Leah
"Hello…"
I slowly pushed the door open, peeking through to make sure someone wouldn't rush at me with a knife.
"Why would someone rush at you with a knife?" It was as if my brain rolled its eyes when it asked this.
“I don't know, maybe because the door of the owner of this hotel is open. And dark inside,” I retorted.
Eish!
I slowly walked inside, feeling the wall for the switch.
"Where the heck is it?" I muttered, cursing under my breath.
Everywhere was pitch black, and my imagination was conjuring things I wouldn't want to experience in this darkness.
"Hello…oh, got it!" I finally found the switch and turned the light on.
It was the same golden-yellow lights. They didn't illuminate the room much, but it was enough to see that it was empty.
Did Mr. Thorne leave in a hurry? Was there an emergency? What happened with his brother?
"You came for your bag, remember?" said my sassy brain.
Oh, right. It's right there.
I went straight to it and picked it up. On the table was my resignation letter. I'd forgotten it too.
I slid it into my bag, flung the bag on my shoulders, and turned to leave when something caught my eye.
A subtle movement.
"I swear, if anything jumps out of there, I'm throwing fists," I muttered.
I slid my hand into my pocket and pulled out my phone, switched on the light, and shone it directly where I'd seen the movement.
"What the hell!"
God. My heart flew into my throat, hammering against my teeth. The beam of my flashlight darted wildly as my grip failed; my palms were so slick with sweat that the phone nearly slid right through my fingers.
Did someone die here? Who is that?
The person was curled in a sitting fetal position, shaking violently.
Then slowly, the person looked up at me.
I almost passed out because my breath literally ceased for several seconds.
"Mr. Thorne?"
His wide glassy eyes were locked on me, his skin so pale I thought he was dead. He was downright petrified, staring without blinking as if I were the threat or the only thing anchoring him. His breaths came fast and shallow, his whole body trembling with pure, helpless fear.
I dropped my bag and rushed to him, kneeling down right in front of him, my fidgety hand already dialing 911.
"Fuck!"
My phone died. I hadn't charged it the entire day.
"Mr. Thorne, Mr. Thorne… it's okay, it's all right, you'll be fine…" I reassured him, just as I'd seen the medics do to people the time my grandma was in the hospital.
No response. His eyes were still fixated where I'd been standing earlier.
"Mr. Thorne… Damien…"
It was as if he answered me when his unblinking eyes fluttered as he directed them to me. His eyebrows creased, veins bulging out of his forehead like he was forcing himself to get out of his fixation.
"I'm right here, Damien. I'm here with you."
My hands stayed helplessly in the air. I didn't know what to do with them. I didn't know how he'd react if I touched him.
I needed to call somebody. Anybody.
"The telephone!"
I stood up immediately and was about to run to his table to call security, when a hand grabbed my wrist.
I screamed, bouncing from one foot to the other from the sudden grip. It felt like I was in a horror movie.
Oh, it's Damien.
"Don't leave me. Please." He choked out, his eyes filling up with tears.
I was almost brought to tears myself. He looked so vulnerable. So different from what I was used to.
I went back on my knees and grabbed his shoulder, rubbing gentle circles up and down his biceps.
He grabbed my shoulders too, leaning forward.
I panicked. For a moment, I thought he was going to pull that stunt like last time. Or worse, attack me.
"I really don't know what I'm doing, Damien, but just know that you're not alone right now. I'm here with you. You'll be fine. Just take deep breaths, okay?" I said, taking deep breaths myself while he watched.
My heart soared when he began imitating me, until we were breathing in sync.
"That's right. Good…"
We continued for a while until I noticed the color returning to his face.
A huge relief washed down my whole body, making me weak and giving me a pounding headache.
"Leah?"
"I'm here, Damien." I raised a hand, cupping the side of his neck.
He sighed, resting his head against the wall and shutting his eyes, while still holding onto me.
"What happened? Did you get into a fight? Did someone attack you?"
He shook his head.
I watched his chest rise and fall with slight tremors.
"Do I need to call anyone? Where's your assistant?"
"I'll be fine," he said tiredly. "I just need to rest."
I had so many questions. How did he get like this? What should I do now? He just had a panic attack or something similar. Should he get some fluid or something?
Water.
"Should I get water for you?"
He opened his eyes and looked at me, then at my hand on his.
"Do you have to go with your hands, though?"
I widened my eyes in surprise.
Did he just make a joke? The stoic Mr. Damien Thorne made a joke.
My lips involuntarily stretched. He smiled too. I had to hold myself from gasping because what the heck?
I'd seen his business smile, which was pretty, but this? This was genuine. It was almost like that time with my son, but more…vulnerable.
He sighed again and lifted his hands from my shoulders.
"On my desk," he said, pointing behind me.
I quickly rushed over, grabbed the bottle, and came back. He'd hesitated to let go of me, so that meant he needed someone close to him.
He took several sips and rested his head back on the wall, breathing steadily now.
What happened to this man?
I watched as his Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed, the edges of his jaw moving as he clenched and released it, the vein on his neck pulsating, his chest…sweating, his biceps…flexing…
Leah!
I shook my head, squeezing my eyes shut to expunge the thoughts that were creeping in like thieves.
I plopped down beside him and rested my head against the wall too. I didn't know how long passed, but we just sat there quietly.
I think he even dozed off.
Jason!
I shot my eyes open and sprang up, my sudden movements making him jerk awake.
"Uh…sorry. I need to head home now. Uh…what time is it?"
He reached into his pants pocket, retrieved his phone, and showed me.
Past nine.
"I can drop you off?"
"Thanks, but there's no need for that," I said, running over to gather my stuff that had spilled when I'd dropped my bag.
I knew Matt would be trying to reach me. He'd be worried sick.
I heard him grunt and turned to see him trying to get up. I rushed over to him and, without thinking, flung his arm over my shoulders, taking in all his weight.
That was a dumb move because my knees immediately buckled. I tried to steady myself, but with each step, I felt my knees getting wobblier, until they finally gave out.
I yelped, shutting my eyes as I began my descent to the floor.
I gave in to my fate, already adding it to the list of embarrassing things I'd done in front of this man, when suddenly I felt an arm wrap around me, pulling me up and against a rigid, warm chest.
I opened my eyes and saw his eyes as they stared down at me, bare with so many emotions I couldn't quite decipher.
My heart began thumping rapidly, just as a sizzling sensation erupted inside my stomach where our bodies met and around my waist where his arm was.
"Uh…thank you," I said slowly, slipping away from his grasp, feeling the heat creep onto my face.
Thank God everywhere was dim. Otherwise, he would have seen how red my face had gotten.
I finished packing my things and turned to him for the last time, thinking of how he'd manage on his own when I left.
"How would…" I began.
"Stay."
"What?"
"Take the offer, Leah. Work for me."
My heart began beating rapidly again. It was as if he was pleading with his eyes.
Oh God.
I couldn't, even if I wanted to. Traveling all around the world, being in front of the media and risking being found, leaving my son for days, it was something I'd never do.
"Mr. Thorne…" I began, my chest tightening from what I was about to say. "I'm sorry, but I can't. I can't work for you."
He shut his eyes, taking several breaths.
When he opened them, the vulnerable man I'd seen up until now vanished, replaced by Mr. Thorne, the stoic man with control and power.
"Leave then," he said dismissively.
"Mr. Thorne…"
"Leave, Leah."