Eleanor Finley Park, secret daughter of the practically famous business man located in Melbourne, who's life resides on the gorgeous beach island just off the coast. When Eleanor starts receiving horrifying gifts from a stalker, she returns to her f...
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Northern Cemaes Surf Shop.
I know, it's not the most exciting name but I'm too indecisive to change it. Plus it has been called that since before I was born.
My apartment was above the Surf Shop, a set of stairs in the back of the shop where I store spare boards. Over the past few weeks, I had ensured to lock all lockable doors and windows but the notes never stopped and neither did my fear.
The shop was small so it didn't take too much work, and I managed all of the surf lessons myself. The only people I had working with me were my friend, Eric, and a girl I knew, who attended the local high school.
Eric had lived on this island since he was born, born into a family of fishermen, but came to work for me at the shop as he loved fashion. It was convenient, helping his family out with extra income whilst Eric got to do what he enjoyed. With less of his father's pressing comments about forcing him to be a fisherman, as he used to have no job.
I had a lot of his creations on sale in the shop. We both helped each other with our professions. A pact we made when we were little. If we were going to succeed, we would do it together.
"Some guys are coming round this morning Eric, when they arrive please just direct them towards me," I informed Eric, as I would be down on the beach doing coaching all morning.
"Oh yeah Sure!" He says walking into the back before returning to where I stood folding Cemaes Island T-shirts.
"What are they coming round for?"
Part of me didn't want to tell him. I knew it wasn't my fault, but admitting it made me feel somewhat guilty.
"Oh, it's a security company."
The look on his face demanded that I should continue.
There was barely ever any crime on our island. So even mentioning security was a big giveaway that something was wrong.
"Shit," I sighed.
I didn't want to talk about it much more, especially with the impending arrival of that man from the security company, but it was unfair to keep Eric in the dark.
"I think I have a stalker."
He looked floored. I opened my phone to show pictures of some notes I had received, as I no longer had the physical evidence anymore.
"I've been getting them a lot."
"Why didn't you say anything, Nori?" The look on his face in pure concern and worry for me, it felt nice to know he was here for me.
He always knew exactly how to comfort me.
Relief flooded over me as he looked back at me with such deep remorse and loving emotion. He hugged me immediately, I could tell he was going to start crying.
As I said the final goodbyes to my surf school group, a group of 9-12-year-olds who were genuinely the funniest people I knew. I began walking back off the beach to my shop, giggling to myself as I began to clean out all the gear we had used.
The arrival of two large cars reminded me of the security team's arrival, which I had temporarily forgotten about when in the water. After hurrying to finish cleaning up in my board storage area, I quickly headed inside.
"And when she's not working here or surfing or collecting sea glass, she hangs out with me!" Eric spoke to a man across from him at the counter.
Who was also incredibly tall. Damn.
The closer I got it felt as if he got taller, but then it hit me.
Shit, him.
"Ah were your ears burning Nori?" Eric laughed.
I laughed quietly as the man from yesterday turned around to greet me. I can see Eric behind making a shocked face, silently freaking out about how gorgeous he was.
I gave him a knowing look, I know.
"Miss Park, there's a few things my team needs to look at," He said to me.
As I looked up nodding at him, I could see Eric heading into the back, making some funny faces to me.
"..Park?"
"Miss Park?" At this point, I realised he was still talking to me.
"Who touched the note?"
"Pardon?" I replied I hadn't quite focused on what he was saying. Part of me was nervous because of him, I still wanted to speak to Eric more, I had a shipment coming soon, and I wanted to surf before it got dark.
My brain was unfocused on the task at hand.
"I need to know all the people who touched the most recent note. The one with the teeth" He says like getting a gift like that was normal.
"Just me."
Thank fuck I kept the note in a plastic wallet, to protect the paper from gathering Theo's fingerprints on it.
He nodded, typing on his phone.
"You don't have to call me Miss Park, by the way, Eleanor is fine. That's what everyone else calls me."
"He doesn't."
"Who?"
"Eric." His body shifted to where Eric had previously walked into the back.
"Oh yeah a couple of people do, it's just a nickname from high school. You can call me that if you wish."
He slowly shook his head, "No".
"You never told me your name." I requested.
"Reece. You will call me Reece."
I just nodded my head okay in return. Unknowing what to say next, I just looked up at him. His face staring down at me. Both of us equally attempted to peer into the other's mind.
I wasn't quite sure how much time had passed, but all of a sudden another 3 men were working with Reece on security measures for the windows, doors and installing cameras.
I was incredibly grateful, the physical security made me feel significantly more safe.
