Kaden's vixen

Kaden

Dayo was getting on my nerves. It's like he woke up with the singular purpose of continuing a conversation we had been having for months, one which I might add, I had no interest in. Looking outside the window, I wonder if I could chuck him out of the plane. Would that be classified as murder? Maybe I can claim extenuating circumstances when questioned by the police... Or I could just gag him for the rest of the flight. Or drown him in his soup. Ha! That seems like a fun way to go. Instant peace and quiet.

"Bro, thinking murderous thoughts won't stop this conversation. I'll just haunt you forever as a ghost. I'm sure I'll make a cute ghost, don't you think?"

The idiot I call my best friend blinks at me extra slowly, and I can't help but laugh.

"When have you ever heard the words cute and ghost together?"

Dayo laughs with me and stretches his legs better. At both six feet several inches tall, first class was the only way to travel. Earlier on in our career, we had slummed it up in economy but never again, thank God.

"So, how far are you on your presentation?"

Running a hand through my black hair, I smirk at my best friend and proudly announce that I'm all done.

"You?"

"Just a few finishing touches and we are good to go."

He sees my raised eyebrows and hits me lightly on the shoulder "Bro, I swear, this won't be like Barbados." "It better not be. Now, I'm going to get some shut-eye. Wake me up when the plane lands, man."

I know Dayo can never sleep on planes, no matter how long the flight is. When you've been through the shit I've been though, a plane crash is nothing to worry about. So, I close my eyes, recline my seat, and get some rest.

I sit up once I feel a gentle tap on my shoulder.

"I still get freaked out when you wake up fully alert like that, K. Any ways, plane's about to land."

"Thanks, man."

Sitting up, I listen as the flight attendants welcome us to Germany. Having flown many times, I zone out of the obligatory announcements about local time, and the usual admonishments about safety. Instead, I start mentally running over the presentation we have tomorrow at the International cybersecurity conference we attend every year.

Immigration is a breeze and I appreciate the benefits of weather forecasts when we step out into significantly colder weather than the one we left at home. Luckily, we find a taxi pretty quickly, and we are on our way to our hotel. Dayo chats amiably with our elderly driver, while he navigates the roads leading to our hotel.

"Damn, our next conference had better be in the summer. Probably in the Maldives or something."

"Quit your complaining, K. Cologne is beautiful and I can't wait to explore the museums, and the Cologne Cathedral." Leaning forward, he asks the driver "Sir, I know it's only October, but would the Christmas markets be open?"

Our driver turned his head slightly and said "Nein, nein."

"I don't speak German, but even I know that's no. Dee, why would a Christmas market be open in October? That's how y'all play in your village?"

"Shut up Kay-den, the fact that you got your dad's hair does not mean we aren't from the same village."

Laughing, I turn and stare at the view outside the car. Without looking at Dayo, I reply "Emphasizing my name doesn't make me feel bad, Dayo." His scoff makes my smile grow wider.

The road winds a bit, and the River Rhine glitters beside it like a slumbering yet sentient serpent. The serpent undulates and I can barely make out wild, sea foam eyes looking at me while keeping pace with the car. Shaking my head at my thoughts, I focus and realize the driver is pulling into Hotel Ernst.

"Wow, Kaden. This place is nice! You always pick great hotels, so I am not surprised."

Shoving him a bit, I smirk and say, "You like everything, but you know I have certain specifications for anywhere I sleep." Our gazes meet, and we share a sober moment, which I lighten up by slinging my arm around his neck "Don't worry, Dayo. I'll let you pick your room first."

The hotel is truly something, I muse as we walk in through towering pillars into a modern, yet warm hall. Maybe it's the green plants strategically placed around the reception hall, or the comfortable looking couches placed in clusters for weary travelers.

"Welcome to Hotel Ernst. My name is Cynthia, and I will be your personal assistant throughout your stay." I smile at the blonde bombshell with big blue eyes and murmur a greeting to her. My best friend, on the other hand, is all smiles and glittering teeth as he takes her hand to press a chaste kiss on it.

"Oh wow, I'm sure my stay will be wonderful with you overseeing everything."

Cynthia looks slightly dazed but recovers admirably.

"I'll show you to your suites now. Please follow me"

Dayo flirts with Cynthia throughout the elevator ride to the third floor. Stepping out, the poor girl is red all over and I am quick to bid her and Dayo a good night. I set up my portable scanner to check the suite, then take a long, hot shower; Powering up my laptop to go over my presentation the next day, I idly muse about Sol Security, the company I co-own with Dayo. It's been five years of blood, sweat, and tears to grow a fledgling brand into a sought after name in Australia, but I am quite proud of our success. By 10pm, jetlag is kicking my butt, and I get ready to sleep. One good thing about being bone tired is the fact that my sleep will be deep and dreamless. My last thoughts as I drift off is to thank God for simple mercies.

Morning comes quickly and I run through my presentation again as I shower and eat breakfast with Dayo. He looks chipper in a collared shirt, sweater, and pants, despite the dark circles under his eyes.

"Sleep well?"

Taking a sip of his coffee, he smirks at me as he says, "You know damn well I didn't sleep well. Totally worth it though."

Shaking my head, I drain my cup and stand up.

"Let's go. We need to set up our booth."

The conference is being held on the ground floor and we quickly set up our booth in our assigned space. Leaving Dayo to man the booth for the first half of the conference, I make my way inside the hall and set up my presentation. Both presentations went well, and we were able to make some connections with some possible clients.

Back in the elevator that afternoon, Dayo is in great spirits. The man is literally bouncing on his toes with excitement, which is quite amusing to see. I'm happy too, but I've learnt to be less effusive with my feelings. Everything needs to be kept under control.

"Man, we are celebrating tonight, Kaden! Let's meet up for drinks after dinner, yeah? I need to take a quick nap."

Shoving him playfully, I mimic him using a baby voice "I need to take a quick nap. What are you, a child?"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, see you later bro."

Unknown POV

I stare out of my study window at my garden. It's a warm day but I know Germany is currently much cooler. I love cold weather, and it irks me that I'm back home while he is in Cologne enjoying himself. Swiveling in my chair, I run a hand through my hair and massage my scalp. I have a stress headache, and it's all his fault, damn it! Sighing, I pour myself some red wine and swirl my glass like a pretentious asshole I am. The wine catches the light and looks like liquid blood. It calms me down and I can think clearly again. I've made a conscious effort not to get too riled up anymore. Bad things happen to other people when I get angry. Taking a deep gulp of my drink, I sigh again and try to decide my entry point and back story.

The movies lie. They make killing a man seem like such a simple task. Maybe it is. I do not just want to kill this man though. I want to destroy his life, take away everything he holds dear to him, strip him of all he has, and watch him beg for mercy to die. Then, I will kill him. Or keep him as a pet. I've waited for twenty years, and my plan is ready to be set in motion. I'll start small though. Don't want to make waves too early. Definitely don't want to spook my prey.

The thought of a six foot plus man as prey makes me smile. Big game makes for the sweetest hunt and I almost can't wait! Let the games begin!

Kaden

Blood. I'm drowning in blood. It's freezing and thick and seems to have a mind of its own. Struggling to free myself, I kick my heels and catch sight of a silver railing. As I grab the railing to pull myself out, red tipped manicured fingers run through my hair, and I can't help the full body shiver that goes through me when a soft, beautiful voice says:

"Where do you think you're going, baby? You just got here. Stay with me."

The fingers comb through my hair lovingly, then suddenly turn harsh and push me deeper and deeper into the blood. I'm fighting with everything I have now, but I can't win. They keep pushing and pushing until I'm submerged in blood and die.

I shoot up in bed, heaving and shaking. I know the drill though and force myself to slowly take deep breaths even though it feels like I'm breathing broken glass. My room is dark, but the bathroom door allows a trickle of light to spill in. It takes an eternity, but I finally stop feeling like I'm about to tear my skin off. I get out of bed, and pad to the bathroom, while shedding my boxers. Stepping under the shower, I turn it on blistering hot, then alternate with cold. A few cycles later, I'm calm enough to step out of the shower. I don't bother to dry off. I just walk to the small fridge and take a swig of whiskey.

Checking the time, I'm debating if I should still try and lie down when my phone rings. It's Dayo and I know I won't like whatever he has planned for this evening. I allow the phone to ring for a while, unanswered. Dee doesn't agree with that and calls back. I'm still thinking of ways to avoid him, and the inevitable outing planned when I hear a knock on my door. Resigned, I wrap a robe around me and check the peephole before opening the door.

"Man, I know you were not just staring at your phone thinking of ways to avoid me." Dayo breezes in, dressed in black jeans, and a red turtleneck top. His fingers are adorned with rings and he has worn his stud earrings. He is clearly ready for a night out, while I feel washed out and worn.

"Guy, you've obviously put in a lot of effort into your look. Maybe..."

"Nope. No, no, no," he cuts me off. "We had a deal, agreements were made, acceptance nods were received. We are going out."

With that, he gives me a once-over and strides towards my box, muttering under his breath about how normal people unpack their bags when they check-into a hotel.

"D, I really am not in the mood tonight. I'm tired, and I need to just chill and..."

"Again, Kade, No. We've been working really hard these past few months. We need a break! We are flying out tomorrow evening, and it's back to the grind again. I need to let loose, man."

He tosses a pair of black jeans and a grey top and black cashmere sweater on the bed and turns to me with a suddenly serious face.

"See, I even picked out your favorite color. I know you are tired, but you look like you shouldn't be left alone tonight. So, let's go out, have some drinks, dance a little, flirt with some beautiful women, then come in. Okay?"

Resigned to an eventful evening, I pick out boxers from my bag and slide them on under the robe. Looking sideways at the man-child currently lounging on my bed, I dress quickly. Unlike Dayo, I don't wear any accessories, only my simple Armitron Rogue watch, and a simple black bracelet my mum bought me last year. I slip my phone and wallet in my pocket, and walk towards the door while tossing over my shoulder:

"Okay, I'm ready. So where are we going, exactly?"

Dayo jumps up, still glued to his phone, and says "Well, according to Trip Advisor, Mio club is highly rated, and not too far from our hotel. Also, it's one of the few ones I can actually pronounce. They open at 11pm, and it's already 10pm so we should hustle. I checked their website, and they have a Balkan, Latin, and Afro night today. We'll stop for dinner downstairs first though. I'm starving.

Sera

Tonight has been a huge disappointment. I've been in this club for over an hour and the only great thing about it is the music. The type of men that have come up to chat me up, however, have been total losers. Something is in the air tonight, and it's not fun. Sighing to myself, I knock back my Bombardino. I was skeptical when the bartender suggested it but it's honestly delicious!

"Babe, just looking at you is depressing, and you know I need cheering up tonight." My roommate Mila hugs me from behind and shouts in my ear. I turn my head because she is about to deafen me, and her breath can start a fire. Clad in a slinky silver dress that barely covers her butt, she has a lot of admirers eyeing her from across the dance floor. Her silver earrings jangle as she drags me up unsteadily. Sober, she's barely four feet two, and my five feet, eight inches make me a freaking giant beside her. I allow her to drag me to the dance floor when the DJ switches to Despacito. Squealing, we both start shimmying and dropping to the beat. I am a shy dancer but Mila makes it easy to not care when she is also dancing with me. Laughing, we effortlessly fall into our Despacito choreography, something we learned for fun when the song came out. Alcohol makes it easy to bend and roll my hips while Mila shouts "Go girl!" from behind me. I'm laughing at her exaggerated shouts when I turn my head and time stops. There is a Greek god of a man standing just off the dance floor, and something about the way he is staring at me makes my limbs freeze for moment. I shake it off and keep dancing, but now that I know about him, my head keeps turning to check on him. He is looking at me every single time. I'm totally flustered and helpless to stop staring when he drains his drink, keeping eye contact throughout. I dimly acknowledge the fact that he has a friend with him when he passes him the empty tumbler and disappears into the dimly lit club. Suddenly feeling like I've been released from a spell, I shake my head and motion to Mila that I'm going to the bar. I feel jittery and excited, so I make a beeline to the toilets instead. Luckily, the line in front of the loo isn't too long, and the bass from the speakers is somewhat muted in this section. Once I'm in, I take a moment to pee, then splash some water on my face after peeing. My black cutout dress is suddenly confining, so I take a few deep breaths.

Calm down, Sera. He is just a man. A beautiful man, yes. But a random one. You didn't even get a good look at him. All you know is that he is quite tall and has incredible eyes. Whatever else that was, was just an effect of the booze. You've sobered up somewhat, so just go back out, have another drink, and tell Mila you're going. You need to start packing anyway. School's done, and you start work in a month.

I run my hands through my red curls and straighten my dress. Nodding to myself, then smirking at how much of a weirdo I am, I step outside the bathroom with renewed confidence and walk back towards the bar. A huge shadow on the corridor walls makes me pause and I inconspicuously search my purse for my pepper spray.

The shadow straightens up and a cheery voice exclaims "Whoa, pretty girl! I mean no harm, I promise. I just wanted to talk to you."

O...kay. Like that isn't creepy at all.

Standing still, I watch as the man steps into the light and I see the man beside the Greek god from earlier. He seems interesting and a bit on the wild side, dreadlocs on one side of his head, with the other side close cropped and shaped well. He has silver and gold rings on all fingers and when he turns his head slightly to glance down the corridor, I catch a glimpse of jewelry in both ears.

"My name is Dayo. I couldn't help but notice you and my man K staring at each other across the dance floor."

"Um, Oh...I am really sorry. I didn't know you guys were together..."

"Hold up, girl. No. That's not what I meant at all. He is my best friend but it's been so long since I've seen him this interested in a girl. He couldn't take his eyes off you throughout."

Feeling a bit reassured, I move a little closer and ask this strange yet earnest man.

"So, why are you here instead of him?"

Dayo sighs and says gently "He might look unapproachable, but he is actually very shy. I just wanted to know if you'll be interested in meeting him?"

My first thought is No. I may not go out much, but I've never been hit on by proxy before. Then, I think about light colored eyes, and bronze skin and I say Yes before I think about it.

"Really? Oh nice. I'll introduce you guys then."

We walk down the corridor with Dayo asking me about myself and telling me they are tech bros who came for a conference. Just before we enter the main club area, he turns towards me and says softly, "Sera, if for any reason you decide you don't like Kaden, please let him down gently."

He sees from my expression that I do not understand, but he just smiles sadly and ushers me forward.