Chapter 6 A warning and a threat

Elsa

I wished good morning to the front desk receptionist as I passed by her and made my way toward the elevator banks. Each step was sending a sharp throb behind my right eye as my migraine made its presence known like I wasn’t already miserable enough. Yesterday, after I finished my work here, it had been the busiest and most harrowing six hours in the diner where I worked the night shift and tolerated the uninvited attention of sleazy men which had led to the beginning of this horrible migraine.

I stepped into the elevator as the doors opened and pressed the button for the twenty fifth floor. My mind went to the number of things I have to do but the one I was trying to ignore popped into the forefront of my mind. Kaden asked me to go out on a dinner date with him. A part of me wanted to agree to do that, have the whole dating experience but I knew it was something that would end up in disaster with just one glimpse into my past and what effect it had on my present. But what if Kaden was someone who wouldn't care about all that and instead would provide something that I had lacked for all these years. Safety.

The elevator doors opened on the tenth floor and I sent up a silent prayer that this tin box wouldn't fill up with chattering people, and the god granted my wish in the form of the tall man whose eyes met mine and he smiled. “Good morning, Elsa.”

“Good morning, Kaden.” I replied, my voice soft and subdued due to my headache.

His dark eyes sharpened on me and he asked, “Are you alright, Elsa?”

I shrugged and answered, “Just a little headache.”

“Then you should've stayed home.”

I looked at him and wrinkled my nose. “It’s just my second day.”

He chuckled softly and said, “No one would say anything if I’m giving you the day off.”

“But, you are not my boss.”

“So, I keep telling you.” He replied, arching a brow.

I smiled a little and shook my head. “It’s fine. I am used to it.”

Two hours later my headache had gotten worse, my right eye was blurry and I felt like I was going to either faint or vomit all over the desk and the papers strewn on it. Even my hands were shaking as I tried to sort the papers and put them in neat piles according to their subjects.

I called the front desk and asked, “Hello, yes, I wanted to ashh... ask where can I get the painkillers in this whole building?” I bit down on my lip, recognising the lisp I was getting. It happened every time, whenever my migraine got worse, my speech would come out like I was under the influence of drugs.

“Um— you can go to the on-site medical office. They’ll provide you with whatever you need.”

“Than—” She hung up on me. I looked down at the receiver and made a face. “Kyou... stupid!” God, I hate this stupid migraine. And these stupid people. And the stupid fact that I’d have to go on my own two feet to get the painkillers that would at least make this headache tolerable.

I stood up and had to brace a hand on the desk as my head spun. Blinking to dispel the dark spots that danced in front of my eyes, I made my way toward the door. The bright lights in the hallway made me want to run back into my tiny little office but I managed to keep walking. It was only when I was about to step into the open area with a lot of cubicles, I heard the dark chilly voice that struck a familiar chord deep in my chest.

I almost tripped over my own two feet as that voice registered. “I don’t fucking care if your own mother was on the death bed, you should’ve been here for the hearing.”

“Sir, I—” A very diminutive voice began but his frigid voice cut off the other person. “Not a word. I don’t want to hear from you. You are fired.”

I swallowed tightly, my pulse quickening as my mind tried to protect itself by whispering again and again, trying to convince me that it wasn’t possible. It couldn’t be him. I was maybe conjuring up his voice, it wouldn’t be the first time. My already throbbing brain has decided to play more games with me.

“Sir, I am really sorry. It won’t hap—”

“No, it won’t.” His voice was low and flinty, and carried toward me like a whip. He said, “I don’t like to repeat myself, you have half an hour. Pack your things and leave.”

I took a step forward and peeked around the wall. A man stood in the middle with his back to me. All the people in the office looked down, not meeting his eyes, cowering from him. He was more than six feet tall. If my assumption was correct he’d be six feet and two. He wore a black suit that stretched across his shoulder in a perfect manner. His one hand was in his pocket and another by his side as he rubbed his pinky finger with his thumb.

I held my breath, wanting to run out of here but my feet refused to move. My chest was aching and my head was spinning, and a voice filled with longing whispered softly— maybe, it was him. Finally, you will see him, all your prayers have been answered at last. But on the heels of that thought came the ominous words I would never forget. “Don’t ever show me your fucking face, little girl. Because I will destroy you and everything you love. I’ll make your life so miserable you’ll wish for death but I will keep you alive.” It was a warning and a threat he had given me, and I had taken it seriously because I knew he meant it. And I knew how much he liked to keep his promises, especially the ones made to his enemies. And the last time I had met him, he had cleared it up who I was to him.

The man started to turn around. My heart hammered so forcefully it felt like it’d jump right out of my chest. My hand went to clutch my chest as he came into view. No. Yes. No. No. Yes, please. No.

@Gupta