Chapter 3

She smiled and nodded then, knowing she couldn’t ever speak to anyone about what had happened between she and her husband behind closed doors. She had known nothing about Bradley hiring more security. It was something he did often. Always changing them out. Peter was the only one that he had kept on for an extended amount of time. 

Before she had married her husband she had enjoyed the simple luxury of driving to a mall and shopping alone and unnoticed. Now, she dreaded it. She was now considered among the creme de la creme. Paparazzi were always around the corner. Ready to snap a photo of the very rich and handsome couple, Elayna and Bradley King.

She was always escorted by security. Alone, or with him. That security had been Pete from day one. Over the last two years she’d grown fond of Pete. Like a little sister to a big brother. One who looked out for her. 

“Welcome, Nick. I’m sure Pete has informed you of your duties.”

“Yes, ma’am. I have. Mr. King has promoted me. I will be his head of security now. Nick will fill my position permanently and immediately. I’ve already given him your schedule and daily itinerary and he has my phone now.” Peter spoke for him.

“Good! Congratulations, Pete. You deserve this.” She tried to be congratulatory but she was a little sad. She was losing more than a Security guard. She felt like she was losing a friend. She felt alone once more in Bradley's big shiny world. She tried to brush the feelings  off and act as if it didn't affect her.

She spoke then, “Thank you, again, Pete. I’m going to go make some phone calls, if there is nothing else.” 

"No, ma'am. That is all."

"Alright then." 

She smiled, turned and walked out of the room and went back upstairs to her room...

Nick hadn’t known what to think when he and Pete had entered the residence to find Mrs. King upstairs locked inside of her bathroom. Mr. King informed everyone via helicopter radio that he was going off the grid. 

Peter had worked for him long enough to know when he ‘went off the grid’ he either had a business deal go horribly wrong, or he had accosted Mrs.King and needed time to lick his wounds. It also bothered Pete that Mr. King  knew when to do it. Today, it had been when he had been showing his buddy, and New co-worker, Nick the security routes.

He had worked for Mr. King six years now. More than he had been married to Mrs. King. As security detail he was privy to seeing things others did not about the so called “Perfect Couple”. He got to witness Mr. King’s outright cruelty and sexist subjugation he put his beautiful southern bride through. He recalled the first time he had to pull his employer off of her. He had just started working for Mr.King.

That night he had been angry because a deal went sour and a competitor had outwitted him and rubbed it in his face. Mrs. King had only tried to make him feel better, to soothe him. Mr. King was having none of it. He watched his employer slap his wife hard and began choking her right in front of him. Pete at first, had been shocked at his employers violent behavior, but that shock turned to anger.

He quickly yanked his employer off of his wife. He remembered the look of fear and relief on her face when she could breathe again. Her face turned back to a normal color and she hid behind him. He recalled how Mr.King had cursed at him and told him to never interfere in his personal life. He recalled telling Mr. King if he ever put his hands on his wife in his presence he would have to ‘handle’ him.

To this day Mr. King never abused her in front of him again, but he knew just because he didn’t see him do it didn’t mean he didn’t do it. He still did it, and she had to endure it. He couldn’t understand how such a kind, loving, beautiful, woman could stay with such a boorish, pigheaded, asshole.  

Pete was beginning to fear for Mrs. King's safety each day he stayed on. She tried hard to hide and cover the bruises that ass of a man left, but he knew. She was alone in the world and Mr. King was using it to her advantage...