Alice opened her eyes sleepily before sitting up in a panic as she wondered where she was. Soon the events of last night came rushing back and she picked up her phone to check on the time. Seeing that it was only 5.00 am, she threw aside the blanket, (how did that even come over her?) and jumped out of the bed.
Looking outside the window, she looked out and noticed that the sky had just started to lighten. Just then a notification popped out on her phone. It was Ximin. She breathed a sigh of relief when she realized that the girl was safe and immediately message back. " No need to leave the car. I'll be down in a minute." Picking up her dress and accessories, she raced to the door of the room, turned back, picked up a hotel pen and note pad and wrote," Thank you for your help and the clothes.." Alice paused as she wondered if she should leave her phone number and offer compensation but then she remembered how he had been offended and simply signed off with her name before rushing out.
Outside the elevator doors opened as soon as she pressed the button and she jumped in. The message said that the car was parked in B2 so she pressed the button for that and leaned back against the elevator wall and closed her eyes. She had already guessed that their plan to catch Samuel had failed if Ximin was still being cautious.
Once the elevator had stopped, Alice strode straight towards the black car that had been inconspicuously parked nearby. Opening the back seat, she threw in the thousands of dollars worth gown and then jumped into the passenger seat.
The next moment, the car was thrown into drive and after a winding turn, it shot out speedily out of the basement. Alice pushed the button throwing back the seat and closed her eyes tiredly. She did not feel like talking. Thankfully Ximin had been with her long enough to know her moods and said nothing.
But the silence was not meant to last. Because a little while later, Ximin threw a glance to check on Alice and when she noticed the face, she stepped on the brake with a jerk, almost throwing herself and Alice out of the windshield glass.
Alice opened her eyes and glared at the woman before muttering," Ximin? What are you doing? We are driving on the freeway! Are you so frustrated that you are trying to get us killed?" But Alice did not get a reply from Ximin who was staring at her like she was an alien.
Her slim eyebrows descending, she clicked her fingers in front of Ximin's stunned face and frowned, "What's wrong? Are you too tired? You can rest and I will drive..."
But this time Ximin shook her head and restarted the car. Shaking her head at her weirdness, Alice again closed her eyes, tying to avoid thinking of the problems that awaited her. And yet she could feel the befuddled glances that Ximin was throwing at her. Finally, Ximin stopped outside a high rise apartment and turned around. Alice had just started to fall asleep so she did not sense the movement, and Ximin took this opportunity to click the picture of the artwork that was Alice's eyelid.
Once the photo had been clicked properly, Ximin drove into the basement. The two women walked inside peacefully when Ximin commented," Alice, your favorite cheesecake is in the refrigerator. I thought after the nightmarish experience last night, you would need it but it seems it was not as difficult as I imagined. By the way, I want to know who the hottie was. I could not see his face but man that bu** was sexy..."
Alice, who had been used to Ximin's silly talks and objectifying the male race, felt irritated at the way, Ximin talked about her savior. But even then she said nothing and simply waited to reach the floor. She really did need that sticky toffee cheesecake! The cheesecake was a fix for her that was even better the coffee! And for that she could ignore Ximin's rambling.
But this time Ximin was not to be silenced who continued to harass her and poke at her," Alice! I never expected you to be so naughty! Did you not always say that you are like your namesake Alice but then why do you have Cinderella on you?"
This nonsensical question stopped Alice short and she turned to Ximin,"What are you even talking about?"
In answer to the question, Ximin crossed her arm, pointed a finger to her own eye and then to the mirror before commenting," But I must say it is beautiful work."
With a shake of her head, Alice turned to look into the mirror in her foyer and her eyes widened. What the he** was that! Going forward, she placed her fingers on her eye lash and leaned close to the mirror. There, on her eyelid was an entire drawing of a girl in a long dress with even a shoe near the beginning of her eye and a clock showing midnight towards the outer edge...
It would suffice to say that Alice was shell shocked...at the art and the fact that she never realized...