Chapter 1
Gut Feeling
𓂃 ࣪˖ ִִֶֶָ🥀་༘࿐
He showed up at my door, rang my doorbell in the middle of the night. And he was dripping wet. The thunder clapped even louder than before. Something kept telling me he wasn’t here for help.
“Something wrong?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest. My silk pjs has a problem of making noise and of showing more than necessary. I waited as the rain hit even harder on the roof.
“I-uh… Car trouble,” he stuttered. I craned my neck to see his car. It didn’t look like it had anything wrong going on with it.
“Really?.. That car? I can’t help but…. The mechanics can,” I replied and closed the door in his face. Was I being rude? No. But I cannot deal with this at 11’clock. He is soaking wet and the rain hasn’t let up yet.
I sighed and turned. I swung it open and he was still there. “Come in… it’s not a good idea to stand out there…”
I hope he leaves in the morning. I add, “Just for tonight. You have to leave by morning.”
There isn’t anyone else in the house except me so I draw him a hot bath and get him fresh. Although most are mine. I don’t own any men’s wear.
I make my way to where he is standing, my heart almost in my throat. Scarlett Valez, calm down. “Hey… there’s a bath and some… clothes. Change into them. Goodnight.”
When I curled up under the covers once more I had no trouble beckoning sleep. I was out in a flash.
My eyes fluttered open, and I lay tangled with my sheets strewn about. A yawn rips through me even though I slept great. I twist in bed to look at the time. I’ve never woken up late before. Not this late.
8 am?! That’s not good. I shuffle straight to the bathroom, my feet scuffing against the hardwood. Working hard gets you a grand house but not the intellect to think of hiring anyone to keep it up to date.
I vigorously brush my teeth like there’s a fire rising up in my home. And then I look at my brush. Oh. Someone used it? Wait. It’s not him, is it? I might need to get a new one.
Throwing it in the trash I washed my mouth multiple times so I don’t think I got a blowjob unintentionally. Between that I gagged. Too much. Is someone chopping vegetables? I didn’t buy any. I usually order from someplace.
While I pull on my pantsuit, I hear more sounds from the kitchen. Someone is cooking. What if it’s him? I asked him to leave today. Why….. I’m getting worked up over nothing. He’ll leave when I come back from work.
I grab my keys, wallet, phone and bag then head straight to the kitchen. There’s something laid out just I think of going for the good old bread and butter.
He’s there too. Sitting like he hasn’t done a thing. “Is this your food?” I asked, pointing to it.
He grabbed his share and said, “Go ahead. There’s plenty.”
“Um… I’m late. And I think you might have poisoned it. Have it yourself.”
I walked past him but a rough hand grabbed my wrist. My heart was miles up in the sky now and then he let go. “Sorry….”
Glaring at him I rub at my writs that are not sore just caught in warmth from him. I just walked off after that, and got in my car. The air is damp and the trees dripping from the water it caught.
The streets were still gloomy, and I drove until I reached my office. I sat there with my car parked until a knock came. Rolling down the window I see it’s one of my coworkers. Supervisor really, but he’s young.
“Hey… You’re late. What… happened?” he asked, leaning against the window. Unbuckling my seatbelt I thought of an answer but I didn’t think the truth would be a good idea here. He’ll only tell me to call the police.
I have been waiting for him to notice me for a long time and today he does by some odd miracle. “I.. Was about to head in.”
He moves back so I can get out. My heeled boots press down as I get out and slam the door. We don’t talk as I adjust the bag over my shoulder and we get to the elevator. “There is a case and well… the name… last name really…” he says the moment we get on.
I narrow my eyes at this. Last name. What’s that got to do with me? “Last name? Why are you telling me this?”
A nervous laugh rocks him as he pushes his hair back with his coffee-free hand. The moment was getting thick with something I couldn’t explain. “Valez… I hope he isn’t related.”
“There are people with similar last names, but that doesn’t mean they are related…” I reply, almost too quickly.
After that it got quiet, and I didn’t think it was an opportunity to waste so I asked him if he’s free this week. For lunch. “Yeah… It’s a date then.”
A dark crimson color painted my cheeks just then. A date. Him and me? Score. With a smile plastered on my face, I head out the elevator doors onto our floor. 82 and locke.
He heads to his office, I head to my cubicle. I lift my head and catch him looking at me. He is so much nicer than the guy last night. Valez. Probably most people in this country have that name.
It does leave a bad taste in my mouth. A file thuds onto my desk which jolts me from my thoughts. “This is the file I was talking about…. He is in prison now, cause of a crime…. Or something… insisted he was innocent.”
“Murder, drugs or something more dark?”
“You’ll see…” he replies and nods to the file.
