COLD BLUE

Chapter 8

WE WALK DOWN THE HALLWAY halting at a white door with golden colored hooks and text that read A1. The hooks, which hung a black plaque, also had golden text saying Resident: Hemingway. 'Oh, so fancy,' I scoff, rolling my eyes at my conscious's snide remark. Abel took the key that Clarrisa handed him downstairs out of his pocket then unlocked the door. "Ready?" He asked sounding a little hesitant. "Ready," I say shyly smiling at him. He turns the knob then swings the door open. We take a couple steps inside and I am overcome by a whirlpool of fascination and wonder. 'Holy fuck! this place is huge!' my conscious drops her jaw wide open. My eyes widen at the sight of the room and I feel a sense of intimidation come over me. As we enter further in the spacious apartment I notice a grand staircase to my left that spiraled up to a second floor. 'Two floors? Seriously!' My conscious cannot calm her excitement. I quickly look around me to see the white walls and dark colored marble floor contrast. 'And there's still more to see'. I turn my head forward drawing all my attention to a stunning sight of Seattle in front of us. The windows stood from the ground to the ceiling in height, allowing the clear view.'Wow,' my conscious is shaken with enthusiasm brought upon by the mesmerizing lights of the city. "So this is where you live?" I ask still feeling dumbfounded by this classy styled gargantuan home. "Yeah, this is where I stay," he says as I feel him come from behind sliding an arm at my side.

I turn on my heel to face him falling into a trance under his hypnotic ice-blue colored eyes. "Why are you always at our place, when you live here? It's so beautiful," I ask confused and a little jealous. Abel uses his other arm to wrap around me then hugs me tight, pushing me into him. My face in his chest smelling his heavenly scent. He is so intoxicating. "Because, there's a magnificent view at your place that I don't get to see here."

"What view, we can barely see the city."

"Well it's one of a kind and I like to admire it when I get the chance."

"What are you talking about, weirdo?"

"I'm talking about you," Abel responds smoothly, and I feel myself become flushed. He smiles at my reaction and I feel my cheeks become warmer. "Come," he orders  taking me by my hand. We walk towards the indigo velvet couches in the living room big enough to sit eight people. They surround a glass coffee table on a white rug that were all set near a huge flatscreen overlooking a fireplace. 'Wow this place even has a fireplace!'  My conscious faints from all the hype. I notice a large yellow envelope on the table that Abel reaches for. 'I wonder what that is?' my conscious ponders. "How rude of me, would you like anything to drink? Are you hungry?" Abel asks before sitting down. "Um, sure."

"What would you like?"

"I don't know. Surprise me," I respond my tone clueless. Abel politely smiles then leaves towards the kitchen and I look around the building once more. I turn my head a little to the left and noticed entrance to a hallway. Although I couldn't see how far it went. Further to the left I see a piano in the corner of the room that I  didn't notice before. 'So does he play?' my conscious says feeling a little impressed.  "Here you are," I hear Abel say as he hands me a wine cup with a pink bubbly drink. I take a sip and my taste buds come to life, dancing in joy as the sweet savory bubbles burst on my tongue. "It's pink moscato champagne," he says cooly adding a side smile, I blush and shyly smile back. 'Why is he always so cool? I feel like a dork.'

Abel sets a plate of freshly dipped chocolate covered strawberries on the table. "Eat," he orders as he feeds a strawberry to me. 'Wow so bossy, didn't have much of a choice,' my conscious sarcastically remarks then turns her head away to blush. "Before we can discuss anything, and do anything, there's a a couple of papers I must need you to sign." He say seriously. "Okay 'Mr. Grey'," I say jokingly and then notice the same envelope from before in his hand. He presses his lips into a straight line, no change in his serious expression, which turns the lightbulb on in my head. "Oh you're serious," I say surprised, feeling a little embarrassed about my joke from earlier. "Of course I'm serious Emma, there's a reason for this."