Chapter 10 Chapter 10
Tessa
“This isn't about what you want, darling; this is about what you need. Now go shower, have breakfast, and relax. The car is outside. I’ll see you soon,” he said, ending the call. I sank onto the couch with a groan. What the hell was I going to do about this insane man now? I spent the remainder of the day taking short naps.
After I showered, I stood in front of the mirror staring at the hickey. Hiding the hickey was going to be the real drama. I layered on concealer, powder, and even a thick scarf, even though it was mild for October. I looked like a refugee trying to cover war wounds. It was obvious I was hiding something, but hopefully, less obvious what I was hiding. I changed and decided upon a turtlenecksweater.
The silence of the house was too real. I ate a piece of toast, feeling every dry bite scratch against my raw throat, but the hunger was a sharp, dull ache I couldn't ignore. My weariness was bone-deep. My arms and legs felt heavy as lead. I was running on pure, terrified adrenaline.
I didn't bother using the car. When I stepped up to the gate, I keyed in the code, and I felt relieved. I made my way over to the elevator and keyed in the code, and like fucking clockwork, Rhyland showed up; he stood beside me quietly.
I hesitated, stepping into the elevator, the flashback of yesterday’s panic attack. I guess the asshole understood. “It won't happen again,” he said in that same cold tone. I see he was back to being an asshole. I stepped in, still apprehensive. When the doors close, I let out a sigh.
“Isn’t it still too warm out for a sweater?” he asked. I turned to face him.
“You enjoy this, don’t you?” I asked.
“Enjoy what?” he asked, confused, even though this face didn't match the tone of the question.
“Why is it that every day I walk in here, you are here at the same exact time?”
“Because it's when I leave and when I return home,” he said coldly as if he was just stating facts.
“You are an asshole,” I said through gritted teeth.
"I can say the same thing about you. If I'm correct, you said, and your words verbatim were, 'I hope I never see his stupid ass again.' Hence, you'll see me every day," he said, his eyes boring into me. So he heard my remark the first day.
“So this is all to get a rise out of me,” I said.
“You were missing yesterday,” he said.
“Yes, and?. I have a life. Whether I am here or not shouldn't be your concern, and stop showing up every day; it's damn annoying," I retorted. The elevator doors opened, and I walked out, not giving him a chance to answer. When I opened the door and walked in, Christine saw me and smiled.
“I’m back, bestie,” I said, throwing my arms open, and she laughed. Afterwards we gossiped and played a few games. I gave her her bath and dinner, and she was out by nine. I was lying on the couch, my eyes slowly closing, when a knock at the door made me jump up. I began panicking but then remembered the asshole had security details outside, and I was safe.
When I opened the door, he was standing there, in a black fitted T-shirt and sweatpants. His tattoos were visible, and for a second I was distracted by the way he looked. “What is it?” I asked.
“Umm,” he said hesitantly.
I let out a sigh; I was tired and didn't need him standing here. “What can I do for you, Zaiel?” I asked.
“Can you help me with something?” he asked. It was almost as if he was afraid to ask me, and that intrigued me.
“Okay, fine. What is it?”
“Umm. the microwave,” he said, and I had the urge to laugh. “Is it broken or what?” I asked for clarification. He looked at me, and I could see him trying not to look at me with contempt or say something snarky.
“Fine. I want to make noodles, and I don't know how to use it. Happy?” he said, and I started laughing; I couldn't help it. He turned around and started walking back towards his apartment. I stopped laughing for a moment.
“Zaiel, wait, sorry. I’ll do it. But I can’t leave Christine alone.” I said, and he turned and looked at me.
“Joe will wait by the door,” he said as the security guy walked over. “Lead the way,” I said, looking at him. He walked into the apartment, and I followed him straight to his kitchen.
It was just as big as Anthony’s and even more extravagant. I found the bowl of noodles on the table. I turned around, and he was leaning against the kitchen island, arms folded across his chest, which made the already tight shirt tighter. I turned around immediately.
I put the bowl into the microwave and hit the timer. “When it’s finished, it will beep. You just put it in and set the timer, punch in the number, 1:00 or 2 minutes, and press start.”
Suddenly I heard a door open and the voice. “Zaiel, baby, I’m bac….” She stopped and looked at us. His woman, the same blonde. The microwave beeped. I looked at him. “See, it’s done; it’s hot. Use a dish towel to take it out,” I said before walking out, leaving him and his blonde alone.
Before I even got back to the apartment, his door opened, and she walked out, slamming the door behind her but not before stopping and looking at me. Great, now she was pissed. I didn't need any more drama in my already complicated life. I headed back into the apartment and checked on Christine, who was still asleep. Thankfully, I settled back into the couch with my book and tried to read.
The next morning when Anthony came home, everything was right, and I left at the usual time to head home, and like clockwork, the minute I got into the elevator, he was there. I didn't say anything to him, not even "morning." There was no mention of what happened last night, nor did he try to say anything, and that was good enough for me. When the elevator stopped in the garage, he just turned to me and looked at me for a few minutes.
“Be careful on your way home; there are a lot of dangerous people out there,” he said in a low voice before walking off. I was left standing there looking at him confused. What the hell was that even supposed to mean? I know there were dangerous people outside; I was running from two insane men. One wanted to kill me, and the other threatened to fuck me.