Shocked

My mind was racing back and forth with so many questions. Unsure if I could trust anyone. I wasn’t sure what I had done to deserve what had transpired.

Cameron, while considerate, he wasn’t very protective. I didn’t blame him because these men weren’t after him, they were tracking me. I was glad he wasn’t there because they may have shot him to get to me.

I sat in the dark closet hoping Adrian would be able to find me. Adrian had instincts that I couldn’t explain. I noticed how when he walks into a room, he checks out every exit before sitting down. And he never sits with his back to the front door.

I didn’t think businessmen had to possess those types of skills, but you could tell that he was trained in skills that made me feel safe. He was a large man too; his stance was commanding, and people were intimidated by his physical appearance.

I sat there hugging my knees, crying to myself, and praying to a God I didn’t believe in. I didn’t grow up in a church, but I knew other people who believed in a higher power and karma. The worst thing I did in life was entangled myself with three men.

Was that so bad? I am not married, and I have been completely honest with all of them. I don’t know what I did to deserve the bad juju that has come my way.

I don’t know how long I sat there before I heard knocks at the door. I didn’t know who it could be because those three men just tore down the door at Cameron’s house. It could be him coming to look for me after showing back up to his house being broken into.

Cam wasn’t a fighter, honestly, I pegged him as a runner. I heard the old woman whispering and then the closet opened. I hid my face in my arms and prayed that it wasn’t the three men looking for me.

Someone pulled back the faux wall and I dared to look up.

I gasped and my heart fluttered, “Adrian!”.

Happy was an understatement. He came to rescue me and flew around the world to find me. I knew he was away for work when I texted him yesterday about the men following Jenny. I fully expected to be hiding in this closet for days.

I looked rough after fighting my way to safety tonight. I was covered in mud after sinking the SUV into the lake, my hair was a sweaty mess, and I had torn my clothes at some point.

My shoe had a hole in it and my eyes were swollen from crying. He didn’t care as he looked at me full of relief. Emotion had taken over me as I jumped up and hugged him.

He saw my pitiful state and picked me up. I looked past him as he carried me to the car and mouthed a thank you to the old woman. She didn’t have to help me, but she did, and I will forever be thankful.

An older man was driving the car, it didn’t seem unusual for a man like Adrian to have a driver in every country he was in. Not a word was uttered as he held me in a tight embrace as we rode to the same airstrip that I flew in on.

Adrian was wearing a vest that didn't fit his usual attire. It was uncomfortable to be pressed up against, but I didn't mind it because that was better than my alternative of the closet. I swear I even noticed a gun in the back of his pants.

He opened his door and picked me up again, my feet haven’t touched the ground since he found me. Holding me he walked onto a larger private plane, but this one wasn’t as fancy. It had a military feel to it, not like I knew what military vibes were.

Sitting next to me I noticed that Adrian had bloody hands. I didn’t dare asked why because whatever he did, he did for me. I just held his hand and let him know how thankful I was. I was all alone, scared, and wasn’t sure if I would see daylight again.

His face was filled with worry and then he spoke. He opened himself up to me and I found out what made Adrian the man he was. His past pain haunted him, and his once obsidian eyes seemed to thaw like melting ice.

Not wanting to push him, I let him be vulnerable at his own pace. It was his story to tell and his story to keep. However, knowing what I do now… I appreciate this man more. I planted a soft kiss on his lips to show him that his vulnerability was not a weakness.

We sat in silence.

I couldn’t sleep on the plane, every time I closed my eyes, I would have flashbacks of the men with guns after me. They could have used their guns to shoot and kill me, but they didn’t. It was like they needed to capture me alive.

Pulled from my thoughts, “Hey, stay with me until I can find those men.”.

I didn’t have any fight left in me and I felt safe with him. All I needed were a few things from my apartment because I left all my things back in Canada. I had a few days left in my vacation from reality, but I was glad to be back in the city.

Adrian ordered a car and had the driver stay out front while I grabbed my stuff. I didn’t even need to ask him to accompany me, he wasn’t letting me out of his sight. I was surprised he didn’t carry me to my floor.

Jenny was at work, so I left her a little note on the chalkboard.

*Hey bish, back early. Staying with Adrian. Call me after work. Love you!*

Once I was all set, we headed back to the car and the driver took us to the grand Daybreak – Downtown. It was the most luxurious and overpriced hotel in the city. Reservations were hard to come by for less than $600 a night for a standard king-size bed with a private bath.

The lobby was the epitome of sophisticated elegance. The ceilings were 20 feet tall and covered in crème and black Portofino marble. The room was in the shape of a circle and the second floor was open to the lobby, separated by a custom metal railing that displayed details of curves and flowers.

On the left side was a sleek staircase that curved with the room and displayed the same custom railing. There was a long black desk with golden accents that I assumed was the check-in station that sat at the bottom of the staircase.

The center of the room displayed an oversized S-shaped chandelier that featured water droplet crystal stones suspended by clear wire to give the appearance of falling water. The warm white light and shape of the fixture brought my eyes down to the Borghini crème marble floor with gold veins.

I felt ashamed to be walking through such a luxurious hotel looking like I had just escaped a bear mauling.

He walked right in like he owned the place and without checking in we headed for the elevator. I was excited to see the room because the floor we were going to require the guests to have a special elevator access card.

The elevator was just as impressive as the lobby. Wall-to-wall crème marble to match the floors of the lobby. The ceiling was a mirror that housed a smaller version of the lobby chandelier. There was even an elevator operator, she was there to press your floor button or insert your key card for you.

I could tell she was staring at me, but my eyes were too busy examining the exquisite features of this hotel. Adrian paid her no attention, but I didn’t appreciate the look of judgment on her face. It hurt, even though I did understand why she would stare.

The elevator opened to a small foyer with an entry table covered in fresh flowers and a bottle of Dom Perignon on ice with four glasses. You could turn left or right to exit the foyer and enter the main living area.

Before entering the main living space there was a hallway on each side that led to a corridor of 4 private master bedrooms. Four large columns separated the hall from the living space that opened first into a large kitchen on the left side and a table with 10 chairs on the right.

Past the kitchen was a living room complete with 3 couches and 6 wingback chairs that separated the conversational area from the entertainment area. And past that was a wall of large windows with a glass door that opened to a patio with a pool that overlooked the city.

Adrian grabbed my arm and pulled me behind him. I wasn’t sure why until I heard a woman speak. And then I was stunned by her next words.

I wasn’t surprised by anything that I had seen in this hotel, except for peeking around him to see a pregnant blonde… the same blonde from the resort.

Not knowing what to do but knowing I didn’t want to be a part of what was about to happen, I decided to leave. Very thankful that he saved me, however, there was no way I was about to get in the way of a pregnant woman.

Quietly backing away from Adrian, I turned around and headed to the elevator. It was taking way too long to get back up to the top floor. Just as the bell rang to signal its arrival, I felt his gaze on my back.

I gulped before turning around. He walked right up to me as I slowly backed up to the wall in the elevator. He ignored the woman operating it, as he leaned over in my face.

“She can leave, you are staying with me.”, he didn’t have to say another word.

He grabbed my hand to pull me along, and I noticed the operator’s mouth gapped open before I exited the elevator. We turned the corner and went down the hall to his private room. He left Monica standing alone in the living room.

Locking the door before pulling me to the bathroom where he turned on the shower…

Today I had been through hell, but this shocked me beyond measure.
His Burning Gaze
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