"I now pronounce you husband and wife! You may kiss the bride!"
It had been nearly seven months since that joyous day when Kat had said her vows to Richard Gibbs. It was such a surreal day that she couldn't remember life before her most joyous occasion! And that was the problem. That was the last day that she had remembered joy.
Katalina Gibbs, Hunter at the time, was the Strategic Team Lead for Wolf Enterprise. She was secretly called a 'A Strategic Bitch' because of her domineering energy and prowess. She had always been a woman who could turn heads, but also make those same men cower in her presence. A rare beauty standing at only 5 foot 7 on a good day with three-inch heels on. Her immense beauty and fluffy curves was what had captured the attention of Richard Gibbs, Senior Vice Executive of the company, in only a few weeks.
"And who might this be?" He had asked as the higher ups introduced him to the Team Leads on the 13th floor. Richard Gibbs was a fairly young and handsome man. He stood at just below six feet and looked down on Kat as he moved his gaze off of the employee who's hand he had just finished shaking.
"This is Ms. Hunter. She's the…" Before the other gentleman could finish his words, Richard had already reached out to grab her palm sensually in his own. He covered the top of her hand with his other and looked very endearingly into her eyes. He wanted her. She could see it from the moment he had entered the room.
"Katalina Hunter. I'm Richard Gibbs. You can call me Rick." With one look he had signaled for the remaining employees to leave them. And this is what started his long pursuit of Kat. He was very adamant that he wanted her and no one else would suffice. His undying interest in her business politics showed throughout the office. This left Kat with no way out.
She had been with the company for three years and had managed to duck and dodge every man who had come on to her. And trust that the numbers were plenty. She gradually worked her way from an intern in the marketing department all the way up as far as her current role of Lead. She landed her first Lead position thanks to last year's presentation she did in front of the CEO. Well...not necessarily in front of him, since she had never once met him. It was taped and recorded during a meeting and sent to him.
After several months of dating, Kat could feel that Richard was the one. He was young, handsome, and all about his business. He himself worked up the ranks to one of the highest in the company, though he was employed there much longer before her.
Richard had come back from overseas not too long before their introduction. He had worked with the CEO for years while they built a branch in China. Hence, the reason why she had never met the CEO. She just heard that he was young and handsome. Couldn't be as handsome as Richard, she had thought. He wasn't delightful, she had heard. He was a force to be reckoned with and although women flocked to him, he often scared them off.
After 8 months of dating, Richard proposed. And of course, Kat accepted. Not only was his career promising, so was his family background. He came from a wealthy family, unlike Kat's own middle classed. He was a once in a lifetime catch.
Kat was always a strategic woman; hence she became the Lead over strategy. She knew that to marry someone so early could be devastating, but she had thoroughly done her background check on him. He had minimal girlfriends before her. No history of being a playboy. Nothing so much as a speeding ticket to his name. He was family oriented, and both of his parents were painted as trophy parents in the media. She was sure this would make a perfect match for her and her rising career. Hell, why not? She could find love AND a lottery ticket. Who wouldn't choose it?
But then it started on their honeymoon.
Richard's personality changed, as though he was immediately influenced by his sudden situation. It appeared as though he almost regretted his decision to commit himself to a single woman. Although his secretary had assured her that he was a faithful man, she couldn't help but start to doubt everything he did.
And then when she had finally gathered the courage one month after marriage, it happened. Richard became violent with her.
This was only the beginning of the end. She was regularly subjected to humiliation and degradation. He wouldn't come home at night and he would regularly beat her. For days at a time. It went on and on.
Kat was fairly good at applying makeup, so she would hide bruises that were visible. Richard had made it a mission to only attack her where it wouldn't be seen. Afterall, they worked together. Well, they wouldn't be working together much longer. Richard had almost beaten her into a pulp on their family vacation when she had refused to put in her two weeks' notice.
Probably because it would bring too much trouble if people found out what a monster he was, she thought. If anyone were to find out, she was pretty sure she wouldn't be alive that night. Of course, he would blame her for letting them see it. He was a certified narcissist. And with that it couldn't possibly be his fault. He was everything but wrong. He was everything….hell BUT.
So, like a good little girl, Kat had sat down to draft the hardest decision that she had never decided, in her life.