I have something he needs?
I burst out laughing. He had to be joking. What was I, a college student, going to offer him?
'And what is it that I have?' I texted back.
His reply came in seconds later, and as I expected he was armed and ready. He had madness up his sleeve and so did I.
'More than you can imagine. For starters, how about we get comfy and get out of our day clothes? I'm sure you'd love to freshen up, no?'
He could definitively see me!
'Where are the cameras?'
'What cameras, Mila?' You are being absurd.'
I rolled my eyes. He was somewhere laughing his head off, watching me panic. I was done playing bait!
'Right after I send this message, I will tell my mother about these texts, if you don't tell me where the cameras are.'
I pressed send and counted to ten. When no message came through, I got up to leave my room.
"Mila?" My mother said, finding me at the door. "Oh, I was just coming to let you know that your father and I are about to leave. Ensure you eat before bed. We will be out late. Don't wait up and keep the doors locked."
She kissed me on the forehead and disappeared down the hallway before I could utter a word.
"Don't forget to pack some cake," I called out, hoping she would hear me.
I closed my door and laced my fingers behind my head. What was I doing entertaining his nonsense? My phone buzzed twice. I sighed, ignored the texts, and grabbed my bathrobe. He was right, I did need to freshen up, allow myself to think straight.
Shhhhh Shhhhh
There was one thing I was certain of, he had to be working for Andrew. But why would he sneak around like this? Telling my parents would save me a whole lot of trouble!
I turned on more of the cold water and cooled off. But what if I was completely wrong? What then?
Shhhhh Shhhhh
I stepped out of the shower, put on my bathrobe, and headed downstairs to warm up some dinner. My phone buzzed again. I had three messages from him.
I took my bowl out of the oven and set it on the kitchen counter in front of me. There was no point ignoring him.
'How much does your mother trust you?'
'There's no point worrying her when you have no proof.'
'Come on Mila, stop ignoring me.'
A new message came in right when I stuffed my mouth with some food.
'You'll catch a cold. Wear something other than your bathrobe.'
I looked around the room and wondered how many cameras he had on me. Hopefully, there were none in my bathroom.
Would he stoop that low? I barely knew him.
'How many 'absurd' cameras do you have on me?'
'Someone's a bit salty,' Lloyd replied.
I was glad he got my reference. Weirdly enough, I was calm. It was either the shower's effect or I was oblivious to how much of a threat he was.
'So you hacked our security system?' I texted back.
Buzzz
'I did not hack anything.'
Buzzz
'I'm simply keeping an eye on you, for protection.'
He clearly had issues. Him, protecting? Ha!
'This is not some 'You' series, it's plain stalking.'
Buzzz
'Ouch, low blow Mila.'
I was getting tired of the maze he was taking me through. For all I knew, I could be talking to some hacker who simply wants to drive me crazy for his pleasure.
'What do you want from me, Lloyd? I have no time for these cheap antics.'
Buzzz
'Cheap antics? Wow—I want your help.'
I managed to swallow the food in my mouth and let out a slight snicker. What could he possibly think I could do to help him?
'With what exactly? Getting yourself a date to prom?'
Buzzz
'Do you honestly think I would need help getting a date? It was easy getting you, anyone else would be a piece of cake.'
Now I was deeply offended. I cleared my plate, washed it at the sink, and headed back upstairs with a cup of green tea. If he was going to be rude then I had no reason to reply to his messages.
Buzzz
I tossed my phone on my bed without looking at the message and walked into the bathroom to dress up for bed.
I sat at my desk for two hours and worked on my assignments, headphones on, and ignoring the hell out of Lloyd.
Around 11 pm, I brushed my teeth and sank into my bed, pulling my navy blue duvet under my arms.
Three messages...
'Sorry, that was a bit out of hand.'
'Could you stop ignoring me? I, too, have assignments.'
'Fine, you asked for the truth? I know why you moved here.'
Lloyd's last message made me sit upright. I was right, he did work for Andrew! A chill ran through my body and I pulled the covers closer. This can't be happening.
'How did you find that out?'
I stared at the screen hoping he was still awake. Please, please, please...Yes! The floating dots appeared and I smiled, briefly.
'Well, look who decided to finally reply.'
'Cut the crap, Lloyd. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT?'
'Geez, stop yelling in caps. Does it really matter at this point? I already know and nothing can change that.'
'Are you are threatening me? Is that what this is all about?'
'What? No! I need your help, that's it.'
'By using my safety as a bargain? Do you even know who I am?'
'Yes I do, Mila Kate Blanc. That's why I am doing this.'
'SO WHAT DO YOU WANT?'
It was too late for such nonsense. We had moved, cleaned out the past, and hoped that it would not follow us, now this? What the actual f—!
Buzzz
'You need to get your parents to re-open a case for me.'
Hold up, was I talking to an inmate? Was this one of those prank texts people get from prisoners?
'What? Are you in jail?' I replied, confused.
'How could I be texting you if I were in jail?'
'Idk...people sneak in phones easily.'
'No, I am not in jail, someone I know needs representation.'
'And you figured using me, the daughter, to get to lawyers was a better plan because?'
'I know how this looks but there was no other way, trust me!'
'Trust you? A bit too late for that Mr Stalker.'
'My father needs representation.'
'Well, walk into their office and ask for representation like every other client.'
'I could but—'
'BUT?'
'Andrew has someone after your family, and I can help you.'
'How sure am I that it's not you, Lloyd?'
'Because Mila, if it were me, the job would already be done.'
I grew stiff at his words. The harmless stalker image I had of him slowly faded. I clearly had no clue who I was dealing with.
'So you resort to blackmailing? This kind of information is what cops are better suited for, no?'
'I do not trust the cops, Mila. I need lawyers, The Blanc Lawyers.'
'What is he in for?'
'Murder.'
This was getting way out of hand. It took a while before I got the courage to reply. I had to choose my words carefully and when I did, I was glad he didn't take it the wrong way.
'Why my parents?'
'If they could put Andrew behind bars, they can get my father out.'
'What's in it for them?'
'A certainty of your family's safety, a case of the century, and of course, more fame.'
'Okay, and what's in it for me?'
'Me.'