Page 1 of The Secrets We Keep

Prologue

Finishing up a conference call to Alaska with a real estate tycoon, I sigh. Thank goodness I know how to handle rich, cocky men. I shut down my computer and start to pack up. It doesn’t take me long to gather up and organize my workspace. I keep a tidy space and I take pride in my work. I’m one of the top real estate agents in this part of Florida and I work for one of the biggest real estate companies in the state. We deal with high end properties and even bigger mansions internationally. Baker’s Real Estate oozes wealth. These late nights at the office don’t bother me though. I love what I do. Walking out of my office, I notice the glow of light coming through Chet’s frosted glass office. I decide to stop by and tell him the good news. Chet Baker is the son of Mark Baker, CEO of Baker’s Real Estate. Chet is also my sister Sarah’s fiancé. He has blonde hair and eyes so blue, they have captured my sister’s heart. He is the typical pretty boy.

I reach his door, knock once but don’t wait for him to answer. I turn the knob and walk in like always, except this time it’s different, much different. Chet is there with his pants down, pooled at his ankles with a woman bent over his large oak desk.

“Oh my god!” I scream out. Am I really witnessing this right now?! I cover my eyes with my hands briefly until reality registers. What the fuck is he doing with another woman?

Chet turns suddenly facing me. His face turns red. Anger clearly evident. He pulls out of the bimbo, giving me a visual I never asked to see and pulls his pants up hastily.

“What the fuck Eleanor! Why are you still here?” Chet yells at me.

He’s yelling at me. What nerve! I shout back, “I just finished working! Unlike you!” Unless he considers screwing some chick work nevertheless, it still wouldn’t be right because of my sister and all. I look between the two of them.

He’s handing the chick her clothes and mumbling for her to go. As she rushes past me naked, I realize she is the damn receptionist from a few floors down. I’m drawing a blank on her name. Whatever doesn’t matter.

“What the fuck Chet?” I’m so pissed, he’s cheating on Sarah. He comes up fast and grabs my arms. So fast it shocks me.

“Don’t you dare say a word to her!” He spits at me. It’s as if he read my mind.

“Get your hands off me, you pig!”

I go to yank free but he presses against me holding me in place. Is he crazy? Is this really happening right now? I continue trying to pull away from him to no avail.

“Did you hear me Eleanor? You will not tell Sarah of this.” Chet whispers in my ear. The heat from his breath makes my stomach churn.

“I heard you. Loud and clear.”

I kick him in the shin and he releases me. I go to make a run for it, but he grabs me again and pulls me to where I am now pushed up against the same oak table that he was just fucking on. Gross.

Chet tries to force me to look and face him. I refuse. It must set him off because he slaps me hard. I wince in pain. What in the actual hell is happening? He’s unhinged.

“You are not to say a word to Sarah or anyone else about what you saw. Do you understand me?”

“What the fuck is wrong with you Chet?! Sarah deserves to know! What you were doing is wrong!” I’m so angry, I’m starting to shake. “You won’t get away with this Chet!” I shout.

“Oh, but I will. Especially if you want to live. If you want Sarah to live too.”

Chet pulls my hair, causing my head to tilt back in pain. It’s not my hair being pulled or the pain he’s causing me to stand stock still, it’s his words. They’re frightening. This is a side of him I have never seen before. It’s as if I have no idea who Chet truly is.

“What?” I whisper.

“You heard me. I’ll put an end to you if you so much speak about what you saw happen.” He grabs my face suddenly, letting go of my arms, but I keep still. The way his fingers dig into my cheeks hurts so much that I feel tears forming in the corners of my eyes. Chet’s eyes are full of hot anger. He looks at me like I’m the one who did something wrong. His voice is low when he speaks next.

“My real estate connections would have a field day with you and your body.” He looks me up and down and I don’t miss how his eyes pause at my chest. It’s repulsive. He makes eye contact with me again and continues on.

“They would pay a nice penny for your body alone. I’ll see to it that they dispose of you when they are done having their fun. No one would hear your screams. No one would find your body.”

I go to speak but he puts a finger on my lips to silence me.

“Sarah too, if you can’t keep your pretty little mouth shut. In fact, I have no problem getting rid of both of you.” He rubs my lips with his fingers roughly, I have to hold myself back from either biting them or vomiting. He makes me feel dirty, yet he’s the asshole who should be feeling like this. I think of Sarah and swallow hard.

Sarah, my older sister. I start to cry at the thought of her. I won’t let her be hurt because of me. He’s serious. I can see it written all over his face. I know for a fact he has connections. I help seal those connections. I shake my head not wanting to understand.

“Do you understand me Eleanor?” Chet seethes.

I say nothing, I just nod. I have to get away from him. I start to reach around for something on his desk, it’s hard with him holding my face tight, making threats. I feel keys. I grip them in my hand. Knowing they won’t do much, but it may be my only chance to get away… alive. That realization falls over me, I could die.

“Say it Eleanor!” Chet’s voice rises.

“I ... I won’t say anything.” I stutter.

“Good girl.” He smirks at me. This triggers something in me and it pisses me off. I count to three silently and take a deep breath. I use all my

force to stab Chet in his stomach with one of his keys and push off him.

“You bitch!”

I take off running, grabbing my purse that fell during our scuffle.

“Stop right this fucking minute Eleanor!”

I don’t look back as he yells for me to stop. I run as hard and as fast as I can out of his office to the elevator and down to the first floor. I take off out the doors to the parking garage. I realize his keys are still clutched in my hand. Fuck it. His car is closer than mine. I run to his Mercedes, unlock it and get in and lock the sleek, silver car. I don’t even care. I start it and back out of his spot. Baker painted on the stump. His personal parking spot. What a piece of shit I think to myself. I start to drive off as Chet steps out of the door. Anger is seeping from his face as he yells, what I don’t know. What I do know is, It’s quite scary seeing him like this considering I’ve never seen him mad.

As I drive towards home, a text comes through my phone. I glance while waiting at a red light. It’s from Chet and it has me scared to even breathe.

“You will enjoy spending the rest of your days with my client. He feasts upon prey like you. Taking whatever he wants from you. He’ll use your body and when it is no longer needed he’ll discard of you. Maybe I’ll throw Sarah in too. A two for one deal.”

He’s damn crazy. I don’t put it past him to know someone like this. Some of the wealthiest men I’ve had to do business with are full of evil. I’ve caught a glimpse here and there over my time working with them. I realize what I have to do to protect Sarah. I must leave town. Maybe I can persuade her to come too. Doubtful. I have to leave and fast. Damn it all if I’m not crying again. I know I am because I can feel the tears streaming down my face, but I’ve gone numb.

I pull onto the dirt road leading up to our driveway. As I turn in, I notice Sarah’s car is there.

“Great, maybe I can get her to just leave with me”. I say out loud to no one.

I put the car in park and shut off the engine. No point in taking out the keys so I leave them. I climb out in a rush and run inside. Sarah spots me right away.

“Eleanor! What is wrong?”

“Sis there’s so much, I can’t explain. I need to leave. Please come with me.”

My eyes plead with her. All I see back in her eyes is confusion.

“Really Eleanor, what is going on?” She calls after me as I make my way down the hall into my room. I yank out the duffle bag and start shoving clothes inside of it.

“Eleanor! What are you doing?” Sarah yells.

It makes me jump, but I keep stuffing the duffle. I brush past her to go into the bathroom to grab what I can. Sarah’s phone starts ringing and she answers almost immediately. “Hey baby.”

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