Chapter 15
You should remember…
Those words are like a detonator that brings me back to reality.
“ Noooooooo! ” My screams fill the otherwise silent house like a fire truck siren, my voice sounds panicked. I’m not sure he heard me, but that’s all I can do. My hands tremble causing the phone to drop on the counter.
What is this shit?
“What happened?” he asks me as he returns to the kitchen, his eyes looking me up and down, looking for an injury. “Stella?”
My face says it all, I’m breathing fast and my legs are barely holding me up. It’s a mystery how I didn’t have a heart attack considering the speed with which my heart is beating.
“Stella, is something wrong?” Lionel comes closer and takes me by the shoulders, his thumbs stroking over my shirt. “ Hvězda ?”
I want him to leave me alone again, to go away. He’s the one playing this evil game, he’s confusing me and messing with my sanity. The best thing is for me to leave, to return home. Lionel can arrange our divorce without any problems. I would sign anything to return to the tranquility of my old life.
“Stella,” he insists, shaking me a little. “What’s happening?”
“The phone…” Those words leave my lips in a shaky whisper. That should be enough.
Lionel takes the device off the counter. His eyes widen when he realizes what’s in there, using his fingers to move around the screen and take a closer look.
“What’s your game?” I ask when the air fills my lungs again, he sets the phone aside and takes me back in his arms. “Why are you doing this?”
I move, trying to break free from him, but his strong hands are on my back, and he won’t let me go. A thousand thoughts cross my mind, but none of them seem logical, all of them are too crazy to consider, they have to be. I’ve fallen into Stella’s Crazyland, the only thing missing is that hatter and for the rabbit to appear.
This joke isn’t funny, and I want it to end right now.
“Listen to me,” he says in a low voice, but his tone is authoritative. “Of course I didn’t send that message, that’s not my email address. The-Lionel-Kral, that’s definitely not my account.”
He removes a hand from my back to find something in the pocket of his jeans, then passes me his phone with the email application open for me to take a look at.
“That doesn’t mean anything. You could have sent it from your computer or entrusted one of your many employees to do it.”
That’s one of the theories spinning in my head, like a tornado about to lift me off the ground.
I push on his chest, urging him to release me, I’m willing to hit his shoulder—the place where he was injured—to get out.
“Let me go, Lionel, please.” The air from the room is gone, leaving a thick, dark atmosphere behind it.
I need to breathe. I need to set myself free.
I need my life back.
“Let’s find out what kind of shit this is,” he mutters as he lets me go. “I’m going to call Ethan.”
A bitter laugh leaves my mouth. “And he’ll come running because he’s at your beck and call?”
Lionel looks at me disapprovingly, clearly hurt about the comment I made. “He’s not at my beck and call,” he states. “But I hired his security company, and a situation has come up, and I think it’s safer for him to come here to talk than us going to his office downtown at Oracle Security.”
Looking at it that way, it makes sense.
“Also, Ethan lives nearby. He bought the house on the other side of the hill when I started developing this community. It’s difficult to see it from here. The driveway is private, and the man has taken it upon himself to make it safe for his family. But first…”
Lionel releases me from his embrace but takes my hand in his, goes to the refrigerator, takes one of the water bottles, removes the lid, and immediately puts it between my fingers.
“Unless you want something stronger,” he says with a small smile. “There is some scotch in one of the drawers in my office.”
Not a chance, now more than ever I need to keep my head clear, well as much as possible considering the circumstances.
As soon as Lionel goes to call Ethan, I take the opportunity to rush up the stairs, as fast as my legs allow me to.
I have to get out of here, and I have to do it before I turn completely nuts.
I brought very few things here with me, so packing my bags won’t take long, and the least of my worries is wrinkled clothing. My mental health comes before anything else.
It’s better to say a coward ran from here than a brave one dies here. I prefer to leave, not caring what he thinks.
“What are you doing?” he asks when he sees me in the dressing room throwing things into the small suitcase. I don’t bother raising my head to look at him, because I’m sure that would undermine my determination.
I need to get out of here.
“Where do you think you’re going?” At last he got the message, an image is worth more than a thousand words. “Ethan is coming to speak to us in a little while.”
That makes me stop what I’m doing.
“You can tell him it’s you who says he didn’t send that email,” I reply as I put my shoes in my bag. I’ve only brought two pairs and the others are on me right now. “The phone has all my email information. I have nothing to hide, so Ethan or one of his IT gurus can check on my account.”
His lips tighten, clearly my words are upsetting him. For someone who likes to be in control all the time, this must be very frustrating.
“And where are you going to…?” The suitcases are a sign that I’m not going to stay. “Are you going to break your word?”
I look at him for a moment, thinking about what to say next. Whatever it is must be precise because I don’t want to give him a chance to rebuttal my argument.
“Promises can be broken depending on the circumstances, and I have to think about what’s best for me.”
There it is, and he can interpret it as he sees fit.
If he thinks money is what I want, well, it’s going to be easier to let me go. I’m going to win either way.
His phone rings, taking his attention, which is good for me.
“Ethan is here, let’s go downstairs so we can talk to him.”
“I have nothing to say,” I reply as I begin to fold one of my shirts. “And as you can see, I’m pretty busy here.”
Lionel raises his hands to rub his eyes with his palms, like he has a headache. My determination doesn’t falter, it would also be good for him to let me go. We both need reassurance, and it’s very obvious that together neither of us would get it.
“Do whatever you want,” he tells me with a sigh. “I’m tired of arguing with you.”
He leaves the dressing room, but he leaves the door open, so from my vantage point I can see him walking. He stops in the hallway holding on to the wall, looking for a place to hold on for a couple of seconds.
Immediately worry fills my heart, and it takes a lot of willpower to not run after him, to make him feel better.
Ten minutes later everything is ready. I drop into the armchair in front of the window, looking for answers in the blue sky or perhaps in the vastness of the ocean. I’m sure it’s going to be a while before I see it again, so I try to save a mental picture to take back to Carrollton.
I just need to figure out how the hell I’m going to get out of here. I don’t think there are any bus stops nearby and my phone is dead, so I can’t use an app to request rides or call a taxi either. I don’t think I will get very far walking and I’m sure that the airport is not exactly near this place.
Nothing is impossible, somehow I will end up where I want to go. Maybe I could hitch a ride.
“So it’s true,” I hear a female voice say as her steps get closer. “Lionel told me you’re leaving.”
Alexandra Conrad is looking as stylish as ever, this time in a red dress paired with stunning nude heels.
The reflection of the sun on the impressive ring on her finger almost blinds me. Alexandra sits on the ottoman in front of the chair, her back straight.
“I’m trying,” I reply honestly. “Do you know where I can get a taxi?”
The truth is that I could ask to borrow her phone to call one, but the last thing I want is to involve her in my problems and cause an argument between her and her husband, who certainly won’t be very pleased.
“About two miles from here, there’s a hotel, you’ll surely find one there.” A small smile is drawn on her lips. “I didn’t bring my car, otherwise I’d take you gladly.”
I shrug before answering, pushing my lips up, forcing a smile, but the attempt is unsuccessful. “Don’t worry, I don’t want to put you in a tight spot with your husband.”
“Lionel may be paying Ethan to keep him safe, but I’m not on his payroll.”
“I have to get out of here,” I confess. “I gotta go, this is driving me crazy.”
She settles in more, crossing her ankles neatly and resting her hands on her knees, leaning a little toward me.
“Is this about the email?” she asks, raising her eyebrows. “Forgive me, I overheard a bit as Lionel brought Ethan up to speed on the news.”
A sigh comes from my lips. “That’s the cherry on top, but it’s not all.” I take a deep breath, because I need it. “I don’t know what’s going on, I really don’t. I feel like I’ve entered a parallel universe in which the man I married is a stranger. When Lionel and I met in Carrollton he was charming, romantic, and loving, then it all changed. After our brief honeymoon, our relationship seemed like I was always walking on a tightrope. One moment we were fine, the next we were fighting, like cats and dogs. And now I find that he has changed once again. I don’t know what to think, Alexandra.”
The truth in a nutshell.
She looks at me and takes my hand in hers. “I think you guys need time, maybe your husband is trying to redeem the mistakes he made in the past. Maybe there were many, I don’t know, why don’t you give it a chance. Or is he not trying hard enough?”
That makes me smile, this time for real. “He’s trying, believe me, he is. However, I can’t help but feel bewildered, it feels like I’ve been with three different men. Now I have this one in front of me, I’m just waiting for the mask to drop at any moment, and then my cold and calculating husband will return.”
And the worst part will be that by then, I’ll be so in love that I’d accept anything to keep him by my side. That’s the reason why I need to leave.
The sooner, the better.
“Look, Stella,” she begins to say. “What happened to him was a traumatic experience, he was on the verge of death, that puts things into perspective. I wouldn’t tell you this unless I knew for a fact that Lionel is a good man. Give him a chance, maybe you’ll be surprised to discover what he’s willing to do—for you.”
She has a point, I can’t deny it. What happened would change anyone’s life, perhaps Alexandra is right.
“Or is it that the lies he told you were too much for you, and you can’t forgive him?” That is another important factor.
“No, we talked about it. I’m not saying his reasons were valid, but I can understand why he did it.”
“So? What’s stopping you? Be happy, Stella, don’t be afraid.”
Be happy, that’s what I was trying to do, but my path insists on not letting me rest, always taking the most unexpected turns.
The thoughts keep spinning in my head when she gets up and smooths her dress skirt with her hands. “May I use your bathroom?”
“Oh yeah, sure,” I reply absentmindedly, my head spinning with everything that has happened and what she just told me.
And who sent that message?
Could it be the person who attempted to take Lionel’s life is now trying it from another angle and maybe chose me as a target?
Shit, we’re in a very complicated situation. There’s no doubt about it.
The desire to leave is gone. I want to stay here and discover this new world, perhaps I’m not as alone on the journey as I thought.
“Where did you get that wonder of a product you have by the counter?” Alexandra squeals as she returns to where I am. I have no idea what she’s talking about. “I need to get that soap right now. It smells delicious and I didn’t even need to moisturize after washing my hands. Spill the beans right now.”
That makes me smile. I’m sure she has the best of the best within arm’s reach, it’s a great compliment to my handmade soaps.
“I made the soap myself back home in Carrollton,” I reply smiling. “I’m glad you liked it.”
She raises her eyebrows, pleasantly impressed. “Please tell me that you have more here and that you are going to sell me some.”
A light laugh comes out of my mouth. “No, no,” hearing my words, her shoulders drop forward in a clear show of disappointment. “But I can ask my mother to send me some. There must be some at home unless she sold them all.”
I swear that from the chair I can see the gears in her brain starting to turn. The woman is a successful businesswoman, she’s already up to something.
“Can you make them here?”
“I hadn’t thought of that,” I reply. “I guess. I’ll have to go to a farmer’s market and get supplies, even though the honey is not from my hive, but pure organic honey would work. Also, I need to order the molds and the cutter online, which won’t be too hard. I’ve updated my phone with all my supplier’s information.”
She smiles again, this time mischievously.
“Does that mean you’re going to stay?” she asks. “I mean, you’re going to get all of those supplies. You have to be here to receive them and use them.”
I’m not going to give up that easy, so I play a little dirty.
“I don’t know yet, we’ll find out soon enough.”
She looks at me, little hearts and stars shining in her dark eyes. “I’m sure he’ll convince you to stay.” She lets out a sigh. “I love it when those tough alpha guys open their hearts, it’s a sight worth admiring.”
“I suppose you speak from experience,” I mumble.
“That is a story for another day. I will only add that I’ve been his beloved for a long time, and it will continue that way. Well, let me know what you decide because I plan to become your number one customer.”
“Thank you very much, I’m going to think about that.” My mind travels to the plans I made to have my online store, expand my company, and start a new adventure.
“Don’t give it much thought, I’ll be waiting, and patience is not one of my strong suits.”
Someone clears their throat from across the room. Lionel is there, looking at me with intensity.
I think he’s trying to guess what’s going on in my mind.
“Alex, Ethan is waiting for you at the foyer,” he says to her, but his dark eyes are on me.
“You have my number,” she cheers before giving me a kiss on the cheek to say goodbye. “Call me when you have decided what to do.”
“I’ll walk you to the door,” Lionel adds.
“I know the way,” she replies, tapping him lightly on the arm. “You have business to attend to here.”
He gives her a sad smile as she leaves.
We look at each other in silence for what seems like an eternity. It’s he who breaks it, extending a hand to me.
It’s a symbolic gesture, one that I think means a lot. He’s waiting for me to take the first step, respecting the space that I’ve tried to put between us as a defense.
“Come,” he insists. “I have a gift for you.”
“Lionel…”
“Come.” This time he smiles, making him look so gorgeous. My heart beats hard, running into stroke territory.
“I don’t need you to give me anything…”
“A gift is a gift. Come with me.”
“What is it?” I make another attempt to find out.
“Take my hand to find out, Stella.”
God, what should I do?