The sun arose early, leaving its golden prints on objects it touched. It swept through Calah's room, from a peek of the bind that had been forgotten the previous night.
The more it shone, the more it pierced through her, giving her a perfect glow and exposing her features.
Her hair was bunched up in a bonnet, leaving only her face. The shadows from the light cut through from her eyelids down to her nose bridge and down to her lips, giving it the most seductive look ever.
Lori had arisen before the sun. She was employed, and she had a job to tender for. As though Calah's maid was coming over to clean, she arranged her sleeping space and put a few things in order in Calah's room.
She made breakfast too and put it in a flask next to her bed, even though she wasn't going to set it herself.
The day's schedule was supposed to work like a shift for Calah; an hour after Lori had gone to work, her masseur was to resume.
It was a win-win. The time shift was really flexible for both of them, and it suited Calah even more.
Lori waited by Calah's bed for her to wake up before she stepped out, and in less than 30 minutes, she did. From afar, where she sat, she looked at Calah.
How could someone be so beautiful and successful and still suck in their love life?
Well, she wasn't for men, she continued her thoughts; she couldn't just stand their bulge around her, talkless of inside her. She would remain single for as long as she wanted or get down with someone with a soft body.
"Good morning, Lori. Were you staring at me?
"Scared I might stab you?" She replied, smiling. "Just kidding," she added, laughing. She walked over to her side. "Good morning, maam."
Calah gave her a suspicious look. She never saw Lori act like that. "Help me sit, please."
Well, I'm all set for work. There's food in that cooler next to you, and I've set the heat in the water heater. Would you like me to do anything else?"
Calah sat so still and grateful. She shook her head in the negative. "Nothing at all." And she whispered, "Thank you."
"Why is the maid not here yet?" Lori asked, concerned, picking up her things in the process.
"She isn't?" Calah asked, more concerned.
Lori saw her mild fear and offered. "Shall I take you to the bathroom before she comes?"
"Nah, I think I'm good. And I'm certain she'll be here any minute from now. She's already late. "
"Alright then, I'm off to work. Anything you'd like me to know?"
"I think you know everything, Lori," she said, half smiling.
Lori returned the smile. "Alright then, I should be on my way now. I'm late as well.
Oh, and one more thing," she continued, turning back to Lori. "How is Philip going to come in?"
Calah thought hard: " Would it be bad if you dropped a key and told him where it is?"
"Remember what happened the last time you gave your key out to a man?"
Calah shot her a glance and softened a bit. "This is different, Lori. I don't even have a choice."
"Fine then. Goodbye"
Calah watched her leave her room, her eyes still on the door, until she heard the front door slam.
And alone she was.
She picked up her phone, hoping to find something interesting, and drifted to sleep in the process.
She woke up less than an hour later, perceiving the house as still empty. Nobody had shown up, and she was beginning to feel worried. Her worry was just enough to let fear creep in as she remembered her keys were with three people, none of them around her.
Anything could happen.
Suddenly, she heard pots and pans clatter from the kitchen below. She tried convincing herself she had heard wrong. If it were actually Kim, her maid, she would come to greet her first.
The noise ceased for a while. She thought harder, and if it were Philip, he wouldn't be in her kitchen! He was a masseur for the love of Jupiter!
She felt footsteps on the floorboards approaching; they didn't feel feminine. Neither were they like someone who was employed there. They sounded so firm, and it screamed ownership.
Was her father around? That early? Even so, what would he have been doing in the kitchen?
Would have ordered her a meal or ordered a chef to cook and deliver.
The footsteps got closer, and her fear rose. Her armpits got damp, and her palms, for no reason, were cold.
She reached for her pepper spray in the second drawer next to her, ready to baptize whoever came close. She wouldnot be a victim in her own home.
The steps got closer and firmer, and she could detect a masculine voice. Her heartbeat got faster, and her armpits got bigger. Fear rippled on her skin, and her skin's hair was on her toes, leaving bumps.
She pictured them as two, hearing one speak to the other. She held her spray tighter and positioned it well. She wasn't planning to make the first move, but she needed to be prepared.
Then he knocked.
"Good morning, Miss Calah, Are you in there?
Her soul returned to her body, and all her fears evaporated. She immediately put her spray away. He had his phone in his hand, and that was her assumption of a second person. Apparently, he was on a call.
Nobody saw her, so there wasn't any proof that she was scared.
"Um, yes. Good morning," she said, realizing how dry her mouth had been from anxiety. "Come on in," she replied, adjusting her clothes and putting away everything that could let her guard down.
"How was your night?" He asked with a smile, and immediately he stepped in. He grabbed the chair that stood by her dresser and made himself comfortable very close to her.
"I'm fine," she replied, still shakily.
His phone beeped again, and he looked at Calah with a pleading face. "I need to take this."
Without excusing himself, he took his call on the chair there, adjacent to Calah.
She took time to examine him; she hadn't even accessed him through He had full, black hair that was neatly shaved.
His beards were trimmed, and his face looked so neat. She thought he would definitely have an expensive skincare routine.
From his shoulders down, his muscles flexed easily as he adjusted, switching hands to hold his phone to his ear. His hands were steadfast, and the veins that ran through them were visible. It brought memories of other things with veins, but she shifted her gaze before he could notice.
Her eyes went to his torso, through his white tank top that hugged his body so tightly, and they looked hard. And for some reason, she felt she needed to feel it through her hands.
She observed his body thoroughly; he had no fat. His skin was tough and yet clear. He had the finest skin for a man.
Her eyes darted back to his face to check his lips out. The movement when he spoke was a rhythm she understood.
"Hello?" He cut her off. Apparently his call had ended, but she was lost in the movement of something else.
"Hi, hello!?" She looked back at his face. "Hello? You said something?"
He smiled briefly. Sorry, the call took longer than expected. How are you feeling? Does your neck still hurt badly?"
"I'm fine. Totally," she replied distantly.
"Your neck?"
"Oh, that," she said, turning it a bit. "It still hurts a bit, but not as bad as before."
"Good to hear," He said, rising to his feet. "CanI take a look at your spine?"
He went closer to her side and pulled her into a hug, leaning her on himself while he examined her back.
It was the first time she got up close with him, and she felt his scent. He smelled of freshly brewed coffee, hard and black. The scent sent her mind on a journey of reminders of her early morning routine, just before she started for the day.
She could bury herself within those hard walls and smell them all day. She felt her own sense of defense fall. This was her turning point.
"Okay, This looks pretty much almost healed," he said, leaning her back against the bed. He looked at her and said, "This might get a little bit uncomfortable, but you'll have to bear it."
She nodded.
He adjusted the blanket that covered her legs, running his hand down from her knees to her toes. He examined the joints and beneath her thighs. "How does it feel here? Does it hurt that much too?"
She was already lost with how strong his hands were and how the veins looked like they would pop.
"Miss Calah?"
She flushed. She was being helped, and she was lost in a fantasy.
"Yes? You said something?"
He smiled. "You'll have to get cleaned up before I start therapy."
She nodded. "My maid is late today, and I don't know why."
"Do we wait for her, or could I help you with that?"
"Um, I don't know. She was supposed to be here.
He sighed.
"We should start immediately if you plan on getting well quickly. I'll do it myself."