Chapter One
Katherine
HEARING HER NAME BELTED out in such an elegant setting stopped Katherine in her tracks. Tim’s voice bellowed so loudly that everyone turned around, curious as to who could be so absurd. Dressed in the world’s most expensive designer labels, the who’s who of Silicon Valley were not used to the behavior they were being forced to witness.
Humiliated, Katherine stopped, feeling as though everyone in the conference hall knew it was her the crazy man was after. She could feel herself shrinking as Tim stormed across the room. He seemed larger than she remembered, his broad shoulders pushed back with the arrogant confidence that comes with power.
After leaving Ben to go to the bathroom, Katherine was almost certain she had made up the sighting, thinking her paranoia was getting the best of her again. It wasn’t uncommon for her to think she saw Tim when she was out, but it had rarely actually been him.
Mostly, he sent his security staff to do his dirty work, and Katherine would run before they could approach her. This was different. Surrounded by the elite and wealthy people at the event, she felt cornered. There was nowhere to run and no way to effectively flee in her gown—even if there was an emergency exit.
This was a unique compilation of her worst nightmares, and she was being forced to live it out. Tim had not only found her, but during what had the makings to be one of the best nights of her life. She was finally enjoying herself, and feeling her age as she danced with Ben. Always the perfect gentleman, he had followed her to the bathroom, but he had no idea what was about to happen.
Katherine regretted not telling Ben about Tim. It was too late to come clean now, and there was no way she could ever explain her decision to hold back the truth. But it wasn’t Ben’s place to deal with this craziness that Katherine had married into.
The last thing she wanted to do was involve him in the abusive maze she was trapped in. Tim truly enjoyed doing this to her—popping up out of nowhere and ruining everything she had going on. The smile on his face was all the validation she needed as Katherine wondered what he had planned for her. Tim had always been big on punishment, so her leaving him would not be taken lightly.
Katherine felt her legs grow weak beneath her and she reached out for the back of a chair as she fought for balance, fearful she would pass out and add to the chaotic interruption to a perfect night. Just minutes before, she hadn’t had a care in the world, wondering if Ben would extend another invitation to his impressive bachelor pad.
Everything was going perfectly, or at least she’d thought it was. Wearing the beautiful purple gown Ben had given her, Katherine felt like a princess walking on his arm. He was proud to introduce her to his colleagues, and she was proud of her ability to relax and have fun as the night went on.
It was like Tim could sense her happiness somehow. As Katherine watched him storm across the hall, she imagined an annoying alarm clock disrupting everything in his pristine world to let him know she was finally getting over his psycho ass.
Now, it would appear he had dropped everything in his t
hriving private law practice in Los Angeles to come up and intrude on the tiny sliver of a life Katherine had carved out for herself in San Francisco. She couldn’t imagine how he could get away from his work so easily in order to destroy her life, since when they were married, he’d never had a spare moment to devote to anything that had to do with her.
Tim didn’t care about anything that didn’t benefit him directly. Katherine was nothing more to him than another one of the trophies he compiled to display in his mansion. Once he had done the work to convince her to marry him, everything went downhill.
When Tim’s true colors proved to be too hurtful for Katherine to endure, she left him, deciding it preferable to run for the rest of her life rather than remain locked away in an abusive marriage. She had spent the past two years looking over her shoulder, ever fearful of the inevitable day that Tim would appear, ready to destroy whatever life she had pieced together once again.
When she had found the job at the bakery in the hip neighborhood near her new apartment, Katherine had hope that she might be able to finally build and maintain a new life for herself. In some ways, a part of her wanted to face Tim, tired of the running. But, now as she looked at his muscular frame towering over everyone in the party, she knew she wasn’t ready for a fight.
Katherine could feel herself cowering before he was even close enough for her to see the swirls of green in his brown eyes. She was already retreating, going into the shell that was once home, leaving behind the confident woman she had tried to become.
Time seemed to move in slow motion as Katherine felt every eye in the gala focused on her. She had to decide how to handle this freight train that was Tim, and had to decide fast. He was only a few feet away, his eyes brightening now that he knew she was caught.
Like an animal in the wild, Tim grew even more eager as he neared his prey. Katherine shocked even herself by the speed of her transformation back to the weakened victim she always reverted to when Tim was around. His controlling and dominating character overshadowed her shy demeanor, taking complete advantage of her kindness, and her fear.
Looking to Ben, Katherine was reminded of the new life she had the privilege to witness over the past few days. Ben had shown her a glimpse of what was possible, of the intimacy a relationship provided. Being around him, she felt safe and valued. And she knew she wanted more.
Now, Ben stood watching her with a confused expression on his handsome face. His two friends stood at his side, all three watching with concern in their eyes. Katherine felt the embarrassment in her cheeks, certain she had turned three more shades of red as Tim got closer to her.
Wishing she could send Ben a message with the longing in her eyes, Katherine recalled the safety net he had provided for her, making sure she was protected everywhere they went. He constantly complimented her, on her beauty, her intelligence, but even more importantly on her strength.
Ben wasn’t intimidated by Katherine, and she needed the encouragement he offered, a welcome contrast to the barrage of criticism and insults Tim had subjected her to. Dating Ben had been a breath of fresh air and a torturous reminder of all that she could never have.
With Tim now only inches away, Katherine was only sorry she had ever believed she could escape. He was going to make sure she wasn’t happy, no matter what. It might be time for her to accept that. With one last glance at Ben, Katherine tried to forget all they had shared in the days since they’d met.
His eyes searched hers for some type of permission, but Katherine had no idea how to respond. She was too embarrassed to mouth even a single word of assurance to him. Certain that he would now want nothing to do with her, she braced herself for what she knew would not end well.
“We can do this the easy way, or the hard way, but Katherine, we both know you’re leaving with me.” Tim smiled as he spoke, watching Katherine cower beneath him.
She used to love the way he towered over her, his height was actually one of the first things that attracted Katherine to him. She noticed him from across a room and wondered about the clean-shaven man with the dangerous look to him. When she learned that he played professional football, Katherine felt she understood him better. Like his story finally made sense.
Everything about Tim was athletic and competitive, including the way he gripped Katherine’s arm, pressing even harder to emphasize his final words before releasing her so roughly she fell backwards half a step.
“You better answer me before I embarrass you in front of your new friends,” Tim said as he glanced around the party, his vision hovering on the table where Ben and his two friends stood watching.
“I’ll do whatever you want,” Katherine felt the words tumble heavily off her tongue.
She knew Tim wanted her to go back to LA with him, and although she had no intention of doing so, she nodded before following Tim’s lead towards the exit. He gripped her arm as they moved through the shocked crowd, fearing she might be putting on an act.
As she walked through the hall, Katherine was reminded of how wonderful she had felt walking in on Ben’s arm, and meeting some of the people who now watched her exit with worry on their faces. She smiled her nervous smile, hoping to give them some sort of relief as she made her way to the front doors.
When the cool evening air hit her face, Katherine was forced to accept that she wasn’t asleep. This nightmare was actually happening, and Tim tugged roughly at her arm as he forced her to face him. He was livid, she could see it in his eyes as he spit out the words.
“Don’t fuck with me, Katherine. You know I’ll do whatever it takes to get you back,” he growled.
She was speechless, feeling trapped in the paws of a lion as she looked fearfully around, aware that no one could save her. When she finally locked eyes with a younger girl watching their interaction, Katherine found the courage to pull her arm from Tim’s grasp as she stepped back swiftly.
They were away from the audience, he didn’t need to hold her any longer, and she wasn’t going to quietly cower to his dominance. It was strange to feel the older version of herself battle with the new emboldened woman who wanted to go toe to toe with this man who had ruined her life.
She was ready to fight for the life she wanted, but Tim’s presence was so overpowering she couldn’t find the words to confront him. When he glared at her, Katherine knew she needed to say something to save herself.