Emily
I wake up at the sound of my alarm, the next morning, panicked and drenched in sweat. I passed out last night after a double dosage of eszoplicone, at my psychiatrist insistence. Although it calmed me down and maybe, saved my life, that doesn't mean it doesn't come with consequences. The first, let's say consequence, it's a brain shattering headache. Meaning, I would have to function today through a client meeting, a site visit and then a two-hour drive back to the city, with barely any energy to keep my eyes open.
After letting out the longest exhalation, that sounded more like a horse neighing, I roll my limp body to the end of the bed, because of course, consequence no 2 is the unmissable numbness of my limbs and take the painkillers that I had left out last night.
Today it will be a bad day, so in order to make it livable, I must drink water as much as a camel, preparing to cross the desert. A quick rub to my arms and legs, give me enough stability to get up, so I pick up my outfit for today and go to shower. I sat under the lukewarm sprinkle for way too long, because now my body is shivering so much, that it feels like I am brushing my teeth with an electrical hand.
Against all odds, I am dressed and ready to go, fifteen minutes earlier than planned. Most probably because I have ditched the whole idea of makeup this morning and now, I am sporting a simple natural look.
I step out my room bare faced, my loose blond hair is billowing around me as I move. I have swapped my beige trench coat and black cocktail dress from last night, with a long black wool coat, a midnight satin shirt, that is tucked in my knee-length tan leather skirt and on my feet, I am wearing my fav winter shoes, a pair of suede ankle boots.
Holding my briefcase and coach purse in one hand, I start typing with the other, a quick text to Tim to check his whereabouts, while waiting for the elevator. Tim is a local surveyor, that I have temporarily hired through a recommendation. Our in house surveyor's has just had his twins two weeks ago, and I couldn't make him work so far out of town. He needs to be able to get home to his wife and newborns in record time for the next few months, as we all now how quikly first time parents can get flustered. Especially since they have two of this little ticking bombs.
Tim replies almost instantly, informing me he will go straight to Lakeview shopping center since he is running a bit late. I initialy wanted to catch up with him first, before meeting our clients and contractor. Apparently there is a cosy diner five minutes into town, as he recalled, that do amazing maple syrup and bacon wafles, but now the thought of food, reminds me of consequence no 3. Nausea. So, by not having Tim as my breakfast partner, actually turned out better, otherwise he would've thought I am an uptight, city gal, who scrunches her nose at non-Instagrammable, countryside diners.
As I am pushing the heavy solid wood hotel door, I am hit straight on by consequence no 4? But for once, this is not a side effect of eszoplicone, oh no... this is much worse!!! This is a consequence of my sultry attitude from last night. Right there are two pools of deep blue oceans drowning me whole. Dean is leaning cross-legged on his truck, holding two cups of coffee in a paper tray and starring straight at me. With a loop sided smirk on his face and a hot as hell confidence, I suddenly find myself frozen in my place.