Chapter 2- The Hotel

A/N- I know that these first few chapters seem a bit confusing but things will become clearer as the story unfolds... Anyways here is chapter 2, as always I enjoy looking forward to seeing what you all have to say about it!

Kris slowly ventured into the new hotel room and let a gentle sigh of relief escape her lips. She would disappear for a few days to think, thanks to him. She slowly made her way deeper into the hotel room confused at why there were two beds.

Flopping down onto the bed, she could feel the stress coiling in her shoulders and her neck making her groan. Pushing the pillow up, she reached for the TV remote, she heard a soft noise coming from the bathroom. Suddenly the bathroom door opened and he was standing in front of her in only a towel.

Kris could feel her breath catch in her throat and she momentarily dropped the remote. "I hope you don't mind," he stated softly "but I thought you might like some company." Kris looked at him for just a moment and a small smile fluttered across her face. "Believe me," she muttered under her breath "I don't mind at all."

"What was that?" he asked turning around and looking at her with a small smile on his face. Kris looked at him with a faint smile on her face. "You're right I could definitely use someone to talk to, thanks." She could feel a gentle blush on her cheeks as she spoke, and she hoped that it hadn't given her away.

"So," he stated uncomfortably as he shifted from foot to foot and tugged at his towel. "I'm sorry," Kris replied covering her eyes causing him to laugh. "It's not like you haven't seen it before" he retorted softly causing a small snort to escape her lips. "Yeah," Kris replied, "but things are different now."

After a few minutes in the bathroom he emerged again, fully dressed. "Do you want to talk now or later?" he asked as he flopped down on his bed and rolled onto his side, facing her. "Later" Kris replied scrunching her nose. "Hmmm, how about now," he stated causing her to wince a bit. "Now's fine." She replied.

After both had made themselves comfortable and Kris had fidgeted for a few moments, she began her tale.

"It all started after I signed that contract. I know that Jean and Pablo had warned me to be careful but I got an offer I couldn't refuse. I mean 5 years of racing the best horses in the world, I couldn't pass it up. It started off slowly, so slow in fact that I barely even recognized what was happening."

She looked into his eyes and could feel the tears beginning to well; pushing them back she forced herself to continue.

"He started out with a few restrictions, small things that didn't seem significant. Nevertheless they were things a manager probably shouldn't have controlled. I didn't see it at the time, or I didn't want to see it but by the time I realized what was going on it was too late. By the second year, he practically controlled me and my life."

Slowly one by one the tears started to stream down her face. He lay there staring at her in shock. How could anyone possibly be so cruel?

"Why didn't you call?" he asked softly "try to get out?"

"I tried to fight it, but I had signed a contract and they threatened to sue not only me but also Raintree farms. I didn't exactly leave on the best terms and I just didn't want to cause anyone more pain. I couldn't do that to the people I loved, I couldn't do that to you."

Junior looked at the shell of the girl in front of him and couldn't believe how much she had changed in those few short years.

"I tried to deal with it any way that I could. I got into painkillers for awhile, when those stopped working I turned to other ways of dealing. I disappeared three times in one year, just to try and get away from him. I always ended up coming back though, I don't know why."

He nodded his head softly in understanding, silently urging her to continue.

"I couldn't date who I wanted and I was constantly being watched. Something inside of me just died and I wasn't sure I was ever going to get it back. Then I came here to visit for Dani's birthday and something inside of me just screamed to be released. I guess this morning I just cracked."

Junior looked at the girl in front of him and did the only thing he could think of. Getting out of bed he lay down next to her and pulled her into his embrace. As she sobbed on his shoulder he could feel the tears gently run down his face as well.

Kris could feel her tears soaking into his shirt and she momentarily felt guilty for bringing him into her mess. As much as she hated to admit it, she needed a friend to comfort her. She needed this. She had longed to feel safe for such a long time, that as he held her she gently fell into a deep slumber.

Kris woke to the smell of familiar cologne and the feel of two arms around her. It had been awhile since she had felt this comfortable, and she couldn't help but think about the other people in her life that she had left behind. Would they still be there to support her as well?

Today was a new day and something great was going to happen, she could feel it. Kris looked around the room for just a moment before wiggling out of Junior's arms and she gently reached over and picked up her phone. Sneaking her way into the bathroom she called her voicemail, dreading the messages she was sure were waiting.

"You have seventy three new messages, mail box full" the electronic voice stated causing a moan to escape her lips. Was she really ready for this? As the voice called off the number she recognized it immediately pressing delete. No more inundations from her manager, it was time to start anew.

She suddenly realized that although a few of her messages were from her manager threatening dire consequences if she sued, that most of them were not. While a few were from a frantic Dani, it seemed Dani had called others to let them know that something was going on.

As she listened to message number twenty her breath caught in her throat and she suddenly had to sit down. The voice echoed through her head and caused her pulse to rise. It was nothing like she had pictured all the times she considered what they would say to each other. Yet here he was calling her and no matter how hard she tried his voice still had an effect on her.

"Kris its Matt, Dani just called me. Please pick up the phone; we need to know that you are ok. I need to know that you are ok."

And they continued, he had called several times leading exceedingly more pleading messages for her to let him know she was ok.

"Kris, pick up the phone. Please Kris. I am getting worried about you. Where are you Kris? Please be ok."

"Kris, this isn't funny. You're getting Dani worked up and me a bit scared. Just call us back to let us know you are ok, even if you don't want to see us. I need to know you are ok and I am not going to sleep until you call me."

"It's getting late Kris and I am starting to panic. I have called every hotel in town and it seems no one has a room rented in your name. Are you staying with a friend?" She heard a gentle sigh into the phone and then he continued. "I'm sorry about how things ended Kris, but I still care about you. Call me when you get this."

Kris stared at her phone for a moment and gently let her head rest against the cool glass of the mirror next to her on the wall. 'What do I do now?' she thought silently to herself.