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  The two men walked down the wide hallway to Benjamin’s office, his home away from home that was actually more comfortable than his actual house. As a self-proclaimed workaholic, Ben had no problem admitting that he always preferred to be at work.

  Chapter Three

  Katherine

  THE BAKERY HAD JUST shut down, and Katherine was removing her apron when Talia approached her. She was responsible for training Katherine, and had been the first to make her feel welcome behind the counter at A Slice of Sicily.

  “Did I hear right—do you live on Klondike?” she asked.

  The paranoia set in as Katherine wondered where her co-worker had learned her address. Forcing herself to relax, she just nodded her head, plastering a feigned smile on her face.

  “I’m just a few blocks from there. How do you get home?” Talia asked.

  “Oh, I walk,” Katherine said, feeling awful. She wished she could offer Talia a ride, and after spending the day on her feet she could stand for a ride herself.

  “That’s perfect! So do I. Come on, let’s walk together—I'll show you all the cool places,” Talia said. It was more of a command than a suggestion, so Katherine agreed, grabbing her jean jacket from the coat rack before following Talia out the front door.

  “This is my favorite season. You know, when the leaves start to turn colors and your wardrobe triples because you need to layer your clothes,” Talia started. She was so talkative, and Katherine had taken to her from the moment they met.

  There were some people you could just tell were genuine, and Talia was one of them. She was happy all the time, constantly going above and beyond to help customers throughout the day. Although Katherine had never worked as a barista before, Talia was patient with her, taking the time to teach her everything more than once.

  “I like fall, too,” Katherine forced herself to answer. She was shy and timid, at least since her disastrous marriage.

  Before she had submitted her life to Tim, she used to be very outgoing and personable, but now was closed off and suspicious of new connections. She had tried not to get close to anyone, because it made leaving more difficult.

  With a crazy husband always on her heels, Katherine had to be ready to leave at the drop of a dime, and keeping to herself made that easier. But that lifestyle was tiring, and for once, she now felt that a new life was a possibility. If there was anyone she thought she could trust, it was Talia.

  “That’s the best Italian spot in the city,” Talia exclaimed, pointing towards a small restaurant on the corner. People flooded from the shop carrying bags of food, and I made a mental note to try out the restaurant one day.

  “So, how long have you lived in San Francisco?” Katherine asked, hoping not to weird Talia out by being too quiet.

  “Born and raised actually,” Talia shouted so loudly a couple walking into the Italian restaurant turned in their direction.

  Unable to bite back her mirth, Katherine erupted in giggles and Talia joined her. The two women laughed together as they continued through the colorful neighborhood. Katherine was relaxed and comfortable, asking for the closest laundry mat and pharmacy, trying to get her bearings in the new community.

  “Where are you from?” Talia asked.

  “Is it that obvious that I’m not from around here?” Katherine shot back, smiling broadly.

  “You’re too—nervous.” Talia answered, unease evident on her face. She didn’t want to offend Katherine, but she had noticed that there was something off with her the first day they met. She had a high wall built up, but she wanted Katherine to know that she could lower it when it was just the two of them. She would never betray her or repeat anything shared privately.

  “Nervous?” Katherine giggled, but in the back of her mind she knew exactly what Talia was hinting at. She was paranoid, always worried someone was out to get her.

  “I don’t know. It’s like everything is new to you, and it’s written all over your face. You’re the tourist looking at a map on the corner of the street. I can tell you’re not completely comfortable. That’s why I wanted to walk home with you. Once you get the hang of the neighborhood, you’re going to fit in perfectly,” Talia explained.

  It was the truth, but she had no idea how just how right she was. Katherine was uncomfortable navigating the new neighborhood, so it was incredibly sweet of Talia to offer to show her around.

  Together, they walked past all of Talia’s favorite places, while she gave recommendations on the best days to visit and the most delicious dishes. Katherine was grateful, trying to remember as much as she could.

  Everything was finally beginning to feel normal, as the tension dissolved with each step they took together. Katherine thought the fear was gone until Talia announced she would be breaking off to head in a different direction, leaving Katherine to walk the rest of the distance on her own.

  Anxiety rushed in as her heart raced with the possibilities. The sun was setting and before long it would be dark. Katherine hated to be out in the dark, especially alone. Walking twice as fast, she rushed to get back to her apartment, glancing over her shoulder every few feet.

  She could feel the presence behind her, hear the footsteps gaining, but every time she turned to look, there was no one there. Tim had filled her with so much fear that even though she’d remained a step ahead of him over the last two years, she was terrified of what he might do to her.

  He always said she could never escape him, and in those times she believed him. Her paranoia was ridiculous, but what could she do? Every other place she had gone, Tim eventually showed up to prove he could track her down whenever he wanted.

  Katherine’s only hope was that Tim no longer wanted anything to do with her. She knew how unlikely that was, because he was the type that never wanted to give his toys away, and that was all Katherine ever was to him.

  While they were together, all Tim wanted was for her to be a dutiful wife. He had so many rules she had to live by and if she ever questioned his reign, there would be hell to pay. She lived her life in constant fear that she would finally have to answer for walking away from the man who terrorized her.

  Before long, Katherine was jogging, trying to reach her apartment as fast as possible. The night was chasing her, and she didn’t want to get caught in the new neighborhood, or find herself lost. There were a few twists and turns, and Talia had taken a different way to showcase all the area had to offer.

  Struggling to stay calm, Katherine watched her feet moving quickly, one in front of the other, before returning her focus ahead. There was a man a little ways down the street who caught her attention. His broad shoulders filled his suit very well, in a way that made her stomach drop.

  Tim only wore suits, regardless of whether he was attending a family function or defending criminals in the court room. Watching the stranger with caution in her movements, Katherine was filled with relief when the man turned to face her.

  While he might have had the football player build of her husband, this man looked nothing like the clean-shaven man she had married. It was too close of a call though, so she took off running without shame. It didn’t matter who saw her, she just wanted to get back to her safe space.

  An elderly man sitting on the porch of his home leaned forward in his rocking chair when she passed his house. Watching her closely, the man smiled as their eyes locked, and for some reason that gave Katherine a bit of security.

  She felt the old man’s watchful eye as she made it to her apartment building, confident that if anyone jumped out to grab her, he would be watching, curious as to where the young woman was running.

  When she finally got there, Katherine took two steps at a time, climbing to the fourth floor as if she was being chased up each flight. You needed a key to enter her building, but even that didn’t make her feel secure.

  In addition to the dead bolt already installed, Katherine had added four other locks to her front door, making six in total. In a rush to enter her place, she regretted the extra laye
r of security as she fumbled with her keys.

  If anyone were after her, they’d have the perfect opportunity to overpower her as she struggled with the door. Thankfully, there was no one after her, despite the fear she felt deep in her stomach. When she finally unlocked the door, she rushed inside, slamming the door shut before carefully locking each of the six locks.

  Resting her back against the heavy door, Katherine inhaled deeply, filling her lungs with the cool air. A relaxing stroll with Talia had quickly turned to panic, but she was regaining her composure as she looked around the small apartment.

  She examined the boxes, questioning if she had opened the one in the corner, or if someone had been rummaging through her things while she was at work. She knew it was outlandish, but she would put nothing past Tim when it came to getting back at her.

  She had to think outside the box and leave nothing off the table when trying to prepare for what Tim had planned for her. He was unpredictable and relentless when it came to getting what he wanted.

  “You’re home. It’s okay,” she said aloud, hoping to calm herself down. Katherine’s hands trembled as she dropped the set of keys into the pear-shaped glass dish she left on the dining room table.

  It was overwhelming to live with such fear, but there didn’t seem to be any other option for her. She was on her own, responsible with her safety and well-being. Many might call her behavior overzealous, but Katherine didn’t care. She just wanted to feel safe.

  A lone tear fell down her cheek as she thought back to the last time she felt completely safe. She was on a trip to Las Vegas, away from Tim while he worked in Phoenix. She was going to unwind and enjoy herself at the massive hotel pool.

  Her husband had never liked her exposing too much of her body, but with him away in another state, she felt the risk was pretty low. Slipping out of her thin cover-up, she laid out on the beach chair, ready for a tan.

  “Can I get you anything?” The voice had awakened her, although she didn’t even notice she’d fallen asleep.

  “Oh, sorry,” she muttered, moving her hand above her eyes to provide a bit of shade.

  The waiters at the hotel pool wore brightly colored swim trunks as they went from one cabana to the next taking orders. This waiter wasn’t wearing a swim suit though, and as the realization set in, the safety she had felt earlier melted away.

  “You look comfortable,” the voice said. With a sick feeling, Katherine recognized it was Tim from his cuff links. Dressed in a black tailored suit, he looked completely out of place at the pool, but that didn’t stop him.

  “What are you doing here?” Katherine had asked, stalling for time as she scrambled to grab her cover up, hiding her exposed body.

  “Oh, don’t worry about covering up now. You’ve already shown everyone my goods,” Tim shrugged, speaking about her like she was nothing more than a possession.

  Back in the present, her eyes closed as her shoulders dropped a bit, the relief evident in her belly. When her breathing finally regulated, Katherine walked to her bedroom, plopping down on the comfortable king size bed as she took a deep breath, finally safe in her own place.

  “It’s going to be okay. You’re finally safe,” she continued, speaking in a soothing tone.

  Chapter Four

  Ben

  THE DAY HAD GONE EXCEPTIONALLY well for Ben. After his meeting, he had closed a few deals on the new product launch, lining up vendors that wanted to sell his latest pet accessories. Over the years, he had learned that there was very little that dog owners wouldn’t do for their furry children, and when new lines were designed, he often thought the possibilities were endless.

  Initially, Ben’s company focused on catering to smaller breeds of dogs, since their owners had the tendency to buy more costumes and accessories. What he had learned was that large dog owners also wanted to accessorize their pups, they just didn’t know how.

  The new line for larger breeds was projected to increase sales dramatically, and Ben was excited to see what new opportunities it would lead them to.

  Sitting at his fine mahogany desk, he typed out the last of the emails, thanking those who attended the meeting. As he said in the email, it was an exciting time and he was grateful to have all of their ears and eyes dedicated to a project that had been years in the making.

  It was only a matter of time before the market research alerted his research team of other gaps in the market place, and he looked forward to dominating every field he could get in. Ben wanted to be the face of pet accessories, regardless of the animal or breed.

  Dogs were only the beginning, and the more opportunities he identified to grow the company, the more excited and aggressive he became. Clients were already sending their suggestions and requests, which was always a good sign.

  When someone didn’t like a design, there wasn’t much you could do to change their mind. But alterations meant that there was a way to change the product into something that would be more useful or beneficial.

  Scrolling through the emails, Ben read every word of feedback, always dedicated to learning as much as he could about his products, and providing the best customer service. He enjoyed being a personal CEO, a rarity in any industry.

  Truthfully, he worried that his success would change him. It was important that he remain the same ambitious kid just looking to create a useful product. It was that drive and ambition that motivated him to keep pushing, to continue setting and reaching new goals.

  Most people would be satisfied with the incredible level of success he had achieved, but not Ben. Those things didn’t matter to him. It wasn’t about having the biggest house, or the newest car, but instead he wanted to be the best in the business.

  Competition was fierce in the pet industry, so he could never take his foot off the pedal, or his eye off the road. New developments were constant, so Ben always tried to stay ahead of the curve, keeping the smartest people around him.

  As if on que, Rachel appeared in the doorway of Ben’s office, slowly knocking on his door three times as she nervously looked across the room at the boss who was more like a friend.

  “Come on in, superstar,” Ben called out to one of his oldest friends.

  It had been Rachel’s idea to branch out to larger breeds, so he liked to give her the credit. Her paycheck reflected how valuable she was to the company, but in many ways Ben felt he could never repay his assistant for all that she did.

  Watching her closely, he wondered what was bothering her. Rachel was so easy to read, always wearing her heart on her sleeve. Ben assumed she must still be worried about how late he had been to the meeting, so he prepared himself to read her the great feedback he had received, hoping to put her worries to bed.

  “I just wanted to talk a little,” Rachel explained, settling into the leather loveseat across from his desk.

  Her short and stout frame fit comfortably in the expensive furniture as she crossed her ankles while rubbing her fingers together. Whatever it was she wanted to talk about was seriously bothering her.

  “What’s wrong?” Ben asked, cutting to the chase. He hated to see her so stressed out, although it seemed everything caused Rachel to freak out with concern.

  “It’s your schedule,” she began, and Ben felt a lump ease in his throat, glad it wasn’t about the meeting.

  “What about my schedule?” He wondered what was up, trying to remember what meeting could be worrying her. Rachel usually got uneasy about competitor meetings, but because there weren’t any scheduled for weeks, he knew that wasn’t the problem.

  “You’re here too much!” Rachel exclaimed, her tone suggesting it should have been an obvious concern.

  Ben knew that people thought he was too involved in the business. Most CEOs did more supervision than actual execution, but he was the opposite. The way he saw it, anyone could watch after other employees to make sure they did what they were instructed.

  What set them apart was his passion and commitment to creating the best products on the market,
using environmentally sustainable materials with the least negative impact. His charisma and easy-going personality helped put investors at ease, while pushing the company to the top of every metric in the industry.

  “You want me to take a vacation?” Ben finally answered, his tone laced with amusement.

  “Not necessarily,” she began, an uncomfortable smile on her face.

  “Don’t make this like pulling teeth, Rachel. Just tell me what you’re thinking,” Ben shrugged, hoping to ease her worries. She was tiptoeing around whatever issue she had and he wanted to just get it over with.

  “You don’t have any personal life!” She yelled the response so loudly, Ben flinched.

  “First of all, I think that’s a bit of an exaggeration. I do have a personal life. You should know, you keep the schedule,” he joked.

  Ben knew he didn’t make much time for anything outside of work. It was his way of closing off the world, focusing on the one constant in his life. Every couple of months, Rachel would voice her concerns about his lack of friends or female companions, and he would entertain her for the sake of their friendship.

  “You’re right. I do keep the schedule, and that’s how I know you don’t do anything unless it has to do with this company,” Rachel continued, uncrossing her ankles so she could lean closer to Ben’s desk. “You haven’t been in a relationship for four years.”

  Rachel had said much more than the words that left her lips. Ben knew what she really wanted to discuss—the elephant in the room that was his last relationship. He’d discussed marriage and buying a house with his ex-girlfriend before she blindsided him, leaving without so much as an explanation.

  When she first left, he was devastated, trying to figure out what he could have done differently. In the end, Ben had come to the conclusion that they just weren’t meant to be. She had done him a favor, because it would have been much more difficult to walk away if they had legally tied themselves to each other.