chapter 2

“Wow. The outing was really great. I can see that. A new hair? Fits you.” Vivian said as we got in. I had branched the salon to make a new hair style for my movie premier, it was a short, red cap. Tracy was super excited and was jumping up and down.

“Aunt V, I just saw my daddy.” She said.

“Oh, I’m sure he brought you lots of stuffs, didn’t he?” Vivian asked and Tracy nodded. The maid came over to collect the bunch of stuffs I had in my hands from me while I collapsed against the settee. I was so tired. I kept looking at my daughter and friend as they talked excitedly together. Michael had brought our daughter expensive stuffs which she was showing to Vivian. They soon walked out of sight while I lay on the couch.

As I was about closing my eyes, my phone vibrated, luckily, it was in my hand, so I just put the phone to my ears.

“Hey babe. What’s up?”

I sighed, it was Michael. “I’m good.”

“Are my two angels home?”

I rolled my eyes, “Tracy and I are home.”

“Ok good. Thanks for the time babe, I really appreciate it. How about doing it again?”

I shook my head, “I have lots of things to do tomorrow Michael. My movie is hitting the cinema tomorrow and I have to be at the premier. “

“Okay, what about Tracy? Can she join me?”

I sighed. “Can we discuss this tomorrow Michael, I am super tired. “

“Okay, okay, no pressure. I will talk to you tomorrow. Take care. Kisses to my baby.”

I groaned as I ended. Kisses to ‘his baby,’ the baby that he didn’t want to be a part of from the start.  I leaned forward about to stand up when the phone rang again. For god’s sake, Michael...I almost cursed into the phone but I held my breath as I heard a female voice.

“Evening Harmony, this is Rhonda from the hiring site, we were able to contact Mr. Ichabod and we are happy to announce that he will be resuming tomorrow, is that okay?”

“Oh yea, thanks Rhonda.”

“Good, please don’t forget to rate and leave a review on our site. Have a great night.” The call ended just as Vivian entered.

“Who is Ichabod?”

I stood up and frowned, surprised she had heard what transpired and then I realized my phone was on a loudspeaker.

“Well...” I said, feeling as if I was caught doing what I shouldn’t be doing, ‘’he’s my bodyguard.”

“Great! You hired someone finally! Which one out of those we interviewed?” She asked, I could see the excitement all over her face.

“Well, he is um, the one that came last.” I replied and she frowned.

“The one that came last that we interviewed together?”

“No, the one I interviewed alone.” I replied.

“When? I didn’t see anyone.”

I remembered she had gone inside then and by the time she came out, he was gone. “Don’t worry, you will get to see him tomorrow. “ I replied, practically tired.

“Wow, do I at least get a picture?” she asked.

“You will see him tomorrow.” I shouted, walking to my room.

“Hey, not so fast, you are yet to tell me how your day went with Michael....”

I shut the door behind me as I got into my room. My head was banging and I was so tired. Minutes later, I was lying in the tub, deeply buried in the foamy hot water.

I didn’t know why I had decided to hire this guy but something in me deep down did. He had looked so familiar yet, I couldn’t quite place where I had seen him before. Then he had whispered something when he saw me this morning. What did he say? Was it a name? Was it something else, something that started with a B, or a D or something? Damn it! Why was my brain always shutting down when I mostly needed it?

I sighed and shut my eyes. Maybe I shouldn’t be too hard on myself, maybe I needed to relax, maybe....may...m......

**

All of a sudden, she was in another place, she could see that she was lying in something that looked like a tub but the water was now cold...oddly cold and the room which looked vaguely familiar was lit in dim candle light.

The flames flickered, casting dancing shadows against the walls and the shadow that followed took a shape...she smiled as her eyes shifted towards the man that was standing in her tub. Her heart jumped with exhilaration.

She watched as he removed his clothing and offered a hand over the brim. She felt herself shudder as her body came in contact with his. In the cold water, beneath the intense dark stare of this handsome stranger, her limbs grew warm and her body was filled with sweet sensation.

She was supposed to be afraid but she was excited and even though she knew that this was a dream, she didn’t want to wake up ever from this. She wished she could sleep on for all eternity. 

She felt his warm breath on her lips and she parted her lips invitingly but instead, he whispered, his lips twisting into a crooked smile.

“You have cast a spell on me Dennis. What have you done to me my love?” He kissed her around the neckline.

She giggled as he whispered these into her ears. He reached out a hand to pull down her hair which she hadn’t even realized was packed at the top of her head

He reached out and pulled on her hair and instead, her hair came down loosely on her face. They were thick, black and long....no, that wasn’t my hair or was it?

All of a sudden she realized the candles in the room flickered and the flames went out by an invisible gust of wind, plunging her into a sudden inky darkness…

**

I sat upright in the tub startled that my hot water had immediately gone cold. I could feel my heart pounding and I rested a hand on my chest, looking around my bathroom. Everything was the same, there were no candles, except for the expensive bulbs that lit up the bath-room , no strange man speaking softly into my ears but I could feel a cold breeze all of a sudden, then I realized that my bathroom door was opened....had I left it like that or had someone actually come in here?