Mr. Trager

White Water

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14th

From the moment I woke up on that second morning, there was a glimmer of excitement holding its place in my chest. It'd been years since I'd woken up to an alarm, but at least this time I had a damn good reason, and I was more than happy to get out of those scratchy hotel sheets. Maybe it was the rush of breaking the rules, or just the adrenaline spike that spread through my body when I thought about him, but I was shaking the entire way there. The idea that I was actually going to see him again brought me a certain joy that I hadn't felt in ages. Perhaps on some unconscious level this had been my intention all along, but I wouldn't let myself believe it. Instead I allowed my stupid giddy smile to show wide, like a school girl who's crush had just asked her to the dance. His same coat from the day prior still hung loosely on my shoulders, even with five inch heels it would nearly dragged on the asphalt as I walked my way to that old mess of a building. I had to admit, I was a little disappointed that his smell hadn't lingered after I had it washed, but I had high hopes that I would get my fair share of it that day.
A flicker doubt popped into the back of my head as I drove slowly up the old dirt road. Why would he ask me to return? Did want me to be caught by security? Did he have darker plans for me? I shook my head, a deep breath doing little to ease the rapid pace of my heart, and pushed those thoughts away. For my own sake I decided to park around the back side of the building, not only to avoid suspicion, but to be closer to the door I'd left though the day before. Easy access, they can't lock an emergency exit. No alarms, no heavy security, it was the perfect entrance. The back parking lot connected to a hidden little one-way road, perfect for laying low. I walked on eggshells all the way down the short empty hallway that led to his office, if someone caught me there would be far greater consequences than just being kicked out. Possibly even for him as well, and I could not let that happen.
I placed my ear against the dark wood of his office door, listening for any voice other than his. Nothing. I knocked twice, just hard enough for him to hear, and I waited.

"Who the hell is-" He swung the door opened, stopping to look down at me.

"Good morning, Mr. Trager." I tried to smile, but the emotion in the look he was giving felt... Off.

"I..." He stepped back holding the door open for me to enter. "You're the girl from yesterday, right?"

"Yes, uh... Sir? Is everything alright?" Something about his demeanor struck me as odd, but it didn't stop me from kicking myself for that awkwardness.

Of course it was entirely possible that he was a slightly different person when sober, but the way he stared at me, it was like he'd seen a ghost. Disturbed, but reminiscent.

I watched him walk over to take a seat at his desk, he leaned on his right arm with a hand nearly covering his mouth. "Sit down."

That didn't feel right, and the way he was acting certainly didn't help my growing anxiety. What had changed between then and the day before? Had I done something wrong?
Nonetheless, I did as he said and took my place in the same chair I had before.

"I brought your coat..." I leaned forward, letting the oversized garment slide off my shoulders. "Washed and dried."

He looked up at me, staring right through me, eyebrows furrowed as he took the coat from my hands. "Yeah, thanks..."

"What is it?" I couldn't help but ask, referring to the odd look he kept giving me.

"Nothin, it's just..." He looked away. "Somethin that I... didn't notice before."

I was afraid to ask him what he meant by that, but the silence was treacherous.

"I'll be honest with you, I didn't think you'd actually come back." He finally spoke up, his eyes carefully scanning some company form. A distraction perhaps.