Roses

Chapter 15

Zoey

You will be my date.

I know I've already agreed to it but I don't miss the authority in his voice. Like he wouldn't hear it if I changed my mind now.

"Okay," I manage in a whisper. I look out my window the rest of the ride and don't even dare to glance at him. I'm aware he's been looking at me but I can't meet his eyes. I'm afraid he'll see what's going on in my mind.

When we reach my home, I get out without saying anything and he lets me. Though I can sense his irritation.

I trudge up the narrow staircase to my bedroom and snuggle under the covers even though I'm not particularly tired. I need some time to think.

Ever since I woke up beside Adam this morning, I have been unable to shake away the sense of unease crawling up my spine. Under other circumstances, I would have probably felt all jittery but in a good, ecstatic way upon waking up to find him snoring lightly beside me with a firm hand resting on my stomach. And for a moment, I did. But the next moment, I remembered last night's ordeal and the butterflies settled.

Shock mixed with doubt, mixed with fear took their place instead. The killer had only been hearsay to me up until last night when suddenly he got all too real.

If Martha was one of the victims of the serial killer, then I know for sure it's a man. But I haven't told anyone that information yet. I'm too afraid. I don't want to get involved in another murder case. But I also know it won't be fair to Martha, and the other victims.

I stay in bed, trying to sleep my worry off but instead give myself a migraine with my racing thoughts. Shoving away the covers, I get up and decide to do something to get my mind off things.

I start by cleaning the kitchen, making sure to put in extra effort while mopping the corners. Then I dust all the rooms in the house. I take a break to make myself some lunch. I decide on chicken soup even though I'm not sick. How I feel though is another thing.

I don't want to start getting ready until I absolutely have to, knowing full well that once I'm ready and waiting for Adam to show up my nerves will probably hit the roof. So I call Jack. He had called me the other day while I was with Abraham to tell me that Arnie was in no mood to give up on me. And we still haven't discussed it. But he doesn't pick up and instead texts me: Busy right now ;-) Call you later.

A fucking wink? Is he getting laid in the middle of the day?

Jack and his shenanigans bring a smile to my face as I put away my phone. My hands inadvertently go to my notepad where I've been scribbling a few things about my book. I've come up with the protagonist and some of the plot but the ending still evades me.

It's just like the other times I tried writing a book. I obsess over the ending so much and yet can never manage to write a satisfying one.

Maybe this time, I'll try a different approach. I won't think about the ending at all. Let the characters tell their story however they want to. If I still can't get the ending right, at least I'll know I didn't waste so much of my time thinking about it.

I open my laptop. Taking a deep breath, I begin: Chapter 1.

I stay glued to my laptop till I have less than two hours to get ready. I pick out the best clothing item in my possession--a black sleeveless dress with a sweetheart neckline that clung to my body like second skin. It was full length but had a slit that went up to my thigh. I lay the dress down on my bed and place the one pair of Valentino heels that I own beside it on the floor.

Then I make my way to the bathroom. Going through the motions of my shower routine for special occasions--shampoo, conditioner, body scrub, shave and then body oil--feels therapeutic and I leave the shower finally looking forward to the evening.

I take my sweet time, styling my hair and doing my makeup, using them as armor to hide what's behind my eyes.

By the time I'm ready, it's almost six and I'm glad that I skipped the waiting-and-getting-more-anxious part. I meet Adam outside my house as he steps out of his car.

Fuck. Nothing could have prepared me for the sight of Adam Thorns in a black three piece suit. I shamelessly eye fuck him, taking in everything--the Oxford shoes, Rolex watch, down to his collar pin. He really knows how to dress up. Not that he had ever looked less than immaculate before. But this? This was doing things to me on a level I couldn't even begin to comprehend.

His clothes with his inky black hair and black eyes made him look even more powerful and intense than normal. Like he was a king walking among peasants. Maybe if I stared at him a moment longer I'd fall to my knees and worship him too.

"Why did you come outside?" I have to shake my head to focus on his words and he smirks, knowing exactly how my body's reacting to him.

"Um, I knew you were coming," I mutter, suddenly feeling self conscious. He exhales like he's disappointed but then recovers quickly and holds my door open for me.

Once we're in the car, he gives me a charming smile, looking me over. "You look stunning."

I grin at him. "Thank you. You look very handsome as well." The wink he gives me lets me know that he understands I don't tell that to men often.

"So where is this party?" I ask a few minutes later.

"At a resort outside town. It's closer to Echo Rocks." Echo Rocks is a nearby city, rich with both natural and manmade beauty. "It's its opening party actually." Makes sense that it's closer to the elite clientele of Echo Rocks.

We sit in silence as I watch us exit the town limits and take the freeway to Echo Rocks.

"How are you feeling now?" Adam asks, breaking the silence. I don't know how to answer him. The party is playing a useful distraction right now but nothing can really shake away the lingering sense of fear in my mind since last night.

"Better," I say. He doesn't say anything and a part of me knows he doesn't believe it. We don't talk anymore for the rest of the ride. It's only when he leaves the freeway to take a side road leading up to the huge entrance gate of the resort that I mentally prepare myself to converse. Though I have no clue how to act at a party like this. Especially as Adam's date.

We enter the gate and I see the name Serenity written in elegant letters on top of the front building. There are several other buildings surrounding it. The resort seems spread out on a vast space of land.

A valet opens my door and I get out to see Adam rounding the car, glaring at the man like he wanted to get my door. He takes my hand in his and starts leading me to one of the buildings as I mutter a 'Thank you' to the man who looks at Adam fearfully.

That's all I need to know that everyone invited to this party probably has the power to ruin someone's life at the snap of a finger and the staff is well aware of it.

We enter the building that's actually a huge ballroom. It is decorated in an in-your-face majestic kind of way with three columns of chandeliers hanging from the top. There's a live band playing in one corner and ice sculptures shaped as the letters of Serenity in the same style on display at the front. Guests sit on tables decorated with flowers and lamps, while some dance on the raised area in front of the band. Waiters scurry around with trays filled with champagne flutes and appetizers yet nothing looks chaotic or out of order.

I've been at this party for less than a minute and I already feel out of place. Great.

I'm about to look around some more when my gaze falls on a suit-clad man looking just as intimidating as Adam make his way towards us.

"Thorns. So glad you could make it," he says smiling as he shakes Adam's hand. Then he looks at me and his smile deepens.

"Bruno," Adam nods at him. After a moment of hesitation, he adds, "This is Zoey, my girlfriend."