Lethal Affairs

VI -Stranger Danger

The rest of the weekend passed uneventfully, thankfully.

First thing Monday morning, Ysabel received a call to report to Helen's office immediately. As she made her way to the office, Ysabel silently prayed that her job was not her risk. She had begun to fall in love with her job, and she did not want to lose it.

As she walked into Helen's office, Tessa sauntered out victoriously.

Uh oh, she thought, I must be in big trouble.

With her head bent, Ysabel stood by the door, afraid to look up at Helen. She had ruined the trip to Lake Placid with her negligence, and had probably cost the company some money. If there was anything she had learned about Helen, it was that she was scary when she was angry. Helen was famous in the company for her tempestuous behavior when she was upset, the sweet woman turned into a creature of terror, and no one was above her reprimand.

Ysabel fidgeted as she braced her mind for the scolding that was sure to come from Helen.

"What are you doing?" Helen asked gently.

"Uh..." Ysabel looked up and saw Helen smiling softly. "..are you not upset at me?"

"Why would I be? Please take a sit Ysabel," Helen said, still smiling. "I would like to know how you are feeling. I heard about your ordeal in Lake Placid, and I am very concerned for you. I am the one who moved you to New York, I promised your safety, yet I have almost cost you your life twice."

Ysabel gasped, "No Helen, it is all my fault. I wasn't careful enough"

Helen stared at her in silence, her eyes bright with unspoken wisdom, "Promise that you will be extra cautious."

"I swear it." Ysabel answered quickly.

"If there is anything that worries you, please do know that you can confide in me." At that moment, Ysabel had a nagging feeling to tell Helen of wild-man-Tarzan, but instead Ysabel sealed her lips.

"I promise." Ysabel answered instead.

"Just so you know I am very knowledgeable when it comes to relationships." Helen said with a wink.

Ysabel giggled, but ignored the nagging thought of telling Helen about her Tarzan.

At first she had thought wild-man-Tarzan had been a creature of her imagination, but the hand print on her neck from the strangulation had proved that he had been real.

He had tried to kill her, but he had also saved her from death in the cave hole. His actions confused her, and she was not sure whether he was her savior, or murderer.

She did not understand him, and the connection that she had with him caused her to worry. Even at this moment, she could feel his watchful gaze on her.

She did not know how it was possible, but she knew that he still watched her.

It had been almost been impossible for her to hide the hand prints on her neck, but thank God for scarves and turtle necks, if not Jessie would have gone on a man hunt.

                                                              ***

Night time came and Ysabel prepared for bed, but the unnerving feeling of being watched disturbed her. She had not been able to get a good nights rest because the feeling of being watched left her restless.

She honestly wished that he would seize his constant vigilante, it was unnerving.

Ysabel had no clear pattern for her thoughts, but she suddenly felt that he was close by her apartments. She shut every window, closed her blinds, and shut off all the lights.