by Dori Lavelle
Karen shrugs. “I guess that’s fine as well. Be careful. I really hate that he’s stalking you.”
“I promise to watch my back.” I have my pepper sprays all over the car and two inside my bag to grab easily if I need to.
“I’m so sorry, Bree. I’m sorry things didn’t work out the way you thought they would.”
“Me too.” I stifle a yawn. “Do you mind if I call it a night? I’m exhausted.”
At work earlier, and inside the courtroom, I was a professional as usual. No one even suspected that something was going on with me. But now that I’m in a safe place, the weight of everything that happened is weighing heavy on me. After using up all my energy to wrestle with my emotions all day, I’m ready to crash.
“Of course. I’ve already asked Julia to prepare one of the guestrooms for you. If you need anything at all, let me know.”
The room Karen prepared for me is elegant and spacious, with floor-to-ceiling windows covering one entire wall that overlooks her well-manicured gardens.
Karen is more successful than Vivian—who owns a successful cosmetics line— and I combined, and has been featured in Forbes magazine as one of the wealthiest women in America. The wealth she accumulated from her wildly successful businesses is evident in the homes and cars she owns.
Knowing where we both started, in a small town in Florida, I’m incredibly proud of her.
Before I unpack my suitcase, I step to the window and stare out into the night, forcing myself to think of nothing at all.
Just as I’m starting to relax, I see a light near one of the trees in the garden. It flashes once, dies, then flashes again, like a flashlight being switched on and off.
My blood goes cold.
Maybe it’s nothing, but what if it’s him and he has followed me here? If he’s standing out there, I’m clearly visible through the large window.
I won’t be able to relax knowing he might be so close. Biting back a scream, I turn around and run to Karen’s room.
“Are you okay? You look pale.” Karen jumps out of bed, her nightgown floating behind her as she rushes to my side.
I wrap a hand around my throat, trying to keep calm. “Maybe I’m going crazy, but I think I saw a light flashing in your garden.”
Karen’s brows draw together. “What do you mean? What kind of light?”
“I don’t know.” I glance behind me as though I expect Hunter to just show up. “There was something flashing on and off near one of the trees...like a flashlight. I’m not saying it’s him, but—”
“I don’t have flashing lights in my garden. Let’s find out if he’s out there.” Karen approaches the drawer on one side of her bed and pulls out a gun.
I swallow hard. “Is that necessary?”
“I don’t allow intruders on my property. Who knows, he might even be armed. Come on.”
As we walk out of the house, I’m holding one of my pepper sprays in one hand and my new phone in the other in case we need to call the cops. I had to get a new phone after Hunter broke my old one. I was able to keep my old number.
The closer we come to the place where I saw the light, the harder I find it to breathe.
When we don’t find anything suspicious, Karen turns to me, blinding me with her torch. “Are you sure you saw a light?”
“Yeah.” I look around me, my throat dry. “I swear, I saw something flashing on and off. If it was him, he’s gone.”
“Well, if it was really him, he’s lucky I didn’t catch his ass.” Karen starts walking back to the house. “Let’s go back inside. I’ll put the alarm on.”
“Thanks.” I consider myself to be a strong woman, but I’ve never felt weaker in my life. And that’s exactly what Hunter wants. He wants to reduce me to nothing so he can have complete control over me.
BACK INSIDE MY BEDROOM, I close the blinds and sink onto the edge of the bed in my pajamas, my phone in my hands.
I dial my mom’s number. I haven’t spoken to her in a while, but I need her now.
“Hi, Mom, sorry I haven’t called for a while. I’ve been busy with work.”
“You’re always busy with work, but I understand. It’s the life you chose for yourself.” She pauses. “But you sound upset. What’s wrong?” she asks. My mother is really good at guessing when something is not right with me, even over the phone. “Is everything all right with you and Hunter?”
When I met Hunter and fell in love, my mother was one of the people who warned me not to rush into marriage. She made it clear that marriage was a lifetime commitment and I should go into it with open eyes. Like a fool, I ignored her advice as well.
Our already fragile relationship was strained for a few months after my wedding, but it didn’t take long for Hunter to win her over. Now she’s his biggest fan. How will I break the news to her.
“Not really, Mom. We’re... we are separated at the moment.”
The silence that follows is so long it makes me uncomfortable. When my mother speaks again, her tone is one of disbelief. “What do you mean you’re separated? Did you walk away from your marriage?”
“Something changed.” I fidget with my pearl earring. “Something that proves that he’s not the man I married.”
“Bree, marriages are not easy. They need work. You can’t quit at the first sign of trouble.”
“Mom, please, don’t. I really don’t want to get into this. All you need to know is that Hunter changed and I cannot stay with him. He’s not the man I married.”
“What did he do?”
I suck in a breath and decide to tell her. I know my mother will never quit until she knows everything that’s going on.
“He wants me to quit my job and become a housewife.”
“He does? I never thought he would be that kind of man. Well, what did you tell him?”
“Of course I said no, Mom. You know how important my career is to me. I worked so hard to get to where I am.” I smile. “They made me partner after I won my last big case.”
“Congratulations, baby,” my mother says, but there’s something in her voice, something preventing her from being completely happy for me. “Is that why he––”
“He didn’t take it well. Turns out, the entire time we were together, he was actually against me working. He made it clear that he wants me to quit.”
“But Bree, are you sure you want to put your job first? Have you tried talking to him?”
“There’s really nothing to say. It’s over, Mom. I can’t go back to him.”
“But you’re Catholic. We don’t divorce.”
“I’m not a practicing Catholic. And if I make a mistake, I’m not afraid to take steps to correct it. I’m sorry, Mother. This is my life and I have decided that I will not give up my career for Hunter.”
“That’s a shame. I clearly remember you being determined to marry him, even when I told you to wait. You were the one who insisted that he was the one for you. And now you’re throwing it all away?”
“I know everything that I said and did.” I shut my eyes. “But people change. I’ve changed my mind. He’s not the one for me.”
“Sweetheart, I’m only going to give you one piece of advice. You need to think carefully about what you’re doing before you make another drastic decision.” She pauses. “Divorce is not a simple thing. And it has lifelong consequences.” She clears her throat. “What if...what if no one else wants to marry you, a divorcee?”
“What if I never want to get married again?” After what I went through with Hunter, the thought of getting married again suffocates me.
“Don’t say that. Marriage is a sacred thing. You should want to get married and have a family. I want grandchildren.”
“Grandchildren do not have to come from a marriage. I could adopt or go to a sperm bank.”
“Bree, maybe it’s not such a good idea for us to discuss this right now. Just be careful before you make another life-changing decision. I saw that man and I know how much he loves you. Maybe you should li
sten to him.”
“You’re right, Mom. Maybe it’s best we don’t talk about this right now.”
I’m sad and disappointed when we hang up the phone. Of all people, I thought my mother would be on my side. But then again, I didn’t tell her everything that Hunter did, that he struck me in the face.
I’m still not ready to speak about it yet. Maybe I’m afraid other people would look at me differently. What if they think I’m weak?
The fact remains that I made a decision to get away from Hunter and I’m not turning back. I don’t care what anyone else thinks.
If my father were alive, he would be on my side one hundred percent. He was the person who brought me up to be the strong woman I am today. He told me I could do and be anything I want. Even when my mother tried to discourage him from pushing me too hard to get good grades in school, I’m glad he did. And I’ll not let Hunter destroy the work my father did, the work I did. I won’t change for him or anyone else.
I fall back against the pillows and close my eyes, clenching my teeth when I see Hunter’s smirk behind my eyelids.
I fall asleep with the strange feeling that I’m still being watched, that he’s not too far away.
But the alarm is on. There’s no way he can get into the house without us hearing him. I don’t know about tomorrow, but I’m safe for now.
Chapter Eleven
“Mrs. Tyler, stop,” Mia Wilkins, my secretary, calls after me when I walk past her desk. “There’s something in your office.”
“Thanks, Mia,” I throw over my shoulder and hurry away. I don’t want her to see my face, to notice the bags under my eyes that were impossible to cover up this morning. I’m afraid she might read the pain from my features.
As soon as I open the door to my office, the first thing I notice are the flowers. Before I can take in the whole scene, a strong smell hits my nostrils. The stench is so overwhelming that I stumble back. I collide with Mia, who’s suddenly standing behind me.
I close the door again and turn to her. “Who brought...there are—”
“It was your husband.” Color floods her pale cheeks as she averts her gaze.
I give a small nod. “Okay.” I open the door again, holding my breath.
The bouquets of white roses are everywhere, on my desk, the windowsill, and even on the floor. I carried a bouquet of white roses on my wedding day. But the flowers in my bouquet were fresh and beautiful. Every single flower in my office is dead.
“I didn’t know where to...where to put them,” Mia says, wringing her hands in front of her.
I glance back at her and say nothing. I’m in the middle of the room now, but she’s in the doorway, keeping a distance from the burning stink that now drifts up my nostrils, bringing tears to my eyes and making me want to throw up. It’s not hard to recognize the strong smell of urine.
Swallowing down bile and my embarrassment, I throw open the windows and force a smile. “Thank you, Mia. I’ll take care of it.”
She nods and walks away. If she didn’t know my marriage was broken, she does now. The flowers send a clear message.
Before anyone else can come in, I lock the door and lean against it, my eyes closed, my breath held again so I don’t breathe in the rot, decay, and poison of my marriage.
I finally find the courage to pull myself together before I burst into tears. then I push away from the door, grateful that unlike some of the offices on this floor, mine doesn’t have glass walls. No one can see me hurt.
My knees feel like they’re made of liquid as I stumble to my desk and sink into my chair.
I pick up the phone and paste a smile on my face in the hope it would somehow make me sound less broken. “Mia, please hold my calls for the next half an hour. Thanks.”
“Of course, Mrs. Tyler.”
I lower the phone back in its cradle, then I reach for a small envelope stuck in one of the bouquets on my desk.
As I open it, I notice that every single bouquet in the room has an identical card stuck in the wilted blooms.
I inhale deeply, then lower my gaze to read the note in my hands.
You’re making a big mistake. Don’t let our marriage end up like these flowers. Don’t do something you will regret.
I push the card back into the envelope and lean back, biting into my inner cheek until I taste blood.
There’s no doubt in my mind anymore that Hunter Tyler is a dangerous man. If he can do something this appalling, what else is he capable of?
As soon as my mind calms down from the initial shock, I grab my phone and take photos of every bouquet. I might need the evidence later.
After taking the photos, I move from one bouquet to the next, reading the notes.
The message is the same as that written on the card I read first.
You’re making a big mistake. Don’t let our marriage end up like these flowers. Don’t do something you will regret.
A rush of adrenaline spiked by my anger suddenly rushes through me. It gives me the energy to clean up the mess.
I can’t let Hunter win.
I call Mia and ask her to bring me two bin bags. I take it from her at the door, then I get to work filling one of the bags with the flowers, doing my best to ignore the smell of urine. Is it his urine? The mere thought of Hunter peeing into the vases makes me gag.
Grateful to have a bathroom inside my new office, I pour the urine where it belongs, the toilet bowl. I drop the vases into the second bin bag, listening to them breaking into pieces similar to those of my heart.
I leave the bags in the bathroom to dispose of later. The air in my office is now clean as well.
I’m back at my desk, ready to start working, when there’s a knock at my door.
“Just a second.” I push back my chair and grip the armrests for a few seconds before I get to my feet and push back my shoulders. I take a few breaths and open the door.
“Jacob,” I clear my throat. “Um...Hi.”
“Hi.” He frowns, his eyes taking in every inch of my face. “Are you okay?”
I shake my head and take a step back. He walks in and closes the door, his eyes still on my face. “What happened, Bree?” His features show no trace of the humor he normally carries around with him.
“It’s Hunter.” I allow my face to break into a sad smile.
“Don’t tell me he messed up already. You’ve only been married for six months.”
Overcome with the urge to confide in someone, I find myself telling him about the flowers. I don’t mention that they were carried in vases filled with urine.
“Your husband sent you dead flowers?” Jacob perches on the edge of the table. “Are you guys going through a rough patch or something?”
“Something like that.” I walk up to the window, my back turned away from Jacob. “You’ve done a lot of divorce cases, right?”
“I have.” He says the words slowly, his tone pregnant with questions. “Do I even need to ask why you are asking?”
“No.” I turn to face him. “You already know why.” I drop into my chair. “I need a divorce.”
“Woah!” Jacob raises his hands in the air. “If this is because of what I said the other day. For God’s sake, Bree, I was joking. I didn’t mean for you to actually go and divorce your husband.”
“No, it has nothing to do with you. You’re not that important, you know.” I laugh in spite of myself. “It’s... it’s not working out. Something changed between us.” I stand up again and return to the window.
Jacob walks up to me. He lays a warm hand on my back. “I’m sorry, Bree. I really am. I know I was hoping that it might not work out for you, for my own selfish reasons, but I don’t like seeing you in pain.”
“I’m not. I’m not in pain.”
“Yes, you are. It’s the first thing I saw when you opened the door. You don’t have to pretend around me.” He gives my shoulder a squeeze. I know what he wants most to do is pull me into a hug, and I don’t think I would push him away if he does.
“Thanks, Jacob.” I close my eyes. “Will you help me?”
“Of course, I will,” he whispers and withdraws his hand. “I have a meeting now, but let’s talk about it over lunch on a day that suits you.”
“Okay.”
Before he walks out the door, I call his name. “Did you want something? I mean...is that why you came to my office?”
“No. I just like seeing your face first thing in the morning. It’s a way to start my day off right.” His eyes crinkle as he smiles. “I’ll see you later, Bree.”
After he leaves, I drop back into my chair, my head in my hands.
Even though I’ve always been good at ignoring my personal issues so I can focus on work, it’s proving to be a challenge today.
I talk to clients, send emails, make phone calls, and do everything that’s expected of me, but my head is not present. I hate that Hunter is getting in the way of my job. Even though I have not given it up for him, he’s still destroying my career from a distance.
Knowing the dead flowers are still inside my bathroom is eating away at me, so I call one of the cleaning ladies to come and fetch them. Fifteen minutes later, they’re gone and I feel a little better, even if my mind will always remember the stench of rotten flowers and urine.
I manage to push through the day without breaking down. After I leave the office and I’m sitting inside my car on the way to Karen’s place, I give myself permission to release the pressure that has been building up inside my chest all day.
Shortly before I turn into the quiet street that leads to Karen’s villa and other expensive homes, my phone rings and every muscle in my body tenses up.
“Hello?” I say, expecting it to be him.
“Hello, Mrs. Tyler. This is Deacon Smith.”
“Hi, Deacon.” I frown. “How are you?”