Chapter Six
Renata
As I blink my eyes open, the world spins for just a heartbeat, like a wayward star caught in a gravitational pull before it finds its balance once more.
It's like a jagged puzzle piece struggling to fit into a smooth, curvy frame but soon snapping into place, aligning perfectly as if it was always meant to be.
For just a moment, I feel that jarring misalignment-then, with a sigh, it all falls into place.
I take in my surroundings, staring up at a crisp white ceiling before letting my gaze wander. A cream-colored wardrobe stands sentinel to one side, while a waist-high window invites a cascade of sunlight into the room, the sunshine yellow curtains neatly pulled aside as though beckoning me to the day.
A small table stands at one corner of the room, an open laptop sitting on it, as if someone had been working on it before I woke.
Me, or someone else?
Beneath me, the bed cradles me in soft familiarity, though it's the lone leather chair next to it that captures my attention. Its indentation whispers of someone who was just there, leaving behind the ghost of their presence. A black jacket lies carelessly draped over the back, hinting at the stories still woven into the fabric.
I push myself up slowly, cautious of every move, raising my hands to check for any sign of pain.
Nothing.
Images of my fall flicker through my mind, followed by an engulfing darkness that swallows everything else.
Where am I?
The room surrounds me, small and cramped, its sparse furniture offering little comfort or familiarity.
Muted sounds seep through the closed door, pulling me in. I take tentative steps, my body still wavering from the aftershocks of my unconscious state, as I inch closer.
Suddenly, the door swings open, almost slamming into me. I stumble, nearly losing my footing, but a strong hand catches me at the waist, steadying my dizzying world.
I gaze up into warm brown eyes.
"Liam?"
He offers a small smile-a bittersweet curve of his lips that doesn't quite reach his eyes. "Hey, Ree, you're awake. You really ought to be resting."
I want to protest, to insist that I'm okay, but the world tilts slightly, reminding me that I'm not quite as fine as I wish I were.
"Let's get you back to bed, alright?"
With a gentle grip around my waist, he guides me back to the bed. I sit carefully, exhaustion creeping in with every movement. Even the short walk has drained me more than I'd like to admit. Bed sounds infinitely better right now.
I hear the creak of the chair as he sits near me, and then I feel the warmth of his hand on my forehead. "How do you feel?"
I blink open my eyes to find him studying me, concern etched across his handsome features. I shrug, trying to downplay the lingering fatigue. "Not too shabby. No headache, just a bit of dizziness. Honestly, I'm fine."
He shakes his head, and I can see the deepening crease on his forehead, a telltale sign of regret. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have left you alone." I remain silent, sensing there's more beneath the surface. "I should have canceled my plans with Arlene. I should have brought you home. Can you forgive me?"
I nod, summoning a shaky smile that barely touches my lips. "How did you find me?"
"Someone called me. Apparently, you listed me as your emergency contact," he replies, his voice steady but laced with intensity. He cocks his head, studying me as if trying to unravel a mystery. After a moment, he looks away, his gaze drifting toward the window. "I should've known better than to trust Arlene."
I suppress an internal eye roll.
In the brief time I've come to know Liam, all he seems capable of talking about is his girlfriend.
"Arlene, this, Arlene, that," he drones on, but his voice fades into the background.
I let my gaze drift around the room, a strange chill settling in the pit of my stomach. It's hard to wrap my mind around the fact that I'm somehow inside this body-Renata's body-living a life that feels entirely foreign.
The realization hits me like a wave: I've got to step into her shoes, navigate this new existence, all while piecing together the mystery of my death and the thirst for vengeance that brought me here.
Who am I supposed to get back at?
The question circles like a hawk, sharp and relentless.
A rush of panic invades my mind, hot and overwhelming, and I struggle to push it down. I can't let it control me. I must look like a deer caught in the headlights because I see Liam's eyes on me, concern etched on his face. His voice, now muffled and distant, filters through the chaos in my head. ". . . okay?"
I blink hard, forcing myself to focus as the world sharpens around me, sound and vision snapping back into clarity.
"I think you need to lie down," Liam murmurs, his hand gently guiding me toward the bed. I shake my head, resisting his concern.
"It'll pass," I breathe, inhaling deeply through both my nose and mouth, trying to steady myself.
He watches me with a seriousness that makes my heart race. "I think this has to do with your job," he says softly, his eyes searching mine for understanding.
My head jerks up at his words, the sudden movement igniting a wave of dizziness that forces me to close my eyes for a moment. When I finally open them, I manage a shaky whisper, "Job?"
He chuckles, trying to lighten the mood. "Yeah, you know, that magical place where you work for a living."
But his playful tone falls flat, and I can see the humor fade from his face as concern takes its place.
"I . . . have a job?"
The realization hits me like a cold splash of water. Why wouldn't Renata have a job? I scan the room, my mind racing as I search for clarity but find only confusion. My gaze settles once more on Liam, and I catch the worry etched across his features.
"Ree, is your memory still acting up?"
If he only knows the truth of what is going on inside my head.
I shrug, forcing a nonchalant smile that feels more like a grimace. "You know how it is. Just a lot of stress lately, and work's been a whirlwind."
His nod is slow, but the deep furrow on his brow tells me he isn't convinced. "Right, you mentioned the owner passing and how everyone's been on edge, worried about losing their jobs with the takeover."
His voice trails off, and he's expecting me to connect the dots, but the truth is, I'm just as lost as he is. In a cruel twist of fate, he knows more about Renata's life than I do.
I manage a wobbly smile, the kind that barely holds under the weight of uncertainty. "I'll be fine, but I might need a little help finding my way, if that's okay with you."
His intense gaze holds mine for a moment longer than necessary, and then he nods with an air of determination. "Of course! Whatever you need, I'm here for it."
The next hour unfolds like a whirlwind of curiosity, as I bombard him with questions about Renata-her job, her daily grind, the qualifications that got her there, and where her workplace is located.
Liam answers each question with remarkable patience, his eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and intrigue.
"You know, you never bring any work home, Ree," he says, a smirk dancing on his lips. "Your mantra is 'work stays at work,' no matter how overwhelming things get."
I tuck that little nugget of information away, filing it neatly into the recesses of my mind-Renata's mind, to be precise.
"And. . .do I ever talk ab my colleagues?" I ask, a tinge of curiosity mixed with something deeper threading through my voice.
Liam rolls his eyes, a teasing grin forming on his lips. "You wouldn't believe the drama around there. Take Lacy, for example-she's the front desk officer, so sweet and unassuming she could probably be mistaken for a cartoon character. I still remember that when you told me you stood up for her against that arrogant client. You didn't hold back, and the look on his face when he apologized was priceless."
I nod, mentally tucking that tidbit away in my mind, ready to dissect it later. As Liam continues, he paints a vivid picture of the sprawling digital firm, revealing the quirks of the hundred-plus employees that make up the chaotic universe. Apparently, Renata had her finger on the pulse of office gossip-who's been paired up, who's sneaking around behind someone's back, and who's a complete nightmare.
It's a lot to digest, but I don't have the luxury of tuning out.
With each story, a clearer image of Renata emerges, vibrant and lively, flitting through the workplace like a butterfly. She connects with everyone yet keeps them all at arm's length-everyone except Liam, it seemed.
I glance at him, studying his features. Not too shabby at all. His light blonde hair is tousled just enough to look effortless, with darker streaks blending in. His light brown eyes light up as he speaks, and the subtle curve of his lips hints at a smile just waiting to break free.
By all accounts, he's undeniably handsome, but there's no spark for me.
"You say we're best friends?"
He pauses, locking his gaze onto mine, a spark igniting in his eyes. "Yes, we are." He leans in, a magnetic intensity radiating from him. "Very close."
Suddenly, his eyes drift down to my lips, lingering for a heartbeat too long. I instinctively pull back, a nervous laugh escaping my lips. "So, I'm the assistant to the product manager, huh?"
The intensity in his gaze shifts, replaced by something more elusive, but he masks it with a quick chuckle. "Yup. That's you." He rises to his feet, the energy changing between us. "You should probably get some rest; work starts again tomorrow."
He's right. I have just today-a Sunday-to pull everything together. I take a deep breath and nod. "Thanks, Liam."
"No problem." He smiles, though it doesn't quite reach his eyes. He glances around the room, then returns to me, but quickly looks away. "I'll just. . ."
I nod, the air thick with unspoken words, wondering why everything suddenly feels so tense.
He turns on his heel and strides out, the door clicking shut behind him. Moments later, a knock echoes through the silence, and he steps back in, something glinting in his hand. "I believe this belongs to you," he says, his voice low and steady. "You were clutching it while you were out cold."
My gaze snaps to what he's holding. As he approaches, the cover becomes clear: it's the book that the mysterious woman gave me-The Wandering Souls.
A wave of realization washes over me; I had completely forgotten about it. "Thank you," I murmur, almost breathless, as I take the book from him and nestle against the pillows, eager to dive into its pages.
But as I flip open to the first page, a sudden glow catches my attention. On the bedside table, Renata's phone lights up, its screen begging for notice. With a sense of intrigue pulling me in, I set the book aside and snatch up the device, squinting at the text message that just pinged in.
"Enchanted Encounters: Target acquired. The Louis Hotel. 9 PM sharp. Target does not like tardiness."
My heart races, mouth hanging open in shock.
What in the world. . .?
I stare at the words for what feels like an eternity, grappling with the meaning behind this cryptic message. Realizing that remaining frozen in confusion won't unlock the mysteries before me, I swipe through other messages on the phone.
One after another, I find more texts, eerily similar in wording-twenty --- no, scratch that, fifty messages.
All from the same entity: Enchanted Encounters.
A swirl of emotions churns within me, a stark mixture of confusion and excitement. Was Renata somehow involved in something darker-a spy, perhaps, or even an assassin?
Adrenaline thrums through my veins, electrifying every nerve ending. I might not know the identity of the target or the exact nature of the operation, but one thing is clear. . .
I'm going to uncover the truth.