Chapter 18: Chapter 18

It was hard, but Jessie had finally decided to confront Patrick. She had been a coward long enough. She was pacing in Theo's living room. He had decided he was going to give her a lift and there was no budging on that matter.

"Theo, I'm scared. What if he made a complaint at the police station, huh? Said you had kidnapped me? What then? You're just going to be arrested?"

"Princess, don't worry. He hasn't placed any complaint. If not the police'd be at my door already. You go in, you talk to him, and you come back. We're done"

Jessie knawed at her bottom lip looking at Theo with worry in her eyes.

"I just don't feel very comfortable about this" she said, sighing.

"I don't either babe. I'm helping you because you need this. If you can't go through it, just say the word and we come back home. Okay?" Theo said, holding her arms gently, then he placed a soft kiss on her forehead.

Jessie nodded almost imperceptibly but it was enough for Theo. He took her hand and led her to the garage. The ride to town was silent, almost synonymous to the first ride they had shared. But while that one was rife with tension, this one was filled with apprehension.

"Leave me here", Jessie said when they reached an old decripit building. That was not actually Patrick's place but she did not want to take any chance in case the police were there waiting for Theo to make a wrong move.

Theo sighed but dropped her there. Before she could get out, he dragged her in for a long and passionate kiss.

"Be safe. I love you" Theo said, making Jessie's eyes fill with tears.

"I love you too" Jessie said, then went out of the car. Theo waited for about three minutes then got out of the car. Damned if he was going to let his girl go into the lion's den alone.

†††

"Ah, Jessie. It's been such a long time" the caretaker of the apartment complex said as soon as he saw Jessie.

She smiled and waved at him, too strung up to utter a word. Patrick's apartment was on the first floor so no need for the elevator.

She stood for a while in front of his apartment. She knew she was stalling but who knew what was going to happen once those doors were opened.

After taking in a deep breath, and praying to all deities Patrick had suddenly died of a heart attack, Jessie rang the bell.

A few minutes later, Patrick opened the door, dressed in nothing but a pair of joggers. It looked like he had just come out of a shower.

"Ah, Jessie, come in. I was expecting you," he said, gesturing for her to get in.

Jessie was not going to lie. He still had somewhat of an effect on her. She had loved him for most of her teenage and adult years, it was normal. But what she didn't expect was him not looking surprised at her visit.

"You don't look surprised to see me." It was Jessie who spoked this time around, getting in. She was not going to lie, she had missed this place.

The black couch that contrasted so weirdly with the colorful throw pillows and the low table that always seemed to be littered with books and magazines.

"I told you I wass expecting you," Patrick replied simply. "We've been together for five long years, Jessie. I know you"

Jessie stayed quiet. She did not know what to reply to that. He was right. They knew each other to the tip of their fingers.

"What I don't understand is the fact that you left me so easily, Jessie. Like you just left one day and poof you disappeared. Next I hear, you're shacking up with the beast." There was hurt in Patrick's tone and Jessie had known him long enough to know it was genuine.

"I was running away, Patrick. I was running!" she replied, angry.

"Running away from what exactly. Cause I don't get you!" he exclaimed, running his hand through his hair. "I had just proposed to you. You looked fuvking ecstatic. So forgive me if I don't understand what you were running away from"

"From you Patrick. I saw you. I saw you with that girl, Steph. You didn't notice my presence. You were too busy trying to reassure her that you loved her," Jessie spat bitterly.

Patrick's eyes were wide with guilt. He couldn't deny the fact he had cheated, he was never one to lie.

"And you couldn't talk to me about it? You chose to run like some fucking coward?"

"Yes, I decided to run Patrick. Why are you trying to pretend it was the first time I had caught you cheating?! You remember Rosa? Or what bout Winona? And oh goodness, I think I forgot to mention Gary"

"I apologized, Jess, I apologized each and every single time. With Steph, I was breaking things off with her. I just..." Patrick trailed off. He didn't even know what to say to defend himself anymore.

"None of that matters now Jess. You've come. That's all that's important." Jessie was confused. Why was he sitting there with a smug look on his face? She thought she was going to destabilize him?

"I know your little boyfriend is out there waiting for you" Jessie did not give a reply to this. It was obvious she had come with Theo.

"So what you're going to do is, you're going to go out there, tell him you realized you still had feelings for me and you can't go back with him," Patrick explained calmly.

Jessie laughed. Patrick was bordering on delusional already. "And why would I do that?" she asked, her lips tilting up a bit, smugly.

"Because, Jessie, right now, at the police station, there's a warrant for a kidnapper, who goes with the name of Theo Daniels, or more commonly known as The Beast. So, I could easily call up my people and tell them he's here right now and before you know it, he'll be in jail" Patrick leaned forward and grasped Jessie's arm tightly.

"Let me go," Jessie said calmly. Patrick pressed down even harder, then released it suddenly.

"And who's to know he isn't the one who caused that bruising.." Patrick mused, playing on Jessie's psychology.

"You can't threaten me, Patrick. I can go right now to the precinct and file a complaint against you," Jessie replied, making Patrick's smile grow wider.

"Go ahead. And while you're there, send greetings to my uncle on my part" Jessie froze. He had got her there. They both knew it. She had completely forgotten about the existence of his uncle who was the head of police in the town.

Patrick smiled as soon as Jessie turned back and looked at him, a smug smile.

"Why are you doing this? Why are you bent on getting Theo involved in this? I'm the one you hold a grudge against" Jessie asked, aggravated.

"Because I know you Jessie. The only thing that could make you come back to me is me threatening what you love. I saw the bait and I picked it, Jess"

Jessie sighed, her eyes filling with tears. She willed them away. She knew Patrick. And if he saw her tears, he was going to take advantage of them.

All she needed to do now was to pretend she was still that weak girl that ran away without a confrontation when she caught him cheating, still that weak girl who stayed with him knowing he was cheating in her. She was going to use his shortsightedness to her advantage. And he wasn't even going to see it coming.

"I'll give you two days to think it over. If in two days I haven't gotten my answer yet–" Patrick started but was quickly interrupted by Jessie.

"I'll do it," she said shakily, making Patrick smile widely.

"You've made the right choice"

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Word count - 1344 words