Stepping into the unknown.

Terrified.

I had barely shut the door when it was knocked on and I flung it open. Not caring who it was and when I looked up I just blankly watched for a second and then stepped back, to the side and then bent down to collect up a pile of heavy books.

"These are no longer needed. Thank you for your time and generosity but I no longer wish to find out about this side of the world and I no longer wish to see you to find out about it, thank you once again for taking time out of your busy schedule to see me." He didn't hold any expressions on his face but I could see that deep down something was wrong with him. He was feeling an emotion but I didn't know what it was.

"Can you just tell me what you said to Apollo when you saw him last night?" I shook my head and then closed the door, clicking it shut and then walking into the kitchen and then drinking a glass of water before heading up the steps and then took my clothes and makeup off. Then I worked through the laptop until sleep was heavy and I saved all of my work and slept.

A few weeks had passed like this and it became a common occurrence for me to cry myself asleep or awake. Days passing without seeing Me Link and he was avoiding me. It was obvious but Mr Belmont had mentioned a conversation where Mr Link was feeling guilty but Miss Sung told him that I needed more time. Luciana was an old memory but she still had the ability to read me like that.

That was when I found myself in a work meeting and Mr Link came in. It wasn't uncommon for him to sit in on meetings and the case I was working was so important that if he didn't his work ethics would have been questioned. It was a case about two hours away in the car but we were the legal team for the whole of the NHS.

"Good morning everyone. I would like to start with the problem. Machines that were fully..." I spoke and kept my eyes on the people before me and they kept their ears open. Questions popping up now and then until I looked at Mr Link. He had that look again, he was aroused by me in that moment. I didn't look for long, I acted as if I had never seen the look on his face and the meeting continued. Slides powered all the way through and the meeting was halted for a split second as a woman walked in. She was one of the ohne community, I believed that she was like Miss Sung, a mermaid.

"Sorry." She mumbled and sat in the seat on the edge for members of my team. She sat beside Mr Link and papers were handed between them. Words spoken and then they silenced. I had begun talking again but stopped. Her blonde hair was beautiful and her brown eyes could stop crowds. She was a beauty for sure. Her pale skin brought out the colours of her eyes as well.

"Sorry, how rude of me, this lovely woman is our latest intern Miss Glove and I believe that most of you will encounter her when you first enter here as she is meant to greet you all. She is also our public correspondent. You will have to bear with her as she is to have her training this afternoon with Mr Link in the afternoon. Now, shall we continue?" It was a question but they had no choice. I worked away and noticed that Mr Link never lost that look in his green eyes as he looked at me. He licked his lips regularly and even when Alex tried to speak to him he kept his eyes on me and spoke one word answers. Had it been a month before I would have gone back to his office with him and yet it wasn't and I wouldn't go back to the office of memories. Even when I had no memory of him I had happy memories in that room.

When the meeting ended I shook all of their hands and smiled away. The deal was important and had to go well but it seemed to be. Positive conversations were heard and they had taken notes throughout the whole meeting and they asked many questions of me through the three gruelling hours.

"Thank you." I nodded as the last few left and I was ready to follow them to the front of the building where they would climb into cars and leave. I saw that Mr Link and Miss Glove walked together as they talked on the meeting. The training was mentioned and I saw them enter the office out of the corner of me eye.

When the last person had climbed into her car I was left to walk back in and as I did the folders were then picked up and I placed them on desks. Slowly they had grown harder for people when they had been able to prove themselves. Finally it was time to give the folder to Mr Link and so I did.

I could hear soft noises and shushing as I walked up to the door and I couldn't figure out what they were up to. Nothing good surely and so I figured that they were conspiring so I kept my eyes on the last five of the folders and opened the door a little. Immediately green eyes shot up and looked at me but I kept my eyes down and watched the scene from the corner of my eye.

Pale blonde hair hung over the desk as her body was on its back and Mr Link was stood stock still like I was unable to see him if he stopped with the thrusts, looming over her body. My heart grew heavy and my stomach hit the floor as I realised what was happening. The whole time I thought he was ogling at me but instead he was reacting to her. Or the thought of her. I couldn't react or else I would have to face the issue so I pulled the file out and placed it on the waist height bookshelf by the door and clutched the others in my hands.

"Sorry for interrupting the training." I mumbled out and even I believed that it was calm and bored. If I was to guess he thought that he had gotten away with it. I had practiced that voice many times when Neil spoke to me or I saw something I wasn't supposed to. Like the texts from other girls and the pictures or the multiple phones he had.

I walked back to the main room and began to hand out paperwork to others again. I had to stop any of my tears falling and so I was quick but as I placed the folder on Mr Belmont's desk he grabbed my weak wrist.

"Your heart is racing and heavy. You look ready to cry and the blood isn't pumping in normal ways. If I knew anything I would suggest that you are upset." As he spoke I pulled back from him and handed the last of the paper.

"Just don't tell Mr Link. He thinks I didn't notice." He nodded but the look in his eyes told me that he was concerned for me and so I smiled and walked back to my office before tears could fall. When I got into the room I locked it and sat on my chair, tears then fell and my hands moved across my face as I hoped to get rid of them and as I wiped them I hoped that all of my emotions would go as well.

A knock came to my office door and I could see in the reflection in one of the picture cases that I was covered in red marks from wiping my eyes and also the tears themselves. That was when I heard his soft voice. It was Mr Link at the door.
"Can we talk about the meeting?" He was clearly up to something as he seemed to be talking with a hint of something else in his voice.

"Please Mr Belmont. Get him away from me so that I can get home." Ten seconds later when Mr Link hit a desperate patch where he tried to break in a deep voice spoke. He had come to see me and save me and all I had to do was whisper that I needed help. He was a good friend.

After a couple of minutes Mr Belmont spoke slightly louder about how they were going to a meeting room and then I took it. My laptop was packed and my planner placed into my bag before leaving to my car and then to my house. There I sat at my dining room table and pulled out a blank piece of paper and then began to write in curly writing.

Ten Rules.
1. Don't believe a word you hear.
2. Doubt yourself before believing in something.
3. Never fall for the trick of love. It doesn't exist.
4. Unless it is related to work or family ignore it.
5. Tell no one of the rules.
6. Smile more, people ask less questions.
7. Keep everyone at arm's length, even family.
8. Never lose your cool.
9. Never give up control even if it seems fun.
10. Stop being the victim of life.

I let the pen fall before I picked it up and started to doodle. A hollow version of my tattoo was drawn on the top left and flowers covered areas. The words and between were left but a boarder was built and then I stuck it into the front of my planner. It was in a wallet but the wallet had no holes for loops but my planner had no loops available so I just slipped it into the book.