JOSI

Friday arrives with a stagnant feeling of dread. Bradley isn't home, which Josi is thankful for, because roping him in at this point in time may not be the best course of action. She has resolved to keeping it all under the rug. She will first find out exactly what Idris wants and put a stop to his lunacy. That is, if she has the courage.

But courage will have to serve its purpose today because that's exactly what Josi plans on doing. She wants Idris out of her life for good.

Josi steps out the shower and looks into the mirror. Her eyes have grown shadows just in the course of a week. Come next Friday and the bags will kick in. And it will only worsen, because as Josi stands there with a towel draped around her body, she realizes for the first time how truly depleted she is. No smile or joy or glee. Just pure exhaustion.

All this because of one man only.

Josi takes the little time she has left to herself and begins styling her hair. She ties it back into one lengthy puff, then braids two locks in the front down to her shoulders. Now come the gifts which very well may have been bought with blood money. The dress splits down around her mid thigh, with straps at the back holding the garment together. It fits her perfectly.

He even knows what size I wear. . .

The stilettos and jewelry are the last things Josi puts on. True to Idris's words, the ride is there at 5:00 PM on the dot — no seconds more or less. The car does not meet Josi's level of comfort. A car of some brand only common in pictures. Where could he possibly be taking her in such flashy transportation?

A hotel. They arrive later at the destination which must have taken over an hour, because now the sun has begun its daily routine of dispersing into varying colors.

The first of the attractions to greet Josi is a water fountain. It sits in front of the hotel, at the center of the structure, as a welcome mat to its visitors. Meanwhile, the hotel itself stands over thirty floors tall with a width that measures just about the same. There are options for valets, but Josi's ride accepts no such service. She's greeted by an escort who guides her from the car straight into the hotel.

Such extravagance. Colors of white and gold drench the place — from the marble floor up to the heightened ceiling. There are even art pieces that seem almost old enough for the age of the Renaissance. Josi can't grasp any of it. Then again, it probably wasn't constructed with people like her in mind, but with the visitors in materials rich enough in quality.

The escort brings her into an elevator for a ride that seems to last forever. Figures, since their destination is the twentieth floor. What's weird about this floor, however, is the lack of occupants. Or at least, regular occupants. What Josi sees are armed men in black patrolling the place. If the rich folks in brand clothing weren't intimidating enough, then this crass show certainly is.

Josi tries and fails not to pay them any mind. They don't seem to care much for her presence, which eases the stiffness around her gut. But the fact that they're armed with heavy weapons still doesn't sit very well.

At last, they arrive, and behold Idris Night Verdonni in his lair of goons. He's seated in the lobby by a window which currently keeps him occupied. Much like herself, he's in an all black suit combo with no tie attached. The first few buttons have been left unbuttoned for a sneak peek at his chest, and for the first time, Josi realizes he has pierced ears. No cigar this time.

He gives her his usual look over, except this one doesn't make Josi wince. He seems to only study her. But Idris will remain Idris. He gives her the same command. "Sit."

Josi occupies the seat across from him, now much more aware of how thick the atmosphere has become. She can hardly even breathe.

"Is there a stick up your ass?" Idris asks, with a tone that is both curious and ridiculing.

"I'm sorry if the men with firearms make me uncomfortable." Josi tells him.

The service comes in glasses of wine and dishes of food. But Josi's appetite has long since flown out the window. How can she stomach anything when it feels like she's been trapped in perpetual turbulence?

"I don't want to sound rude, but . . ." Josi takes a deep breath in. "I would really appreciate it if you would just let me go. I apologize for having offended you, but this is a bit too much."

There's a file in Idris's hand which he silently reads through. He doesn't react to Josi's pleas but instead, keeps his attention fixed on the paper. Then he leans back in his seat and begins reading out its content — like a judge before an inmate.

"Josita Lissette Cade. Born September 24th. Twenty-three years old. Blood type O positive. Five foot nine. Aspiring teacher. Graduated from Saint John University. Teaches at Abbott elementary school. Two loving parents. One younger sibling." He places the file down. "And a boyfriend."

Josi's courage begins lagging. Her body stiffens up at the mentions of the details, and the resolution she'd mustered up begins slipping away. How does one stand up to Idris Verdonni?

"The way this will work," Idris continues. "You will answer my calls no matter what time of day and will report to me when I tell you to. Of course, it goes without saying that my word is final and you will abide by everything I say."

Josi's breath hitches at the back of her throat. The last sentence makes her stiff body turn to jelly. "Why are you doing this?"

Idris drinks from his glass of whiskey neat. "Boredom."

If this were an episode off a TV show, Josi would have chuckled, or at least shook her head in disapproval. But this is all reality. She's been cornered into a hole for reasons none other than boredom. Perhaps it is laughable. That she should be made to suffer for someone else's lack of entertainment.

"This is a giving, but you should probably keep this all under the rug." Idris continues. "Tell anyone and this loses all fun. So don't do that."

He doesn't even tell her how he'll facilitate such a request. But Josi knows just by looking at him that he has his ways, and that if she's caught red handed, there will be consequences too grave for her to handle. She's been trapped right under a magnifying glass.

"How long are you going to keep this up?"

Idris thinks it over and decides he will answer the question. "Until I decide it ends. And that won't be anytime soon." He leans forward. "There are so many things I can do to you, Cade. I can humiliate you, make you wish you were never born. I can ruin your boyfriend's life too. And your parents'. Don't they live a couple hours away? Where was it, Virginia?"

This is the biggest threat of them all. Josi casts her eyes down to the floor as her chest begins heaving. He will go to such lengths just to see her suffer. "Please don't bring my family into this."

Idris gives her a smile worthy of friendship. "I think I'll do whatever I want."

A swarming silence follows, and all Josi can hear is the clinking of Idris's cutlery. There truly are no other options. She will sit through this twisted game of his and suffer in silence. She will be allowed no help, no shoulder to lean or cry on. She's in this all alone. Completely alone.

__

It isn't until an hour later that Idris decides Josi can leave. He walks her into the elevator for their journey back to the first floor. The ride is eerily quiet, because what does a predator and a prey really have to discuss? Not much, which is why Josi's confusion begins unraveling. If he wanted her with an escort, he could have tasked some other guard of his, not himself.

In the midst of all the thinking, Josi knocks her heel against Idris's shoe which seems to have appeared out of nowhere. Instantly, she loses her balance, but lo and behold, Idris is there to catch her.

It all happened too quick for Josi's mind to capture. She retracts her arm from Idris's grasp and offers him a meek reply for gratitude. "Thanks."

Idris sits in his own hubris of thoughts, then, without any warning, sweeps her off her feet bridal style. Right there in the midst of all the onlookers.

Josi has to fight to regain her senses. "I can walk. It was just an accident."

But he doesn't listen. When has he ever listened? "Enjoy the view from up here, Cade." Is all Idris says.

The rest of the journey meets its end in a parking garage. Only then does Idris allow her go. A bit useless, considering he just paraded around the hotel's grounds with her in his arms. Though the sun has already set, so the chances of anyone truly making out their faces was slim.

Regardless, Josi has had enough of his madness. "I'll get home by myself."

"I'll drop you."

An automatic objection finds its way to the tip of Josi's tongue, but makes it no further. She has learned her lesson. "I need to change first."

"Why?"

"My boyfriend thinks I'm out with my friends. I don't want him seeing me like this."

Again, Idris thinks, and Josi finds herself wanting a peek at what really goes on behind the scenes. The answer he gives her, though, severs that curiosity instantly.

"You can change right here."

The greatest insult. Out in the open for eyes to leer — that's where Idris has decided her wardrobe changing room. Josi bites down on her lips until she lets it go. Any longer and she would bleed. "We're outside, Idris."

This seems to be none of Idris's problem, however, because he leans against his car with a new tobacco stuffed stick. "I'm aware."

Now the anger boils to the surface, but Idris is too busy with his cigar that he doesn't see. "Can't I just change in the car?"

"No."

He truly means to humiliate her by any means necessary. He has all the control, and whichever button he presses, Josi has to obey. She gives him one last look, then brings with her the change of clothes and goes to find some place suitable enough for changing. She chooses a spot away from Idris, sandwiched between two other cars that hopefully don't have any dash cams attached to them.

Then she heads back to Idris and slams the door shut once she enters his car, as it's the only form of protest available to her. The ride back is once again silent, except there's no intimidation. Just resentment.

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Josi is too pretty to be going through all this smh #FreeJosi