Chapter 15

15

E LIZABETH

My life shifts in a split second.

It’s like a comet has swept through my life, setting everything alight.

Last night was out of this world.

It was like we had removed the context of our regular lives and lived entirely for those precious moments.

He was no longer David Moore, the intimidating billionaire and eccentric heartthrob who had women on retainer.

He was no longer the uprooted man, the worldly man, the uncommitted man.

He was the man from before he became wealthy.

He was simply strong, courageous, honest, and straightforward. Not once did I have the feeling that I had a stranger in my house.

That feeling that he had just come home permeated the entire evening.

We chatted, showered, and went to bed like any other couple.

He couldn’t wait to bury himself in me, and I couldn’t wait to feel him hot and passionate atop me.

The moment we reconnected physically was the moment we had removed from memory what brought us to that point.

We didn’t talk about Keith, role playing, or even our mutual friends.

We loved each other like our bond was real.

Because it was real.

He left early in the morning with the promise to see me again in the evening and a to-do list for me.

I need to give notice at work and get ready to start working for him on Monday.

I still don’t know what exactly that job entails and how this is going to work. Most of my classes are in the morning, so I can work in the afternoon.

He’ll need to accommodate me in that regard.

He said I shouldn’t worry.

Honestly, I think there is no work involved.

He just wants me to be with him and be able to justify my extra income.

He also said I should do whatever I thought was best with my money.

So, things are interesting, to say the least.

I wake up and feel like a new person, having energy and basking in optimism.

Somehow, everything seems to go my way.

The thing is, every moment I have spent with him has this effect on me. My confidence is at an all-time high, and I feel like I can do anything I put my mind to.

I have a quick breakfast and run out the door, no longer concerned that someone is watching me from the bushes. He moved my new car to the front of my place and was absolutely against me hiding it from other people.

He said I should deal with people’s inquiries when they arise and not spend time fretting over them.

I climb in and head to school.

Throughout the morning hours, I shoot messages to Terry, Maggie, and Chloe.

My mother is happy that I got a new job. Maggie is sad that I got a new job, and Chloe doesn’t answer my messages.

Around noon, I get a reply from her, and soon after, she video calls me.

“So, what?” she asks, a smile across her lips. “You got this job last weekend?”

“Yes.”

“You didn’t tell me you were looking for a job.”

“I was some stupid ass online application I filled out. I didn’t know it would land me an interview. And more so, I had no idea I’d be working for Sexton International.”

“You mean David Moore.”

“Yes. Apparently, he’s the one who needs some sort of help,” I say, rushing to my car and averting my gaze.

I feel like smiling, but I keep my face straight.

The silence grows, prompting me to tip my gaze to her.

“Really?”

“What?” I flash a smile. “It’s good money.”

“I bet it is. He’s not bad either.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I toss at her, making sure that the camera is on me and she doesn’t notice that I drive a new car.

“Oh. By the way. You don’t know what happened last Thursday,” I change the subject swiftly and tell her about Keith and how he was picked up by the police.

My story gets her attention.

“You can’t be serious,” she says, her eyes locked with mine while I open the door and slide into my car, filling the camera with the view of my face so she doesn’t look behind me. “Did you call the police?”

“Uh-huh,” I say, looking down and turning on the ignition.

I don’t do anything else, so we can wrap up our conversation before I veer the car away.

“So what exactly happened?”

I give her enough information to make my story plausible.

“Who would’ve thought that you were right?”

“What?” I ask distractedly.

“You know. The creepy feeling.”

“Yeah, yeah. Honestly, I wish I was wrong. He scared the shit out of me. Anyway, I’m glad it’s over.”

“Can they charge him with anything?”

I look in the rearview mirror, thinking about an answer.

“I don’t know. The, um, officer said he would never trouble me again. I don’t know what that means, but it must be good.”

I move my eyes to her. She holds my gaze, searching my eyes a little suspiciously.

“Did you file a police report?”

“Yeah, yeah. Of course.”

I’m not very good at lying, and she might’ve just noticed that, but she doesn’t press on.

“So you’re sure about that? He won’t be harassing you anymore?”

I shake my head.

“No, he won’t.”

“Okay. I’m sorry to hear you’re no longer working at Maggie’s,” she says, the glint of a smile in her eyes. “I don’t know what to say about David Moore. Just watch out. He has a way with women,” she jokes.

“No worries. Okay. I need to go. I have a ton of things to do. I might stop later to buy some new clothes. Maggie was gracious enough to let me go effective immediately so I can start my new job, and I want to help her out by spending some money in her store.”

“Don’t worry about her. She’s doing fine.”

We end the call, and I set my phone in the cup holder before reaching inside my backpack and fishing out a piece of paper.

All the information I have gathered about David is here.

I don’t know if this is the right time to start digging into his past. Our dynamic just shifted. And we’re so happy. But this might be my only chance to do this before becoming his shadow.

I slide the piece of paper into my pocket and look outside.

The weather is changing.

They said it would snow in the afternoon, and the gray sky agrees with the forecast.

At least, there’s no Keith.

I’m not afraid of seeing him again. Although I have no desire to run into him again.

My stupid luck to have that experience with him. I deleted my account on that platform, hoping that none of my pictures and recordings made it online.

David told me not to worry about them.

He also said that Keith would probably ask for a transfer and never walk on campus again.

I believed him.

I like to believe him because what he says is usually right.

Spending a few more moments in silence, I contemplate my new life.

The exhilaration is real, simmering in my blood, but the apprehension sneaks right behind it like a thief, robbing me of my joy.

A kernel of tension sits in the pit of my stomach, the kind that normally hints at big changes.

I don’t know if I’m ready for any of them.

All I know is that I’m willing to take a risk, and in the end, that’s all that matters.

With that thought in mind, I click my seat belt and swerve my car away.