Slipping into the steaming hot bath, Kathryn felt her muscles relax, and a soft moan escaped her lips. She let her mind wander back to the events of the night and couldn't help but feel grateful for having come so far.
After soaking for an hour, Kathryn stepped out of the tub and efficiently wrapped both a short towel around her slim figure and another around her damp hair. Moving over to her vanity, she took a moment to admire her reflection with a delighted smile before using the hairdryer to dry her locks.
Kathryn then went into her roomy walk-in closet, rummaging through various racks until she finally found a sports bra and a pair of snug shorts to wear. Exhausted, she stifled a yawn, her bed calling to her endlessly, but she knew she had to stay disciplined and finish the hour of exercise she had planned for that night.
As she descended the stairs, Kathryn could hear panting coming from somewhere close by—it only grew more audible as she neared the gym. She steeled herself for the workout ahead and opened the door to her makeshift gymnasium.
On getting inside she saw rebecca and Arthur sparring, she smiled...
"Couldn't sleep?" Kathryn asked, warming up and stretching..
"Yeah" rebecca and Arthur replied simultaneously.
She watched with amusement as Rebecca and Arthur bickered, sparring to prove their point. She admired their determination and discipline, as Rebecca narrowly avoided a sharp punch from Arthur and retaliated swiftly with a punch below Arthur's stomach, which he effortlessly blocked.
Arthur swiftly slid on Rebecca's feet and knocked her down in a swift move.
"Fucking hell, I almost had you Arthur, you know it" She hit the mat loudly and cursed under her breath before pointing her finger at Arhur, her expression one of frustration yet also respect.
"Almost doesnt kill a bird love" Arthur said ruffling her messy pony tail.
"Dont do that" Rebecca said hitting his hands away.
She was beyond upset that she had lost the spar for more than four consecutive sessions, yet she clearly wasn't ready to give up yet.
Kathryn couldn't help but smile at her two friends as they continued their banter. These people were her people, and she adored them to bits, constantly grateful for their presence in her life. Her expression shifted to one of mischievousness as she proposed a challenge to the siblings, the idea of facing someone their own size crossing her mind.
"Why don you fight someone of you size" Kathryn taunted mischievously.
Arthur quickly scurried away from Rebecca, retreating to the exit with his hands still raised in surrender.
Despite the taunting, Rebecca's expression softened as she watched her brother leave, her fighting spirit morphing into moments of cute pouting.
Retreating back to wards the exit, he Raised his hands in surrender saying
"oh hell no, I am exhausted, been going since two hours now"
Raising an eye brow Kathryn taunted him
"Afraid of being knocked out by a woman, imagine my surprise" she said feigning shock.
Not falling for the same trick over again , he said "whatever you say boss " he said running out of the gym while Rebecca and Kathryn burst in a fit of laughter...
An hour later, both Kathryn and rebecca fell down on mat, exhausted...
"Phew, that was intense" rebecca said.
"Might as well sleep here" Kathryn said softly.
" no can do, you have a 7 am meeting tomorrow with the shareholders and all the staff, your schedule is practical full till 4pm, I need you at the top of your game" Rebecca said getting up and stretching out her hand to lift Kathryn up.
"Fair enough" Kathryn said taking her hand and getting up.
Slumping on her large bed she dozed off..
_____________________________________________
Davin stood in front of the sweeping window that looked out onto the entire city. Taking a puff of his cigar, he exhaled a plume of smoke.
His gaze, somber with the recollection of events from the previous night, dipped slightly. He found it harder than a few moments ago to deny how impeccably dazzling Kathryn had been.
Her eyes, sharp and full of a nascent and unyielding ambition, had lingered in his thoughts ever since. A now-familiar, although formerly foreign, emotion stirred in his chest as he considered her.
He was undeniably attracted to her, but in a state of bafflement as to how to address this newly-acquired notion, he turned to the solace of a drink and called it a night.
Tossed about in restlessness, he abandoned his futile attempts at sleep and instead, strolled to his study.
Almost immediately an unfinished task welcomed him and with it, a much-needed distraction. As he discussed and deliberated, his inner musing still managed to remain tangible in his thoughts as he pondered the significance of his latest encounter.
_______________________________________________
"No, no, please! I'm begging you, Carlos, please don't do this!" Kathryn's cries of fear echoed through the darkness.
The doors burst open and Rebecca leapt forward, nearly bouncing onto the bed. She shook Kathryn relentlessly, two, three, four times in rapid succession.
Kathryn jolted upright, panic glazing over her dazed eyes. She surveyed her surroundings desperately, until her gaze met Rebecca's. Realizing what had happened, she exhaled a terrified, yet relieved, sigh. Rebecca enveloped her in a tight embrace, her voice momentarily abandoning its usual cheery tenor.
"You're safe," she promised, stroking Kathryn's hair reassuringly.
"Becca.." Kathryn croaked softly, her throat raw from screaming. She buried her face in Rebecca's shoulder, her racing heart slowly calming in the embrace of her best friend.
"Yes, I'm here. You're safe, I promise," Rebecca whispered soothingly, her arms still tight around Kathryn. A few moments later, hot tears cascaded down Kathryn's cheeks, soaking the silky fabric of her pyjamas.
Rebecca shifted her hand softly upon her back, eliciting a gentle rise and fall of Kathryn's shoulders as her emotions burst forth. It had been six years since she'd seen Kathryn shed a single tear, not even when they had faced immense hardships together in pursuit of their success. Now here she was, her slender frame trembling in Rebecca's embrace.
Rebecca was filled with both worry and rage. She vowed that when she laid her eyes on that monster, she would be ready to exact her revenge.
The sobs eventually died down, and Kathryn's breathing became shallow and rhythmic. Rebecca leaned closer and looked down at her friend's puffy eyes; she was asleep at last.
"Guess you're exhausted. I'll try and shift the meeting tomorrow," Rebecca breathed, her voice an octave lower than usual.
Carefully she laid Kathryn down before settling in beside her. Carefully, she tucked the duvet around the both of them and cuddled up close to Kathryn. Comforted and soothed by her presence, Rebecca drifted off as well.