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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It was now way past midnight, it took a while for Reece's team to come, but even now they're here, I'm sure the clean-up will take a while. It was obvious that Reece tasked Rowan to sit with me at the front of my shop, to keep me company and keeping me distracted (which admittedly so, he was doing a good job at).
"Okay okay! I'll stop asking you about surfing now!" He spoke constantly and enthusiastically.
"I don't mind, I do love surfing," I muttered back to Rowan.
"Well yes of course! But there's more to you than that! Any plans with friends soon?"
I thought for a second before replying, I was often too busy for the plans my friends made, I knew that it was my fault, owning a business, shop, and surf career at 20 was a lot, but now they hang out so often and I don't get invited to much anymore.
"Um, my friend's birthday?" I told him.
"Oooh fun! When's that? You must be excited!"
"I am, it's an old friend from high school. Her birthday is in less than a week now."
"No way! I'm so jealous! Parties are my favourite thing ever..."
Rowan carried on talking and talking, his constant chatter wasn't annoying but unfortunately gave me a lot of time to think.
I was excited for the party, I managed to suggest a group costume for me and my friend group. Luckily they all agreed, I felt selfish though. Only suggesting the group idea so they couldn't leave me out. I knew they didn't hate me, but my schedule didn't allow for friends. I only hoped they understood.
As Rowan continued with his story, I felt a sudden wave of Deja vu as I stared down at my feet. Softly wiping of sand that lies on top. Deja vu to when that note was left on my door, now I thought about it. I still never found out what it said.
His team had been in and out of the building multiple times by now. Yet, I was still sitting on the front steps of the shop. My head pounding now, most likely due to the large amount of tears that were shed.
For a while all I could hear was this awful ringing noise, trying not to throw up was my main goal. Eventually, a pair of feet stopped in front of me. Looking up, I realised it was Reece.
"Sorry," I said, before looking back down, my fingers brushing off the sand that was on my bare feet.
I didn't really know what else to say.
-.-.-.-.-
Then tension is thick, even to the point where Rowan stops talking at me and leaves me on the steps. It had been over 2 and a half hours since the entire team had arrived. As I still sat on the step, Reece left the shop and now stood looking down at me.
"I can handle this by myself, I don't need you." Despite by attempts to keep tears at bay, they still began flowing down.
I've never cried this much in my life. How lucky am I that Reece is here to see it practically every time.
"Oh I know-" I look up at him now, the sky is dark behind him.
He carries on, "-I know you could handle this alone, but why can't you just let me help you?"
"I fired you."
"and I have chosen to not accept that decision." His audacity was astonishing, but again I was speechless.
"I- I fired you. I didn't ask for you to come here, nor for your protection."
"You don't have to ask for protection anymore." He spoke so calmly, constantly just calm, how I wished I could tell what emotion he was feeling.
He offers his hand out towards me, which I unknowingly just stare at.
He continues, "Can't you see I'm trying here, Finley? I know you're still so shocked about it all, but despite everything that has happened, I won't let any harm comes towards you."
"Please, I know you're tired Fin."
His hand is still outstretched, which I now accept and he pulls me to my feet.
"I'm feeling pretty harmed right now." I muttered to him, referencing the small bag that now lays in the open boot of one of his company cars.
Reece doesn't say anything. Now walking through the shop and back up to my apartment. He guides me gently by his hand on my back. Looking up at him, I feel my head get progressively fussy.
Still moving, but quite slowly. My sniffles catch his attention. We stop walking, and he just looks at me, and so do I with him.
"I am sorry Finley, truly."
Eyes now filled with water again, from both his apologies and the realisation that I never want to enter that room ever again.
"I can't go back." I cry to him.
God, how embarrassing.
"Where? Your bedroom?"
His hand now strokes up and down my arm, as I nod. His clear increase in physical touch not going unnoticed but rather my brain not wanting to have to think about that right now.
"How'd you feel about asking to stay over at a friend's place?"
"They don't know."
"Your brother? He knows."
"Don't speak to him anymore."
He sighs. "None of your family?"
"They are either dead, or cruel."
"So not with family.. noted." He pauses, thinking of what to do.
For the first time ever, when I look up at Reece now. He actually looks unsure of what to say.
"Maybe a- uh."
"Maybe what?" I question.
"Stay with me?"
"In the city?"
He nods.
"How far?"
"My office is further." He says, as I recall back to the initial journey I took to his office.
"For just a day or two." I confirm.
He nods.
"Okay." I answer.
"Okay?"
"Yes, okay."
-.-.-.-.-
Author Notes-
This is the first little note I've left at the end of a chapter. Trying to keep chapters coming out as frequent as possible, unfortunately as it is the end of the term lots of summer plans are happening and a competition in a weeks time as well.
Thank you for the reads, I can only hope for more. Any comments are so gratefully appreciated, and even more inspiring to keep it up.
