Chapter 1 - She Decides
Barefoot, trembling, and hiding beneath a stranger's desk, I could hear my abusive husband searching for me in the hallway. ""Please don't tell him I'm here,"" I whispered, not knowing the man sitting above me was Chicago's most feared mafia boss. But when my husband burst into the office and demanded that I come out, the stranger said three words that changed everything: ""She decides.""\
My name is Emily Carter, and for three years, I'd been married to a man everyone thought was wonderful.\
Derek was charming in public.\
He opened doors, bought expensive flowers, and told strangers how lucky he was to have me.\
People called us the perfect couple.\
They never saw what happened when we got home.\
The way he checked my phone.\
The way he questioned every dollar I spent.\
The way his fingers tightened around my wrist whenever I said something he didn't like.\
I'd learned to recognize the warning signs.\
A certain smile.\
A quiet voice.\
The words, ""We'll talk about this later.""\
That night was our wedding anniversary.\
Derek had taken me to one of Chicago's most expensive restaurants.\
I wore a navy dress he'd chosen for me.\
I'd spent twenty minutes covering a fading bruise on my arm.\
For a little while, dinner was peaceful.\
Then the waiter brought dessert.\
""Happy anniversary,"" he said warmly.\
""Thank you,"" I replied.\
That was all.\
Two harmless words.\
But beneath the table, Derek grabbed my wrist.\
Hard.\
I tried not to flinch.\
He kept smiling.\
""You're going to apologize when we get home.""\
His voice was pleasant enough that the couple beside us didn't notice.\
My stomach turned.\
I knew what that promise meant.\
When Derek stepped away to answer a phone call, I saw my chance.\
I stood.\
Walked toward the restroom.\
And kept walking.\
Past the kitchen.\
Through a service corridor.\
Down a quiet hallway where the music from the dining room faded behind me.\
My heart was pounding so loudly I barely heard my own footsteps.\
Then I heard Derek calling my name.\
""Emily!""\
I ran.\
One of my heels slipped off.\
I didn't stop to retrieve it.\
I pushed open the first unlocked office door I found.\
Inside, a blond man sat behind an enormous walnut desk.\
Two men in dark suits stood near the wall.\
All three looked at me.\
I froze.\
""I'm sorry,"" I gasped. ""I just need somewhere to hide.""\
The man behind the desk didn't raise his voice.\
His eyes moved to my bare foot.\
Then to the red marks around my wrist.\
""Who did that?""\
I swallowed.\
""My husband.""\
Something hardened in his expression.\
Outside, Derek shouted again.\
Closer this time.\
I dropped to my knees.\
""Please. Just thirty seconds. I'll leave after that.""\
One of the suited men moved toward me.\
The stranger lifted a single finger.\
Both men stopped.\
I crawled beneath his desk, pulling my dress close so Derek wouldn't see me.\
I didn't know who the man was.\
I didn't know the office belonged to Alexander Moretti.\
The mafia boss who controlled some of Chicago's most powerful criminal operations.\
A man whose name made even dangerous people nervous.\
All I knew was that he hadn't told me to leave.\
Then the office door slammed open.\
""Sorry,"" Derek said. ""My wife's in here somewhere.""\
I covered my mouth.\
The man behind the desk said nothing.\
Derek laughed awkwardly.\
""She gets emotional. You know how women can be.""\
I stared at the expensive leather shoes inches from my face.\
For three years, Derek had explained away my fear with that same casual smile.\
""Emily!"" he called. ""Come on, sweetheart. We're going home.""\
His footsteps approached the desk.\
My whole body went rigid.\
Then Alexander spoke.\
""Stop right there.""\
Derek fell silent.\
""Excuse me?""\
""You came into my office without permission.""\
""I'm just looking for my wife.""\
Alexander's voice remained calm.\
""And if she's here?""\
""Then she's coming home with me.""\
A long silence followed.\
Then Alexander leaned back in his chair.\
""No.""\
Derek gave a disbelieving laugh.\
""What?""\
Alexander's answer was quiet.\
""She decides.""\
For the first time that night, I heard uncertainty in my husband's voice.\
""Do you have any idea who you're talking to?""\
One of the suited men stepped forward.\
""That's Alexander Moretti.""\
Derek stopped breathing.\
Beneath the desk, I pressed my trembling hand against my mouth.\
Then Alexander lowered his voice so only I could hear.\
""Emily, you don't have to come out until you're ready.""\
My eyes filled with tears.\
No one had asked what I wanted in years.\
But before I could answer, Derek spoke again.\
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""Mr. Moretti, there's something about my wife you need to know.""\
And the sudden change in Alexander's expression made me realize my husband was about to say something far worse than another lie....The entire story is in the comment 👇👇 and Comment ""WOW"" if you want to read the full story
