Into The Woods (Dark Fairy tales), page 28
“What’s your relationship with Jeremiah?” Maddox asked, matter-of-factly.
“He’s just someone I know. Someone that I work with.”
“Have you slept with him?”
“No. And that was two questions. What is your issue with Jeremiah?”
“Despite his sweet demeanor, he’s a snake. At one point he was a great friend, but now…now he’s not to be trusted.”
“What did you do to start the rift between you two?”
Maddox huffed, as a sardonic smile crept to the corner of his mouth. “Did that bastard tell you it was me that started this rift? Fine, I can take the blame if that’s what helps him sleep at night. I fucked his girlfriend. She was my ex, and we rekindled our relationship, but unfortunately she was still in a relationship with him. However, we’ve since been playing a childish tit for tat game, which Jeremiah seems to love and I’ve gotten too damn old for.”
Sutton took in Maddox’s blatant honesty. “Wow. So this is all over some old girlfriend.”
“That and various other things that he feels I’ve done. That’s the thing about Jeremiah—he can hold a nasty grudge. Where did you get the closet full of clothes?” Maddox asked, moving the conversation back to Sutton.
“I told, you I bought them. Why were you so convinced that I was sleeping with Jeremiah?”
“I’m not convinced you’re not,” Maddox countered bluntly.
“You didn’t answer the question.”
“I did. I told you that Jeremiah holds a nasty grudge. I don’t put anything past him. Sleeping with you would just be another dig at me. Something that he thinks will piss me off and make himself feel vindicated.”
“You think some college affair is festering inside of him after all these years? That he’s just plotting and planning against you because you stole his girlfriend? That’s a little silly, Maddox.”
“That was two questions, and yes, I do. You don’t know Jeremiah. You know sweet Jeremiah, but not the real Jeremiah. Be thankful that you don’t. Now, where did you get the money to buy those clothes, and please don’t tell me a credit card or Charlotte.”
“I have a job, Maddox.”
“Cleaning office buildings will not get you enough for a closet full of designer clothes. That is, of course, if you even work as a maid. So I guess the real question is if you bought the clothes, what job did you do to get it? Which brings me back to whether you’re sleeping with Jeremiah.”
“I’m not sleeping with Jeremiah!” Sutton screamed. “Fine, I don’t work as a maid. I…I got a job at a nightclub as a waitress. I can’t help if I have big tipping customers.” Sutton knew it wasn’t the truth, but it was the best she could do without spilling it all.
“A club? Does this club have poles and a champagne room?”
“I’m not a fucking stripper.”
“No, but you’re a damn good liar. You expect me to believe that you got all that money serving rich men drinks? The only way I could even see that being true was if you were…” Maddox stopped cold.
“If I were what?” Sutton asked nervously, as Maddox glared at her.
“What are you doing Sutton? What does she have you doing?”
“What are you talking about?”
“I guess I shouldn’t have asked if you were sleeping with Jeremiah, but rather, who else are you sleeping with? Have you taken up Charlotte’s little hustle?”
“I’ve told you, Charlotte isn’t a gold-digger.”
“So, she’s just a prostitute?”
A look of complete terror washed over Sutton’s face. “Maddox…” Sutton murmured.
“So, I guess we hit it on the head.” Complete fury ran through Maddox’s eyes at his revelation. “So, you’ve been sleeping with people for money?”
“Maddox,” Sutton said, as she reached for his hand. “Let me explain.”
Maddox pulled away. “Explain that you’re a prostitute? How are you going to explain that, Sutton?”
“I’m not a prostitute. Maddox, I may have done some things I’m not completely proud of, but you have to let me explain,” Sutton pleaded tearfully.
“So, do you have a client list, or a street corner?” Maddox spat, in complete disgust.
“Don’t you dare talk to me like that. I’m not some fucking dirty hooker.”
“No, you just sleep with men for clothes. I knew this would happen. Being with Charlotte is nothing but trouble. The girl has you sleeping with people for clothes and other bullshit. Was that the real reason you were at The Woods? Was that the reason you were with Raymond? Was he your john?” Maddox questioned wildly.
“No…not really…I mean no. Maddox, it’s not what you think,” Sutton whined, as she began to break under Maddox’s intense questioning.
“Get your stuff. I refuse to let you stay with her and have you do this. I should have put a kibosh on this shit when you moved in.” Maddox stormed out the room with Sutton on his tail. He burst through Charlotte’s door, stirring her from her sleep. “What the fuck have you been teaching her?” Maddox screamed at a startled Charlotte.
“What the hell are you talking about?” Charlotte asked groggily, as she climbed out of bed.
“You couldn’t be a whore alone— you had to bring her into it, too. And where were you when she was being drugged and almost raped?”
“First of all, I’m not Sutton’s fucking keeper. I didn’t know she was hurt until this morning. And don’t you dare come into my house and call me a fucking whore.”
“I will call you what you are. Sutton, we’re fucking leaving. You stay away from her.”
Charlotte let out a giggle as she moved in closer to Maddox and Sutton. “Contrary to what you may think, Sutton is a very big girl, and can make her own choices. Just because she goes to The Woods doesn’t make her a whore. Sutton can choose who she wants to share her body with.”
“You would say that, you slutty little tramp.”
“Fuck you, asshole. Your unreasonable anger is the reason she didn’t tell you that she’s been at The Woods these past few months. Hell, it’s probably the reason she’s been at The Woods for the past few months. If I had to fuck you all the time I would be looking for new dick, too.”
Maddox turned and scowled at Sutton. “So, how fucking long have you been going to The Woods without me?”
Sutton stood frozen. Charlotte’s confession was only making the situation worse. “Maddox, I…”
“No, Sutton, you said that you would be honest, so be honest. How long have you been going to The Woods without me?”
Sutton felt tears rush down her face. “I never wanted to hurt you, Maddox.”
“Answer the fucking question!” Maddox shouted.
“Three months. Sutton replied in a childlike whisper. “I never stopped after I told you I would.”
Maddox stood, a bit stunned, as he took in Sutton’s admission. “So, this relationship is nothing but a joke. You’ve been lying to me this entire time.”
“Maddox, I…” Sutton started but really didn’t know what to say. She was caught in her own lies. “I’m sorry,” Sutton whimpered.
Charlotte rushed to a tearful Sutton’s side. “Don’t you dare make her feel bad. Just because Carmen was a slut who got addicted to coke doesn’t mean you can tear Sutton apart.”
“Charlotte, stop,” Sutton begged.
“Don’t you dare talk about my wife,” Maddox shouted.
“You want Sutton to be a Carmen replacement, and she’s not. It kills you that maybe, just maybe, Sutton doesn’t need you.”
“If that’s the case, then I’ll leave.” Maddox gave Sutton a hurt gaze as rushed out the room.
“Charlotte, why did you do that?” Sutton squealed, as she rushed toward the door.
“Let him go, he’s not worth it,” Charlotte shouted to an already-gone Sutton.
“Maddox, wait,” Sutton screamed, as she grabbed Maddox’s arm. “Please, don’t leave.”
“Why, Sutton?” Maddox asked, his voice softer than Sutton had ever heard.
“Because I don’t want you to hate me. Because I don’t want Charlotte’s words to hurt you.”
“No, Sutton, what hurts me is the fact that this entire time you’ve been doing exactly what I asked you not to do. I asked you not to go to The Woods, and you did it anyway. You made me a promise, and not only did you not keep it, you’ve been whoring yourself out to random guys.”
“Maddox it sounds bad but…it’s not what you think,” Sutton frantically tried to explain. “I know what was said but…it’s just that…I really can’t explain it. I had to do this. I needed to do this in order to make it. I needed to do this so that I wouldn’t have to run to you or to my grandmother for help.” Sutton felt her eyes swell as she pushed back her rushing tears. “It was wrong but…I didn’t know what else to do. The money was so good and I guess I got caught in Fiona’s web.” Sutton instantly regretted her words. She looked at Maddox, who had a look of clarity quickly feeling his face.
“Fiona?”
“I didn’t mean Fiona. I meant that Fiona owns The Woods and…I didn’t mean anything except…” Sutton frantically tried to explain.
Maddox shook his head in complete disgust. “This is over, Sutton. Goodbye,” Mattox said abruptly, as he stormed out the apartment, slamming the door behind him.
Sutton felt her stomach knot as the door slammed in her face. All the lies and secrets were out. Everything she wanted to know about her man over the past three months was out in the open. Maddox had finally confessed his true feelings for her, and now it was all over.
In a blink of an eye everything Sutton wanted from Maddox was given and taken away. She wanted to be sad. She wanted to be angry with Charlotte for telling everything, but she knew it was her own fault. If she had told the truth, or even better, just walked away from The Woods, she wouldn’t be hurt. She wouldn’t have hurt the only man who loved her. It was all over now. Sutton wiped her tears as she felt herself fall to the floor. What do I do now, she thought sadly, as she stared at the closed door.
***
“Come in,” Fiona called to the visitor knocking on her door. “How are you, sweetie? What’s wrong?” she asked, as she looked up from her paperwork to see a furious Maddox.
“Why didn’t you tell me, Fi?” Maddox yelled, as he stormed into Fiona’s office.
“Tell you what? I told you Sutton got hurt.”
Maddox moved in closer to a confused Fiona. “Why didn’t you tell me that she was one of your girls? Why didn’t you tell me that she worked for you?”
Fiona took in a pained breath as she pinched the bridge of her nose. “Maddox, I didn’t want to hurt you.”
“So, letting me sleep with one of your little hired whores wasn’t going to hurt me? You should have told me. Why didn’t you tell me?” Maddox inquired irately.
“You know why I didn’t tell you,” Fiona retorted angrily.
Maddox stopped cold at the realization that this was bigger than just Sutton getting caught in the twisted web that was The Woods. This was bigger than Fiona. It was even bigger than Jeremiah. Maddox drew in a deep breath, as he tried to calm his anger.
“So, what does Tavia have planned?” Maddox huffed. “Why does she have you helping her?”
“She didn’t want you to know, so I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t say anything. Other than that, I don’t know what she has planned,” Fiona explained.
“Why do you play into this, woman? Why would you turn against me when you know the evil she inflicts on your life, on my life? Wasn’t Carmen enough? Or will she not be happy until more innocent people are destroyed, too?”
Fiona jumped out of her seat and walked over to Maddox. “It’s better to be on her good side than to be against her, that’s why I turned against you. I love you, Maddy, but I don’t have what you have. I have more to lose, so yeah, I gave in to her demands. I’m sorry it hurt you, but I had no choice.”
“That’s just it; you aren’t on her side, Fi. You’re just one of her fucking minions, and when she’s done using you for all that you can offer she will dispose of you, just like she does everyone else.”
“You don’t think I know that, Maddy? You don’t think that I’m the first person on her shit list? Look at what she’s done. We both know how low she will go to hurt us, but being against her will only make it worse. I have too much to lose, so yes, it was fucked up, but I had to.”
“I want her fired,” Maddox commanded banging his fist on Fiona’s desk. “I want Sutton fired and banned from the club. She can’t use her to hurt me if she’s not working for you.”
“What makes you think Sutton was for you alone? Think about it, love, we both know how she works.”
Maddox collapsed in Fiona’s guest chair. “What does she have planned?”
Fiona placed a gentle hand on his back. “I told you, I don’t know, but she did say that she wouldn’t hurt Sutton.”
“And you fucking believed her.”
“No, but what do you suggest I do? I’m sorry, but I have to worry about myself. I don’t want Sutton to get hurt either, but there’s nothing I can do.”
“You could stop giving in to Tavia, that’s what you could do”
Fiona laughed condescendingly at his suggestion. “I should just go ahead and kill myself, at that point. Just kill myself and everyone I care about, too. There is no fighting Tavia Maverick, I think we both know this.”
“I’m so fucking sick of having to look over my shoulder and wonder what she’s going to do next. If I had known this was what would happen…this has to end, Fi. We can’t live like this forever.”
“Then can I suggest you leave town? Because as long as you’re in Atlanta you’ll always be under Tavia’s thumb,” Fiona said, as sadness filled her face. “This is the life we’ve been dealt.”
“I want you to help Sutton. You have to get her away from Tavia.”
“What the hell do you want me to do? Maddox, I know you feel this deep connection to this girl, but she’s not Carmen. You can’t save her.”
Maddox rubbed his hands over his face, “Please Fiona. I’m not asking for you to get in between her and Tavia, just get her away from this life. Give her a chance to get away.”
“If I remember correctly, you were the one who introduced her to this life. You were the one fucking her three ways from Sunday in this club. Now that she’s a part of this life, you want to pull her out. While you’ve been trying to turn her into your little wife, she’s been her doing exactly what you taught her.”
“I only trained her because I didn’t want her to end up like Carmen, or you, or me.” Maddox looked at Fiona, pity painted in his eyes. “Or Jeremiah. This world is unforgiving, and it changes you inside.”
“You don’t think I know that?”
“If you know it, then help her. There’s nothing I can do. She won’t listen to me, but you…you can still reach her.”
Fiona let the idea painfully play in her head. The last thing she wanted to do was go against Tavia, but in the end Maddox was the only person left in her life who genuinely loved her. “Fine, I’ll try,” Fiona agreed in a huff. “I don’t know what I can do, but I’ll try my best.”
Maddox jumped out of his chair and stormed to the door, but suddenly stopped cold before walking out. “You know, Fiona, I may just take your advice.”
“Oh, yeah, what’s that?” Fiona questioned.
“Leaving town. It just may be time for me to say goodbye to Atlanta.”
“Trust me, Maddox, if I could run away, I would. Unlike you, I don’t have the luxury to run.”
“She can’t control you forever. At some point you have to stand up to Tavia or you’ll forever be under her.”
Fiona grimaced as she looked to ground. “Maddy, I’ve come to terms with the fact that this is my life. All I can do now is stay alive to keep him safe.”
Maddox shook his head in agreement. “Help her if you can. I would hate for Sutton to become a victim of our tragic, never-ending story.” Maddox gave Fiona a sad glance, as he walked out the door.
Chapter Twenty-One
Sutton tried her best to concentrate on the invitation list, but couldn’t help but feel her mind continue to slip. The fight with Maddox ran through her mind unremittingly. As she thought over the details, she felt her heart being torn. The fight and the deceit made her feel miserable. She could not get Maddox’s hurt and angry face out of her mind. However, the argument, and his demanding ways only made her angry, and a bit relieved that they were done. That jumble of emotions only made her feel completely torn inside.
