Read New Beginnings for Free Online

Ella,” he whispered in my ear.
    He was standing so close behind me that I could feel his chest raise and fall with each harsh breath. His unique, musky smell filled my nose. The heat radiating off his body felt like a blast furnace behind me. I closed my eyes trying to calm myself, but his comment of running away immediately took me back to the alley behind Il Bistro at Pike Place Market with Stephen. He had also accused me of running away. The comment pissed me off coming from Stephen, but it pissed me off even more coming from Xavier.
    “Go to hell! I’m not running away. You need to let me go before I do or say something we’re both going to regret,” I said through clenched teeth.
    He inhaled sharply as his hand dropped from mine. I opened the door and quickly walked out without a glance behind me.
    I quickly exited the building onto Second Avenue. It was drizzling out and cold, and I was pissed that I didn’t have access to my car. I didn’t want to call Marissa. Xavier’s condo was only a few blocks down Second Avenue. Pulling my hood up, I quickly walked down the street. Being as angry as I was, I needed the walk home to clear my head and calm down.
    I understood Xavier’s need to protect me, but sometimes his concern for my safety was so suffocating. I had to admit that I didn’t think Stephen would stalk me like he had the past few months, but I felt things were different after we saw him with Carline. They both looked genuinely happy. Granted, that was also the night that Stephen ambushed me in the hallway of the Four Seasons to tell me he still had feelings for me. Shit. Could Xavier be right? Could Stephen still be stalking me? No, there had to be another explanation for Stephen being near the courthouse. There just had to be. He saw Xavier and shot him a dirty look. That was all.
    Mindlessly, I looked at the windows of the businesses as I walked down Second Avenue. I stopped short at a dress shop. It wasn’t just any dress shop, but a bridal dress shop. I glanced at the dresses on display in the window. They were all white and off the shoulder. Three of the dresses had full skirts while two were snugly fit. I tried to picture myself in the gowns that were on display in the window, but none seemed to be for me.
    My phone vibrated in my bag. That had to be Xavier. I didn’t have to look at it to know. I’m sure he was pissed that I left and didn’t wait for Marissa. I thought for sure he would’ve sent her out after me assuming that I had walked.
    I turned my attention back to the wedding gowns. For a moment I thought about going into the shop and having a look around, then I spotted his reflection in the window. My blood ran cold. It was Stephen. He was standing on the sidewalk across the street from me and he appeared to be glaring at me. Instantly, I froze. I was suddenly sorry I hadn’t contacted Marissa now. I was on my own. My phone vibrated again. Casually, I reached into my bag, and breathed a sigh of relief when I saw it was Marissa.
    “Ella, where are you? Mr. Hart asked me to pick you up. We assume you left the building on foot or did you catch a cab?”
    “Marissa, thank God it’s you. Have you left Xavier’s building yet?”
    “No, ma’am. Where are you?” she demanded.
    “I’m only a few blocks away from Xavier’s office. I did leave on foot. I stopped in front of a bridal shop. He’s here, Marissa. Stephen. He’s across the street staring at me.”
    “Don’t move, Ella. I’m on my way.” The phone disconnected.
    I glanced back in the window only to find that Stephen was gone. Whirling around, I looked up and down the street, but he was nowhere in sight. Like a ghost, he just vanished.
    Within minutes, Marissa pulled up to the curb in my silver SUV. Without hesitation, I climbed in.
    “Where was he?” she asked. She scanned the street up and down.
    “He was standing right there.” I pointed to a spot across the street. “He just disappeared. If I weren’t so sure