External | HS

2.

present day

My biggest fear has got to be that feeling when you're dreaming and then all of sudden you go into fight or flight mode. That feeling where your body feels like it's falling but you abruptly wake up before you splatter on the ground. That feeling of adrenaline that courses through my veins for only a split second before it vanishes through the tips of my fingers.

Sometimes I wish I could turn it off. That I didn't have to repress these memories from surfacing at the worst times.

It's like a nightmare where I can't wake up from because I'm living it every second of every day. My therapist says it's just anxiety. That my dreams are so vivid and twisted making my body think it's real and haunting me in real life.

That feeling comes up from the pit of my stomach again and lodges itself in my throat.

Gripping the door handle. Trying to calm my erratic heart beats, my hand moves to my chest and I let out a breath. My heart skips up again as I see who's standing in my doorway.

His eyes go from a look of shock to annoyance when he realizes who I am. He has a smirk on his perfectly carved face, a single dimple caressing his cheek.

"Did you follow me here?" I actually can't believe this. The day really can get worse. Not only did I ruin all the files for todays meeting, but the man I spilled my coffee on followed me home. This is the part where I die, isn't it. Splattered into a million pieces on the ground.

"Don't flatter yourself. My parents are here for business." He pushes past me and steps into the foyer, taking in his surroundings.

I haven't seen my stalker since the day he came by for our business meeting. His parents, Lilyan and Warren said he'd be joining us for the rest of our meetings and future social events but he never showed up to a single one after the day I met him.

He's pushed so far in the back of my brain that I hardly remember what he looks like anymore. It doesn't help that we were never formally introduced so I don't even know his name.

I sit up from my bed drenched in sweat. I rip off my sleep shirt and lay back down on my bed topless trying to cool down. Once I feel more awake and my heart beat slows down, I grab my silk white robe from the chair next to my bed and walk into my en-suite bathroom. I take a quick shower and brush my teeth. Detangling my hair with my fingers as I stare at myself in the mirror. I rub my eyes trying to get them to adjust to the daylight when I almost slip on the wet marble tiles in a panic. I see a glimpse of pink in the mirror. Puffed sleeves and brown curled hair stared back for a split second.

His eyes rack down my body, taking in my attire. His eyes prolong their stare near my chest and collarbones. My body feeling warm and uncomfortable under his gaze. He can totally see how red my cheeks are right now. They feel like they're on fire under his stare.

I grab onto the edge of the sink and pull myself up to the mirror slowly. Sighing in relief when my own reflection is staring back again. Never go out to the clubs when you have to be ready for an early business brunch the next day.

Returning to my room feeling refreshed from my warm shower, I start to get dressed. Today we have a meeting with the owner of The Castle. It's a massive venue on the countryside of London where the Gala is taking place in two weeks. I'm in charge of arranging all the finishing details and organizing tables for the event.