Chapter 11

I run to my office, and lock the door, I squat onto the floor and sit for a while trying to control my sobs. I never thought that I would see him again.
I need to get away, and I need to cancel this arrangement if he works for Salkton industries. I cannot risk my life. I hear a knock on the door, and I refrain from answering it. My secretary is knocking frantically, asking if I am okay.
I hear Mr. Salkton in the hallway, he sounds livid, he is demanding to know what happened, and why I ran from the room like I was being attacked after meeting Mark. I hear him growling at Mark, the bastard is silent, not saying a word. What could he possibly say? I knew her in college and tried to murder her in a barn in the middle of nowhere. Yeah, that would go down well.
I do my best to dry my tears and I request my secretary to call my friend Tiffany. She was my best friend in college, and the first friend I had after moving here. Tiffany would remember Mark; she will help me like she did last time.
Sometime later, I hear a knock on the door “Vel, it’s me” I open the door and pull her inside. She locks it again and holds me as I cry. “It has been years since you were this broken?” “He’s back, I have to leave, he’s going to kill me, and be sure of it this time! I know he is!” I tell her as I sob. She knows exactly who I am referring to. Her grip tightens, “I will gut him if he tries that again!” she snarls. She tells me to leave, go on a trip, to never stop moving around. She tells me I am young, and wealthy, I could afford to travel for a year if I wanted to. I agree and start to look at travel spots. I pick out several, all over the world. Something in my heart and gut tells me to choose somewhere in Greece. I have never been there but, I hear it’s beautiful. My trip is set, Tiffany gives me a hug and walks out.
I hear a knock on the door as I am collecting myself. “Ms. Connors, please let me in” I shudder at the voice of Mr. Sulkton “meeting is canceled sir, please leave” I tell him. “Ms. Connors, please, I do not understand what is happening, what did Mr. Ellis do?” I closed my eyes, and did not answer him, I will not let my mind relive that again. Another knock came, this one a bit impatient “Ms. Connors, please, talk to me, right now I don’t care how you left me like a ghost in the wind, I can feel your pain, it’s hurting my spirit, please beauty, open the door. Talk to me, I don’t know how you know each other but, whatever he did I will see him pay for it”
I took pity on him, the man was sounding so broken, as if my pain was his own.
I opened the door to walk by him. I did not see Mark, so I was grateful.
“Elsie, forward all of my calls to my email, I am leaving. Appoint Mr. Brennar to handle the company until I let you know when I return” Ms. Cardel’s face is that of shock because, I never take time off.
I make my way down the hallway with a heavy heart, and Mr. Sulkton I did not notice is right behind me “where are you going?” he looks scared to let me go. Unfortunately, for him, I do not have to answer to him.
“That is none of you concern sir” he shakes his head, his gaze is hard “Sheamus, please call me Sheamus, we’re going to be working together, and we already are familiar with each other in various ways, and positions, don’t you think we can drop the formality.” He whispers to me, as his hand caresses my back in a comforting motion. I feel my body start to relax to his touch. “I have to leave and as long as Mark is working with your company, there will be no merger!” I growl at him and storm off.
“What did he do?!” he yells frustrated and perplexed “Ask Tiffany” I snarl.
He runs to the elevator and hops inside before the door closes. I gasp in surprise at his bold move. He does not give me time to recover, he pins me against the wall, and captures my lips in a hungry kiss. “you’re not leaving me my love; I cannot let you go” he whispers in desperation. For the first time ever, I feel a part of myself fighting to stay with him here. I steel my resolve “No, I have to leave, and it is not up to you!” He kisses me again in desperation like I am a fine wine that he cannot stop drinking. “NO!” I cringe a bit when a growl comes from him like an animal. “Whatever, it is please tell me, I will deal with him, we can work through it” The door opens, and I maneuver out of his arms “No, we can’t, that is not who I am, thanks to him. I don’t do happily ever after shit, he ripped that apart in me. Like I said, ask Tiffany” I say then, I turn and run away from my company. I hear him coming after me. I do not slow down, and neither does he. I hail a taxi and immediately jump inside and lock the doors. I give directions to La Guardia airport and the taxi leaves him by the curb. I hear him shout “I will learn the truth, and I will find you, I love a game of chase”