Chapter 1 Everything is Bigger
I’ve always heard everything is bigger in Texas. I’m just hoping it’s big enough for me to hide from my ex. I can’t let Tony find me! He’s a lawyer in North Carolina, so even if I call the cops, no one would listen to me. No one believed me when I said that he hurt me because they thought he was such a good guy, he couldn't hurt a fly! I must be looking for attention, trying to put a stain on his good name. But that wasn't it at all.
Why does everyone make the victims out to be the bad guys? It's not like we asked to be abused by our loved ones. What did we do to deserve being treated like dirt? The only thing I can come up with is being too trusting and being a bad judge of character.
The last time he hit me, I was out for two days, resulting in me losing my job. When I finally came to, I immediately packed my bags into my car and took off to an old rundown motel. Tony would never look for me in a place like that.
I took out my laptop and started sending out my resume all over the United States. I got a reply for a PA position at a place called Quick Tech Inc. A startup company in Huston. I’ve got an interview on Monday. I couldn’t even describe what a relief that was. The man doesn’t know what a life saver he is! Let’s just hope the interview goes well. I can put up with a lot as long as I have a way to make a living to support myself.
I even found a little apartment I can afford in Sugar Land. I think I will take it regardless of getting the job. The manager told me it’s old and hasn’t been lived in for months, and they were willing to lower the price a bit just to get someone to rent it. Yeah, it sounds sketchy, but I am willing and able to make it livable even if it had gone through a hurricane! I need a quick place to stay and didn’t want to worry about background checks because that would inevitably have led Tony to find my trail.
Right now I’m using the money I inherited from my parents' death. Tony doesn’t have access to it. In fact, he doesn't know it even exists. I have not touched our joint account. I left that card back in North Carolina. I don’t care if it’s half mine. The monster can keep it.
I smirk as Blake Shelton's song Texas came on the radio. Oh, the irony. It's a good thing Tony hates country music! He might start getting ideas of where to find me, and I definitely can't have that!
I’ve been driving for hours when my phone lights up. I know who it is, and don’t even bother to look at the thing. I would have thrown the phone in the trash if it weren’t for all my personal info I have on it. I don’t want to lose the pictures of my parents, seeing as I won’t be getting any new ones.
Not to mention, I’ve given my number to Evan Hart, the CEO of Quick Tech Inc. I had to at least have a way of contacting him. He seems like a decent guy on the phone, but one never knows until they actually meet them face to face. He sounds young with a strong voice. Well, he could be fifty years old for all I care, I just need a job that pays well enough.
I left a message with Bethany, telling her what happened and that when I get someplace safe, I will call her. She has known of Tony’s abuse and has begged me for the last year to run. She even volunteered to come with me. Beth is a nurse and saw the signs before I could even tell her what was going on. However, I was not going to upend her world just so I could be safe. She loves her job at the home care facility she is working at. Not to mention, I didn’t want to take her away from John, her long-time sweetheart. They've been a little rocky lately, so I don’t want to be the one that tears them apart.
My phone goes quiet, and I sigh with relief, only to light up once again, demanding I pay attention to it. But I won’t! He can burn in hell for all I care, and I know that he could probably find me if I answered him from my phone. I disabled the tracking app on my phone that Tony put on without asking me. But I can’t disable my GPS because I still need that!
I met Tony when I was in school. I studied finance and business, but once Tony decided he wanted me, he had me move into his place. He wouldn’t let me work in the business world. He would only let me work at the local bar and waitress. Then he insisted we get a joint account. I wasn’t worried about it because I was stupidly in love with the man. I never saw the red flags until it was too late, and I was too dependent on him.
Beth has never liked him! She said there was just something fishy about the guy. She told me I should move in with her, and I almost did too. The problem was I told Tony about it, and that was the first time he hit me. He told me I was ungrateful to him for all he has done for me, and he refused to let me move it with Beth.
When my parents died in that accident a few months after that, Beth convinced me to hide the money, and I did. I hid it in a different bank and hid my card in a box that Beth held for me at her apartment. She even gave me a key to her place in case of emergencies, which I have used multiple times. So when it was time for me to leave, I just went to her place, grabbed my box, and left the key on the counter.
I only packed the clothes that I bought myself, which included two pairs of dress suits and a few jeans and tees, my underwear and a pair of black pumps and sneakers. Everything else I left behind… but my laptop, that was mine! Yes, it’s three years old, but it works and has all my stories on it. My pastime is to write stories. I like to write romance, but when the mood hits, I love to write a good scary story… Who knew life would turn out scarier than fiction?
I’ve been driving for the last two days straight, and it’s getting late. The sun is just about to go down, and I’m dying to pull over and just sleep in my car, but according to my GPS, I’m only a half hour from my new home. I’d called the manager a few hours ago and told him my estimated time of arrival and he said that was fine, he would still be up and happily take my money from me so I can move into my new place… Bless his heart.
“You have reached your destination,” the voice echoed hollowly from my phone, and I sigh in relief.
I pull up in front of the office and turn off my car. I grab my purse and documents and hop out of my car, practically skipping to the office where I rap sharply three times.
“Come in,” a muffled voice of an older man sounds from inside.
A middle-aged man sits behind his desk, looking up at his desk top as I step into the office. He looks nice enough, and he did stay up after hours for me to pay rent for the apartment. Hopefully, Texas hospitality is a real thing…
“Ah! You must be Miss Green!” The man nods with a warm smile. “I’m Joe. Nice to meet you.”
“Thank you Joe, nice to meet you too. I have all the documents you asked for. And hopefully Monday I will have a new job, but until then, this is my bank statement,” I hand over my documents he’d asked for.
He looked over the papers and nodded in satisfaction. “Very well, I’ll need first and last month's rent. But as I said, this room has had some damage, and I’ll rent it out for $625 a month. Is that still suitable for you?” He asks.
“Perfect!” I say handing over my bank card.
I wait as he puts in my bank information and looks up in satisfaction, pulling out a key from a drawer.
“Congratulations Miss Green. Your new home is in apartment B-4. Let me know if you need anything,” Joe smiled kindly.
“Thank you so much!” I squeal in joy and make my way back to my car.
I found the spot for my allotted spot in the parking lot. I make quick work of gathering my things, lock my car, and tiredly trudge up the steps to my apartment. On the opposite side, apartment B-3, I can hear loud music going on. I hope they don’t do this often, but even so, beggars can’t be choosers.
I finally turn the key in my lock, flick on my lights, and I am completely underwhelmed. I will live, of course, but there are tears in the carpet and stains on the kitchen counter. The cupboards are hanging askew on what’s left of the hinges. The fridge looks clean, at least, but there is a funky smell emanating from the bedroom… There is an old saggy couch in the middle of the living room and a scraped up coffee table. There doesn’t seem to be a dining table, but I can work with that. All in all, I can’t say I am jumping for joy at the appearance of the small apartment. No wonder they were having a hard time finding a renter! Please don’t tell me someone was murdered in this apartment! I would totally believe it!
Too tired to care anymore, I make my way to the bedroom. There is an old bed, which I will be replacing first thing in the morning, but it will have to do. Joe had said something about ready to move in, but I don’t think this really counts. I will have to throw everything away and start all over. I can go to the thrift store and find better furnishings… And I will! Just not tonight! I’ve already been through hell, and I need a nice sleep.
With a heavy sigh, I drop my bags on the ground and make my way to the bed. I refuse to change my clothes before laying on top of the covers. Who knows what’s been living in there? I am wearing my pink sweats, so I’ll survive for the night.
With pulsing music coming from next door, I close my eyes and try to forget the fact that I have a headache, and pray for sleep.
