Her Assistant

Chloe/Jesse (Prologue)

Chloe/Jesse

2014.

                The city was bathed with the sun’s glorious rays, signaling another busy for the New Yorkers. The light beamed through Chloe’s window, blinding her as it landed on her face. She rolled over to the other side of the bed, as she pulled the sheet over her head. She groaned, cursing the sun for shattering another sexual dream she has with the man she loathed and still loved, Philip Connor. The dream was so wrong yet it felt so right. She could feel his presence – his wet lips on her neck, his long fingers wrapped around her waist as he penetrated himself into her soft spot. She recalled the sensation and a smile graced her lips, but her phone rang, breaking the imaginary passionate moment she had. She soon felt glad for the phone call that stopped her from fantasizing the man who ruined her life. She hated the fact that she’s vulnerable to these thoughts that’s been haunting yet pleasing her for years.

                Her hand reached for the phone vibrating on the nightstand. She didn’t bother to look at the screen to know who’s calling her on a Saturday morning. She slid her finger on the screen then placed the phone over her ear.

                “Hello?” she answered hazily as she sat on the edge of her bed, her feet searching for her fluffy pair of slippers.

                “Chloe, come to my office immediately. It’s important,” a man said.

                She asked, “Who is this?”

                “It’s Jesse, my young sweet cousin. Did you drink again?”

                Her eyes widened and she said, “Uh, no. I’m not. I didn’t. I haven’t.”

                “Really?”

                “Yeah, really,” she groaned, looking around her seeing the empty bottles of vodka lying around on the floor.

                “Then what are these?” Jesse said, then leaned on the door frame of Chloe’s room. “Good morning, Chloe.” He grinned.

                Chloe gasped, when she saw her tall blonde cousin stood a few feet away from her. “Shit Jesse! People knock,” she muttered and grabbed her bathrobe by the edge of the bed. She stood up and wore it, then walker over her cousin.

                Jesse shook his head in disappointment, “Perhaps coffee shall enlighten your morning,” he offered and handed her his venti cappuccino. Chloe took the cup since she is having a headache. “Thanks,” she said then took a sip of the glorious coffee. “What brings you here?”

                “I worry about you, dear cousin,” he grimaced, his green eyes fixed on her face after looking at her outfit. Her long raven black hair is a mess, her nightgown still has Cheetos crumbs, and worse, she smelled like a drunkard sleeping in a dark alley.

                “Why?” She walked past him then took a seat on the couch. Jesse followed her and sat beside her. He was quite disgusted at the state of this area, it wasn’t the first time he saw her clothes scattered everywhere and underneath it are bottles of various alcohol she yearned to drink – this is the same scenario anyone will see once they enter Chloe’s apartment on a Saturday morning. He still doesn’t know what deeply troubled her since she avoids conversing about the past that continued to haunt her.  She always assured that she’s okay and that’s where he stopped asking. He never knew what really changed Chloe, she used to be loud, free-spirited, and happy, but since the day he adopted her (after her father asked him to help her), she lost that glow – she became heartless to the people she scarcely knew, to the people who have wronged her. He constantly checked her every Saturday morning to ensure she’s alive and there’s no random guy he haven’t met sleeping around with her because he planned to put her in charge of what he may leave behind him as Death decided to welcome him to his door.