LIKE WE NEVER LOVED AT ALL ~CH. 5~

Joanna raced around her room snatching up every one of her belongings and crammed them in her suitcase. The time was now 11:45am and she knew that she only had 15 minutes to get out of the hotel before the meeting let out. She did not want to run into Chris before she left. The thought of leaving with Glenn, even if he was 'Just a friend' still seemed like betrayal. Rounding up the last of her stuff and zippering her bag closed, she pulled it off of the bed and made her way to the door. Grabbing the handle she flung it open and found herself face to face with Chris.

Chris stood and stared at her for a moment, although for Joanna, it seemed like an eternity. "Where you going?" He asked, somewhat intimidatingly.

"I figured I'd get my things together and get an early start out to Wisconsin. My mother wanted me to stop in and see her before I left so..." Joanna's voice trailed off.

Chris crossed his arms in front of his chest. Joanna surveyed the scene for room to escape but found no such way to do so. "Mom huh? Well your tell mom I said hi."

Joanna looked up at him. "Ok Chris, I will." She decided that she would try to push her way past him, but to no avail. He grabbed her shoulder and pulled her back.

"Woah there baby, what's the rush? Wouldn't have anything to do with Glenn, would it?" Chris smiled to himself, happy to know that he was in complete control of the situation at hand.

Joanna pushed his hand off of her and glared at him. "Glenn? Why would this have anything to do with Glenn? I told you what I had to do so if you would excuse me!"

Chris moved out of the way to let her by. Smiling contently he answered. "I don't know Joanna. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that you left the meeting with him and took off to God knows where!"

Joanna turned and laughed. "Yeah Chris...God knows where. Like maybe the broom closet on floor six so I could get a little quickie in before you came around again? Or maybe I just brought him back to my room and we screwed each other up until 5 minutes ago! I don't have time for this shit ok? The fact of the matter was that you were still angry with me for this morning's phone call or whatever and someone decided that it might be nice to offer me some breakfast. Yeah, Breakfast Chris!That's it! That's all!" With a quick turn Joanna continued down the hall to the elevator.

Chris grew angry at her defiance and followed her. When the elevator doors opened, he walked inside with her. Joanna tried her best to ignore him as she pushed the button for the bottom floor. The doors closed in front of them. Chris walked over to the buttons and hit the one that stopped the elevator. Joanna turned and glared at him. Before she was able to say anything though, Chris had her pinned to the elevator wall with his hand around her neck. Joanna struggled but it was to no use. Each time she attempted to fight, his grip on her tightened. With no choice she remained still as Chris leaned into her and whispered in her ear.

"You listen to me you little whore! I am sick of the back talk, I am sick of the attitude, and most importantly, I am sick of the lack of respect. You are my girl and you will act accordingly. No more running off with Glenn Jacobs, you hear me?" He slammed her head off the wall.

Through tears, Joanna struggled to speak. "I...I'm sorry Chris. Please, let me go!"

Chris smiled evily at her. "Never baby...never." He said quietly as he removed his hand from her neck. Joanna leaned up against the wall of the elevator as not to fall, tears streaming down her face. Chris turned his back on her and started the elevator again. He pushed the button marked 3 and waited for his floor in silence. Once at his destination he turned and looked at Jo.

"Aww, you poor thing." He walked over to her and helped her back up. Joanna flinched at his touch. He fixed her tossled hair and wiped the tears from her eyes. "There's no reason to cry Joanna. Just do as you are told and everything will be ok." He leaned in to kiss her cheek as she attempted to turn away. "Now go, have fun with your mother. But remember, I'm watching you. I know that Glenn checked out of his room already and so help you God if I find out the two of you are together!" Chris chuckled and pushed her away, walking off the elevator as the doors closed behind him.

Joanna's mind raced. What had just happened? She and Chris had gotten into dozens of fights but never had any of them turned violent. She reached up and touched her neck, which was still sore from Chris's grip. The elevator doors opened and she walked out. Through the lobby doors she could see Glenn waiting for her. Not wanting him to suspect anything was wrong, she quickly dug through her purse for her pocket mirror and looked at herself. The image almost scared her. A red ring had began to develop on the flesh of her neck. Pulling up the collar of her jacket, Joanna wiped the mess of makeup formed down her cheeks from her face, quickly smoothed her hair out and walked towards the front doors.

Glenn smiled at the sight of her. Damn she was beautiful. "If only...if only for one night." He thought to himself, and then quickly dismissed the idea. He knew full well that not only her current situation, but his as well, would not allow it to be. As Joanna moved closer he could see something was a miss. The look on her face told him something bad, possibly terrible, had happened. She walked past him in silence, opened the trunk for their luggage, tossed the bags in, and closed it again. Rounding the side of the car, she opened the driver door and got in. She unlocked Glenn's side and waited impatiently for him to get in.

Confused, Glenn opened the passenger door and sat down. He turned to Joanna who still had not looked at him, opting instead to stare out the front window into the parking lot. "Are you all set?" She finally said, in a slightly raspy voice.

"Yeah." Glenn managed, not knowing what else to possibly say.

"Good, let's go." Joanna said and started the car. Within a few moments they were out of the hotel parking lot and on the open road.