Mister West by R.J. Lewis (animal farm read .TXT) 📕

“No,” she says quickly. “I think she’s out of that dynamic and she’s not going to go back. She’s well and truly finished with him, but…listen to me closely, Aidan. There are footprints in your soul a person leaves behind when they vacate from your life. They leave marks that aren’t erasable. A person needs time. Time to feel that scar, to be able to run their finger along it to understand how deep they are. Scars tell a story that your lips sometimes cannot. She’s healing. She needs time.”

“Okay,” I say robotically.

“Like you need time.”

I scoff. “I don’t need time, Ruth.”

“You do. You’ve not yet healed, either.”

I glance at myself in the mirror. My eyes run over every tattoo I’ve inked into my skin. Tattoos I don’t even remember getting from all the times I buried myself in those stupid fucking drugs. Tattoos that speak of my pain. Even in my drug induced craze, I was reaching out to myself, begging for a change to the madness.

How could I have tasted all that success – worked so fucking hard for it – and then lost myself straight after? These kinds of questions gnaw at me.

I get off the call shortly after and stand under the hot shower. I try to silence my thoughts, but I’m fucking that up because I’m thinking too much about fucking that temptress down the hall from me.

If she were to come to me, baring herself, ready to be touched, what the fuck am I supposed to do? How am I supposed to resist her?

“She would feel so good,” I whisper.

I stroke myself slowly. I jerk to her, and it feels so fucking good because she’s attainable now. She’s down the fucking the hall from me. She’s within reach.

And she would feel so fucking good.

I groan through my release, wishing she were here, kneeling before me, staring up at me with those big doe eyes, whispering, “You taste so good, sir.”

Fuck.

Fuck.

Fuck.

The Messenger

Ana: Oh my God, Ivy. I’m still trying to take in what you said on the phone. I am mindblown. I am so happy you’re out of that toxic apartment, but I’m kinda shitting bricks for you right now. You’re living with West and I’m so fucking jealous. Are you in his bed yet?

Ivy: No, Ana, I’m not.

Ana: I’m shaking my head right now.

Ivy: He rescued me. The more I think about it, the more I realize he went out of his way to make sure I was safe. He fully rescued me.

Ana: Because he wants you.

Ivy: Maybe.

Ana: Not maybe.

Ivy: It’s been two days and I haven’t even seen him. When I get up every morning, he’s gone. When I come home, he’s not here, but I can smell his cologne in the air when I get up, so he must come home super late.

Ana: He runs a gazillion dollar company, doesn’t he?

Ivy: Gazillion, lol?

Ana: He’s a busy dude aaaaand he still rescued you with his busy schedule. My ovaries are exploding.

Ivy: He hasn’t even messaged me, though. I’m so confused.

Ana: Maybe he wants you to settle in.

Ivy: Maybe.

Ana: Are you far from work?

Ivy: Gaston drives me every morning and back again.

Ana: Gaston?

Ivy: The driver.

Ana: You have a chauffeur?

Ivy: He’s Aidan’s chauffeur.

Ana: Omfg.

Ivy: It’s too much, isn’t it? I feel like I’m being a sponger. Should I pay Gaston?

Ana: Noooo, Ivy, relax. I’m sure Aidan wants to make sure you’re comfortable and not stressing about transportation.

Ivy: I’m fine taking the bus, honestly.

Ana: Stop. He’s fine with it.

Ivy: I’m just not used to it, Ana.

Ana: The pampering?

Ivy: Everything. I got a freaking key card to his penthouse and he’s got elevator doors as his front door, Ana. It’s so posh. There’s food ready when I’m back and somehow he got my clothing size right and I have a bunch of clothes in my closet. I don’t deserve this.

Ana: First off, holy fucking shit, you’re in paradise. Send me pics of your clothes and the elevator front door thingy. Secondly, that’s your low self-esteem talking, and you deserve the best, Ivy. Just be happy and stop overthinking everything. You have a bad habit of that.

Ivy: You’re right, I do.

Ana: Yeah, just chill.

Ivy: How do I even begin to repay him, though? I’m still going to be paying for my half of the rent with Derek. I can’t ditch my lease commitment.

Ana: Ivy, I just said to stop overthinking everything. Look, I’ll reach out to Derek and be the middleman, okay? We’ll get you off the lease, even if it means reaching out to the landlord. We’ll give Derek the time to stay or find a replacement tenant. This is stuff we can sort through. You’re out of there, that’s all that matters. Derek was a very destructive person to you. He mistreated you and you are away from that hole now. You need time to heal from everything that went down. The rest will sort itself out, and Aidan will be understanding of that. He doesn’t need your pennies right now. Get yourself back on your feet first.

Ivy: You’re right. Okay. Thank you, Ana. I appreciate your support so much.

Ana: I love you. I am always here. No matter what.

Ana: But you have to tell me everything that happens. Like everything.

Ana: I must live vicariously through you.

Ana: If you don’t do this, the world will explode.

Ivy: I will not let you down.

Ana: Good job, soldier.

Ana: Btw, girl, just message the dude. Break the ice.

*

Ivy: Where are you?

A.W.: Been working late hours.

Ivy: Is this normal?

A.W.: I’m doing something big.

Ivy: What?

A.W.: I can’t talk about it just yet.

Ivy: Okay. I will wait patiently.

A.W.: How are you, Ivy?

Ivy: Adjusting.

A.W.: Whatever you need, let me know.

Ivy: You have done enough, Aidan.

A.W.: I truly don’t feel like I have. I want to help with your transition.

Ivy: You spoil me.

A.W.: Anything for you.

*One hour later*

Ivy: Do you miss me?

A.W.: I’m smitten by you. You know this.

Ivy: Is that a yes?

A.W.: That’s a fuck yes,