BURN "28 Flames" Book One

The Birds 2(12)

I sat at my computer walking Christina through her daily responsibilities. It was going to be a short orientation for her since I had to meet with Ms. Valerie. I dreaded that part of my day since all she wanted to do was probably change things. There were always things catching me off guard taking me away from my work. This crap was getting on my nerves just my thoughts running wild period. I shook my head trying to rid myself from my own thoughts. I stood up and walked to the window that was looking out to the greenery.

"Listen Christina lets pick this up tomorrow I have a meeting that is very important. Just come by the same time wear something comfortable." I said looking at the clock on the wall for emphasis. "Ok but tonight I'll work on a better client list I know someone who could help us with our own software."she said happily. "Ok that sounds good." I walked her to the door and sat at the counter still trying to clear my head. I felt like I was going mental from the constant badgering of thoughts that banged around in my head.

I walked into the Starbucks as my eyes landed upon Valerie sitting eating a muffin and drinking a cup of berry tea. In my head I rolled my eyes at her utter bouginess.

"Good afternoon Valerie. I have your portfolio right here I revised it and gave you everything you asked for." I said handing her the folder sitting down. "Thank you. But I'm not here about that Abigail." I looked confused with why she wanted to talk to me.

"Abigail I know about Abel and you. He was the one who referred me to you." Just hearing that took me off guard. "Look I don't know what you think you know but my personal life is none of your business. I'm here as your FA nothing more nothing less and as for Abel he's no longer my client. So if that is all I need to be leaving. " I said with venom spewing in my words. How dare she dab in my personal life. As I got up she stood to her feet. " Your weak Abigail. He's taking advantage of you because you let him control you. If I were you I'd stay away from him." She said walking away leaving me puzzled and upset at her aligations about my life.

Finally making it home I threw my bag on the counter and hung my blazer across the back of my chair. All the way home all I could think about was the conversation with Valerie. How did she know about us? I was livid but at the same time confused. This wasn't good for me or my business I didn't need clients jeopardizing my career. But it wasn't true. I wasn't weak maybe a little naive and gullible sometimes but my strength shouldn't be in question. Why would he tell her about us? Was all I could think of his betrayal was going to far.

I stepped in the shower just in my own world still trying to get away from the conversation that plagued me. But the way my brain has been working lately that wasn't possible. I sighed loudly at my frustration. This was all becoming a major mess that was going to be hard to clean up. I leaned against the shower wall and just sat day dreaming about the last few months. I may have come far with my business but my personal life was a bunch of chaos that only seemed to get more dramatic. How could I let someone come into my life and disrupt my routine my quiet bored life maybe but it was my life. He was bad news and I knew it but on the other hand he was my necessary evil.

My eyes were getting heavy as I laid in my bed with the curtins pulled hiding the evening sun from invading my dark dainty mood. All I could was think about what my next move was. I didn't want to leave my apartment since it worked for my budget and besides I hated packing. In my heart of hearts I knew I was making excuses to stick around. But deep down I wanted him in the worst way even though I hadn't seen the best that he had to offer.

My eyes finally were watching the back of my eyelids. I was tossing and turning as my dream took me down to a dark hot place as all these unfamiliar eyes were watching me. I felt dirty and shameful for how they looked upon my nude scarred body. Every evil thing that ever happened to me was carved in my flesh with lust ozzing out the cuts and the hate scaring me for life. I tried to cover my body but my hands were to heavy to lift and I stood frozen in place unable to hear them whispering about me just watching them stare and smile. He was there I knew he was I could feel him laughing at me I felt him getting aroused by what he saw and how they watched me. His scent was strong thick in the air as I tried to turn my head only for me to feel a light stroke of leather across my back. I tried to scream out in pain but the sound was mute. Then another lash over lapping the other one. My body was going numb but the pain was skin deep.

I jumped out of my sleep as sweat drenched my clothes and sheets. My eyes searched over my dark room as I tried to adjust my vision. It was just a dream I was having a nightmare. But something was not right the room was not mine the bed was too big the walls stretched to far the door wasn't in view. I reached over for the lamp but it wouldn't come on.

"Don't be afraid Abigail. Your safe." I pulled the cover over me as I tried to follow his voice. "Where am I Abel? When did I get here? How?" I heard him breath deep. "Shh. Just get some sleep." He was now in front of me but I couldn't see his face just his eyes but they didn't look the same. They were glossy barely open but with no emotion no life inside them. I tried to touch him but I couldn't my hands started to feel to heavy to pick up. I tried to talk but my words weren't audible my mouth wasn't moving. Tears wouldn't fall my own emotions couldn't be felt nothing I felt still unable to think. I wanted to be scared but it was unattainable.

My chest raised and fell as my breathing became shallow and hard. He was gone I was alone and the room felt like the temperature dropped almost to zero I could see my breath.

Finally I jerked out of my sleep trying to catch my breath I hurried and hit the lamp beside my bed. It was all a nightmare. I closed my eyes for a few seconds trying to calm myself down. He was really here I felt him standing in my room. My body relaxed as I opened my eyes turning my head slightly to the window and he was sitting with his eyes covered with sunglasses and a hood over his head. I turned the light off and laid back down and faced him. He was asleep or just staring at me but he never opened his mouth to acknowledge me. "Abel someone knows about us. I..its one of my clients that you referred to me. This thing is getting out of hand and its bad for my business." I said with sadness. But he didn't answer me he just sat there.

"Abigail you are falling. Your weak for me you could never leave me even if you really wanted to. I told you don't you fall in love. I'm just The Bird warning number two." He said holding up two fingers to make sure he got his point across. "I'm not weak and I'm not in love with you." I said trying to convince myself more than him. "You were calling my name in your sleep." I sat for a moment in thought but my mind was at a blank for once. "Well if you weren't here or stopped showing up maybe it would be easier for me to stop falling for you." I said hoping he would give up. "Valerie shouldn't have come to you about us. But rest assure I'll be sure to talk to her. For future reference drop her from your client list I'll pay you double what she pays." I was taken aback by this. "No I'm not dropping my client." I said laughing at his bribery. "I'll do it for you." He said holding his finger to his lip for me to not say another word. As bad as I wanted to argue with him about interfering with my business I wanted nothing more than to drop her not for the money just because I got a bad vibe from her.

So this was warning number two to just let go of The Bird. And by all means I was.