STEPHEN
"Arise and shine," I mentally screamed after my snoozed alarm rang again. I looked out of the window and it was still dark. Yes, it was still a half past three in the morning. I took a quick shower and rushed to dress up. I was very enthusiastic to see her again; my beautiful stranger or was it Anne Varline?
I completed my morning routine and dashed off to Sky High. I checked in and ran off to the first class. For the desire of time, I started off with room 206 and after rushing through the process, I found myself standing in front of the room 205. Slowly, I punched in the code and the door stood ajar before me. I stepped in carefully as though it was the Olympus. I intended to work quietly through the entire thing till I caught a glimpse of her through the open door. There, she struggled. She pushed trying to break free from something that seemingly tormented her. I watched as her breathing stilled as if bracing herself for something and soon streams of tears made their way down her face altering the beautiful calm of her sleeping form and stirring up something in me. The urge to hold her overwhelmed me. To own her, comfort her and let her know that I was there for her. Before I could think through what was happening, I felt my legs lift me towards the door which I closed behind me. I moved to her side and lifted her into my arms. I could get used to this. Just my beautiful stranger and I spending time cuddling. What was I thinking? I mentally face palmed myself as I proceeded to run my fingers through the thick black lengths of her hair. I hummed lowly as her breathing normalized. I felt her try to pull away. She was awake. I didn't let her go though. I was not ready to even if I barely knew her. She lifted her face up from my chest perhaps trying to figure out what was going on and the scenes of our last encounter replayed in my mind just before she locked eyes with me, the stormy blue oceans of her eyes unusually calm. I must admit the worry that tugged at my heartstrings, but there was something else. Something that wasn't worry. Something that was far deeper. In her eyes, I saw Leila's. the scared look I'd become accustomed to and the glimmer in their calm blues the very first time I got to know her. Were Leila and Anne related or…were they the same person? Looking into her eyes, the regret for so long brewing inside brushed across my face threatening to consume me. Who are you my beautiful stranger? I almost asked aloud. Keyword: almost.
"What are you doing here?" she called out plunging me back into reality and there I suddenly became aware of the awkward position we were in. Her face was less than an inch from mine, so close that my breath fanned her face and my fingers were in her hair while the other was round her waist to the small of her back. She begun to pull away. Panic filled my mind.
"I am sorry, Miss. It's not what you…" my voice trailed off as she grounded herself to the floor and stretched. I swallowed hard as the temperature of the room begum to rise. "Anne," I called, speaking barely above a whisper as my gaze stuck to her well-formed backside covered in only red lace. My eyes subconsciously roamed her alluring thighs slowly making their way to her slim waist. I spotted her firm almost nonexistent tummy. Tummy?! My conscience screamed as realization hit me. Oh shit! She had caught me checking her out like a pervert. There was no excuse. What was she going to think of me? Slowly and shivering from the chills she emanated, I fearfully met her gaze waiting for hell to break loose. "Like what you see?" she cocked an eyebrow while her lips formed into a smirk. I felt my blood change direction of flow. Had she just tried to flirt with me? I pinched myself for the third time to make sure this was real and needless to say, it hurt. I winced in pain then caught her smiling at me. Yap, this was the part where I was supposed to die of shame and yes, heat crept up my face and my palms perspired profusely. I really hoped that I wasn't blushing. Man up! My conscience screamed as my breath begun to shudder. I tried once more to mentally shake myself out of this but it felt like my entire inside had melted. What was happening to me? She reached out for my chin and lifted my face so she could take a good look; mischief still danced in her eyes.
"You are so red, Mr. Vendetta," she teased confirming that I was blushing hard. Who knew that such a cold person could have such a nice side…or was it the other was round? What then could it have been that brought out the other side? Speaking of which, what kind of nightmares or memory relapses were able to shake her strong demeanor the way they did? All these questions ran through my mind till she cocked her head to one side, staring at something behind me which I concluded was the wall clock.
"Okay, Mr. Vendetta, unless you want to stay, I need to freshen up so I won't be late for an appointment I set." She walked towards the bathroom and paused at the doorway. Suddenly, she gripped it so hard like she was being pulled away. "Anne?!" I called out to which in response, she glared at me, her stormy blue orbs threatening to consume me. On impulse, I walked towards her despite my ignorance on what was going on. She recoiled. I paused in my tracks.
"Stay away, stay away from me," she stammered yet managed to stand firm. The grim she had moments back had disappeared without trace and now her expression was hollow with only fear at its edges.
"Anne, let me help you," I tried and she laughed hard, venom dripping from every string of supposed amusement. When she was done, she posed a question, "Help me? How do you plan on doing that?" I couldn't tell anymore if she was still with me, or if she was into one of her memory relapses, but one thing was for sure. I couldn't help her. She was Anne Varline and I was Stephen Vendetta. What could I possibly do?
ANNE
I sank comfortably to the bottom of the tub as thoughts from when I woke up flooded my mind. Had I really just flirted with that hotel attendant? What was going on? It was just unexplainable the images that kept flashing through my mind and the dreams that felt so vivid from when I first set foot in Star City. I had seen them, I had had what my doctor called memory relapses while still in Cordonia, but this was different. Funny how he called them memory relapses yet I was also seeing them for the first time. I sighed heavily. It was too much for me to try to understand. Who are you, hotel attendant? When all those thoughts were washed away, I stepped out of the bathroom and looked around the room to make sure I was alone before I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. After that morning incident, I didn't think I could trust myself around that hotel attendant. Walking into the walk-in closet, I grabbed a set of office wear; white pants and a matching coat, which I wore with a white shirt inside leaving two buttons open. It was a habit.
In the dining room, Stephen was at one end of the dining table with a plate of waffles coated with maple syrup and a glass of milk at the other end of the table. I am guessing they were for me as he had the same in front of him. He stood up immediately he saw me and I noticed him work his Adam's apple in his throat as his eyes ran over me. He looked taken aback and knowing that stirred my insides. Ish! Despite having thought against it, I sat down to have the breakfast he had heartily prepared for me. Why do I even care if it was heartily made? I began to dig in. "Hope you morning is fine, ma'am," Stephen greeted. I ignored. I didn't want to respond. "I still haven't gotten your name. you know that?" he asked with a wider grin. "Why should I care?" I asked with the purest intentions, clearly curious about how his ignorance concerned me.
"If I may ask, have you by any chance…" he trailed off when I raised my gaze to meet his. Was I really that terrifying. I pondered this question in the peaceful quiet he offered as I finished my meal. Then the doorbell rang.
Reluctantly, he made his way to the doorway and opened it. Who could that it be? I concluded that it was one of those room service guys when I saw Stephen talk to the person. Suddenly he stepped back and Henry stepped in. "Good morning, Miss Varline," he greeted. I nodded in response as Stephen replaced the door behind him clearly confused. There, I stood up and walked towards my office room while Henry followed closely behind closing the door after himself.
"How is the company doing?" I asked as I took a seat and he only stood in front of me.
"Well, Ms. Varl…" "Have a seat," I cut him off.
"Thank you, Ma'am," he let out as he took a seat across the coffee table from me. I only rolled my eyes. Did he have to be so formal, or was it just the effect I had on him? "Mr. Woolsworth dropped his case and like you instructed, the new department is all set and waiting only for your green light." He paused as if to check if I was okay with what he had said before. I, on the other hand, lost my gaze in to the wall behind him.
"Give them a go ahead. What ideas of an app have they put on the table though?" "I am sorry, Miss, but I didn't get that part of the stor…" "Tell them it is going to be a game," I interjected like before. In response, he gaped, looking at me like I had grown a second head.
"Do you have a problem with it?" he immediately shook his head stuttering a no. "Good, I thought so too." My mind slowly drifted away, yet hardly had I began thinking when I noticed Henry fidgeting in the screen of the tablet. It wasn't the first time I had seen him do it, but knowing that he shook because of me did not quite treat me well. Was I really that kind of person? The dreams I had had of late filled my mind as I wondered why I was having those kinds of dreams. Why did I even care?
Deciding that I was tired of watching him, "speak," I ordered. "Sorry, Ma'am. There is something I forgot to mention." Ma'am! My conscience screamed. Who was he calling 'ma'am'? Was that what he always called me? I mean, how old did he think I was? My conscience screamed and my mouth wasted no time on following in suit. "Mr. Flemming, how old do you think I am?" he was evidently shocked by the question but he answered anyway. "Twenty-four years old, Ma'am. May I ask why?" He said it again. "So I am not old yet. You cannot be calling me 'ma'am' when I am probably even younger than you are. What do you think?" "I am very sorry, Ma…um, Miss Varline." I chuckled amazed at my outburst as the door opened. I ignored it, "that's more like it, Mr. Flemming."
STEPHEN
In the dining room, images of Anne kept flashing through my mind. Her big fine ass, the smooth thick thighs, that waist and what could have been. I shook my head for the umpteenth time trying to get myself out of that oddly captivating trance just before I set my eyes on her which in their naughtiness ran to her lips trailing her jawline down to her neck… realizing what I was doing, I quickly stood up in respect still stunned by how someone so hot could be so cold. Perhaps she was heartbroken. The voice in my head retorted just before I pushed that thought to the back of my mind. Who would be so blind at the very least to break her heart? My mischievous eyes continued their journey to the bare skin exposed by the top two buttons she hadn't closed, down to her rounded boobs. I swallowed hard. What was she doing to me? Where was the all the self-control I had accumulated from all those years of work? I asked myself as she noticed I was staring and with a glare, took her seat. So many more questions ran through my mind as she ate silently across the table from me.
I attempted conversation and all she'd done was ignore me, yet I tried again.
"If I may ask, Ma'am, have you by any chance ever…" I trailed off as she glared hard at me. I must say it was a question that had been eating up at my mind since I bumped into her tray of cutlery. I mean, Anne just tagged at my mind with lots of familiarity. It was like I knew her from somewhere. Like I knew her before, but what could I do about it? Finally, as if to end the gaping silence, the doorbell sounded.
I quickly excused myself to get the door. Who could it possibly be? Honestly, I was curious to know which kind of people she interacted with. Opening the door, I was met with a man my height standing with a briefcase in his hand. Whoa! Must be a business partner, but which business partner would come all the way to her place? Plastering on my best smile, "how may I help you?" "I am here to see Miss Varline," he answered with a strong Cordonian accent. I eyed him for a moment trying to check if I'd seen him before and no, I had never seen him. I mean, if I had seen him before, I would not have mistaken the dirty blonde hair that was combed back highlighting his white skin and obsidian eyes beneath the frameless specs he wore. He wore a navy blue tuxedo with a tie of the same color and a white shirt to match the black shined shoes. This guy was neat to the dot. Looking at myself, I couldn't help but feel inferior with my windswept black hair that fell as it wished, my simple work polo t-shirt and beige pants. I had white canvas shoes on too. The antonymy between us spelt clearly the difference, though not between us but between my ruined past and my present. This guy…who was he? Floods of guilt confronted my soul as waves of regret washed over me. Why had I been the person I was back then? I pondered these as I stepped aside to let the man in.
"Good morning, Miss Varline." I heard him greet and she only nodded in response. My inner self danced with joy knowing that whatever the case was, she did not have something against me. I mean, she is like this with everyone else. But this guy was the only one I had seen her interact with since I got to know her. Whatever the case. Soon, she got up and moved towards the secrecy of her office room and the guy followed even closing the door behind them. What were they going to talk about that I could not listen to? Needless to say, I felt entitled to Anne. Something about her spelt it. Something mysterious.
At that, I concluded I was actually going to do something about it. Not that I liked her – or did I? – I just wanted to get to the bottom of everything. I wanted to know why she was who she was and also why she reminded me a lot about Leila. She was like the colder and less humane version of her. So, yes, I was on my way to Anne's office room. I wrapped my fingers around the door knob then the question hit me. What was I going to tell her? What was going to be my reason for barging into her office room? The cogs and wheels of my mind work, the evidence of it in the sweat that trickled down my face. I thought hard and thought long till I finally got it.
I knocked at the door and got no response aside from the muffled sounds from the other side and so I opened the door. My eyes landed on the guy and my beautiful stranger, Anne even tough wasn't a stranger anymore. She was smiling. For a moment there, thought she just put up that cold mask for me but I brushed it away. She cocked an eyebrow. I moved to the coffee table between them where I placed the tray with two glasses. One of cold milk and the other of juice. As I looked around, the first time I was in this place played in my memory bringing back the first time I set my eyes on her. Looking at the smile on her face, I recalled the innocent sleeping form when I found her in the office room, deep asleep with her pc right in front of her. I wished she could have that same peace every time she slept. Then they were both looking at me. My conscience took over my body filling me with panic. What had I gotten myself into? "Ma'am, I just…" the guy snickered, interjecting my statement. "I am very sorry, Ma'a…sorry, Miss Varline," he considered me for a moment then continued, "and I am sorry Sir." Okay, by now it was obvious that they weren't…though they were close enough for that kind of treatment. I continued, "Ma'am, as I was saying, I was on my way out so I dropped by to inform you." she contained me a moment just before nodding her head and soon she was back to her glass of milk. I looked at the other guy then back at her. Was she not going to answer?
"Henry!" I heard her call just before flicking a hand towards me. Wow! Who was I to judge anyway? I had done this to myself. The Henry guy stood and collected the empty tray and his empty glass then asked me to follow him. This was not how it was supposed to go. Needless to say, I was soon back to square on; the door.
"My lady offers her appreciation and bids you farewell," he informed as he presented an envelope to me.
"Why doesn't she say this to me herself?" I attempted to complain.
"You must be glad that the lady has talked to you despite your status. She doesn't talk to people like you," he stated, spitting into my face how much of a peasant I was, but he had a point.
"Send my thanks and regard to her then," I gave up and moved out of the room. I was not heading to 206 because I was already through with it. Also, they were moving out so I would have to clean it up again after they were gone. I sulked on my way to the kitchen to check on the orders for the day. There, I worked for six hours then just before I was called back to the reception to step in for the receptionist, Ms. Sharpe just when I thought my day couldn't get any worse.
I changed into neater clothes and took up my assigned position for the rest of the day.
ANNE
"Ma'am, as I was saying, I was on my way out so I dropped by to inform you." Was he leaving already? See, I didn't want him to stay, I just… I stared at him for a moment, trying to think of what to tell him, but none could come to my head. It was a situation my mind could not fathom and for the lack of what to say, I returned to my glass of milk, sipping it carefully as I tried not to think too much about this hotel attendant.
"Did you give it to him?" I asked Henry who had just come back from escorting Stephen. "Yes, my lady."
"How much did you put in there?" "Only 1000 dollars." I paused to contemplate on whether or not it was enough for a man with two children and a wife also noting Henry's new title for me. Why did I care anyway? I had a new business to think of as the Crypto Gala was in the evening.
"Henry, how far with Bluestone Studios and Detta Corp?" I asked remembering his assignment.
"I collected information about them, Miss," he paused to look at me for a go ahead. I only stared into my now half-filled cup of milk, "Bluestone Studios is a falling company owned by Lennon McAllister who will also be at the Crypto Gala tonight. When I asked him about it, he stated that the lowest was ten million dollars for his company which is more than twice its worth." I took a look at him considering the deal and the Bluestone's fallen glory. It was not worth it.
"What do you have on Detta Corp?" I asked. Henry stilled for a moment as if at a loss for words.
"Did you not say you had information on both?" My eyes steeled with unmistakable threat.
"Yes, Miss Varline. I just…I'm sorry," he replied. What was an apology supposed to do for me? Soothe me? I was way past that. I looked out of the floor-to-ceiling glass wall onto the bustling of Star City and the towering buildings at a distance, considering what to do for Henry.
"Milady, Detta Corp is a fallen company. What do you want with it?" "Are you questioning my decisions? When did you get so…" "I am sorry. I was not questioning your decision, Miss Varline."
"Good I thought so too."
"Detta Corp was a real estate company that went bankrupt three years back under the ownership of Stephen Vendetta who successfully destroyed the…"
"Did you just say Stephen Vendetta?" I placed my glass on the table. "Yes, Milady. Did I…" "Will he be at the Crypto Gala tonight?" I cut him off again.
"No, Miss, he can't. Like you might know, he is a father of two, juggling three jobs; hotel attending, outside catering and painting. Milady, he is way below class."
"I want him there." "But Milady," I glared at him, "okay then, I will prepare him then organize a vehicle for you and him by sundown." Henry got up to leave while I only sunk back into my glass of milk while flashes of many more memories hit my mind. What was supposed to be the meaning of that?