TABOO:BATION — 50 SHADES OF FORBIDDEN SHORTS novel Chapter 35

STORY 5: SHOPLIFTING GONE WRONG

Jennifer.

The fluorescent lights in the tiny security room, made the silence feel even heavier.

I sat on a hard plastic chair, my heart hammering against my ribs. Across from me stood two massive men in dark blue security uniforms.

According to the names on their badges, Marcus was the broader one, his shoulders nearly touching both sides of the doorframe. Derrick was taller, leaning against a desk with his arms folded over his chest. Both of them were Black, their dark skin gleaming under the harsh lights, and their eyes were cold. It should be. They just caught something unethical.

“Let’s try this one more time,” Marcus rumbled. “What’s your name?”

“Jennifer,” I whispered, my voice shaking. “Jennifer Vance.”

“Well, Jennifer,” Derrick said, pushing off the desk. “We saw you on the cameras in the jewelry and perfume section. You were busy. And now, it’s time for you to empty that hoodie.” He said, pointing a

finger at me.

“I didn’t take anything,” I lied. I bit my lower lip, trying to look innocent, but my hands were trembling.

Marcus stepped closer, his shadow falling over me. “Don’t play with us, woman. Take the hoodie off.

Now.” His brow furrowed, and I knew he was serious.

I reached for the hem of my grey sweatshirt. My face was burning with shame. I pulled it over my head, and as the fabric bunched up, a heavy glass bottle of Chanel perfume slid out and hit the floor with a loud clack.

The room went dead silent.

“Nothing, huh?” Derrick mocked, picking up the bottle. “That’s a two–hundred–dollar ‘nothing.‘ Now, the jeans.” He pointed at my pants. “I bet there’s more.”

“Please,” I begged, my eyes tearing up. “I just… I forgot I had that. I don’t have anything else, I swear!”

“Get them off,” Marcus commanded. He wasn’t smiling. “Or we call the precinct right now. You want a mugshot?”

I shook my head quickly. I stood up on shaky legs and unbuttoned my denim jeans. I let them slide down my hips. As the denim pooled around my ankles, a pair of gold hoop earrings that I’d tucked into the pocket fell out, jingling as they hit the floor.

“You’re a liar, Jennifer,” Marcus said. He stepped so close I could feel the heat radiating off his body.” And we don’t like liars. The bra. Take it off.”

“No!” I gasped, covering my chest with my arms. “I can’t… I’m not going to be naked in front of men! That’s all I took, I swear on my life!”

“You swore on your life two minutes ago,” Derrick reminded me, tapping on the handcuffs against his belt. “The bra. Now. Or the cops can do it at the station.” 1

I had never felt smaller than I felt now. With trembling fingers, I reached behind my back and unhooked the clasp.

I let the lace bra drop. As it fell, a high–end designer lipstick rolled out from the cup.

Fuck! Today I have never been this unlucky in my life.

“Everything she says is a lie,” Marcus muttered, looking briefly at Derrick. He looked me up and down, his eyes lingering on my pale skin.

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