Desire

Prologue: Six Hours

"Hanna, I'm afraid that we're going to have to let you go." my boss words echo through my mind with effect. I simply nod unsure of what I was being fired for, thinking that I came here to get a promotion considering its what the others have been talking about since I've walked into this very building. "You see, not many people are into our fashion so I had to combine my business and with that comes-"
"Downsizing." I complete his sentence. She nods feigning to be upset although I could see it in her eyes that this was a perfect chance for her to get rid of me.

She slides my last paycheck across the desk and I grab it, standing from my seat and straightening out my pencil skirt. "See you at home Hanna." I put on a smile, “Good bye Kate," I walk out of her office closing the door harder than needed. I walk to my desk to collect methinks when I notice my best friend, Mona Vanderwaal, twirling in my desk chair. Before she could speak I hold up a finger,” I was fired."

She gasp out in surprise. "Is this because of the beach wear designs because those were my idea, she shouldn't punish you for it." I shake my head, “That’s not what this is about. . . some other things have just put me in this position." Mona Vanderwaal being my best friend meant that we told each other everything except that my father had cheated on my mother with Isabel Randall, Kates mother who had recently passed leaving Kate to live with us and find ways of torturing me.

Mona gives me a hug and I smile at her before packing my things, remembering my time here. "Maybe we can catch up tomorrow night." she says. I nod, “Maybe." after all of my things are collected I exit the building, going out to my Mercedes- Benz loading everything into the back.

I get inside of the driver seat and pull out into the busy roads of Pennsylvania, Rosewood. I continue past my street unsure of where I was going but it was clear that home wasn't where I wanted to be. Soon the sun is set so I pull over not knowing where I am and to make things worse there is no cell reception. I sit in my car for hours trying to find some sort of signal. Only if I had brought my umbrella.

Suddenly my car begins to shake and I look back to see that my car is being towed. Quickly I get out into the rain and jog towards the towing truck. "Excuse me?" I ask knocking on the window. The lady looks at me and shrugs her shoulders before pulling away. By this point I lose it and begin to cry. Today just has to be the worst day of my life, it just couldn't get any worse. I began walking through the rain inside of my highly uncomfortable heels and soon run into a wall.

"Are you okay?" the wall grabs me before I have a chance to hit the ground and I'm met with a beautiful pair of chocolate eyes. I slowly nod and follow along with his hand when he brushes his thumb under my eyes. "Even through the rain I can see your tears. What's a beautiful girl like you doing out here alone at this time?"

I inhale looking away from his eyes. "My job, my car, it's gone, I don't know where I am, but I don't want to go home." I explain. He squints his eyes at me, “is there somewhere I could take you?" he asks. I shake my head. "They were all I had."

His arm that was still wrapped around my waist grabs my hand and he begins to pull me towards a car. "I can't just get into a car with you, I don't even know who you are."
"Caleb Rivers, you?" he asks but I'm too shocked to respond at the moment. Caleb Rivers owns the top fashion company and he's worked with artist from Beyoncé to Katy Perry. Although I've heard his name I have never actually seen who he was. "You?" he repeats when we reach the car. I smile apologetically, “Hanna Marin."

He opens the door to let me in and I feel horrible that I am soaking his vehicle even when he was soon doing the same thing. "You work for Kate Companions fashion comp." he states. I shake my head and realization strikes in his eyes. "Right," he murmurs pulling out onto the road. "I apologize."

I shrug, “Where are we going?" I ask nervously. He chuckles, “I’m not going to kill you, we're going to my house to talk." I roll my eyes, “Shouldn’t we at least go on a date first?" I ask sarcastically. He smirks,” I don't think right now is the perfect time for that." the rest of the ride to his house is silent. By the time we get there the rain has stopped but drops lightly from objects. His house is huge both outside and in. One of the workers quickly wraps a towel around our shoulders and I thank him.

"Mr. Rivers, is there anything I would get you." a lady asks. In her left hand there is a spatula so I assume that she's a chef. Caleb nods, “Two bowls of tortellini if it's not too much trouble."
"Of course not." she disappears out of main room and Caleb pulls me upstairs to his room. The design is exquisite and it does a perfect job of showcasing Caleb. Its exactly what I would expect. "This is beautiful." I compliment walking further into the room. "Do you live here alone?"

He nods walking over to the dresser and throwing a shirt towards me, “Occasionally my brother and sister drops by unannounced." when he exits the room into what I assume to be his closest I change into the shirt feeling a bit self- conscious seeing that the shirt didn't reach mid thigh like I had imagined it would. Caleb soon shows up in only a pair of pajama pants so I begin to feel even more nervous. "Just breathe." he chuckles walking over to the bed, thrusting his head in the direction so I'd do the same.

His bed immediately spread warmth and comfort. The cook brings in our meal, we watch movies, talk, and this night at last seems to be perfect up until the moment I drift off to sleep meanwhile Caleb is up making a few calls which reminded me that I was able to make calls at the moment. I turn my back towards him to reach my phone when I'm stopped by what I hear him whisper into the phone. "I think I found the one I've been looking for."

I frown wondering if I had found the one that I was looking for. It's only been six hours.