Partnering With Mr. Right

CHAPTER 1 BETTER OFF

NORA

The clouds grumbled above, a distant fading growl heralding what was either going to be a downpour or a drizzle, Nora wasn't sure.

A web of agony and sorrow lay before her in the form of car photos and plate numbers.

It was dulled now by the ages that had gone by, but the image of her father's laughter, and her brother doing drifts with his bike, ran along the track of her mind, enhancing her pain.

But she had to force herself every now and then to look at the photos, to find clues.

Just like now.

But her father's image came again. He sipped on cappuccino as he stared lovingly at her. "You know one of the reasons I've always wanted to be successful is so that I can be of help to disabled people. I really see those peeps. It's some work to be born with bent hands that can't even type on a computer enough to apply for a job, or being in a vegetative state, and every one else is busy with their lives."

" You are doing a good job of that dad," Nora would always respond.

Her dad's gaze would once again train lovingly, observantly at her. " You look so much like your mother ...I just wish she was alive to see you turn five."

Nora was about to respond, as usual---

Her phone rang.

It was her boyfriend, Daniel.

She answered the call.

"Hey love," said Dan.

"Baby." She clutched the phone dearly to her ears. Dan's voice was the relief she needed at the moment.

"You still busy? When you coming over?"

" Umm..I guess I won't be free for a little longer. Miss me?"

" I do. But take your time. Okay? We can see tomorrow and have wide sex, do crazy stuff lovers do." His voice was raspy--hungry.

It did things to her, things she wasn't sure she was ready for at the moment. Her stomach sang with delight.

'Fuck'

" Okay. Uhh ..See you tomorrow then. Bye bae"

" Bye," he ended the call and she wished he didn't.

She wanted to talk to him somewhat, some more.

Heck she wanted more than that.

Now she couldn't refocus.

She couldn't put a stop to the naughty thoughts he just implanted in her mind; they were running around like unchecked mice now in her brain.

And this chilly about-to-rain weather wasn't helpful, at all. "Fuck this."

The clouds rumbled again in agreement.

She stood from her desk. She could attend to all these later.

She fished for a trenchcoat, choosing the brown one this time, before she fetched her car keys and headed out of the building.

She had gotten to Dan's place, her eyes and mind dancing with excitement, with all the things that would go down tonight. The fact that she was surprising him was just the garnishment she needed, to bring her in-the-moment fantasies to life.

She could imagine the surprise in his face, morphing into a mischievous sparkle in his eyes as he kissed her and then..

She parked her car, some distance from his yard.

She got down and passed The lawns and gardens which had been trimmed to control the aftereffects of the rain fall.

Grass had a tendency to shoot once it was rainy season.

Dan's place was a condominium. And his apartment was at the upper floors.

She took the walk to his floor and paused when she saw two footwears.

Dan's timberland, she knew; but the red heels beside it?

Her heartbeat skyrocketed as a cloud of doubt hovered over her mind.

Who was around? Dan didn't have female siblings

Her heart was beating like a heavy bass drum, making her taste aridness.

Maybe he was just in with a friend. Silly Nora. She had to keep her insecurities and doubts in check. Dan hadn't given her reason to doubt him over the years.

He wouldn't do it now.

She turned in her keys which he had given her. She carefully pushed the door open, pulling off her heels to ensure she didn't make a sound.

As silent as a shadow

As stealthy as a cat.

Her handbag in hand she crept forward, past the living room with the fluffy rug at its center and into the bedrooms, the sound of her heartbeat nearly drowning out her hearing, her senses.

But she heard it.

"Fuckkkkk. Mmmmmm. You feel so good." A female voice moaned.

"You like it? You enjoying my cock bitch?" Dan's unmistakable voice sounded, followed by a slap. " You like it."

"Yes yesssss. Harder...go harder baby. Oh. I thinkkk I'm gonna cummm."

Nora's bag dropped to the floor, her legs weakened underneath her.

Her mouth had gone completely dry now, and she felt her world spinning.

The shadow demons from two years ago coming back to take away her happiness, once again.

Once again.

With a shaky breath she breathed in and breathed out but it wasn't achieving the desired effect. "Fuck." She mumbled to herself.

Her eyes teared up. What would she do now? What would she do?

She had to confront him at least. Find closure? There had to be a logical reason right? She just wanted answers.

She neared the door when the lady's voice came again.

"You know I give it to you in a way that insane bitch can't, and yet you are still with her?"

" Are you going to throw a fuss now? I don't have anything to do with her. She's lost herself. I think it's better she joins her dead family, since she can't move on from their death, she's just a shell of her former self now. I am truly disgusted."

" Then fucking break up with her and stop trying to lay it off."

" I will do it," he grunted. " Don't spoil the fun."

" When?"

Nora taking her bag, opened the door with firm resolve coursing through her.

Dan and the woman turned, shock racing like garrons across their faces.

"We are ending things now dear, you don't have to worry about that." She said.

" Fuck me." Dan flew off the lady, his 'teenie' dangling like a falling stick. "What the hell Nora! How did you?"

"How did I come in unannounced, without informing you? Or how did I manage to catch you fucking another woman just now? Discovering you for the wretched man that you are?" She raised an auburn brow. "Which is it, Dan?"

The bewilderment didn't leave Dan's face, it glued to him like a second skin.

The lady had cowered underneath the covers, more ashamed than Dan of her naked body being publicly displayed. But her glare on Nora was palpable.

Dan scratched his head. "You should have...told me you were coming, Nora. For real. I--"

" You would have sent her away? Better still, you wouldn't have let her come. So you can keep your pretence. You make me sick."

And that wasn't an understatement. Her stomach, once churning with naughty delights at thoughts of what she would do with her man, now burned with distaste and disgust.

She felt nauseous.

Dan's eyes glazed over, something like remorse flashing in them."I didn't mean to do this Nora. It was the Devil's work. I don't have anything doing with her"

" Dan!" The woman threw a pillow angrily at him " You are such an ingrate!! You've been fucking me for months now; and all of a sudden it's the devil's work!!"

But Dan didn't afford her even a gaze.

"We are done Daniel. Goodbye." Nora said.

Dan made to walk towards her, when she raised her bag as if to swing it.

"If you dare take a step towards me. I will use my bag on your face!"

CHAPTER 2 DIM-LIGHT

" Nora please. Try to understand me. Why can't you see me for my sincerity? I'm truly sorry. We all make mistakes."

The woman covered her face with her hands in frustration.

" Mistakes?" Nora scoffed. "You even insulted and disrespected my dead dad and brother. How dare you! How dare you Dan! What wrong have I ever done you?" A tear stung her pupils.

" This won't happen again, please Nora."

" You're right, Daniel. It won't." She turned and walked out of the room.

"Nora!" Dan called after her.

"If you go after her, we are done!" Said the woman from indoors, but Nora wasn't going to wait to see the outcome of that.

She steeled herself, dragging her legs out of his apartment.

She made it out the front door and reached the staircase when she realized she was barefooted.

She cursed silently in her head and went back, to put her shoes on.

"Nora we can talk about this." Dan popped a dejected face out of the door. "You are being impossible right now."

"We are done Daniel. Go back and keep fucking. You were having a good time. Don't ruin your fun for me."

Her heart split into a million fragments as she spoke, like she was using her owns hands to cut it, with her words.

She needed to stop talking to him, or she'd lose control of the tears she was trying so hard to keep in.

She flew down the stairs and out into the open yard.

It was drizzling now.

The rain which held promise had turned into a sick disappointment for her.

Now all it was doing was upstaging her grief, mocking her.

She should never have come out of her place.

But at the same time, how would she have discovered Dan for the cheat he was if she hadn't stepped out?

How comical could life get?

She pressed her electronic key and her car beeped, unlocking.

She opened the car door and slid in, pressing the electronic start button

Dan hadn't followed her downstairs, and she was thankful for it.

She just might have entertained the thought of running him through. And she didn't want that.

There was little traffic on the road as she drove, giving her ample time to relax into her seat, and allow her thoughts out of their cage.

But it was a deadly mistake.

The tears coursed down now, unrestrained.

Zach's young face and disheveled brownie hair came to her once again.

"You know I'll whoop your ass anytime Nora. We both know who's got the smarts ....come play call of duty with me if you dare." He would smirk at her just before donning his helmet and giving her a thumbs up.

And every time ...Nora would chase him to his bike.

She'd watch him zoom off.

On the way to his death.

'Fuck' She wiped her eyes and shook her head vigorously when the traffic moved. 'fuckkk'

She couldn't afford to have blurry vision, or to be disoriented while driving.

Her phone was on, Dan wasn't calling. Of course. She hadn't expected any other thing than that, than for his dick to rule him. She just didn't know that had been the case all this while.

He probably was rounding up now, cumming inside that cruel lady and then planning to call her later, and play on her intelligence.

Apologizing like the 'pussified man' he was.

She scoffed as she switched her phone off and drove straight home.

The street lamps were lit now, to wad off the dark on this side of town. Water cascaded and rolled off the street into drainage lines as Nora hung her bag over her shoulder, hugging her trenchcoat and her sorrow tighter to herself, doing what she could to shoo away cold.

She had reached her block when she saw a man standing just beside her facade.

His back was to her.

He was tall,brown smooth willowy hair, black suits, and had as much mystery and strangeness as anyone who was backing anyone in dim-light could have.

He was intently reviewing the photo she had stamped on the wall, of a man she was searching for.

Her suspect.

She had stamped that photo on some other places too.

Her heart thumped, just a little. She quickly pulled out a shot gun, from her bag.

She closed in on him.

As silent as a shadow.

"I didn't know murderers still existed in new York City" he said to himself.

'What the fuck?' She thought to herself, pausing.

"Who the fuck are you?" She finally spoke and the man turned.

Nora's mouth almost dropped.

This man was---no. Handsome wouldn't make the cut. He was a what-in-fucking-heavens-is-this-beauty?

Nora's hand almost wobbled but she maintained her grip on the ammunition.

" Easy there falcon. " He said, features relaxed, hands in his pockets. Not even in the least bothered that a woman he didn't know, was pointing a gun at him.

Interesting.

Nora used both hands now to hold the gun. "I said, who the fuck are you?, what are you doing on my yard, why are you staring at a picture I pinned?"

" That's a lot of questions. Which should I answer first?" He asked calmly, undisturbed in the slightest.

His face even gave away the hint that he probably was enjoying this.

" You are holding that gun at a wrong angle. Your grip is slack. I could easily take it from you..if I wanted. "

Nora's nerves zinged with anxiety, with dread." I could watch you try, and watch you end up dead."

He scoffed. " Then you should be pointing to my head, if you want me dead."

She observed him for another brief second, gun still pointed at him.

"Are you crying?" He asks, staring intently at her.

His stolid face wavered just slightly.

" It's none of your business." She blurted out.

" Does it have anything to do with him? Maybe I can get him faster than you can." he pointed to the photo.

She scoffed, lowering the gun slightly" No sir, I do not need your help. Neither do I need your sympathy. I think you should leave. It's evening, everyone is wary of strangers lurking around strangers property by this time."

" You are lowering your gun. Isn't that a careless action considering you are talking to a stranger? Or perhaps you no longer regard me as one"

She shook her head, completely lowering it down now. "Delusional"

He didn't look like the threat she was on the hunt for, she was watching out for.

He raised a brow, watching her."So what if I was a dangerous person? You just made it easier for me to oust you."

CHAPTER 3 DANGEROUS

She looked him over, reviewing him." If you wanted to, you would have." She said. " And yes I knew how I held the gun,I knew how I sized you up. If you were a threat you would have taken advantage, though I wouldn't have allowed you. But for the fact you were honest and forthcoming, a dangerous person won't do that."

He walked closer to her, just close enough that she almost paused breathing.

gods! Was this guy beautiful! How in the world could someone be this beautiful? Fair supple skin. Black eyes that danced like sparkling diamonds.

"I am worried you have a wrong definition of dangerous. You might just have it looking right at you, and you won't notice." He blinked and the bland coldness in his eyes dimmed a little." Well, Richard Monroe Right. Nice to meet you"

He reached out a hand to shake her but she just stared at it.

"Goodnight, Mr. Right" she turned on her heels and stumbled forward towards her place. She fumbled for her keys and used it to unlock the door.

Stepping in, she made to close the door but it didn't budge.

She turned and to her surprise, Richard was holding the door back.

She glared at him "I don't understand?"

His blank expression hovered with a touch of indifference.

She made to shut the door again, but his grip was stronger than her's. "Hey what the fuck are you--"

"I know you wouldn't mind me coming in... you hold the gun, I am at your mercy."

" And why would you want to be in a stranger's house?"

" I am cold. Perhaps you can make me some warm tea? If you have a potent herb for cold it would be better."

She narrowed her eyes and he sighed, pulling off his suit, making sure to empty his pockets. " Look, I don't have anything with me. I could pull off the underwear too."

" No need." She slammed the door in his face, seeing as he had let go of the door.

She left the inside lights off, so she could see what was going on outside, what this man was up to, because he didn't look like someone who was up to something good.

Why did he give her so much mixed feelings all at once.

Her innards swooned when she looked at his ethereal face, then there was his dangerous appeal, his appearance.

Those ones made her question her sanity , if she was thinking straight, muddling her mind because of a stranger.

These streets weren't particularly unsafe, but eyes had to be on alert when they had to be.

She pushed away the ash curtains decking the window, slightly , so she could get a better view of him.

The rain had began to patter over the rooftops, the intensity advancing.

He was still standing, staring out into the nightly streets, his hands stuck in his pockets.

All 6-something feet of him.

She wondered if she should have left him out there? What if he was waiting for a ride that wasn't here yet.

His clothes could get dampened by the rain.

And he had complained about the cold.

A few minutes later three black Rolls Royce pulled up and the driver of the first stepped out holding a black umbrella for the heavy rain.

He ran towards Mr. Right. "I am so so sorry Master. I deserve to be punished. "

Mr. Right waved him off. " You can get back."

The man's eyes widened and he fell on his knees. "I deserve punishment master. Please forgive me."

Right rolled his eyes. "Can you just stop being dramatic? I am waiting for my cup of hot tea from this lady. Do you want to ruin the fun I'm having?" He glared at his subordinate who responded with a cheeky grin.

"Alright master. Just call when you are ready, we'll be just around the block. "

" Get lost already."

The man got back into the car and they all rolled away.

The door reopened and this time the look on her face was more relaxed. "Get in."

"Oh, just about time. Hope it's ready?" He said and walked in.

She stepped aside and watched him take in the environ.

His eyes drifted to the ash cushions that nestled comfortably opposite each other, then up at the milky paint that coated the uninhabited walls and the smooth caramel boards that lidded the dining ceiling.

"I hope you don't mind my little place?" She asked.

" Little place?" He asked as he went to the dining area where pictures were placed on the white- metal table surrounded by ash chairs."tell that to a little kid. You have a neat place. Too neat for my liking."

From what she saw outside, she reckoned he was no ordinary guy.

Just who he was exactly, she couldn't tell.

"You said tea right?"

"What's all this?" He frowned, taking up the photos.

" It seems like you have a knack for touching people's things anyhow " she said.

He ignored her retort." Look, I am genuinely concerned. Is someone stalking you? Something is clearly happening that I am not aware of. None of my business of course. But I don't think I can stand here and have that nudge that you are in some kind of serious mess, and look past it. Once in a while we are obligated to be good Samaritans."

He looked at her, his eyes warm and her heart did a little flip.

The rain was pouring now, heavy, almost drowning out the sound of their voices.

He removed his suit, placing it on one of the chairs.

He undid his shirt by two buttons and that was enough for Nora's eyes to feast--for it to see.

The hard sculpted muscle that-- she looked away, up at him.

This guy really acted like he owned the house.

Who did he think he was?

"You know I don't actually need your help. I can hold my own. Maybe I haven't done some self introduction...my bad. I am Nora Raymond and I am well to do. I have my own company running and as a result this place is well guarded." She pointed abstractly to her surroundings in a bored tone, like she had better things to do than explain who she was to a stranger. " And I'm in a hideout. This is not my real place. I have some....work to do."