◤𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕒𝕞𝕪◢ - It Started With Vomit!

Chapter 11: Pride vs Prejudice

. . .

I tried to sleep - I really did! But the thought of sharing a roof with a man who wasn't Sonic chilled my blood to the bone. Shadow had definitely earned my trust yesterday - protecting his business, his younger brother, a child he fosters (still in question), and his austere father to say the least with a plan I could have never thought up myself - so it was safe to say I could trust him and his judgment calls. But what I didn't know was if I could trust myself with the fact that he was a fine-built, sturdy young man.

And how could anyone?!

Last night, his grip, his way with words, the workings of his mind, and even his brief display of vulnerability had made me waver embarrassingly. And I still can't work out if it was because of my intoxicated state or a weird enamoured fascination. This is no good! Where is that contract he gave me last night? And where is my phone-- good God! I need to contact my family, Sonic, Cream, Knuckles and the rest to explain.

Scurrying out of my bed and into the hallway, I still couldn't get over how grand this place was. How was it even possible to create such tranquillity within a bustling city like New York. The outside of the property was surrounded by the splendor of lush greenery, while inside spelt out the peak of modern-living architecture.

"Good morning," A gravelly calm voice from behind startled me.

"JESUS CHRIST—" I raised a tightly wound fist, but quickly redrew when I realized it was only my husband— Eh, I mean, Shadow! Duh! Who else would it be? "Y-you're an early riser," my voice tried to hide the undertow of absolute dread in witnessing a fear that was already transpiring as early as 5 'o clock in the morning!

"I could say the same about you." I quirked a fake smile at his witty remark. "And where were you headed?"

"I was..., well, I was..." Ducking my head down, a wave of chagrin rushed over me at the additional loss of defenses I was letting him break down yet again. "I'm not usually the tardy type but I think I may have lost the contract."

Which was all true. I'm hardly tardy.

"Huh..." he went silent. Yet somehow, silence didn't stop him from forming an undoubtedly cheeky grin that spread across his face like that of a Cheshire cat. 

What a jerk! 

"Does your head hurt? You emptied every single cupboard in the house yesterday. Not a drop in sight."

What?

"You're head. Does it hurt?"

"A bit— It hurts a bit," I constrained a stammered reply so I wouldn't seem like a volatile moron. Maybe he wasn't grinning after all then?

"Well... I usually prefer to stay at a hotel in lieu of here so you'll have to forgive the inhospitable conditions. I've just ordered some groceries, a few breakfast plates, and some house workers should be due by the end of the week. I take it hangover soups are your favorite dish—"

"We won't be alone!?" I let the words roll out of my mouth like sweet, sweet honey.

"Would you like it otherwise?"

"God no— I wouldn't even dream of that," I sighed with gross relief. "Besides, I'd like some friendly company for when you abandon me for work."

"What a nightmare I must be," he said indifferently. Which only made him more incredulously... stoically handsome?

"Right!" My eyes moved focused to my feet. "Did you happen to see my phone lying around here anywhere? I can't seem to find it at all."

"Now I'm definitely sure you're not a tardy individual my dear Miss Rose," he cheekily added with a knee-melting, white smile and I only noticed it by peaking up for a quick briefing of his expression but, good God! I wish I hadn't! If I ever wanted to have a normal conversation with this man, I'd always have to look away else he would effortlessly reduce me to a stammer!