Chapter 2 SHADOWED DECEPTION

Flora's POV

SKYLINE BAR

It's been more than five years since I visited this bar. The last time was when Michael and I were celebrating our anniversary, a day that I'd forever remember because of the bad and painful incident that happened, which made me consider the bar a bad place for me to be.

But the presence of Stanley in this bar that day really changed my perspective of the bar. That I could also get good experiences from here, and not just bad ones.

I shook my head to cast aside any negative thoughts or doubts from my head and took a deep breath before going inside.

Once I got in, I scanned the entire bar until my eyes fell on Jessica, who was already waiting for me. She raised her hands and waved at me to come to where she was sitting, with a smile on her face.

Sighting her from a distance I rushed towards where she was sitting and jumped on her. My heart swelled with excitement as our six-month separation melted away in an instant.

"How are you baby gal, you are looking dazzling," she said as we hugged ourselves tightly

"You don't look bad yourself darling", I told her while I kissed her cheeks

"I must say, Stanley is really taking good care of you. Just look at how you're glowing girlll", she exclaimed, her voice tinged with cuteness and happiness

I gave her a shy smile while thanking her for the compliment

She then ordered some drinks for us to take. Personally, I hate alcohol, but since I was with my best friend, who cares she insisted I enjoy myself to the fullest before I become another man's property.

"So, how is the wedding preparation going?", she asked dropping her wine glass on the table

"Hmm, it's going well", I told her

Then I continued to fill her in on how the preparation had been going

"That's wonderful. We'll go shopping for the bridal train tomorrow. I don't like the design of the gown I'm seeing here", she said, her voice telling me that there must be no objection to her suggestion

"As your lordship pleases Ma'am!!!", I playfully agreed with her, chuckling at how cute she sounded and we both burst into laughter, sharing happy moments together

Our discussion then shifted to her life and work abroad. She shared the challenges and difficulties she had been facing with her expression becoming more serious

"My boss is a dick", she complained, sighing frustratedly, rolling her eyes

One thing with Jessica is that once she doesn't like something about a particular person, she tends to insult the person using dirty words, there's nothing you'd ever do to convince her to change that. So, I'm very used to her vulgar words

"You can as well quit the job if he's giving you a hard time. Don't you think?", I asked, teasing her knowing fully well that she'd never adhere to it

"Oh noooo Lora. Who will pay my bills if I do that?", she said, sitting upright and staring at me like I was a fool for suggesting that

"Oh yeah, I know. I was only pulling your legs", I told her, chuckling at how cute she looks

We went on to another topic of discussion until I started feeling pressed, so I had to excuse myself to go to the restroom

"Hmm, Jess I think I need to go to the restroom for a bit", I informed her, standing up quickly to release myself before my bladder explodes

"Okay baby", she told me, sipping from her glass of wine

****

On my way out of the restroom to go join Jess back, I noticed the presence of someone staring at me from afar

I turned to look in that direction, but there was nobody there, so I became confused and really anxious as I walked a little bit faster. I noticed the person staring at me again and turned to look, but there was no one there.

"I must be imagining things", I said to myself, shaking my head to cast aside any negative thoughts from my head while I was still walking fast

Klarrrrrr!!!!

I heard a noise coming from the direction that I once felt the gaze

"Who's there?", I asked hesitantly, moving towards the dead silent side even though I was scared and no one was around

While I moved closer I saw a man in a black jacket with a face cap that covered his face, I couldn't see him or recognize him as he was walking away from me, very quickly at that

I was about to chase after him when I heard Jess calling my name from behind

"Lora, where are you going?", she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity

I stopped and turned back

"Hmm well, I felt someone was watching me, but when I looked in that direction, I saw someone but couldn't recognize the person", I said. "I was about to come back to meet you, but I heard a sound from over there ", I said, pointing in the direction I was heading to

"Then I saw the person dressed in black, moving away from me. I think he was watching me", I told her, feeling worried and curious

"Why would someone be watching you?", she asked me, moving towards the direction where the man was standing initially

She looked around and then came back to where I was

"I think you might be seeing things dear. It might be due to the stress of the wedding", she said, trying to comfort me

"Yeah, maybe", I said to her, also trying to make my mind at peace while I still stared at the place where I saw the mysterious man that suddenly disappeared

On our way back to the table where we were seated, we continued our discussion until Jessica's phone started ringing

"Hmm Lora baby, why don't you just go in first while I answer this call", she said. "It's my mom" and she excused herself

"Oh alright, dear. Please say hello to her from me", I told her, moving back inside to the bar parlor

"Okay love", she said, putting her phone to her ear

****

Inside the bar

I was sipping my wine from the bottle, harmonizing with the slow jam in the bar while waiting for Jessica to come back

She was taking a lot of time. It's more than 20 minutes already, and she's not yet back which made me curious and wonder what must be delaying her

I stood up to go look for her. Immediately I stood up, I felt so dizzy, and my head started aching me

I was about to fall because I couldn't wander properly until I felt a strong arm around my waist preventing me from falling.

"Who's this? He looks familiar to me" I thought as I slowly became unconscious and my eyes closed slowly

I couldn't fathom who he was, because my eyes were feeling too heavy for me to open

But one thing is for sure, I know this man.

Due to the dizziness, I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore. Then, everything went blank.

*****

THE NEXT MORNING

I woke up to my head aching like never before. I slowly opened my eyes and tried to familiarise myself with my surroundings, but it looked so different and new to me

"Where am I?", I asked myself, placing my hands on my head to soothe my aching head

"You're in my bedroom sweetheart", I heard a familiar male voice beside me

I turned to the direction of the voice, and I froze

The last person I expected to see was the person beside me right now. And besides that, we were on the same bed!!!

I looked down at myself, praying within me that what I was thinking in my head wouldn't be exactly what happened.

Unfortunately, it was. I was naked under the duvet. Like we were both naked!!!

I turned to look at the man, who I thought was now far from me. The one man who I thought was now my past. He's here in front of me, and that too, on the same bed with me.

Michael Brooks, my toxic ex-boyfriend!!!