Chloe pulled a leather jacket from the hanger and layered it over a lace boxy top, taking one last look in the mirror hanging above the white dresser.
James, who had come out of his room, stood still and carefully scrutinized her with his eyes. He raised an eyebrow, noticing her black blouse, which revealed everything she wore underneath. And she had nothing but a bra.
He grunted, letting her know to look at him. She tore her gaze away from her reflection in the mirror and scoffed like a child when she noticed his displeased expression.
- What, daddy? - she muttered, correcting the collar of her jacket.
- Stop calling me that. - He directed his steps to the girl and, with folded hands on his chest, raked her with his eyes. - Do you think you will be warm enough in this outfit?
Chloe wrinkled her nose and raised her face to look into his eyes.
- Warm, not warm. I am supposed to look attractive," she stated in an offended tone. - And besides, it's my body, and I'm the one who will suffer if I freeze.
- Well, you are mistaken. The body may be yours, but if you freeze, I guarantee that you will also get sick, and you can't afford that when you work for me. You have to do your job. I'm not paying you to sit.
The blonde laughed artificially, putting her hand to her mouth. James' attention was caught by her bitten nails, sloppily painted with black polish.
- But you are so grouchy today. I haven't been able to get along with you since this morning.
- I know I shouldn't be interested in your private life since you have every right to do so when you're off work, but I just want to know what time you'll be back. You're living with me now, and it's my duty to take care of you, so you should at least inform me when you want to leave and what time you're going to be back.
The girl squinted as she noticed that James was waiting for an answer.
- Don't worry. I'll be back early enough to take care of the duties that are mine first thing in the morning.
- At least that's the answer I was hoping for," he said, sending her a smile. - Just remember. If you don't get up in the morning, we'll talk differently. I don't like it when someone breaks a promise.
- Damn Aquarius," she commented, forgetting that he still accompanied her. She forced a gentle smile and hurriedly grabbed the door handle. - I'm the one to go.
Before she left, James lifted his cell phone up, letting her know to call if she needed anything. She nodded and hurriedly left the apartment, having had enough of his fathering.
*
The district was not one of the richest. It could be considered that the buildings were in worse condition than the place where Chloe had lived so far.
The old, dilapidated walls suggested low rent, and people walking along the sidewalk who lived in the neighborhood instilled fear in people who were here for the first time. However, Chloe belonged to the type of women who were not afraid of anything. She felt no fear associated with this dangerous area. On the contrary, she was excited because she liked the thrill.
Keeping her hands in the pockets of her leather jacket, she passed drunk or drugged men who took notice of her.
- Honey, do you want to join us?
- Thanks, but I already have plans for tonight," she replied, raising her hand in the air. The men ignored her and went their separate ways, so Chloe stood in front of the block whose address matched the one Samuel had written down for her.
She lifted her face as she felt raindrops falling from the sky. She hurried inside and wrinkled her nose, smelling the unpleasant odor of dirt mixed with the cheapest cigarettes and alcohol.
Her attention was drawn to a man lying on the stairs, apparently drunk because an empty vodka bottle lay next to him.
Chloe rolled her eyes and passed the sleeping drunk, heading up the stairs to the next floor. She stopped mid-step when a young woman emerged from the apartment she was heading to. A not beautiful, red-haired girl who was stumbling over her feet.
- I see you've already started the party without me," Chloe declared, mirroring her with her eyes.
- This friend just got the wrong apartment," Sam spoke up, walking out into the hallway. Chloe raised an eyebrow, watching with what effort she headed for the stairs. There was something wrong with her, and she didn't look like a drunk person, especially when she faced her and raised her face. Her eyes were wild, even frantic?
She glared at the blonde with such hatred, as if she wanted to kill her.
- What was wrong with her? I get the impression as if I came face to face with a serial killer," she said, pointing her finger at the young woman.
- Don't pay attention to her," he said, with a movement of his hand informing her that the redhead was crazy. - Go inside.
She took one last look at the girl's devastated face, noticing the disturbing bruises under her eyes. She looked like a human wreck.
Chloe approached the boy, who let her through the door. He led the blonde into the room, indicating a seat for her to sit down.
- This chick made me think of Samara, only that in the redhead version.
- It's better to avoid her with a wide flank," he informed the girl. - She has already been in a mental hospital since she was young. Now she is a regular drug addict. She often takes advantage of situations and enters my house, and I get the impression that she is obsessed with me.
- I'm really surprised that you live in such a place. You drive around in a luxury car and sleep in squalid conditions. Couldn't Kylie get you something better?
- She insisted, but this apartment had the lowest rent, and I would rather not take advantage of her. She's my cousin, but there are limits. Well, and I'm already used to this squalid place," he replied with a smile on his face.
*
Chloe poured everyone more servings of alcohol, unable to stop teasing Kylie, who was the only one defending herself against the vodka. She explained that she had to remain conscious to watch over her boyfriend.
- Are you his girlfriend or babysitter, dammit? - She finally asked Chloe, unable to stand her refusal any longer. - He's a grown man even though he acts like a child, but he'll get over it.
- The one who behaves maturely spoke up," muttered an offended Aaron. - And leave my wife alone! If she would rather not drink, don't force her. At least she is the only decent person in this company.
- The only decent one? - repeated Chloe. On her knees, she crawled to her friend and, clearly indignant, slapped him on the forehead with an open palm. - I'm the decent one because at midnight I have to be in my bed already!
- And what are you, Cinderella? - he mocked, at which Samuel snorted with laughter.
- The prince is waiting for her in the apartment. I saw with my own eyes," he guffawed in front of the others, making Chloe feel like killing him. - I never judge guys, but I have to admit that he is handsome, rich and looks like someone with a good position.
- One more word and I'll rip your head off," she threatened him, pinching him on the thigh.
- Chloe, when did you pluck such a batch? Not long ago, you had nothing to do with your life, and we were looking for a way to help you. - Aaron looked surprised. He put his glass to his lips, looking carefully at his friend. - You're smarter than I thought. If it's such a party, how did you manage to charm him? More amazing is how you settled in with him so quickly!!!?
- Don't listen to Sam... After all, he is teasing! - she shouted, angrily pinching his thigh again. The boy screamed in pain because this time she did it with such force that he had the impression that she had torn off his skin.
- Why would I lie? Chloe, don't fool your colleagues," he muttered, massaging his sore leg.
The people Chloe met today looked at her in a way she couldn't define. As if with contempt?
- And what are you looking at? Do I have to wring your heads too? - she turned to them aggressively, which immediately had an effect because their faces changed dramatically.
- Chloe, how quickly you get angry," replied an amused Samuel, putting his arm around the girl. He held her tightly, as she wanted to nail him. She took advantage of the arm with which he embraced her and bit his forearm. - What a witch you are.
- One more word and I'll rip off your tongue so you won't stick it out again left and right.
- Drunk Sam never keeps secrets. This is his worst flaw," pronounced the boy, who so far has been the only one to remain silent in the company. - I also went through this. He told my most embarrassing secret. I lost my confidence that day.
A cheerful smile appeared on Samuel's face.
- You have something to be happy about," muttered Chloe, pinching him again. This time, she chose a spot above his buttocks.
- Tomorrow I will be all bruised," he communicated tearfully.
- It was necessary to hold his tongue. - The blonde pouted her lips, glancing at the time on her cell phone.
She stood up from the table, which surprised the people she accompanied.
- This is the time for me to leave you alone. Some people have to work. They don't have a comfortable life," she commented briefly, measuring Samuel with an angry gaze. - It's a great pity that I'm not a princess and don't have a prince by my side because I dream of nothing but a comfortable life," she added, taking her jacket off the rack. - And if I hear that anything about me was talked about, then you are all dead. Without exception," she warned, with a movement of her hand, presenting them with the sign of a cut-throat.
As a farewell, they reminded her to be careful on her way back, so she just nodded and left the apartment. Only when she closed the door behind her did she feel the alcohol go to her head.
She massaged her forehead and headed toward the stairs, although her attention was caught by the door, behind which was the psychic girl's apartment. She sincerely sympathized with a colleague of such a neighbor because people of her kind were dangerous and one had to be especially careful of them.
Chloe focused her gaze on the door of her apartment, as she had the impression that she heard the sound of the peephole sliding open. However, she ignored it and, unconcerned with the madman, ran down the stairs, again passing the drunken man who had fallen asleep on the stairs.
She went outside and cursed under her breath when she noticed how badly it was falling apart. She stood under the canopy and took out her cell phone to call a cab. However, the woman on the other end of the handset refused her, informing the girl that they don't send cabs to the address she provided at night.
Chloe snorted under her breath, thinking this was ridiculous. She didn't understand why, since the neighborhood was somehow not particularly threatening. Unless she had no idea about the situation that had occurred here in the past.
The nights were already chilly at this time of year, so she massaged her shoulders, realizing that she would have to walk all the way down this street to be in the center of town.
The rain had picked up, and she sighed and was about to leave when she felt someone watching her. She looked over her shoulder and fixed her puzzled eyes on a red-haired girl who was standing in the hallway, watching her through a crack in the door.
Her face looked dangerous, and she was the only person who led the blonde to feel uneasy. Especially when she looked around and realized that the street was unusually deserted at this hour.
Without thinking about what she should do, she simply moved ahead, trying to ignore the crazy girl.
She looked over her shoulder to make sure that the woman had stayed in that place, but a strange, hot feeling went through her body when she noticed that she was no longer there.
She had disappeared.
Raindrops ran down the blonde's face, and she hurriedly headed for the city center.
She pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and dialed a number for Aaron, but the boy didn't answer. The next attempt she made was to call Samuel, but he didn't hear the phone call either. Although. They were drunk, so what was the point of her seeking help from them?
The blonde had never felt such intense fear as she did at the moment. Usually, she was brave and nothing could frighten her, but her intuition told her that this girl's behavior was extremely strange. Her gaze when she first met her in the hallway.... That look so reflected the character of a psychopath. As if by doing so, she was suggesting to her that she was in danger.
Chloe was one of the type of people who were not afraid to stand up to a group of girls, so why did she feel such apprehension after one encounter with that woman?
So far, the only sound she had heard was the sound of rain, so a shiver went through her when the sound of footsteps reached her ears. She bravely looked back, wanting to know if she was getting carried away by her imagination, and definitely wishing she had after what she saw moments later.
A red-haired girl was heading in her direction with a menacing face, proposing that Chloe should run away. Soaked to the bone, she took large steps, holding something shiny in her hand.
The blonde looked at it more closely and froze as it was a kitchen knife.
She opened her eyes wider, and it was the first time in many years that she was running from someone again, wanting to protect herself from imminent harm.
Panic took over her body, and she began to run. She pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and, unable to see the display well through the rain that drenched it, dialed the first number that came to mind.
James answered after four signals.
- What's going on? - His voice was sleepy, but she didn't care that she had roused him from his sleep. He informed her to call him if she experienced any problems.
- I beg you to help me! - she said in a weepy voice, tired from running, and before she hung up, she gave him the address. She looked over her shoulder, noticing that no one was behind her.
She stopped in place, trying to catch her breath.
Her rain-soaked hair and clothes were sticking to her body, and she looked around her with panicked eyes, fearing that she would suddenly be attacked.
She needed at least five minutes to recover, as she didn't have the strength to continue running.
She couldn't tell what this crazy girl wanted from her. Why was she the one who targeted her and made a hunt for her with a kitchen knife?
- Where is this crazy girl? - she said into space, gaining courage when that one disappeared without a trace. She took off her leather jacket, which clung too much to her body, and threw it on the sidewalk, as it was uncomfortable. - Where are you, psycho woman! - she hollered loudly.
Her confidence waned as the red-haired girl came out of the dark alley. She lifted the knife up, touching its blade with her fingers in fascination.
She headed straight for the blonde, staring blankly into her face.
- You showed up at his place.... It is because of you that he persistently rejects me. You took him away from me," she spoke in a voice that, combined with her appearance, was able to induce chills. - I'll kill you for that... I'll kill you! - she screamed, lashing out at the blonde.
Chloe screamed and jumped back at the last moment. She started running ahead, terrified to the extreme.
Samuel was right. The crazy woman was obsessed with him. And a particularly sick obsession at that.
She was tired of running, and this street still had no end.
There was a feeling of relief on her face when she saw the oncoming car. She realized by its massive stature that it was a Jeep.
James stopped the car and stepped out into the rain when he saw the girl running toward him. The car's headlights shone directly on her, making him able to see her frightened face.
Soaked to the bone, she ran into him with such force that he had to grab her by the shoulders. He felt that she was trembling all over. He wasn't sure if it was because she was freezing, but he guessed she was distressed, since she sounded weepy on the phone.
Furthermore, he escorted her to the passenger seat and slammed the door behind her, looking carefully at the place from where she ran. He didn't see anything, but something terrible must have happened if the ever fearless Chloe was so shaken.
He had heard many uninteresting stories about this neighborhood, as people repeatedly said that this street was best avoided by a wide margin if you didn't live here.
How did Chloe end up here?
Before he left, he looked at her pale face. She was shivering from both the cold and the fear she had experienced.
He reached into the back seat for his jacket and handed it to the girl, who sent him a silent smile in gratitude. She carefully covered herself with it, especially since she was wearing only a lacy blouse that clung to her wet bra.
- Now, I won't press you and ask you what happened. You need to recover first. If you like, you will tell me everything tomorrow," he said in a calm voice, turning the car around.
Chloe looked at him with gratitude in her eyes, glad that she had such a good person at her side. Only now she saw through it, realized how much he had done for her and that one phone call in the middle of the night was enough for him to help her.
Where would she find another man like him who would provide her with a home, a job, and she could still say, security as well?
And until now, she had not been able to appreciate him...