Second Chances by Dale Mayer Read Free Book Online Page A

struggled. Ian's fury intensified. Spittle flew from his lips.
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    "Let me go, you bastard! You're just as bad as he is."
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    "That's enough. Calm down!"
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    "Never! I will be heard!"
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    Several people jumped from their seats, moving away from the struggling men. Chairs fell over as the room erupted into chaos. Hotel security people raced toward them.
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    Karina froze, her hand at her throat, too shocked to move.
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    It appeared Ian hadn't changed—with the exception of becoming even more of a loose cannon. He'd always been friendly and smooth, unfailingly polite, until something—anything—went wrong. Then he exploded like a firecracker. And if anyone dared to blame him for something? Heaven help that person. Nothing was ever Ian's fault. Ever. Like now.
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    Even though Karina knew she should look away, she couldn't take her eyes off him. Did Brian remember him too? How could he not?
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    "Everyone listen to me …" Ian shouted, refusing to be silent. "This man is dangerous, he needs to be stopped."
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    The three men pushed, shoved and half carried the intruder toward the double doors. His running tirade never ceased.
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    "You can't shut me up. I'll be back…!"
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    The door slammed behind the men, barely drowning out the man's explosive ranting.
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    Silence descended on the room.
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Chapter 4
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    B rian couldn't get a word out. He strode across the front of the room before coming to an abrupt halt. He ruffled his short hair. What could he say? He hadn't come up against a situation like this before. Thank heavens for the extra security they had put in place.
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    Ian Blackburn. Jesus. He hadn't seen Ian since University. He'd been strange back then, but never violent like this. Could he be the one responsible for the threats leading up to this seminar? If what Ian had said during his rant was true—that his wife had left him after attending a workshop—then it was quite possible that Brian had become the target of Ian's rage. It was a logical explanation. Certainly not reasonable, but then Ian certainly hadn't appeared to be in a reasonable frame of mind when he'd burst through the doors, screaming at him.
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    Still, Brian had to salvage the seminar right now. Somehow.
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    "My apologies, everyone. I'm not sure what's going on exactly. Clearly, this man is blaming me for an upset in his life."
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    Brian paused. "This sort of backlash is always a possibility when one does these types of workshops. Although this is the first time that I've come up against it." He opened his arms wide, turning his palms upwards, hoping for their understanding and acceptance. And that they'd take this example as a lesson to look deeper into their own issues. "That's why we try to look at the real issues, when someone says they're 'unhappy' in their relationship. Often, leaving a relationship is the best answer."
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    Walking slowly across the podium, he chose his words carefully. It was important to deliver the right message. "You need to look at the underlying cause of your unhappiness. When no other solution is possible, then in some cases, leaving is the right answer. However, one person's decision in a relationship will affect both people." He stopped and cast his gaze around the room, looking at all of the intent faces focused on him. "The repercussions can be severe. Not everyone is willing to work out problems and not everyone can accept change. This type of thing," he said as he gestured toward the double doors, "can be the result."
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    Mark returned just then, quietly closing out the world behind him. Swiftly, he walked over to Brian and spoke softly into his ear. Brian turned to address his audience.
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    "Mark has spoken with our visitor." He looked directly at Karina, hoping to settle her nerves. Hell, he could use something to settle his own. "He has calmed down. Apparently, his wife attended a workshop several weeks ago and after that, she asked