Rutherford's Contract Wife

CHAPTER 1: Fix you

The Port Authority Bus Terminal was colder and busier than I imagined. Everyone walked briskly like they couldn't wait to get to their destination.

The cold wind was biting, sharp enough to sting my cheeks, and seep into the thin sweater I was putting on. Lily pressed closer to me like she was seeking warmth and shelter from the unfriendly chill.

“Vera… my legs are numb,” she murmured, rubbing her arms while her teeth chattered. “Can we call Cherry one more time? She said she was almost here, right? I really don’t want to stay here much longer.”

“I know,” I say softly. “I’ll try again.”

She nodded but her expectant eyes stayed on me, waiting to see me dial my friend's number once more.

I pulled out my phone, wincing as the fresh bruise along my ribs throbbed at the movement. The skin there was still swollen, still burning every time I breathed too deeply. I felt Lily's gaze and I knew that she noticed.

I kept my face neutral for her sake. I couldn’t afford to show my pain.

Luck was not on our side, because as soon as I tapped Cherry’s name again, then lifted the phone to my ear, the screen went black.

“This can't be happening,” I gasped.

“What happened? You couldn't reach her?”

“The phone died,” I replied, feeling panic grow in my chest.

“What?” Lily’s eyes widened with immediate alarm. Her voice was small, but the pressure and the fear behind it was not. “What do we do now, Vera?” She hugged herself tighter, eyes welling up with tears. “You… you charged it earlier, didn’t you?”

I knew that she didn't mean to blame me, but the soft, guilt-edge in her tone was still sharp enough to sting.

“I thought I did,” I murmured, scanning the terminal for the familiar ginger curls. My heart thudded painfully, both from fear and also the knowledge that we might have just lost our last link to safety. “It was such a long trip here. It must’ve drained faster than I expected.”

Or maybe I hadn't charged it enough in my haste to get us out of that hellhole.

Lily glanced around the terminal, shoulders folding inward, arms wrapped tightly around herself.

“What if she doesn’t find us? We’ve never even been here before, Vera. I'm so scared. What if…what if he finds us.” Her voice cracked, and that familiar fear crept into her eyes again. “You won’t let anything happen, right?”

I dropped the bag in my hand and slid an arm around her, drawing her closer. The discomfort in my side jabbed at me, but I ground my teeth, ignoring the flare of pain.

“Nothing’s going to happen. I won't let anything happen to you. I promise. He's not going to find us again. It's over. Cherry knows this place. She’ll come.”

I scanned the terminal once more.

Even as I tried to reassure my younger sister, every passing man made my spine tighten. Every loud step behind us felt too close. Every moving shadow looked like it would turn into Damien.

Still,I tried to assure myself that this city was too large for him to find us so quickly.

“Vera!”

The sound of my name broke through the noise like a lifeline.

I turned to see Cherry pushing through the crowd, breathless, ginger curls flying, her face flooded with relief.

Beside me, Lily sighed with relief, and I released the breath I didn’t even realise I was holding.

“Oh my God,” Cherry gasped, reaching me, and pulling me into a hug that was tight and trembling. “You’re here. You’re really here.”

The faint familiar scent of her lavender perfume hit my nose, and it felt like the assurance I needed that we had made it.

I tried to hug her back, but pain lanced through my side and I flinched.

Cherry felt it, and stilled.

She pulled away slowly, eyes scanning my face, no doubt seeing through the layers of makeup I had piled on to cover the bruises on my face, then dropping to the spot around my ribs where I winced.

Realisation crept into her eyes, but she said nothing, only hugged Lily briefly, then squeezed my arms gently, a silent promise that we’ll talk about it later.

“You must be freezing. Come on you two. Let’s get you home.”

Cherry’s apartment was small but cozy, filled with the warm, sweet aroma of lavender candles, mingling with the faint scent of jasmine from a potted plant on the windowsill.

The blinds swayed slowly from the wind coming from the open windows, as a slow song hummed from the speaker in the corner…“Fix You” by Coldplay, its gentle piano and swelling chords wrapping the room in a soft calm that almost made it all seem like a dream.

I still couldn't believe that we were able to get away from Damien.

Lily sank into the couch with a sigh that sounded half-exhausted, half-relieved. I stood by the door, still in a daze.

“Cherry, is it okay if I have something to eat?” she asked quickly. “We were on the road for a long time, and my stomach feels like it’s twisting.”

“Of course,” Cherry said, casting me a glance before heading for the kitchen. “I'll be right back. Let me heat something up.”

I sat down beside Lily, lowering myself carefully so my ribs didn't scream in protest.

“We did it, Vera. We got away,” she whispered looking ahead.

I nodded, blinking back tears. “Yes, we did.”

“Do you think he'll follow us?”

If I knew Damien, then he'd be going crazy right now…mad with rage…looking for us, especially after what I did.

“No. He won't find us again. I'll make sure that our lives get better.”

Lily didn't look convinced. But before she could say anything, Cherry walked in, placing two plates of food on the tiny dining table at the corner of the room.

“Come on. Come and have something to eat.”

Lily immediately went over to the dining table. She barely murmured gratitude before digging in.

Cherry walked over to the couch and sat beside me.

“Won't you eat something too?”

“I'd do that later.”

She nodded, then glanced briefly over at Lily, then back to me.

“So,” she said gently, her eyes scanning my face, “are you ready to tell me what happened? When you called, telling me that you and Lily were coming over, I knew that it was really bad. Tell me what that animal did this time.”

There was the sound of cutlery clattering against a plate, we turned to the dining table to see Lily frozen still. She looked between us for a moment, then stood slowly, carrying the plate with her.

“Can I take this with me?”

Cherry nodded eagerly. “Sure. I'll clear that away later.”

Lily smiled stiffly. “Alright. I’m really tired,” she murmured, “you two can talk. I’ll finish this and lie down.”

“Alright, dear. Go on,” Cherry urged.

Lily looked at me, soft, almost pleading. “Vee, you’ll wake me if you need me, right?”

“Of course.”

She nodded and disappeared into the small bedroom.

Cherry waited until the door clicked shut before turning back to me.

“Vera… the bruises on your face. The way you flinched. Start talking. I know that monster you call a boyfriend did this to you.”

Cherry knew all about the abuse and pain that I had gone through at the hands of Damien.

“It’s nothing new, Cherry,” I whispered, even though the truth was carved into my skin. “It’s in the past.”

Her expression morphed into anger. “Are you kidding me, Vera? That guy is an animal. He almost killed you.” I didn’t expect it when she reached out and pulled the thin sweater down my shoulder, exposing my bruises. Her eyes widened in horror, while I burned in shame. “Oh my God, Vera,” she gasped.

I quickly pulled up the sweater. “Please, I don't want to talk about Damien.”

She shot up from the couch, pacing the room. “You know, I hate to say I told you so, but you refused to listen to me.”

Seven years ago, I met Cherry at a bar where I was working as a dancer, and we became close friends. When the owner of the bar began to take an interest in me, she warned me to stay away from him…even begging me to move away with her, but I refused, because I thought that Damien really loved me, and could help me build a better life for Lily and myself.

By the time I realised the monster that he was, it was already late.

“You know, I endured the abuse… the humiliation. But I would never allow him to sell Lily off to one of his clients.”

My younger sister was my only family. We never knew our father, and our mother was a drug addict who died from an overdose when Lily was barely ten years old. I was already nineteen then, and I've been taking care of her ever since. I promised her that I'd always protect and take care of her, no matter the cost.

I blinked away tears. “I won’t let her go through that life.”

Cherry’s expression softened. “I understand. But, Damien won’t let this go. You know how he is. If he comes after you—”

“He won’t,” I replied quickly, but my heartbeat increased, and my voice trembled, betraying me. “He can’t. I discarded anything that could aid him to trace us.”

She sat down and took my hand in hers. “You've been through a lot already, my friend. You know you don’t have to be strong with me.”

“I do,” I said quietly, my voice breaking. I didn’t feel strong. I didn't want to feel strong. But I had no choice. “I don't have a choice, Cherry. Lily needs me. I have to make things better now. For her. For us.”

She nodded, then forced a small smile. “I already talked to my boss. He agreed to hire you. You can start whenever you’re ready.”

Relief prickled behind my eyes. I sat straighter, blinking away tears. “Really? Thank you so much, Cher. Truly.”

“And Lily?” she asked softly. “Is she going to look for work too?”

“No,” I replied, quickly. “She’s finishing school. She’s in her final year in high school. I want her to have that.”

I barely managed to finish high-school before our mother died. But I wanted Lily to complete her education…go on to college, and do everything she wanted to do; the things I never got to do.

Cherry nodded. “Then you’ll start tomorrow.”

“Tonight,” I said.

Her eyes widened. “Vera, no. You just got here. You need rest. You’re hurt. At least sleep a little—”

“I can’t.” The words ripped out of me before I could stop them, raw and shaking. “I have to earn some money for Lily and I. And also, I need to save up enough money…in case he finds us.”

Cherry paused, a frown marring her face. “Why?”

My throat tightened painfully. I looked down at my hands, then forced the truth out.

“Because I stole his money.”