The breeze was warm that hit my skin as the morning sun flakes colored my skin to the tone of yellowish white. That was the kind of morning I wanted to wake up to, but it wasn't. it couldn't be. My alarm clock rang jerking me out of the dream I'd fallen into. It was a half past three in the morning. Ten minutes for me to be at my workplace, Sky High. That was the hotel where I doubled as an outside caterer and a hotel attendant. With new energy, I hopped out of bed and in no time, I was ready to start my day. Like always, I spared two minutes to write the day's instructions for Harper and pinned the not on the fridge. Before we go far, Harper is that lady I pay to take care of Kayden and Keira for me while I bounce through my daily hustles to keep them happy. Honestly speaking, they were the only joys I had left. The only mistake I did not regret making. Keira though was growing to look so much like her mother, Leila Blaire which tormented me to the bone each passing day. The deep warm blue depths of her eyes to the black waves of her hair and the warm olive skin. Every bit of her wrote into my memory the thoughts of Leila and at that, one thing was true. All that I had not done for Leila, I was going to do for Keira. That was the least I could do.
Before long, I was in the hotel and like every day, I'd been allocated to the fourth floor which was also known as First Class. That meant that I was in charge of all the rooms there. Well, they were only two anyway. Two deluxe rooms each occupying close to half of the floor. I moved up to room 205 to begin my daily routine. It was 4:00 a.m. I know you might be thinking, but this was the client's suggested time and so I had to be there. I dragged my equipment towards the room. I knocked twice and when I received no reply, I resorted to the key card. Maybe the client wasn't around. I popped my head in just before the rest of me followed. I had to begin my work here so I could finish in time. I decided to start with the lounge room and either she was a clean freak or she never really used the place. I mean, there was not even a speck of dirt anywhere. I only had to organize the room, then the dining room.
After that, I moved through the corridor to the last door on the right. There, I rested my hand on the door knob letting out a sigh. I really don't think you should do this. You might get us into trouble. But I needed to see her even for a moment. My beautiful stranger. I turned the door knob and pushed the door slowly so I wouldn't wake her up just in case she was even around. Peeping in, I noticed her lying there on the bed, calmly and peacefully like the sleeping beauty she is. I drew closer to her and beamed at her innocent features that weren't coated in emotion yet communicated a lot. She was very pretty with the warm olive skin that blended well with the thick long dark hair and the simplicity of her lips that were alluring even in her sleep. I brushed the strands of hair that covered her face aside and leaned in closer. My beautiful stranger just had this strong sense of familiarity. I felt like I knew her but I just couldn't place where. I moved my thumb to brush her lips and there her breathing rose as though she was having difficulty. Her eyes were shut tight while beads of sweat ran down her face. She was panicking as if to break free. As if to be free. I panicked too. I didn't know what to do but had to do something. In the heat of the moment, I wrapped my arms around her holding her close to my chest. She tried to put up a fight a bit more until she finally came to a rest. I could only run my fingers through her hair in the attempt to keep her calm. She soon relaxed in my arms and there, I fished a hanky from my pocket to dry her face. Looking back at her, my eyes locked with her own blue depths which quickly went from surprised to panicked. She immediately looked down at herself making me suddenly aware of her naked state just as she jumped away scuffling for a bedsheet to cover herself with. For a moment, she flushed, red with shame, just before the cold demeanor took over. "What are you doing here?" She asked dourly.
ANNE
Finally, I had gotten myself onto a train. It was my key to freedom. I imagined my life in San Francisco with my baby living the dream – one which had soon become any kind of life so long as he wasn't in it. The train started to move and my heart finally settled. I was finally leaving Star City. I sighed. One of relief. One of freedom. One of finality. It was finished, or so I thought it was till the train stopped and then he entered. My living nightmare. He strode through the crowded walkway that was suddenly free and before I reflexed to hide, he spotted me. He saw me. I stood up and then I was running. Running from that guy; the monster that destroyed me and ripped me of my humanity. Soon I was out of the train onto the platform. I took the stairs dodging a good number of guards and officers. Up the stairs and on to the road; my struggle for freedom was still on. Why did he even want me? It had been six months. Six months since he ruined my life. Six months since I woke up in his arms, drenched in the blood of my own virginity. What more did he want? I turned towards the alley, still trying to get away, and there they were. The big black watchdogs of his though waiting for me. They held me amidst all my protests and cries. These guys were heartless. Shoving me to the ground, they stepped back and bowed. He was here for me. "Bring her." Two words that sent two sets of large callous hands to my own dragging me with them. I struggled and fought but one of them was two of me. What could I do?
I woke up drenched and strangely warm as fingers brushed through my hair. I was in the warmth of another. They rocked me back and forth. I think he was male; for the grip was masculine. I relaxed into his arms even against my will at least in one way or another. Then, I opened my eyes which still beheld all the panic I had from the dream; the most vulnerability I had shown in a long time and my gaze was met with another, obsidian and almond-shaped. His eyes screamed familiarity as images of my captor flashed through my eyes. My breath came out in shivers as I dragged my eyes away from the piercing gaze of his. I looked away of course from the fear of delusion and possible insanity and there my eyes landed on my naked self. Almost immediately, I jumped away scuffling for the bedsheet to cover myself as my cheeks went hot with shame.
I looked back at the man who was now at the far end of the bed and there sat my nightmare. I could see it in his eyes, the hatred, the malice though his face came in blurry to me. Perhaps it was just me as the memories of the past flooded my mind with all the emotion turning into rage. I glanced at him once more while he now stood and stared back at me.
"Is anything the problem?" He reached out and actually asked. Could he not see that he was the problem?
"What are you doing here?" I asked pensively with the most courage I could muster. He leaned in further reaching out for me and there, I saw them again, the thick dark curtains blocking the rays of hope for my freedom. I flinched further into the corner pulling myself into a tuck. Suddenly, he paused and stepped back leaving me disturbed yet relieved. It seemed like he did not have me in mind for the day.
"It seems like you are not fine with me coming close, so…" he paused and looked around, "…wait here." I watched him from my corner of sanctuary as he beat about from the bathroom to the corridor and back then to the walk-in closet. I could only watch clearly traumatized by every thought of the thick curtains and door that kept swinging open.
"Please take a shower, freshen up and I will be in the living room. Is that okay with you?" he asked after finishing whatever he was doing. I nodded. He stepped out and left the door ajar.
When I was sure that he was gone, I got out of bed with the bedsheet still wrapped around me and ran for the door, locking it immediately. It was when he moved out that how insane I had become hit me. The man I had woken up to was Stephen – if that is even his name – and not whom I thought it was. I slid down the door onto the floor as the thoughts of my possible madness made their way across my mind. I wanted to cry, but I couldn't. It was one thing that was clearly not made for me. I took a deep breath then let it out. Once. Twice. Thrice. Till I was set then I hit the showers. There, I found a warm bubbled rose bath set with a white robe and a head towel hang up for me. Thinking of how queer it is, I turned on the shower and soaped myself before rinsing it off. I grabbed the robe and caught once more the sight of the rose bath – undisturbed, unbothered – just before I moved to the closet room where I found a floral frock placed aside most probably by Stephen. I mean, I did not even know I had such a dress. Scowling at the thought of wearing it, I proceeded to pick a pair of gray office pants with a button-up shirt on top and left my hair free.
Out of my room and into the kitchen, I caught sight of Stephen in the dining, but didn't mind what he was doing. I was hungry. "Breakfast is ready," he called out. This guy was impossible. Did he just lack what to do or was he also looking for a way to destroy my life? I shook my head to get that thought out and proceeded to the dining after Stephen called me for the second time. There, I found a picnic. Where had he gotten all these from anyway? Omlette, English toast, pancakes, waffles juice and milk with all the various toppings available. This guy is on another level. Seeing the daze I was in, he chuckled just before staring more intently at me as if trying to establish some information. I only moved to my seat where I served myself two pancakes with syrup and a glass of cold milk.
STEPHEN
"Is anything the problem?" I asked as I reached out. I leaned in to hold her; concerned. She only pushed further back in to a corner. The look in her eyes was distant – as though she was seeing through me. As though she was in another world. Whatever it was she beheld was horror while every bit of her reminded me of Leila. I backed down. I gave her the space she seemed to need. "It seems like you are not fine with me coming close, so…" I studied the room, "…wait here." I prepared a warm bubbled rose bath for her then picked an outfit I thought looked good on her. A floral frock. When I was done, I asked her to take a shower and I let her know that I would be in the living room. I stepped out and heard the door lock behind me. What is it that could have made her that way? Did Leila react that way too after everything I had done to her?
After some time, she came out and went straight to the kitchen. I must say I was disappointed about the fact that she did not wear the dress I picked for her, but who was I to dictate her lifestyle? Who but a fortunate stranger? I watched as she served little and as she ate. I hoped that she would invite me to dine, but little did I know. When she was through, she glanced at me for a moment just before carrying her dishes to the kitchen. I took that as a cue to take my turn and sat down to eat. She cleaned up and soon walked past me back to her room. I only continued with my breakfast and when I was done with it, I also washed my dishes and stored the rest of the untouched snacks away. I found it hard to take it in the negative energy all around her. Why is she like that? Why does it concern you and why are you here anyway? My conscience fired back. I pondered these thoughts slowly falling into a longer train of thought.
Soon, she emerged from her bedroom clad in the gray set of office pants and a white long-sleeved button-up shirt which had the first two buttons open. She had a coat to match the pants which she dropped on the couch when she stepped into the room. She took a seat and produced a pair of silver earrings and a matching necklace and wore them while I only watched. Something about her just called out to me with a sense of familiarity especially the way the necklace settled alluringly at the center of her…what am I doing?
"Stephen, right?" she asked and for a moment, I did a mental victory dance. At least now I knew that she listened despite how cold she was. My victory dance was cut short so soon when I was met with the chill of her glare. I swallowed hard. What had I done this time? She asked you a question. How bad can your memory get? I had not given her an answer.
"Yes…um, yes please. That's my name." I was trying so hard not to seem unbearable or perhaps weird and I was failing miserably at both. I watched as she picked her phone and typed in something just before placing it on the table. Now what should I do about that? I could hear the wheels and cogs of my mind turn in the bid to answer to my panic. Why was I so tensed up around her anyway? When I felt like my head was going to blow up for over working, a voice came through, "Ma'am?!"
"I want some money wired to the account I talked about yesterday…Stephen Vendetta…whatever amount…don't make me wait." With that, she hung up and placed the phone back into her clutch bag. So she wasn't like this only with me. I made a mental note as she headed for the door. It was weird how I barely knew her and yet I was so drawn to her. All I knew was that something about her really struck my chords and I needed to find out what that was and why. As per this writing, all that ran through my blood and pulsated in my heart was that I wanted to be close to her. To protect her and stand with her when she needed it, even if by the looks of it, that would never be. I wanted to belong to her and her to me. Did she feel it too? Three words: you are crazy.
"Excuse me," I suddenly blurted out without knowing the reason for which I was calling her. She half-turned. I went into a full-blown panic as my mind shut down leaving me to face whatever lay ahead of me alone. I was dead. I looked around the place looking for a reasonable something to say. A reason strong enough to keep her good – or maybe neutral – attention on me then I spotted her coat. You had better thank your God. "Your coat." I grabbed it and held it out as she watched. I walked to where she was and when I had gotten close, she turned her back to me as if to tell me to drape it over her shoulders which I did as gently as was possible. My phone chimed but that was not even close to what it would take to break me free from whatever spell this lady had over me. I organized her hair while I took another miserable attempt at conversation. I was not going to stop. Not before I had the answers to my questions. "You know I still haven't gotten your name, right?" She did not respond or more like I waited for an answer that didn't quite come. I resorted to checking my phone. She took that chance to finally step out of the room and I was just about to try and follow her when something caught my attention.
"No freaking way," I shrieked as I checked the message for the sixth time to make sure I and not made a mistake and yes, the message was still the same as the first time I read it. One thousand dollars. I had never thought I would ever be so happy to receive a thousand dollars but here I was a little over the moon for it. I had been disciplined by the forces of life itself and I knew my place well enough by now. I didn't think though that even after the kind of man I had been, I would still have even one person to look out for me when I needed it. I had to thank the person. That was the least I could do for them. Excited, I looked over the message one more time to find out who it was and there was no name. Then another massage came through. A name. Anne Varline. A phone rang then a voice and an answer, "good boy." I peeped out into the hallway just to come face to face with Anne immediately locking eyes with her. For a moment, I was enveloped in the chill she emanated, frozen in place by her drop-dead beauty and her icy blue eyes threatened to have me petrified and I didn't mind. She was my beautiful stranger. I was plunged out of the daze when my alarm rang and I knew exactly which alarm it was. The only alarm on my phone. My blood ran cold. It was a half past six and here I stood gawking at nothing like an idiot. Speaking of which, where is Anne? My conscience asked causing me to search around till it came to me. She had finally left. My mind soon went from miserable to frantic like all hell had broken loose. I was supposed to be done with cleaning the other room on this floor. That was not the problem. The problem was that the manager was going to be here in thirty minutes' time being it a Wednesday and I hadn't yet begun. I was going to be in so much trouble.