Chapter Seven

Willow’s POV.

The next day, I woke up to Kendra sitting on my bed, staring at me intently. I frowned a little as I stretched, confused as to why she did not wake me up. “When did you get here?” I asked, after stretching for a few seconds.

I was still very much sleepy but when I looked at the time, I realized just how much time I had slept. It was 11 am. It seemed like my body had not woken me up at the usual time—it had realized that we needed as much rest as we could get.

“About an hour ago. You were sleeping so peacefully, so I didn’t want to wake you. I made breakfast and I was waiting for you to stir.”

Kendra did not even have to finish her sentence before I was out of bed. I walked straight to the kitchen and saw that she had set up the breakfast in the little dining nook and I felt like running towards her and suffocating her with the tightest hug ever. Which I did. Kendra laughed and pushed me away after a while.

“You’re trying to kill me after I made you breakfast?” she joked, and the both of us laughed.

I sighed. “You don’t even know how much I needed this,” I told her seriously, then I took a plate and sat down in front of the food.

Kendra followed suit with a frown on her face. I could tell she wanted to ask me so many questions but she was holding herself back. I was grateful for that. I definitely did not want to ruin my appetite talking about what had happened. So, we made small talk until I was done.

I picked up my plate and washed it, alongside the mug I had used. I was stalling, I knew that. I did not know what to tell Kendra—I did not know if I should tell her about the entire thing with the wolf or just let it go. I really didn’t want to be called crazy once again. With everything that had happened, my heart was a little too fragile.

“Hey, are you okay?” Kendra asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.

That was when I realized that I had been letting the water run over my hands without even realizing. I closed the tap and then turned around and leaned against the counter. There was a worried look on Kendra’s face and I understood it because I knew I was acting irrationally.

I did not know where to start… I did not even know if I wanted to tell Kendra about everything that was happening. I had never been one to hide things from my best friend. But considering everything that had happened when I told her about the entire red eyes thing, I wasn’t sure I wanted to tell her this.

“Willow!” Kendra snapped and I shook. “What is going on with you?”

She sounded really worried and the guilt felt like it weighed a ton. I closed my eyes and opened them then I pushed the tray away. “I’m really sorry, Kendra. I don’t even know what’s happening to me anymore. I…”

“Is it your boss? Work? What is going on?”

“I… promise me you won’t call me crazy,” I pleaded, putting my hand on hers. I was sure I sounded desperate. I did not think I had ever felt this way about anything before.

“Willow, talk.”

“Promise me, Kendra,” I insisted. There was an exasperated look on my best friend’s face and the tick in her eyebrow let me know that she was tired of me. But I needed to know that she would not judge me because of whatever I was saying.

“I promise I won’t call you crazy,” Kendra said finally. I squeezed her hand gratefully. “Talk now.”

I dropped my hand slowly and took a deep breath. Then I closed my eyes again and ran my hand through my hair. It almost felt like I was back in Dimitri’s bedroom and the big scary wolf was watching me. I snapped out of it as best as I could because if I started going down memory lane, I was not going to tell Kendra anything.

“You remember on Tuesday, I told you I was going to go get my boss’s dry cleaning?” I asked.

Kendra nodded. I could tell she was very confused but I was really appreciative of the fact that she wasn’t trying to ask any questions and she was giving me time to explain myself. I didn’t quite fully understand what happened, I could not even tell you how I was still alive.

“Okay. So, when I went to his mansion, I thought I was all alone. I got the dry cleaning and I put it in his closet as always.”

I paused. Kendra opened her mouth then closed it again and I was grateful that she was being patient. The last thing I needed was for her or anyone else to brusque me. I did not even quite understand what I had lived. I didn’t even think I had gotten to terms with it yet.

So, I continued talking. “Turns out I wasn’t all alone. When I finished putting his clothes in his closet, I felt someone watching me. Or what I thought was someone. When I turned around, Kendra, I saw the biggest wolf I have seen in my entire life.”

I looked away from Kendra and rubbed my hands together. They were moist, of course. And no matter how much I seemed to rub, I could not get rid of the uncomfortable feeling.

“We stared at each other for a while. I don’t even know how I lasted that long, staring at it. But by the time the realization hit me, it was too late. I tried to scramble to the bathroom and lock myself in it until it got tired. But it was too quick. I have never seen an animal that big. And I have never seen an animal that quick.”

I took a short breath. Then I went on. “It pounced on me. I don’t know how I did not let out the loudest scream in my life.” I chuckled. It was now that I was realizing how much shock I was in. A big ass wolf from nowhere, pouncing on me.

“I don’t know what was going on in the animal’s head. But instead of biting me like I thought it would, this wolf licked my bare neck. I… it licked me. I swear Kendra, I saw my life flash in front of my eyes. I thought it was one of those things where predators play with their food.

“At some point, I found myself just begging for it to get over with whatever it wanted to do. I was tired, I was petrified. I needed to know if I was going home in one piece or if I was going to meet my mom.”

Kendra took my hand and I lifted my gaze to hers. Instead of the judgment I had expected to see, there was understanding. She squeezed my hand and I squeezed hers back. It was normal that after the entire “eye” situation, I would feel wary. But how did I ever think Kendra was going to call me crazy?

“All of a sudden, babes, after lying on me for what seemed like hours, it got off me and stalked out of the bedroom. I don’t even know at what moment I got out of that house, but I needed to. I wanted to call you but I could not even think without crying. I…”

I lifted my hand to wipe the tears that had dropped but Kendra was faster. My heart melted with love and gratitude for her. She wiped my cheek gently and then pulled me close to her. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I felt so much relief. I had finally let everything out. It was difficult enough working with Dimitri and taking everything he was putting me through. But not having anyone to talk about it with was even worse.

“What happened after that?” Kendra prompted.

I opened my eyes as I remembered what exactly happened after that. I chuckled although nothing was funny. Then I sneaked closer to Kendra. “I did the most logical thing anyone could do under the circumstances. I wrote a letter of resignation and took it to my boss’s office. I gave it to him, alongside my two weeks’ notice. And do you know what he did?”

“What did he do?” Kendra asked gently.

“He refused my resignation. When I threatened to sue, he told me he would ruin my life. And I don’t doubt him, Kendra! He is evil enough to do something like that. Then he told me to take the next day off. And that was it. Brushed under the rug. My trauma doesn’t matter. I swear, I can’t even lie Kendra. I hate this man so much.”

“I’m so sorry, baby,” Kendra said softly then she hugged me even tighter. I sighed and closed my eyes as I took in her warmth.

We stayed like that for a while, and I was not about to complain. This was what I needed. Some calm and quiet after the hectic days I had had. I did not want to think about Dimitri and the fact that I had just two days away from him. And who knew, my contract stipulated he could call me on weekends and compensate me for my time. So, who knew what was going to happen? Maybe he would call me to his home again and this time around, I would meet a bear.

“So, what are you going to do now? I’m so sorry this happened to you, my baby. Why did you bottle it up so much? Why did you take so long to tell me?”

“I…” I bit my lip as I started responding. For some reason, I wanted to sugarcoat how I felt. But our friendship had never been that kind of friendship. So I just said whatever was on my mind. “I wanted to, I swear. But when I remembered how you reacted when I told you about the red eye thing, it felt so discouraging. I was just like ‘what if she doesn’t believe me again?’ Dimitri Rustanov made me to feel crazy enough. I did not need even more of that.”

“I’m so sorry, Willow. It was never my intention. I just… that day, it sounded so crazy. And I just thought, maybe you were saying all of these things because you were under duress. Or because you were stressed. Because I know that you were stressed.”

She took a deep breath and I waited for what she was about to say. “I’m sorry. I should never have made you feel that way. I should have listened to you and not jumped to any conclusion.”

“Thank you. It’s fine, babes.”

“Is that why you made me promise not to call you crazy?”

I nodded with my eyes closed. I felt Kendra kiss my forehead after I nodded. “I’m so sorry.”

“You can give me a million dollars to make up for it, since you’re so sorry. That way I’ll be able to start a new life far away from that monster called Dimitri Rustanov.”

“If I had a million dollars, do you really think I would be here with you?” Kendra asked and I gasped in mock outrage.

“I see how it is is,” I said with a fake sniff and the both of us burst into laughter.

When the laughter abated, I saw Kendra hesitate, like she wanted to say something but she didn’t know how to. I raised my brow at her, curious to know what was her mind.

“Don’t you think you’re being a little too harsh with the word ‘monster’?” Kendra asked and I rolled my eyes.

“I’m sorry I called someone who threatened me and gaslighted me, trying to get me to think I am crazy, a monster. Forgive me.”

“I’m sorry, Willow. I just… forget it. You’ll understand soon enough.”

Her words were cryptic but I did not even have the strength to try and decode anything. So I closed my eyes and tried to get my mind off the intriguing man that was my boss. The man I was not quite sure if I hated or if I was attracted to.