Twisted Chaos

Aria

The shrill cry of the alarm clock startles me awake from a deep sleep. My heart still racing as I grab my robe from the foot of the bed. I'm still tired from last night. "I need coffee" I groan, as I shuffle down the hallway. Anna always has my coffee ready for me in the mornings. She has been my best friend for many years and also happens to be my assistant. Being a platinum singer/songwriter isn't easy, my life is hectic. The fact that I just launched my new clothing line and that I'm working on getting into the perfume world, makes it hard to manage sometimes. Anna keeps me on track. She knows where I need to be and what I need to get done at all times. I would be lost without her. She stands about five foot three inches with an athletic build and hazel eyes that compliment her short dark brown hair and ivory skin. She is beautiful. Not to mention she is the funniest person I've ever met. Witty, sarcastic and blunt are all words that come to mind when I think of her. She has been living with me since she and her boyfriend, Xander had their nasty break up. He had become a dick after they moved in together and she finally got tired of his shit. Anna isn't one to fuck with. She has a very low tolerance for bullshit or games. I hope one day she can find someone who will treat her right and be real with her. It's all or nothing with her. Be real or go home. We are very similar in that aspect, which I guess is one of the reasons we get along so well. I too have a low bullshit tolerance. I need people around me that can tell me that I'm wrong and put me in my place if need be. Sugarcoating doesn't fly with us. Say what you think or mean at all times, or leave us alone. She is the realest person I have ever met. 

As for me, I can be very demanding at times and tend to trample over the soft people I come into contact with. Big personality doesn't come close to what I have. I'm a control freak in my career and in my home. It can be quite tiring. Some people feel I'm overbearing and rude, because I say what I think and I want things done my way or no way. I expect people to give me their all or nothing. I don't have time for half-assed or half- hearted people in my life. Throughout my life I have always been an open book. I don't keep anything inside, except for one thing. I do have one secret. Anna accepts that, which is another reason why she is my best friend. I make my way down the spiral staircase in the center of the house and head for the kitchen. When I finally arrive I see Anna frozen, staring out the window that faces the courtyard. The courtyard is perfectly landscaped with manicured hedges and beautiful exotic flowers. A marble fountain sits in the center of the yard with benches surrounding it. I sit there to clear my head sometimes. It's peaceful. At night the fountain changes colors due to the LED lights placed in the bottom. My landscaping design crew does top of the line work. I have great staff. All of them keep everything up to my standards, which makes me quite happy. 

"Good morning Sunshine." I say briskly. She doesn't acknowledge me. I say a little louder, "Earth to Anna, I said good morning!" She still doesn't respond or even look at me. "What the fuck are you looking at?" I snap. She points out the window still silent. Looking out following her finger, I see a figure with a mask walking towards the house. They have made it through the highly protected perimeter of the property. My property is guarded by the best security money can buy. I have had issues in the past with crazed fans trying to get in, so we installed anything that could possibly stop an intruder. Iron fencing, over 20 cameras and a guard tower at the foot of the driveway. How could this person have gotten through all of that? "We need to get to the panic room! Come on!" I exclaim. 

Stephen, my head of security and bodyguard, insisted that I have it installed as soon as I bought the place. Now I'm glad I did! We run through the house, up the spiral staircase to the third floor. The panic room door is hidden behind a floor to ceiling white tiger painting. We reach the painting, I push the button that is hidden in the eye of the tiger and we enter the room. Still breathing heavily, I shut the door quickly and lock it. When we had this room installed I never thought we would actually have to use it. It isn't massive like the rest of the rooms in the house. With white painted walls covered in security monitors and cabinets, it's not exactly luxurious. On the right wall, there is an intercom system, speakers and a keypad. The left wall has security monitors that show the entire property. A counter with cabinets runs across the back of the room, housing anything we could possibly need. Thankfully, I had a couch and fridge installed. That makes it a little more comfortable, I guess. Anna and I look at each other still panicking but not saying a word. Words are not needed at this point. We are both scared and confused. 

Picking up my phone I dial 9-1-1 and wait for an answer. Finally, a voice comes on the line and I quickly explain what is going on. The lady on the phone is calming with her soft voice and articulate speech. She tells me to stay put and that the police are in route. I hang up and throw my phone on the counter. Anna looks at me anxiously and says softly, "Where the hell is Stephen? Shouldn't he have been at the gate?" In all of the commotion I hadn't even thought about that. Where was he? Is he hurt? What if he is? What will I do? The negative thoughts and feelings of sheer panic flood me. Stephen is such a major part of my life. I can't stand to think of life without him. I jump up, grab my phone, dial his number and pray to God he answers.