Day Two

Day Two
Zara’s POV…

There are just some particular nights when your sleep is so good, the rest is so refreshing, you dream the best dreams and you wake up feeling more relaxed, energetic and alive than you’ve ever felt up until that point. Well, that’s how I feel this morning. I’m telling you; the birds were chirping and everything. Colors seemed to shine brighter and I was so excited to see what the second day would bring.

I had fun yesterday, but there was no way to guarantee that today would be just as fun. James may want to carry out his plans today. I mean, it seemed most unlikely that he’ll want to take action today, seeing as we only just got started with the one-week event. But there was no ruling out the possibility, and I so wasn’t looking forward to the idea of it. I’d prefer having a day or two more to play around with Malcolm and get a few more points on the board.

I couldn’t lay in bed reminiscing about moments that had already come and gone. I needed to get started on creating new ones—better ones. I stretched. I climbed out of the bed. I grabbed my phone and was on my way to the kitchen to get a drink of water. As I walked, I checked my messages and saw one from Michaela Sally.

“The day’s already starting out great,” I said to myself.

There it was! A text on when we should meet, and where. She even drew me a nice little map. This was good. This was very good. It was exactly the safety net I needed while walking this tightrope that is James Worthington. I was way too high up with him, playing a very dangerous game. If we were to fall, he’d take me down with him…which meant I needed a lifeline that would guarantee my safe landing. Even if someone else doesn’t bring James down, I intended to do it myself, so I needed to put things in place to make sure I have immunity.

Thursday! Not too far, not too close. It seemed as good a day as ever. I added that date to my calendar; a very important date indeed. 

With that fun still a little far out in my future, it was better to focus on the fun that today would bring. There was no time to waste. I quickly got into work mode, moving as swiftly as a fox to get myself ready for yet another day in the office. Hopefully, I get to run into the President yet again. My fingers are definitely craving feeling his skin against theirs once more. Maybe this time I could actually get him to reciprocate. That would make the day a great day indeed…

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Michaela’s POV…

Levine Hotel was one of the nicer ones in Brooklyn. I did wonder what Cherilyn was doing all the way out here. When she asked me to help deliver one of my dresses to her at this location, she didn’t explain why she was here or what the dress was for. I could have simply allowed Ecclesiastes to bring the dress himself, but I needed to see her and make sure everything was alright. It was already ten in the morning, and I needed to get to the Palace.

So the plan was to head inside, find out what’s up—hopefully nothing problematic—and then I give her the dress and return to work. The thing with the reporter was still two days away, so we wouldn’t have to discuss the details yet.

After Eccle parked the car and we got out, I led the way into the hotel and just as I thought about heading toward the desk to ask for her room, I felt a wind around my spirit blowing me toward a different route. I moved in the direction that took me further into the hotel until my guard and I arrived at a door, and we could already hear the splashes of water.

I opened the door and walked through it, happening upon the indoor pool area—a quite amazing pool actually, and I darted my eyes around the space until I found Cherilyn sitting on a spread beside the pool, laughing as she watched someone else swimming within the water. 

I headed over to her and when she saw me, she smiled but remained seated. “Michaela, you came yourself. Thanks a lot for the dress. I didn’t want to have to head back all the way home to get myself a different one. I’ll take that, thank you very much.”

Eccle handed her the dress. She placed it on her spread and fixed her eyes back on the water. Then she raised her hand and cried out, “Hey, Little Mermaid! Can you take a break for a minute, I’d like to introduce you to someone…”

The person in the water started swimming to the steps, and when she grabbed it, she climbed out of the pool. First thing I took notice of was her slender body, and nice dark hair—a considerable amount of it. She grabbed a towel from her own spread, wrapped it around her shoulders and walked over to where we were, smiling from ear to ear.

“Michaela, I’d like you to meet my best friend in the entire world. Kendra.”

After showing her ‘friend’ to me, she kept on introducing us and I just fixed my eyes on her. Kendra? Kendra. Nope! Cherilyn has definitely never mentioned her to me before. But then, why did she seem so familiar to me?

“Hi, Michaela. Cherry’s told me quite a bit about you. It’s nice to meet you. And you can call me Ken,” she said, with her hand out for a shake.

I reached out. “Nice to meet you, Ken. You can call me Mick.”

We grabbed our hands and held on. Believe me when I tell you; she tightened her grip around me, almost like she was trying to hurt me. And I’m saying this simply because I actually felt a considerable amount of pain.

I even tried to pull my hand away, but she held on for a second longer before letting go. I looked into her eyes, but I saw nothing. I couldn’t tell what she was thinking or feeling towards me, but I could feel some hostility—which meant I would need to address it.

“Ken’s in town till Thursday morning. We’re heading to a Christian Conference in a few hours. That’s why I asked to borrow your dress,” Cherilyn continued.

I looked down at her. “What Christian Conference?”

She pulled out a flier from the table beside her and handed it over. I touched the paper, and as soon as my eyes fell on the words of the invite, I heard the Lord give me His instruction.

I looked at them both and squared my shoulders. “I’m coming too.”

Kendra jerked her shoulders at me and said, “Why do you want to come along?”

The answer was a clear one.

“For the same reason Cherilyn is…”