Chapter Two: Breathless.
Ian almost blacked out when this attacker is suddenly pulled off him. He hears a struggle in the dark, grunts of two different people, a heavy thud on the ground and then the door opens as someone dashes out.
The light flicked on, it was Zhedya. Whoever this murderer was, he was gone
"Are you okay, Ian?"he asked, looking completely calm and unfazed by what had just happened.
Ian nods, still trembling from the fact he almost got killed some minutes ago.
"You are in big trouble, Ian. Seems the Killer hasn't fully let you go. It's a good thing I came checking on you. God knows what would have happened", Zhedya said.
"Thank you for saving me, twice now. I'm grateful", Ian thanked him. He turns to the clock, it was past one am.
"Do you sleep at work sometimes and where is your office?", he asked.
"I do but not too often. My office is on the last floor", Zhedya replied.
"Why would Zhedya be checking up on him by this time and how did he get here so fast?", Ian questions in his mind.
"You know, you can't stay at the hospital or go home for now. The killer is out there, since you brought this up on yourself the police wouldn't be of much help."
"Whoever wants you dead knows you are here. I would offer you to stay at my penthouse for safety till this killer is caught.", Zhedya offers.
He opens his phone to show him an article. "The police found a body not too far from where I found you. Investigations are on going hopefully this murderer is found soon"
Ian thinks a bit, Zhedya was still a stranger to him but what choice does he have.
*****
Ian kept looking around, this man was wealthy. Of course, Zhedya owned a hospital, he wasn't supposed to be shocked, probably his luxurious taste was what impressed him. The expensive car,drivers,maid and guards.
"If you keep looking around, you might break your neck. Let's use the elevator", Zhedya teased.
Ian is slightly embarrassed.
"It's okay, I had the country's best architect design this for me, don't blame me, blame my taste", Zhedya stated.
They walked down a hallway.
"This is your room", Zhedya opens a door, both of them walk in.
"There is a gaming room over there, bathroom, your own balcony to enjoy the night view.", he makes some description
"I hope you like it?", he asked.
Ian immediately nods, and answers "I do".
He immediately falls on the giant fluffy bed then sees his pictures on the nightstand then by the desk. These framed pictures could have only been gotten from his apartment.
"How did you get these? Did you go into my apartment? " he asked, totally confused.
"Oh, about that. I did, I wanted this place to feel like home, brought your pictures and some of your stuff. You laptop is on the desk, you should get to writing"
"Come down for dinner in ten minutes.", he goes out the door, shutting it behind him.
Ian stood alone in the room,totally confused and suspicious.
He lost most of his apartment key till he had only one left which he hid in one of the vases on his porch to avoid losing that too.
Nobody would know if he kept it there unless they saw him put it there. Or did Zhedya break into his apartment.
*****
Ian makes his way to the dinning table but the house was just too complicated. He meets a maid who directs him.
"You know, the boss has never had someone at the house. You must be special to him", the maid mentioned before she leaves.
When Ian got to the dinning table, Zhedya was already seated.
"You might want to hurry up and sit down before the food gets cold", he says, not taking his eyes off his food.
Ian sits next to him. "I had a problem finding this place. This house is just too huge for you to be alone, considering the fact you don't have people over"
Zhedya smirks, "one of the maids must have been talking too much. When I was a kid, I loved hide and seek. A house as big as this will be good for that", he says while helping Ian put some food on his plate
Ian looks at him weirdly, wondering what type of adult builds a huge penthouse and thinks of hide and seek. He begins to dig into his food, totally hungry.
"I'm shocked you could find my keys or did you break in?", he asked mouthful.
"I just happened to find them and did not break in", he replied.
As Ian ate, he felt Zhedya constantly staring at him.
"Do I have something on my face?"he asked awkwardly.
Zhedya ignores him and holds the side of his face instead.
"You don't have to worry about anything, I will always protect you", he comments.
Ian awkwardly smiles and takes his hand away from his face.
"That was weird but thank you,Zhedya. Goodnight", he picks an apple and leaves immediately not waiting for a response.
"Why did that make me feel shy and make my knees weak?"he wondered.
*****
Ian tossed side to side on the bed, he just couldn't sleep. Probably because this was a new apartment.
"I probably need some water", he leaves the room and heads to the kitchen.
He hears someone whispering from one of the rooms. It was Zhedya on a call.
"He's with me now, I would take care of it. You don't have to worry, just keep your side of the promise and we are good"
Ian freezes in the dark, something wasn't right here. Who was Zheyda referring to, who was he talking to on the phone?"millions of questions were running through his mind.
"It's bad to eavesdrop on people's conversation, you know?", Zhedya voiced, immediately snapping him out of his thoughts.