I gasped and sat up in my bed. It was still dark as always and my back was drenched with sweat from one of my chilling nightmares that woke me up screaming and gasping for air every night. I groaned in frustration and pushed my now wet shoulder length hair out of my face. My watch flickered. It was 4:37 AM. It was too early to wake up and too late to go back to sleep. I lazily planted my feet on my bedroom mat and wrapped my red kimono on top of my sleeping gown. I groaned in frustration and headed for my bedroom door. I didn't bother switching on the lights as I stepped through the kitchen door and screamed when something touched my foot.
"Meoooow."
"Ooh girl you almost gave me a heart attack." I sighed with relief and squatted to pat Leo on the head. She was such a naughty cat. The kitchen lights came on in a flash and two burly and alert looking Pony and Pany stepped through." They each had a gun pointed at Leo. I rolled my eyes at my two personal bodyguards and poured myself a glass of water.
"We heard you scream ma'am, is everything alright?" Pany started lowering his weapon. I rolled my eyes at him and pointed at Leo who was sitting on the kitchen island licking his white fur.
"You don't have to come running every time I hurt my toe or scream, you know that, right?" I told them for the millionth time since my Dad gave them a second chance. Xavier 'Pony' and Carl 'Pany' both stared at me and nodded stiffly but I knew they didn't care what I said and they were gonna keep annoying me as long as I lived. They left the kitchen silently and I was thankful. They knew I wasn't a morning person and I loved my mornings, silent and uneventful. I walked back upstairs to my room. It was still 4:57 AM now and still too late for bed so I decided to take a shower. I waited for my bathtub to fill with water before I stripped and stepped into the warm heaven. I sank back and rested my head on the edge of the tab.
I shut my eyelids for a second. I always fall asleep in the bath. One of my bad habits. We always fought with my mom when I was younger.
"Alana Mayor, Does the idea of drowning in the bath thrill you?" She screeched and pulled her hair in frustration every time she found me sleeping in the bath. She always called me by my full name when I pulled her strings. Her brown eyes looked at me with worry and love even as her nose flared and her fair lips were curled into an angry line. She was across the country now after her separation with my father three years ago when I was eighteen, but her presence always haunted me whenever I fell asleep in the bath. I missed her presence whenever I went to my father's house. Which was less than I could count on my one hand since I moved out a year and half ago.
"Alana Mayor!" My mom's voice woke me up again. It always haunted me in a good way. I scrambled out of the shower and rushed to dress up. I didn't wanna get late for work on the best day of my firm. I owned a small publishing firm and my first book Deadly Protector was going to get published alongside three other books. I have always loved reading. It is my escape from reality and hobby from a young age. My watch flickered at 5:40 AM. I hurried to dress up and applied some light makeup. I matched my red long sleeved midthigh dress and complimented it with black high heeled ankle length boots. I gave myself a once over in the mirror and headed for the door. I played sledgehammer by fifth harmony on my phone and sang along as I danced down the steps. I felt confident and good and something deep down was telling me today was going to be a great day.
My cloud nine mood came to a sudden stop when I stepped my foot in the living room. Xavier and Carl were sitting rigidly on a couple's sofa staring at the only person I didn't want to see this morning and every other morning when I was in a good mood. I paused my music and stared at my 'loving father'. He looked elegant as always. His Italian black suit looked so clean and neat. It fit him perfectly and complimented his brown skin. Mrs. Styles knew just how to please the man seated in front of me who always wanted nothing short of perfection. He was THE CEO OF MAYOR'S SWIPE CORPORATION and he always emitted elegance and power but why was he sitting looking comfortable in my living room so early? I groaned and went to sit next to him.
"Good morning to you too darling." He said seemingly too happily.
"I'm not moving back home daddy." I started knowing exactly what he was going to say. Since I moved out, he always dropped by every week to try and convince me to go back with him. I fiddled with my fingers and avoided looking at his face.
"As much as I'd like to howl you in my car and drag you home with me Alana, that's not why I'm here." My head shot up. Was my father here to ask me for some help? I was now more surprised than amazed. The man did not know how to ask for help. Especially from me. He still considered me a child and called me kiddo even after I turned sixteen.
"Relax kiddo, I'm here to wish you a happy twenty-first birthday." He smiled and I could register the shock on both Xavier and Carl's faces. They even looked a little hurt. I didn't tell them today was my birthday. I didn't even remember today was my birthday, I was too busy working on my book. They remained silent thankfully. I didn't want a lecture from my dad about how I was living like an old woman.
"Well as much as I'd like to stay and bake with you, I have a multimillion corporation to run." He stood to his feet and stared at his silver watch. He placed a nicely wrapped gift in my laps and ruffled my hair like I was twelve before he headed for the door. I huffed and patted my hair back neatly. He stopped by the door and turned as if forgetting something.
"Remember to get home early." His voice came out a little strained and a pained expression covered his face before he quickly masked it with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. I nodded stiffly and fiddled with the gift wrapping, I knew how much pain I had put him through and not a day had gone by when I hadn't remembered those dark days. A chill went down my spine and I shook away the ugly and tormenting memories. He closed the door behind him and I tore the wrapping.
As soon as the door shut behind my father, two sets of brown eyes fell on me accusingly. I feigned innocence and gave Carl and Xavier my best pleading look.
"I didn't remember it was my birthday, I swear, I was too busy working on my book you know." I defended myself. They actually pouted like kids and avoided looking at me.
"I thought I was your best buddy." Carl whined. He was always the most dramatic. I rolled my eyes at his antics to make me feel bad. They had been my bodyguards since I was fifteen and they were twenty then and we had become friends. Xavier kept to himself a lot but Carl was funny and charming and we had become friends almost immediately.
"Okay guys, come on, I'm sorry… how about we go out tonight and celebrate just the three of us." I tried again. "My treat." I added a hind I could see Carl's ears basically burn with interest. He loved parting.
"Will Tanya be there?" He asked with a grin.
"Fine. I will invite her, Jeez." I groaned. Tanya was my friend. We met in college and we had been friends ever since. She owned a saloon and well, Carl had it bad for her even if she never seemed to notice. That, or the fact that Carl almost went home with a different woman every night.
"Are you sure you can go out?" Xavier asked. He was the most mentally mature. His face was filled with uncertainty.
"I want to do it." I said my stomach was filled with nerves at what I was about to do.
"If you feel overwhelmed at any moment, we come right back" Xavier gave me a serious but concerned look.
"I second Xavier, your day, your rules, we do what you want to do tonight and leave whenever you want" Carl assured, giving me a reassuring look. "No pressure," he added. I was lucky to have them to say the least and they were part of the reason I felt strong enough to even attempt what I wanted to attempt tonight.