Chapter 1

"I can help you to escape, you don't have to stay here anymore," I could still hear Connie's words replaying in the back of my mind from the previous day. Bored and alone, I had snuck out of the house and knew that I needed to get back in a hurry before Ein, my fiancé, returned and noticed. During that escapade I ran into her and she spoke those all too promising words. As soon as she spoke them, I took it as my cue to get out. If Ein had even the slightest hint about my little adventure, the result would not be good. When it came to me, his possessive side often tended to rule. After an event such as this, he possibly would have jumped to the conclusion that I had been kidnapped. In which case, I pray the gods be with any man who would stand in the way of him recovering me.

 

I often think back and wonder how things got to this point. How did I end up so far down the rabbit hole? Truthfully, things weren't always this way. Even now we aren't exactly free to put our love on display. During the day, and to the world, I am the administrative assistant, a.k.a. the glorified secretary, of Mr. Ein Carrington. In effort to maintain control and retain an air of professionalism in the workplace, Ein treats me just like any other employee. Looking back, I realize what a fine line there is that exists between finding one's own happiness and utter catastrophe and ruin. I had never been the risqué kind of girl but there's just something about being with someone who can excite, thrill, and charm the pants right off of you that simply makes the gamble seem worth it.

 

In the beginning, it was in those quiet moments when life slowed down just enough to allow the dust and feathers to begin to settle that I was prodded with the burning truth that I was still a married woman. As with any secret to be kept, discretion comes at a price. So we were especially careful not to get caught. However, when we were alone, it was in those moments that we were free to be as any other couple in love. It's those moments that keep me tied to charade. It's those moments, that I can't stop from replaying in the back of my mind as I sit at my desk outside of Ein's door wondering if I will ever be able to find my way out of the rabbit hole before I'm buried alive.

 

"Ein," I called as I stepped in front of his partially opened office door. Looking in, I noticed that he was sitting in his chair behind the desk.

 

"You know better than to use my forename so freely in the office," he stated without looking up from the document he worked on. It occurred to me that he only let me call him by his first name when we were alone. Immediately aware of my surroundings, I knew as I stepped further into the office that someone else had to be in the room.

 

"I apologize Mr. Carrington, may I come in?" I asked quietly already adapted to the mood. He didn't answer verbally but inclined his head slightly. Taking that as my cue, I silently glided into the room and moved to stand behind him. With a new view of the room, I immediately recognized the visitor as Terry Coleman, my now ex-husband. Having run into Connie yesterday I wasn't entirely surprised that he was here.

 

Terry was dead set on not letting me go and not to mention crazy. Possessive and stubborn, it came as no surprise to find out that he had attempted to recruit Connie James, my ex-best friend, to help win my heart back. Too bad, I didn't care to hear from either of them ever again. One of the main reasons for our divorce was the discovery that Terry had cheated with Connie. Once brought to light, the affair ended but the damage had already been done. Shortly after, I moved out and began my own affair with my boss. From the start, Ein knew that I was married, had found out about my situation, and agreed to let me stay with him. It was during that time living in close proximity that the sparks started to fly, and I welcomed them. Three years have now passed and I haven't looked back. During the first two years, Terry and I were only separated. However, the past year has been spent finalizing our divorce with much opposition from Terry. Once the divorce was final, Ein and I got engaged yet Terry was undeterred and determined to not let go. It was for this reason that Ein forbade me to leave the house after a certain time or without someone coming with me. Just the day before we had been talking about it after I had snuck out of the house and ran into Connie.

 

"You left the house." It was a statement. He knew what I had done, and I was possibly in trouble since he had already told me to stay home.

 

"How long have you been in here? I have been looking for you. Did you hear me calling you?" I quickly changed the subject not wanting to have to admit that I had gone against his wishes.

 

"Really? And looking for me required going outside and fraternizing with people who might try to harm you?" I could hear the smugness in his voice.

 

I lowered my eyes with guilt. "I'm sorry. I got board and I decided to explore …"

 

I can still hear his deep chuckle in my head, as if it that moment were happening right now.

 

"Don't worry about that. You will have plenty of time for that later. Right now, I need you to understand that I am doing this for your protection. Don't you get that?"

 

"Of course, you're only thinking of what is in my best interest."

 

"That's all I can hope for because I won't force you."

 

Just then Connie walked into the office, bringing my thoughts back to the present, and took the seat next to Terry, "I'm sorry I got lost," she announced. Truthfully, no one seemed moved by her explanation and I wondered why she was here.

 

"Now that everyone is present, we can proceed," Ein stated. "What is your business here?"

 

"We have come to get Alison back," Terry returned.

 

Oh, how amusing…Somehow I had known this was coming. I knew it had to be the truth because it could not have been anything else.

 

"For many reasons, which I'm sure you can understand, I cannot simply hand her over to you," he answered coolly. To the layman, his demeanor and tone came off as unattached, but I knew that he would never give me up under any circumstances.

 

"And those are?"

 

Knowing where Ein was going, I moved my hair to one side deliberately calling attention to the engagement ring on my left hand. "For one, she's my fiancée," he said simply.

 

"But we can't leave her here. It's our fault that she's here. This goes against my ethics…" Connie spoke quietly, thinking aloud. She was known for the infamous habit and witnessing the little slip again almost made me smile. I had missed her more than I cared to ever admit but our friendship was over.

 

"Your ethics, Miss James," Ein spoke tauntingly, the corner of his mouth quirked up evilly, "are simply useless feelings that get in the way. Feelings which do not have a foothold here and nor will they ever because they have clouded your judgment and distorted your view, preventing clear, logical thought. From what we have all seen of your ethics, they are clearly tainted and corrupt. I suggest you put aside those frivolous feelings because the divorce is already final and Alison has moved on. If that is the only business you have, you have come in vain."

 

"Alison hasn't spoken a word in any of this. Whatever she says, I'll go by," Connie persisted.

 

"The truth remains resolute regardless of the spokesman because it changes for no man. I warn you to remove yourselves now while I still find this petty attempt amusing."

 

"We don't mean to overstep our bounds here… we just want to talk to her," Terry tried a different approach.

 

"Her sense of hearing has not been lost, she can hear so you may air whatever it is you will."

 

"Alone," Connie asserted.

 

"You will not come to my domain and dictate to me what I will and will not do … It would serve you well to remember that."

 

"May I?" I asked him after a pause, he nodded and turned his hand over so that his palm was up, indicating that I could proceed. As with most areas of our lives, Ein was in control. It was in his nature to take charge, to lead. He liked to handle these matters. So I did not often have to do much but today I knew that these stubborn fools would not leave until I had spoken.

 

"Terry, I will never come back to you. Honestly, I think the two of you deserve one another. I've listened to enough excuses from the two of you to last a lifetime. Now I think it's time for you to leave before I finalize the paperwork on a restraining order, in addition to the divorce contract. I don't want to see either of you again." I knew once it was out that there would be no more arguing. They would waste no time in leaving and would probably do so quietly too.

 

Sure enough Terry stood up and began to walk out without another word. "You've really changed because I would have never thought you capable of doing something like that," Connie said giving Ein a dirty look, as if he were to blame, just before she too took her leave.

 

"Do you think I should actually get one?" I asked looking over at Ein. We shared a look and both could not hold back a grin. It was going to be a good life…

Impressum

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 15.03.2018

Alle Rechte vorbehalten

Widmung:
To a very good friend of mine, Annie and everybody else that helped in putting this together, love you guys!!