Chapter 3 Zipped scars

Mia's voice grew weary and afraid as she stormed out of the kitchen, racing out in the cold while tracking the GPS location of Rey's phone. Her heart pounded as she navigated the dark, deserted road.

Though winter was nearly over, snow began to fall, dusting the streets in white flakes that glowed yellow under the streetlights. She dialed the Emergency contact in her phone, alternating between short sprints and brisk walks.

A male voice crackled out of the phone. "This is 911. What's your emergency?"

"There's an accident somewhere around old Highway 80 in San Diego. Please help!" She cried.

"We'll be there in a minute."

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice trembling.

She looked into the night, set aglow by the waning streetlight, towering over her. There was a car across the street that looked exactly like Rey's, swerved into a ditch.

She walked a little closer and slower, the GPS tracker indicating arrival at the prospect's location. The face her eyes met, in the pit of his subconscious, almost threw her off-balance. It was Rey, with his head resting on the car's wheels.

"Mr. Reynaldo?" She asked unsure, her voice growing coarse with despair, drawing closer to the scene.

She opened the car's door and tried to revive him but to no avail. She pulled him out of the car in a struggle and laid him on the grass.

He had gotten a few scratches, and his alcoholic state wasn't helping. In the cold air, her breath labored, crawling visibly out of her lips. The snowflakes dropped on his face and she stretched her fingers out to pick them away.

Her fingers froze, and she withdrew in realization. This was the first time she had ever stared at him for this long. Her eyes traveled along his relaxed face. Her gaze darted to the shape of his brows and how perfectly they complemented his eyes. She traced the perfect pointedness of his nose, listening to his breath rise and fall.

"What on earth was that?" She jerked, upright. A few seconds away from where the accident happened, she could hear the siren roll out into the night air.

The ambulance arrived swiftly, sirens cutting through the night. Paramedics from UC San Diego Health-La Jolla and Hillcrest hospitals worked efficiently.

"He would be fine," one of them said.

"Yeah... It's a minor case, but his hands are bleeding badly. It looks like an impact from another accident," the one who seemed to be their superior examined, making Mia feel disturbed.

They had bandaged the bleeding arm and placed a small plaster on his head.

"Wait a minute, why does this guy look like Reynaldo Davies, the software mogul, I saw on TV last night?" Another paramedic asked. She was the youngest of them.

"That's true though, he looks just like him," another responded. Mia knew she didn't want this going out into public knowledge. It would make the headlines that the son of California's richest billionaire was found wasted on a deserted highway. So, she averted it.

"No... He isn't Reynaldo Davies. He's just my boss," she affirmed by nodding her head, in hopes that should have cleared all visible doubts.

Reaching the hospital, Andrews, Rey's secretary, was waiting for them. Mia had called and informed him about Rey's accident, and he immediately rushed down to the hospital.

"Hey!" Andrews waved toward her from where he stood at the entrance.

"Mr. Andrews!" She said, waving back as she moved towards him.

"It's a good thing you're here on time. I had no idea how I would have dealt with the hospital bills," she said, heaving.

"How's he doing?" Andrews asked.

"One of the agents said he only sustained a few injuries, and he'd be discharged as soon as he is examined," Mia replied, and Andrews's face relaxed.

"It's good to hear. By the way, you look tired, yourself. Would you mind a light snack?"

"Well... I'm not hungry. I had dinner while waiting for Mr. Reynaldo at home." A faint smile appeared, pulling the corner of her lips.

They waited in a nearby teashop, watching the snow fall and sipping tea while Rey was examined and discharged about two hours later.

It was almost morning when they arrived at Rey's villa. He had regained consciousness but with a slightly banging head, just as they left the hospital. Andrews and Mia helped him up the stairs to his room on the second floor, before Andrews bid them goodbye.

Mia helped Reynaldo adjust to the soft duvet in his room. She was at first hesitant to go close to him now that he was watching her movements. His eyes followed every step she took and she felt like the ground should have swallowed her that moment.

Rey never allowed her into his room, not even the ladies who came trailing in every night. He did all he wanted to in the guest room and by morning, they'd be gone.

She drew the curtains closed and turned on the heater at the near end of the room.

"Sir, is there anything else you'd like me to do for you?" She asked, a little skeptical about staying in the room for a minute longer. She watched him move out of bed, pouring himself a glass of water.

"I could have done that if you told me to." She said, lowering her eyes.

He tilted his head in her direction and smirked. He turned, drawing slow steps towards her, pulling at his tie and undoing the buttons of his shirt with his left hand.

"You can stand there if you plan to watch me undress." He teased.

Flustered, Mia backed away, fumbling for the door handle, her heart racing. Outside she leaned against the wall trying to calm herself.

"What was that?" She exclaimed. She remembered the look in his eyes when he spoke his last words. Was he even in an accident a few hours ago? Did he have to be so cunny all the time?

Questions swirled in her mind about her boss's behavior, as she raced to the staff quarters outside the house. The morning light began breaking into the snow-kissed landscape. It was almost sunrise and she hadn't gotten enough sleep.