Chapter 46: FOUND IT

MIA

I was so anxious after coming home that I had to put on fake smiles around him and when he finally left, I waited ten more minutes then got up.

My first guess was his desk in the corner of the room that he used as an office. I had gone through a few drawers a couple of times to get his charger or maybe use his printer while he sat there and worked but I had never fully searched and if he was hiding something, that would be the best place to keep it.

There were three drawers on the right side and the top two opened easily. They were filled with office supplies and documents. Nothing suspicious.

Then I got to the third drawer which had a lock.

I paused, looking at it for a moment and even contemplated turning around and forgetting everything as my heart pounded. But then, what did I have to lose?

Wouldn't it be better to know the truth than keep wondering every day?

I pulled a hairpin from my hair. It had taken me over an hour to learn how to use this for a documentary project I did four years ago where I got kicked out.

Muscle memory kicked in as I started picking the lock. It took a while and my hands were shaking badly but I kept going, sweat pouring down my back as I hoped he wouldn't come back yet.

The lock gave on the third try.

I sat back on my heels and looked at what was inside.

There was a small, old, black phone with no case and it looked familiar. That's when it clicked, this was the phone I had seen in his kitchen that day that he made me believe I had imagined.

It was turned off so I picked it up and hesitated. My brain still tried to convince me that it might be a work phone or just something else and I was invading his privacy over someone I had just met and had no reason to trust.

I took a deep breath then turned it on. It took about thirty seconds to turn on and during that time I could barely breathe as I became hyper aware of all sounds around me.

The screen turned on and I saw that there was just one app on it. A messaging app. Frowning, I swiped but there was nothing else. No photos, email or anything that could identify the user.

I opened the messaging app and there was just one contact saved which was mine.

A lump formed in my throat as I opened it and started scrolling through months and months of conversations I had only ever seen through my phone and hadn't responded to until recently. All the ones I deleted because they made me very paranoid were all here.

I felt the room tilt the more I read. Then I saw something I had missed before which was like a journal on the phone. I opened it and scrolled to an older entry which said,

"You moved into the building today. And you looked so beautiful up close, I was so happy I got to help you and catch a glimpse of you smiling even though you looked stressed and wary of me."

The date was the day Yuna and I were there.

I scrolled.

"You looked beautiful today. You always look beautiful but today was different."

"I know you're scared but you shouldn't be. I'm the only person watching who doesn't want to hurt you."

"You mentioned peonies once, to Yuna, on the phone. I heard through the wall. I'll remember that and get you some very soon."

"The man from your shoot a few years ago also tried to stalk you recently but I handled it."

"Sleep well. I'll be here when you wake up."

"You looked at the camera I installed today then looked away not knowing. Sometimes I feel guilty for watching you, even when you pleasure yourself but one day you'll love me and you won't mind."

My hands wouldn't stop shaking as my blood ran cold. I kept reading and the worse it got but I couldn't stop.

How?

The Dante I knew was nothing like the psychopath I was reading now. This was twisted and fucked up.

But…

No. I shook that thought away.

"The locksmith is one of mine. I have copies of both keys."

"She's mine now. Finally mine."

That one was dated the night I'd moved into his apartment.

I sat on the floor, looking at it and thought about all the nights I had felt safe because I was with him and now, I knew the only reason why I had felt unsafe in the first place was still because of him.

All the times we'd cuddled and he'd whispered sweet nothings in my ear about how he would always protect me.

There was one last entry I hadn't read.

"She was… unexpected. I never knew she would be so bold to send such a picture. I am a bit jealous because what if I wasn't the stalker, another man would have seen those pictures. I wanted to see how far she is willing to go. I know she will soon find out who I am, she's that smart. But I'm not scared."

I turned the phone off, put it back exactly where I'd found it, closed the drawer, relocked it and stood up which surprised me because my legs were still working.

I walked out of the office, making sure to close the door exactly how it had been then went to the kitchen and splashed cold water over my face as I stared at my reflection in the window above the sink.

"What the actual fuck?" I whispered.

None of this made sense. The new life and love I thought I had been building just collapsed because it turned out to be a trap of a crazy man.

He was the stalker.

I didn't know what to do. I actually wanted to meet the stalker and I don't know, I was starting to have crazy fantasies but now that I knew it was him? It was terrifying and… thrilling.

I splashed water on my face again. Everything was confusing.

He had watched me touch myself. I couldn't help it as my face heated up at the thought and then I heard keys turn in the door.

That snapped me back to reality instantly. I turned off the tap, dried my hands then walked back to the living room as soon as the door opened and I tried to act normal.

When he walked in he immediately searched for me with his eyes and when they landed on me, they softened.

"Hey." He looked relaxed. Good meeting then, or whatever it had actually been. "I finished early. I thought we could cook dinner together."

I smiled, praying it didn't look false but given his reaction, it was just fine.

"That sounds great," I said. "What are you thinking?"

"Pasta?" He was already shrugging off his jacket. How could this sweet man be a monster? "We have everything for the carbonara you like."

"Perfect," I said.

As he went to hang his jacket, I walked back into the kitchen and realized I needed to become as good a liar as he was and figure out what next I was going to do.

He wanted me and I was going to use that to my advantage. All the fantasies I had left trapped in me, I would fulfill while I planned my escape.

I knew I still loved him but I had to leave.

He didn't know I knew and that was the only advantage I had.

I intended to keep it.