Chapter 8

• “Maddie!! I can’t find it. I can’t find it. I have almost turned the whole room up side down.” Laura sobs into her phone half yelling and panicking.
• “Look Lu, you need to calm down. It’s just a ring. He won’t even notice, and didn’t you say he told you his guests would be arriving anytime soon? You need to leave the house.”
• Pacing round the room she replied “Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. I’m loosing my mind Madds”
• “Girlllll you can’t have a break down right now. I’m too high for this. I was about charging my vibrator when you called back.”
• I need to do away with this girl.
• “Do you think he heard all what I said about him in the kitchen? Is this some sort of trap now to get me fired and killed? MADDIE TURN THAT VIBRATING MACHINE OFF!!”
• Shouldn’t you be at the cafe working right now? Why the hell is there a vibrator for goodness sake.
• She started off laughing “This is the millionth time you’ll be asking me this. And yes my dearest Miss cotton I think he eavesdropped on our conversation. But I still think he’s sweet for acting oblivious.“
• “The man’s aura is so intimidating. I’ve been avoiding him all day ‘cause I’m still shaken up” Laura objected before taking a deep breath.
• “I still need to stop over at the hospital to see Estelle before heading to Dr Hakeem house, I don’t think I’ll be able to come to the cafe today. Can you help me watch out for Matthew again, I just..”
• “The next time you mention that name I will be throwing a f**king fit! Call me once you leave the house. I love you.. “
• “Madds hold up, I’m not done talking” she cried out.
• “Well I am done talking. Find the ring. Pack me some baked goods and get the hell out of the house.” The call ended.
• After King walked out of the kitchen, Laura stood there frozen for a while before gathering up the courage to get on with her morning. She kept playing the scene over and over in her head, imagining other better ways it could have played out. Seeing him every morning in those grey Nike pants has always been one moment she looks forward to each day. But today? He wore a matching black tracksuit and it’s now her new favorite. She believes she caught his eyes trailing over her body for a brief moment.
• Or was it really my imaginations? Well now he knows I think he’s hot. She had thought.
• The day dragged and Laura’s decided it’ll be best to leave the cleaning of his room as her last activity for the day.
• Entering into the room for the first time she didn’t know what to expect. Her mind racing fast as her eyes go over every detail in the room.
• This is him?
• A wave of electric feelings flooded her. It felt so nice being in his space. She chuckled as she thought of how the whole room could easily swallow three of hers.
• He had always been a meticulous man, so she didn’t think she will have his boxers hanging over the bathroom door. But there they are.
• After about thirty minutes she’s done with the cleaning and arranging. Just as she was about leaving, she came across a picture frame on his large book shelf. The glass frame had a picture of a car accident. A night accident scene.
• Dropping the frame back, not wanting to give too many thoughts to it. Laura saw a ring sitting pretty in a glass case.
• Was he married?
• Well, he is 30 it wouldn’t be such a bad idea.
• She picked the ring and walked few steps back, facing the window to admire It— this definitely looks like a wedding band.
• The silver ring had an initial I crested on it, and there were like faint red stains on it. She squinted her eyes closer and noticed another initial k.
• Bang.
• Her mind skipped as she heard the door to his study close. Laura quickly started walking over to the shelf to the place the item back but she began panicking as the sound of his footsteps gets closer.
• Her mind was racing fast. No no no no no...
• The door opened.
• She missed her step and triped over, letting go of the ring.
• F**k! STOP SWEARING LAURA!
• “Are you okay miss cotton?”
• Gently getting herself up she secretly eyed around for the ring. No sign.
• “Yes. I’m okay. I was just a little clumsy. I oh, you have a beautiful room. Are you leaving?. Right. I was just about leaving”
• Why am I talking too much lorddddd.
• He’s glared back at her with a puzzled look wondering why she has been acting weird all day.
• “My guests will be here in few minutes, I came to check on you. You good? I don’t want them meeting you here. Remember?” Giving her a pouty smile.
• She laughed awkwardly “Yes. Yes. The plan was to make everything look like you did them yourself, without my help of course”
• King began to walk closer like he was searching for something— inspecting the room— then he stopped midway.
• I’m going to pee my pants any minute from now.
• “Great. I’ll just leave you to it. Your hair is in a mess though.” He commented as he reached for the door.
• Laura finally releases her breath.
• Why does he always smell so nice? Is he some sort of perfume maniac or what. And God! Did he look so good in that vintage shirt. I’m just a girl!. I haven’t been around a man that looks and feels this good. Every single thing he does these days gets to me. Mr McGorritth noticed my hair? Am I ovulating ? Am I pregnant? No— no I’m a Virgin. Shit! The ring.
• ~~~~
• Wiping the tears that wete now falling freely from her eyes, Laura hailed a cab as she found her way to Dr. Hakeem’s residence.
• “Lucia called and told me the doctors are not so optimistic about Estelle” she cried into the phone, still wiping the tears with her shirt.
• Maddie who was on the other end of the phone has been trying her best in getting Laura to calm down but it’s not working. The girl seems to be having a mental breakdown today. A random Wednesday evening! And it’s as if all hell let loose on her as she can’t stop talking about how shitty and messed up her life is.
• “Laura? Breathe. Please. For me. Everything will be alright baby. Let’s just get past today.”
• “I don’t want to get past today!. There’s Estelle on one hand and then dad is on the verge of loosing the cafe and then I can’t shake off the feeling of loosing Mr McGorritth’s ring. Maddie I am still a Virgin!. I don’t even have friends and the scar on my left bum is the only thing reminding me I went to collage. WHO IN THE WHOLE OF NEW YORK IS STILL A VIRGIN AT 23??!” Hugging herself, she rambled loudly in between sobs.
• A long Silence.
• “I still get emails from the doctor concerning my fibroids. And I may end up dying without even having any sex. I was with Matthew for years. He was my first love —I’m not even sure if what we had was ever love—He never treated me like the loveeee of his life. So it’s safe to say I don’t even know what that feels like. And then I still have to deal with being a bastard, loss of my sister and guilt of killing my mother. I hate my life Madds. I don’t want to die of fibrosis without having sex!!. ”
• “We’re here miss” the cab driver turned to inform a crying Laura.
• “I still think we can kidnap your boss one of these days and force him to marry you. Then you can live happily ever after. And I can always double as your mum and cousin. What do you think honey?” Maddie whispered jokingly over the phone.
• Finally lightning up the mood Laura adjusted herself, thanked her cousin and got off the call.
• She pays the driver as she apologized “Thank you. And I’m so sorry about all that.”
• “It’s not any problem. I have a daughter your age. And she’s a Virgin” he said, offering her a warm smile.
• Checking her phone for the time before knocking on the wooden door, laura realized she’s a bit early.
• Well hopefully the little lad would be happy to have me this evening.
• The door opens halfway to a young woman standing in front of her. Laura introduces herself and stated her purpose for visiting.
• “Please, come in. We were expecting you. I’m Mariam by the way. His niece.” she says with a light voice stretching her hand to Laura for a handshake.
• Laura scans around the house as she takes in the nicely designed duplex.
• “Is Dr. Hakeem home? And Amir?”
• “Yes Doc is home but I guess you’ll have to wait a little since Amir and his mum aren’t back yet. You can have your seat while I get my uncle for you.”
• “Thank you very much. Mariam” she says, putting her bags down.
• “Can I get you anything?”
• “Water will be fine. Please, hold on. Can you tell me the name of Amir’s former tutor?”
• Furrowing her brows Mariam began to wonder.
• “Who? Amir has never needed a lesson teacher” she smiled briefly “let me get your water.”
• Laura glanced worriedly at the huge wall clock again for the umpteenth time. Already tired of waiting— I mean, I know i was early but it’s over fourty five minutes now. Where the hell is everybody? No Dr. Hakeem. No Amir. No Mariam?
• Getting up to leave, she turned to find Dr. Hakeem smiling with both hands on his hips.
• “Hello Laura, I’m sorry for keeping you waiting. I hope you weren’t planning on leaving.”