Chapter 2

• “How could he treat you like that?” Rosa asked me for the second time in shock.
• "I feel like smashing his head with my fists." She added with repulsion all over her face.
• “I wish I had an answer to your questions.” I replied sadly as I sighed.
• “Oh, I am so sorry. I’ve been drilling you with questions.” She said with a worried look.
• “It’s alright. Thank you, Rosa.” I appreciated.
• “That’s what friends are for.” She said with a light smile as I remembered walking to her house that night and crying in her arms.
• “I must have interrupted your schedule with my crying and all of that.”I stated as he chuckled.
• “Girl, that was that night, this night is for drinking.” She told me as she picked up some bottles from the cabinet.
• “I don’t really feel–“
• “Candice. Drink your sorrows away, you’ll need it.” She cut me off as she passed me a glass.
• “I’ll have to make announcements wouldn’t i?” I asked her as she smiled safely at me with a nod.
• I could already dee the embarrassment and gossip by announcing the end of my wedding plans.
• “Pass me the vodka..” I told her as she cheered.
• “I’m sure everyone will understand if you cancel the wedding.” She assured me as she poured onto the glass.
• I nodded as she dropped the bottle and left to answer her colleague. Most of the bartenders knew me already as Rosa’s friend. It’s been almost a week I took leave from work and followed Rosa everywhere.
• My job as an anesthesiologist would have to wait.
• “My boss is here. Will you be fine on your own?” She asked me as she returned with her gloves.
• “I need a drink!. Something strong” A customer shouted over the loud music.
• “Sure. I’ll just sit here and get drunk.” I responded as I downed the the drink.
• “Sorry. I’ll be back soon.” She said with a light smile as she left to attend to the customer.
• I watched her half the night, serve drinks to all manner of customers while I continued drinking.
• I was trying so hard to forget the betrayal, but it didn’t seem to work. It only made me feel like crying again.
• “Hey, you alright?” She asked me after a while.
• “Yeah. Are you done?” I asked her.
• “No, not really. It looks like a busy night.” She responded.
• “Today isn’t my lucky day.” I remarked with a sigh.
• “Maybe you can go to the room and chill there.” She suggested as I chuckled.
• “Nope, I like the company.” I confessed as she gasped.
• “My bad, I didn’t –“ She began as I shook my head and stood.
• “It’s okay. Where is the rest room?” I asked her.
• “Over there, by your left.” She answered as I nodded.
• “Should I help you?” She asked as my head began to spin.
• “No you’re busy…and I can use the toilet just fine.” I rushed out. I felt woozy.
• “Be careful.”
• I staggered through the dancing bodies and arrived at the corridor.
• There were different doors, which was the left?
• I groaned inwardly and turned to see if I could go back to Rosa for clarification…I couldn’t, I needed to pee badly.
• I rushed into the first door, the room was empty. I thanked the heavens and found my way to the restroom and relieved myself.
• The alcohol made my tongue feel heavy and bitter so I rinsed my mouth after washing my hands.
• I opened the door to leave, when the room door opened and three men in suit walked in with a man whose face was covered in blood and bruises.
• I quickly closed door and stayed silent.
• They spoke loudly and then in whispers.
• It seemed like they were threatening someone.
• Most likely the man that was injured.
• My head throbbed lightly and my stomach grumbled.
• I shouldn’t have drank so much on an empty stomach.
• I hated alcohol because it was bitter and I was such a light weight.
• “He has refused to talk.” I heard them converse.
• “When I’m done washing of the blood on my hands, kill him.” I heard a deep voice state, shockingly close to the door of the restroom.
• I tip toed quietly behind the door in panic as I prayed the man wouldn’t enter the rest room.
• The door handle turned and I placed my hands on my mouth, scared to even make a sound.
• “Boss.” I heard another voice say and the door stood in place.
• “What?”
• “She’s calling.”
• “Give me the phone.” The deep voice said.
• “Yes?”
• “I am busy, I told you –“
• “Does it have to be now?”
• “Fine. I’m on my way.”
• “Here. I’ll wash up outside.”
• “What about him?”Another voice asked before the sound of gun shot echoed within the room.
• “Problem solved. “ I heard him state as my face went pale. He seemed to be their leader.
• “I’ll call the clean up crew.”
• I waited for a while as my heart thumped loudly in my chest, before peeking through the opening at the door. The room was empty.
• I grabbed my clutch and hurriedly ran out of the room in fright.
• My body slammed into a hard wall as I turned out of the corridor.
• I rose my head and my eyes met the bluest eyes I had ever seen on a handsome face.
• His black hair fell above his shoulders and his full lips were turned downwards.
• I pulled back and noticed the blood on his shirt sleeve as I noticed a kind of tattoo peeking out.
• He was the one.
• The leader.
• “Where are you coming from?” He asked as his full brows scrunched into a frown as my breathing seized for a minute..
• Oh God.
• It was the same voice.
• I held my stomach in one hand as it grumbled and I vomited all over the floor.
• “Fuck!” He cursed out as he backed away from me.
• “I’m so sorry.” I blurted out as I wiped my lips with my hands and ran out of the way.
• I rushed behind the bar and grabbed Rosa.
• “Hey, are you alright?” She asked me with worry.
• “Yeah, we need to leave.”
• “I am working, Candice.” She told me with a frown.
• “It’s not safe here.”
• “What are you talking about?” She asked me as my eyes searched for the familiar figure.
• “Oh my goodness, they are looking for me.” I said as I noticed the man in the midst of the dancing bodies.
• “Who?” Rosa asked in concern.
• “The bad guys.” I answered in panic.
• “Are you drunk?” She asked as she dropped the bottle in her hands and faced me.
• “No!…yes…no, this is different.” I told her.
• “Here. Take the key, freshen up and make yourself a warm cup of tea.” She said as she cocked a brow and looked at me with suspicion.
• “Okay, I’ll wait for you.”
• “I’ll be back home late.” She said after letting out a sigh.
• I rushed towards the back entrance, removed my stiletto heels and ran across the street to Rosa’s apartment.
• I sighed in relief as I safely rushed inside and locked the door behind me.
• I looked so tacky and crazy as I stared at myself in the mirror.
• My legs ached due to all the running and I calmly removed my dress and stepped under the shower after brushing my teeth. I scrubbed off the dirts quickly and left the bathroom to make myself a cup of tea.
• I still felt uncomfortable as I shifted the curtains to look through the window. No one was on the streets, just the normal night chatter and the beat of the club music.
• Somehow the familiar activities calmed me down.
• The taste of my puke was gone as I sipped the warm tea in my towel right in the middle of Rosa’s kitchen. The headache persisted so I took some painkillers and headed back to the room to put on my night gown.
• That’s when I heard the crash.
• I quickly rolled my hair in a bun and walked quietly towards the door.
• “Who is there?” I asked out loud.
• “Rosa?” I called out and once again no answer.
• I opened the door and scanned the living room it seemed normal. My eyes caught the keys on the floor. I didn’t remember touching the key bowl and frowned suspiciously as I picked them up.
• My vision blurred immediately as my breathing felt blocked.
• There was a strong hand around my neck and whatever they forced on my face was working quickly. Tears pooled in my eyes as I felt heavily suffocated and the panic set in.
• I couldn’t scream as my legs weakened and my head felt light.
• I struggled to keep my eyes open as I scratched the hand on my face.
• “Stop struggling.” The voice whispered in my ears as my hands felt heavy and fell to my sides.
• My eyes caught the sight of those blue eyes, before they finally closed.
• The same blue eyes from the club.
• Joshua was right.
• I was too weak.
• He had found me and he would kill me too.