Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 79087 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79087 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
I moved to my palette storage, and rummaged through them, trying to find one that called to me. No one was going to see this makeup. By the time I was downstairs tomorrow, I would look fine. Tonight, I could experiment, just enjoy the process of makeup, and try to deal with what happened today.
I wanted to cry. I wanted to scream.
Instead, I chose two palettes and took them to the desk. Prepping my eyes, I added some eye primer, blended, and set it down with some powder. Opening one of the palettes, it had bright spring colors. Warm and vibrant. Picking up the vibrant blue, I got to work building up my eyes. There was no color cohesion, just a woman playing with makeup to pass the time. I was so tired, but couldn’t seem to stop myself. I imagine if I was ever allowed to work, this is what I would be doing all day and night to rid myself of these feelings. Admittedly, I was used to them when it came to my brothers and father.
I paused after swathing my eyes in blue eye shadow. Staring at my reflection, I quickly glanced through my palette, and then used a bright white to contrast the color. For the next hour, I worked on my eyes, adding little intricate details, drawing out a blue wing, adding some black eyeliner. It wasn’t a work of art, just having some fun and getting lost in the makeup.
All I did was make him a quilt, and he acted like it was some kind of monster. What kind of person did that? Not that I knew who Victor was. I barely knew the man. The irony was, I also knew him on the most personal level as well. It was so freaking crazy.
After I finished my eyes, I got to work on the foundation. I did not need to put on full-face makeup, but it helped distract me. Time ticked by, and I don’t know when I got in the habit of taking a picture of my designs, but I did. Lifting my camera, I made sure I could see the angle, and then I took a picture of my outlandish blue-white eye look, complete with a full face of makeup.
With nothing else to do, I went into the bathroom and removed it all. This alone took a good twenty minutes, as I had to use special liquids to help remove the eyeliner as well as the mascara.
Checking the time, I saw it was now a little after three, and I was exhausted. I didn’t bother putting the television on. However, I did go to bed, lying on top of the covers, closing my eyes, willing sleep to come. I couldn’t.
I saw the anger in his face as he looked at me and tossed the destroyed quilt to the floor. Tears filled my eyes, but I willed them not to fall. It wouldn’t be good for me to cry. It was just a quilt. A gift idea I had come up with, and it had all been useless. Victor didn’t want anything from me, and that was more than okay. I didn’t want anything from him.
I was part of a loveless marriage. The only thing I could do was hope he just left me alone. Providing I didn’t cause any trouble, nor make waves, I should be okay. That is what I kept telling myself. Yet, all the movies told us it didn’t matter if you stayed good. If someone wanted you dead, that was exactly how you would end up. Totally dead.
How did I get here?
Chapter Three
Victor
Ivan arrived early, right at seven, just as I knew he would.
I hadn’t seen my wife, but I had noticed the main hallway was clear of any pieces of the quilt I had thrown in her face last night. She did not need to be making me things. I wanted nothing to do with my wife. She was a means to an end, and she needed to start seeing it that way. It pissed me off that she would even try. What the fuck was wrong with her!
I knew I was being a dick, but I just couldn’t help it.
Ivan stepped out of the car, and he wore, as usual, his black pants, white shirt, and matching black jacket. Nothing out of place. Always ready to do business.
Now, I was not expecting his plus-one. She stepped out of the car wearing a pair of jeans, a plain red t-shirt, and a baseball cap. I also happened to notice she was chewing gum.
The Butcher. I didn’t even know her real name.
Why the fuck had Ivan brought The Butcher into my territory? Since when had The Butcher and Ivan been BFFs? Did The Beast even know about this?
“Victor,” Ivan said. “It is good to see you.” He reached out a hand, and I took it.