upon hearing the bells sound at the front door.

"It's Malcolm." Mary whispered, snatching our evidence quickly.

I acted fast and wiped the wetness from my face and cleared my throat so he wouldn't see I was up to anything while in here.

The whole cafe went quiet, all eyes on the supposed millionaire.

The town talked, they said Malcolm was the boogeyman, or the devil on Earth. Both are correct. They said it's a miracle he can walk again, though with a cane, and that he "overcame" his debt.

I hadn't seen any of his other goons around but there has been a rise in overdoses and reports of kids being suspended from schools for marijuana possession.

The townspeople gathered time and time again, wondering what they could do about Malcolm - knowing he's behind all of this. I snuck into one city hall meeting and acted as a fly on the wall. As badly as I wanted to help, there was no easy solution for getting rid of Malcolm. He made it clear he wasn't going anywhere.

AJ skipped town, too, with a girl he met some months ago. He never paid me back the money or told his parents what happened.

Rodney came to the house a few times to discuss business with Malcolm. I'd known for a while that Rodney worked for Malcolm, but I thought that encounter with Trey, Jasmine's brother, would've scared him straight. Guess not. It's like as soon as Chris left, all the creeps returned from the shadows.

Although, whenever we crossed paths in the house or at Malcolm's place of work, or on the street, Rodney would give a respectful head nod or sometimes even a very slight smile.

"Let's go, we'll miss our dinner reservations." Malcolm bossed, grabbing me by the arm.

I stood and stumbled towards his body as he forced me in that direction.

"Happy holidays, Malcolm." Mary wished him. It was sarcasm, but still.

He stopped and looked back at her with a twisted smile. "Thanks, Mar'. Tell the husband I asked for him."

"Why don't you tell him yourself?" Carter appeared out of nowhere.

Carter fully turned to face the couple and scoffed.

"Well," he grinned, squeezing me by the waist. "isn't this a lovely family reunion. Although, we're missing one... where's my — I mean your— son?"

Carter charged at Malcolm who didn't flinch because Sage became his shield just that fast. I hated how entitled Malcolm was, the way he could wreak havoc and expect not to be touched. The way he never had to deal with any consequences. And I hate Sage.

"Easy, Carter!" Alvin tried calming Mr.Vaughn down as the rest of us just watched. I hate to advocate for violence but I know we all secretly wished Carter would've gotten to Malcolm and beat his ass.

"Come, darling." Malcolm carried me away.

~~~

LeRoux. A place I did not miss at all. Err, I didn't get to miss it because we were there every other night. In the beginning I thought Malcolm just really liked the food or the atmosphere, but I've since learned that he actually conducts a lot of business through this establishment.

It's a shame what money can make people do - turn a blind eye to illegal activity. It was also unfortunate that he turned such a fine dining restaurant into a shady place for his own affairs. And most of all, I hated that I had to sit there and watch. Emphasis on watch because if I even looked like I was listening to a single word, I'd be "dealt with." That's why his colleagues always brought women along, none of them were ever their wives, just whores they picked up in bad alleys. I wondered if people thought the same about me, I wouldn't blame them, I guess.

Malcolm stopped introducing me to his associates and more so just left me there as an accessory. While I didn't want him on me all night, I didn't like that because it meant the guests weren't supposed to interact with me so I couldn't speak to anyone, getting zero socialization on these outings.
I've since resulted to talking to myself mostly or inanimate objects around the house.

I yawned at the dinner table while the men leaned in to share a laugh.

They all stared at me like a yawn wasn't a normal bodily function. You would've thought I yelled "fire" in a movie theatre.

"Sorry," I laughed it off cutely. "tired."

One of the escorts joked. "I didn't know she talked."

Cold and uncomfortable, I rubbed down my goosebump ridden arms shyly and kept my head down, avoiding Malcolm's threatening glare.

"Well we don't pay you to talk," one of the men spoke up, making the others laugh.

"Right, Malcolm?"

Malcolm nodded, bringing a cigar to his lips.

I noticed his other hand moving towards my thighs under the table and I tried subtly inching away but he chuckled and rested his hand there for a moment.

I actually thought it was nice for a second, that he wouldn't do anything in front of his company, but the second I let my guard down, he dug his fingers into my thigh, suffocating the bone until I questioned if he was going to break it or not.

I knew better than to make a peep so I didn't, just breathed through my nose until he released my leg.

It throbbed and I had to act like nothing was wrong.

Because I felt tears coming on, I yawned again to hide the fact that I was crying.

"Oh. That was a big one." One girl commented. She giggled, making everyone else at the large table laugh at me as if a fucking yawn — or crying— was so funny.

"Perhaps we should retire and call it a night, yeah?" The man, George, suggested, throwing in his napkin over the half-eaten plate.

"Ladies, I have a Penthouse suite at The Sinclair, if you're interested." George spoke, putting his black Amex card down.

The three girls all looked like they'd never seen one before and started to "ooh" and "ahh."

"I've never been to The Sinclair before." Said Diamond.

Her fake redhead friend, Gigi, twirled the ends of her hair and looked George up and down. "Penthouse suite, hm?"

The man, Westin, beside George gave him an encouraging nudge as he drank the last of his champagne.

The last friend, a brunette, looked so familiar it was bothering me all night but she, like me, hardly said a word and she sat on the end where I couldn't really see her.

"Excuse me while I go powder my nose." She talked, scooting out of the dark booth.

"We have enough of that back at the suite, doll face." Westin cracked, earning laughs from his drunk associates.

"I have to go, too." I said in Malcolm's ear.

He waved his wrist, rushing me out of his face and I kept my composure enough to slide past him and trail the brunette.

I pushed the door open after she tried slamming it on my face.

"I knew it." She said as soon as I stepped inside the restroom.

"Knew what?" I barked, my face curled with confusion.

She laughed. "Knew you were messing with Malcolm behind Chris's back."

"What— wait. Madi?" I squinted my eyes on her.

Yup, it was her - Chris's ex from high school, if they ever even dated. I remembered her from the basketball tournament when she was all over him, poorly flirting and looking a mess.
Those were her unpainted toenails, bug-eyes, and split ends.

But what was she doing here?

She folded her boney arms and rolled her neck at me. "I bet he doesn't know you're here. Would be ashamed if he knew you were with his Godfather."

I hung my head, trying to hold back my laughter. Poor oblivious girl.

"Actually, he knows. So. That's embarrassing for you."

She dropped her arms by her sides and looked stupid as she felt. "Oh. Ew, how could you mess with Malcolm?"

"I'm not messing with him, but I could ask you the same?"

She stomped her foot. "I need the money."

"Trust me, get out while you can. Do you know what they're going to do to you in that penthouse?"

"It's The Sinclair, I highly doubt they'll do anything shady."

"You'd be surprised. I've had dinner with these guys and a different set of escort every night now."

"Oooh, sex? Pfft. I'm a big girl, I can take it." Madi, who went by Tawny, claimed.

Okay, I didn't even hate her anymore, I felt downright bad for the girl.

"And you're judging me, look at you. I bet Chris doesn't know you're here looking like a whore, maybe I should give him a call?"

Well she was right, my attire did fit in with theirs - cheap and revealing. It was a cut out dress picked by Malcolm. He said if I was going to sit there and shut up I should at least look good. See, I am only an accessory.
The black one shoulder dress had a high thigh split and was backless. It left so little to the imagination, and I couldn't even wear a pair of underwear with the dress.

"Wait." I paused once I realized what she said last.

"Can you?" I asked eagerly, grabbing Madi's hands.

She took a step back and stared at me like I had four heads.

"Can I what?" Her voice was annoying.

"Call Chris! Please!"

"What? No. I don't even have his number. I think he blocked me." She said, kicking the floor like she was upset to say that out loud.

Well, good for him, I liked to think he blocked her after the game because of me.

"Damn it!" I roared, kicking in a stall.

"Why? What's wrong?" Madi asked twenty-one questions as I stormed out.

I heard her talking well after I was out of her face. "Where is he? He doesn't know you're here with Malcolm, does he?!"

~~~

We left the Denver restaurant late and X, the name of Malcolm's driver, parked us outside of The Sinclair.

I wondered why we didn't go to the penthouse suite with the others, but I was also relieved because I didn't want to be a part of whatever they were going to do to those poor girls.

Because Malcolm needed backup, Sage went up with him. Except, they didn't trust me in the car with X — thinking I'd "manipulate" him like I did Teddy— so I had to wait outside on the rooftop while Malcolm tended to business.

He had been in his executive suite for over an hour, doing God knows what. I didn't ask, didn't care. Just wished he'd hurry up.

I kicked my bare feet in the heated pool, thinking how nice this would be if I wasn't here under these circumstances.

I closed my eyes and imagined I was with Chris, somewhere tropical.
Chris loved a good heated pool. He liked swimming. I thought back to vacation when he practically did laps around me, and the memory brought a smile to my face.

A sudden whistle startled me. I jumped out of the water and went over to the railing where I slipped back into the Dior slides I changed into after dinner.

It was Malcolm followed by Sage. I hate both of them.

Malcolm approached me, tucking his shirt into his pants. His zipper was down and hair going in every direction.

I'm not stupid, I see what this is.

"You ready?" He had the nerve to ask me. I was ready to leave over an hour ago.

"Business, huh?" I asked, arms folded.

"What are you talking about?" He wondered, fixing his collar.

"You were doing business for a long time..."

"That's how most dealings usually go." He tried to laugh, acting like I was stupid.

I nodded stiffly. "Who was it?"

"A colleague, you don't get involved in that. Now let's go."

He started walking but I stayed in place.

"I'm not going anywhere with you. Why keep me here if you're just going to sleep with other women?"

"Watch it," he warned, suddenly in my face. "You don't know what you're talking about."

"Your fly is down, asshole!" I yelled. He looked down and saw that it was, in fact, undone.

I shook my head with a snicker. "Just spare me. Do what you want with who want, but leave me out of it. I'm done."

He didn't say a word, just looked dumbfounded, and I had nothing else to say so I walked away.

In the next instant, I was grabbed by the arm and thrown against the seamless glass railing.

I screamed once I saw the drop down. From where we were, it was death if I fell.

I kicked my feet once they were lifted off the ground and panicked, trying to hold onto any part of Malcolm that I could.

Half of my body was over the edge and I squeezed my eyes closed tight to try not to look down again.

"Okay! Okay! Okay! Just please..." I begged through a whimper, holding onto his jacket for dear life. Literally.

"That's what I thought." Malcolm put me back onto my feet.

He fixed himself and said, "Now come on."

I wiped my tears away and hesitantly followed him.

As we passed the pool, Sage all the way on the other side, I did what I could to try and escape.

I pushed Malcolm into the deep end of the in-ground pool and made a run for it without a second thought.

From behind my back, I could hear him splashing in the water.

There was a ways to go but I felt I had a good lead since Sage's first instinct was to rescue his boss.

"Don't help me, fool, get her!" Malcolm bellowed, gasping for air as he finally resurfaced.

I looked back but only for a second to see how far behind Sage was as I was ten feet away from the door.

His footsteps were heavy and grunts growing harder from the adrenaline.

He wasn't going to catch me.

This is it, I thought. I'm really escaping! First I'll have to find a way to get my things, probably ask the town for help. Or shit, I can just forget it all, I don't need it.

The door was locked. Damn it!

I banged on it, hoping someone would hear as it is a highly staffed hotel and fully booked for the night.

"HELP!" I yelled for anyone under the sound of my voice, frantically pulling at the handle.

"Shoot her!" Malcolm roared, his voice growing near.

I heard the gun click.

"HELP ME!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, using my hips and shoulders to knock down the door but it wasn't budging.

Then—