New Beginnings

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Book: Read New Beginnings for Free Online
Authors: Lori Maguire
Tags: Romance, Literature & Fiction, Contemporary
that he had been right there, I would have thought I imagined seeing him. Does Xavier know?”
    “Yes, ma’am. I was in his office when I called you. He tried to call you first, but you didn’t answer the phone. I’m to take you straight home.”
    “Of course. Thank you, Marissa.”
    The hands free in the car suddenly rang muting the radio. According to the caller ID, it was Xavier calling from his office.
    “Mr. Hart,” Marissa said.
    “It’s Stewart, Marissa. Do you have her?”
    “Yes. We are heading back to the condo now,” Marissa replied.
    Before Stewart hung up, I could hear Xavier’s angry voice in the background prattling on about being irresponsible and not thinking. Great. This was going to be a grand fight.

 
     
    Two hours after I had gotten home, I was sitting on the couch in the living room reading from my iPad. Bev was in the kitchen making dinner. I wasn’t even hungry. Between the impending fight that I knew was coming with Xavier and spotting Stephen spying on me, I had completely lost my appetite. Putting my iPad down, I headed into the kitchen.
    “What’s for dinner, Bev? It smells fantastic.” I smiled at her as I pulled out one of the stools to sit on.
    “Xavier’s favorite. Baked chicken and rice,” she said. She smiled up at me as she prepared the salad.
    I was secretly glad to find out it was one of Xavier’s favorites that she was cooking. Maybe that would help put him in a better mood. Xavier suddenly came storming around the corner into the kitchen with such force he startled both Bev and me.
    “Ella, I need to speak with you,” he said calmly. The anger flashed in his eyes. His hands were fisted at his side. I knew he was anything but calm.
    I excused myself to Bev. I smiled weakly at her as I slid off the barstool. She gave me a sympathetic smile.
    Turning, I reluctantly followed Xavier into the bedroom. He waited until I cleared the door before he kicked it shut. He grabbed my right arm and spun me around with such force I would’ve fallen if he didn’t have a hold of me. He reached out and grabbed my other arm, and shook me slightly as he spoke.
    “How could you, Ella? How could you do it?” He sounded angry, but I soon realized that it wasn’t anger I saw flash in his eyes but fear.
    “How could I do what?” I quietly asked.
    “How could you put yourself at such risk? You left my office on foot without Marissa or Stewart only to find that Stephen was following you.” He glared at me.
    I thought about this earlier, and I knew the assumption that was about to spill out of my mouth was a stretch. “I don’t know if he was following me. He could’ve been there for another reason. Maybe he just spotted me and stopped at the same moment I just happened to notice his reflection in the glass.”
    “Stop it, Ella! I know you aren’t stupid! You know that I’m right! That bastard is following you!” His hold on my arms increased imperceptibly.
    “Xavier, that hurts. Please, let me go,” I said calmly. He quickly dropped his hands, and turned away from me. Nervously, he ran his hands through his hair.
    “What’s it going to take, Ella? What’s it going to take to get you to understand the danger that Stephen poses? Are you waiting until he approaches you again with a gun? I can assure you that the next time the gun will be fully loaded.” He kept his back to me. Walking over to his side of the bed, he plopped down on the edge. He slumped over looking completely defeated.
    “Xavier, you need to understand. I have known Stephen since I was in high school. I was married to this man for sixteen years. He never showed any kind of behavior like this. He never hurt me physically. It’s difficult for me to picture Stephen as the bad guy you keep making him out to be.”
    He rested his elbows on his knees as he put his head in his hands. “He approached us at gun point, Ella.”
    “As a scare tactic, Xavier. The gun wasn’t even loaded.”
    “I know the warning

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