Eye of the Hurricane

Chapter 1 - Sage

Just as I start to feel like I'm getting my life together, everything is falling out of place. I used to know everything I wanted to do in life and knew the order. I was raised to have it all together; for everything to be perfect. 

News Flash. 

It was never perfect.

Christian was supposed to be my happily every after. That changed the night of our wedding. Everything was too good to be true. I should have known. I did everything that I was supposed to but that wasn't good enough. He was the pastor's son. He put on this face. Everyone loved him or wanted to be him. I was just stupid enough to believe all of his lies.

It's been three months since I was able to escape. I moved a thousand miles away hoping to claim back my life. Thankfully I had a little money saved up from babysitting since I wasn't allowed to work. Always to be the perfect housewife for him. I found an apartment. It's not the best. It's not even in the best part of town but it's mine. As I walk in the door, I lay my purse down on the side table and head for the couch. I need to start looking for a new job as fast as I can but I deserve some time to be angry right?

I started working at an office as an assistant for a big firm here in town. I didn't have much experience but someone must have been looking out for me to be able to get the job. It started out great. Then Josh Hoover saw me. That's all it took for him to sink in his claws. He reminds me a lot of Christian now that I think about it. He has the looks and the charm but behind closed doors, he's cold. Emotionless. Unless he isn't getting what he wants. When he doesn't, it's rage.

He started asking more and more from me. I was willing to do whatever I needed to keep him happy and to keep my job but there's only so much a girl can take. I could take the side glances and the harmless flirtatious touches, but they weren't harmless as I thought. I managed to keep away from him as long as I could. Today, he finally pushed me over the edge. I will never let a man scare me again. I've spent my whole life scared. I left that behind in Tennessee or so I thought.

I made a promise to myself that Christian would be the last man to make me fear my life but as Josh grabbed me by the throat today and pushed me up against the wall and demanded I take care of all his needs, I lost it. I fought for my life. I don't remember it all. One minute I was throwing my arms trying to hit him and then the next I was being escorted off the premises by security and told to never come back. They said I was lucky that he wasn't going to press charges. I wonder why.

As I make my way towards the kitchen, I should probably try to make dinner.  I've always wanted a beautiful kitchen. This isn't it. I would barely call it a kitchen. It has all the necessities but hardly any room to move. One day I'll have everything I want. I just have to find the right job first. I start heating up some soup I made the day before and start scrolling job postings. I have no idea what I want to do with my life. I thought I would marry a great guy, have some kids, stay home and raise them. That would be my purpose. It's all I've really every wanted. A perfect family. It was never meant to be perfect from the beginning though.

I could be a delivery driver until I find something else right? Oh, this one requires having your own car. Check that off the list. I don't know if I'll every be able to save up enough to get one. I was making decent money at the firm but being on my own is hard. Especially in a bigger city where everything is more expensive than I thought. What about a receptionist? I could do that. I was basically Josh's. I took all of his calls, organized all of his appointments, and made sure his day ran smoothly. I'll apply to this one.

I see a few more for receptionists and assistants. I apply to those as I try not to burn my mouth on my soup. Just as I'm about to take another bite, there's pounding on my front door. Shit. I hope he didn't change his mind and does want to press charges. I stand and slowly walk over to my door looking out the little peep hole. To my surprise, it's the one friend I've made since I've been here, Kelsey.