(This chapter is in Kay's point of view.)
I awoke to feel the thick, muggy summer air surrounding me in my apartment.
The window creaked loudly as I reached over and slid it up on its track. CLACK!
A-crossed the room, I saw the my thrifted standing mirror and borrowed French style chair. On the chair, was a long cream colored skirt and pink blouse. I slipped out of bed to take off my nightgown and put on my day attire.
While peering into the mirror, an intrusive thought crept into my mind. ' What if Ivan sees you on the street?"
My smile disappeared and I ignored my uneasy feeling and began to make my way into the kitchen. My produce basket sat on the kitchen counter waiting for me.
A gentle turning noise came from the front door parallel to me. My heart almost stopped and I bolt over to it- apprehensively reaching for the handle.
As I turned the knob gently, my eye peeked outside. On the other side was a dark haired figure still looking at the door knob confused.
" Onyx!" Hastily, I opened the door.
In which doing so, my skirt caught the corner causing me to trip and fall.
Onyx Finn looked down at me bewildered. He burst through the threshold. " Kay!"
His hands outreached for me.
" Sir, you should have phoned me! What are you doing here?"
" I was just returning your bike you lent me the other day. I brought it back, see? " Onyx pointed across the hall to the bike leaning against the wall.
" Oh, okay then." I tucked my hair behind my ear and let him help me up. " Thank you."
"Sorry for the startle," He chuckled, " What are you up to?"
"I'm just on my way to go grocery shopping."
" That sounds like a nice way to spend this morning. "
" Would you like to j-join me?"
He paused for a moment before saying, " I'd love to, but I am meeting an old friend at the country club. I appreciate the offer though. "
I then remembered Aden saying how 'she wanted to catch up with him soon'.
" I- I see. Who are you meeting at the country club?"
Onyx raised an eyebrow but then smirked. "Oh, just Victor. He is a former detective that worked at the police station."
I realised I was probably prying too much." Oh! You don't have to explain yourself. I was only curious."
I grabbed the bike and walked it into the house.
" You're fine, Kay. I don't mind answering to you."
" I just get a little worried about you sometimes... allow me to walk you to your car, sir."
" Kay please. You don't have to call me 'sir' outside of work. No need of formalities. I have always called you just Kay."
"I-I would actually prefer to call you 'sir'. "
" That's fine too." He shrugged. " I just want you to feel comfortable around me. "
I glanced into his navy-blue eyes for just one single moment. 'Comfort...You are the only one who has made me feel any source of comfort in a long time.'
"You don't have to worry about me. I'm quite comfortable around you, sir. " I stated with a beaming smile.
Onyx smiled back and reached out his arm. " Do you need help going downstairs?"
I blushed but the unsettling thoughts responded. "He thinks you're clumsy now because of your fall earlier.'
" No, but I would love to walk besides you." I responded.
As we walked down the stairs, I made sure to pick up my skirt.
" Which market are you headed to?"
" Thomie Square, it's a couple miles up the street."
" Did you want a ride there?"
" No, I need the exercise but thank you. "
" Good. Well then, I'll see you Monday? "
" Of course. Have fun at your outing!"
" Ah, Victor... such a serious stick-in-the-mud. Golf is about the only thing we have in common!" Finn started his engine with a laugh. It roared to life.
I waved. "See you soon. "
Finn nodded and took off in his car.
I turn in the opposing direction and began walking.
My thoughts persisted. 'I hope Onyx doesn't think I need him for everything because of the situation he got me out of. I would hate to be a burden.'
My apartment was located in the industrial area of Bay City. Smog from factories, loud trucks and people from every aspect of life filled the streets.
I was hoping the noise would help me to get away from the anxiety but I didn't exactly know how to turn it off. ' Your job, your home, you got away from Ivan...you owe him and whatever he wants...when he calls the favor back, you'll do it.'
I felt my cheeks get rosy again. " Well maybe not whatever he wants."
My mind wandered more-so. I pondered on his kindness and his spontaneousness and his generosity... and how handsome he was.
I shook my head and sighed. 'How senseless this all was.'
Looking up from watching my feet, I noticed a banner waving through the air. It read: Thomie Square Market.
About a yard ahead of me were stands lined up with baskets of bright colors- beets, carrots, kale, cabbage, peppers and more filled to the brim.
Browsing through everything, I began to fill my basket.
I stopped around each of the stands to talk to some of the cashiers who were always very kind, helpful people. Most of the gardeners were from outside the city and I loved to listen to their stories of life outside this concrete junction.
All of a sudden, I turned hearing men talking loudly above me. Workers were scraping a billboard and replacing it with a new advertisement.
"Running for-" was all it read far.
'A marathon, perhaps?'
An elderly woman touched my arm as she shuffled by.
" Excuse me, miss? Are you alright?"
When I looked over to her, she smiled and added. '' You dropped your vegetable basket."
Slowly, I bent down and picked it up.
While reorganizing my basket, the woman abruptly exclaimed. " Ivan Stock is running for mayor! Interesting."
While gawking at the billboard, my body felt extremely heavy and like jelly all at once.
My vision blurred and ringing filled my ears.
'I gotta call Onyx.'
I ran home as fast as my feet could carry me.
My vision was still fuzzy as I stomped up the stairs leading to my apartment.
Finally! It felt like eternity to reach the door.
The door flew open and just as quickly I slammed it shut! My shaky hand picked up the rotary phone and began to enter Onyx's number.
It rang.
and rang
and rang without a pick up.
I place the phone to its holder and slumped down the wall behind myself.
Feelings of loneliness, anger and fear filled me. One moment I feel fine, healing from my past experiences, the very next moment I am breaking down.
As I began to cry, my mind raced.
' I've had so many things robbed from me. My body, my things, my life...I wish I could drive to the country club and tell Onyx in person! I-If I had my passport I could leave the country and start a new life!"
I rubbed my sniffling nose but my sadness quickly turned into fury. I clenched my fists as tight as I possibly could. 'I will never let another person hurt me again! I will stop Stock and whatever it takes, he is going down. I will have my revenge.'