I ran out of the bar for a reason I'm not sure of. I don't even have a reason. Only that I need to get the hell away from that bar. What Hunter said :don't I miss my daughter?
Of course I miss her. I miss her every second of my life. Every minute I'm not mixing a drink, my mind wanders off to her and I sit in the loneliness but noisiness of the bar and sink my teeth into my wrist to stop myself from crying.
"Tiffany!" Hunter called behind me. I didn't even listen, I just kept walking until he grabbed my hand. "Why'd you run off like that?"
"Why? Why?...Hunter you just asked me about my daughter and I should be calm?"
"So you do have a daughter" he grinned. I felt like punching his nose but that would ruin his face. I won't like to see him battered up so I refrained from throwing punches.
"Yes, I have a daughter. And my situation doesn't concern you" I said and started walking away. With the rage I was feeling right now, I could walk all the way to Ash's house and still have some energy to spare.
"It was just a small talk, Tiff"
I swooped around to face him. Small talk? Does he even know what I go through, the thoughts that fly through my mind everyday. The fear that shoots up my spine anytime I spot a police car? It's a goddamn truama to me
"Did Ash tell you about my daughter?" I asked him...cause if she did...so help me...
"No she didn't. I just have a natural curiosity" he smiled. Why is he finding any of this amusing anyway? The fact that he know something could put me in trouble. Not that he's a birdy but I can't take chances.
"Well, guess what? I dislike curious people" I muttered before walking off. The sound of Hunter's steps behind me made me sigh. Is this his curiosity acting out now or he's just being annoying. I stopped walking and he did too.
"What do you want Hunter?" I asked without turning around. Jesus! Am I even supposed to be standing in the streets for long in this broad daylight? Someone might recognise me.
"Dinner. Have dinner with me"
"I don't have time for that" I have other things to do like plotting how to get my daughter back not going on dates.
"It's just a dinner......" he came up behind me and whispered in my ear, so only I could here. "....Elaine"
I froze. I seem to be doing that recently. He knows who I am. Should I be running? If I were my normal me, I'll call 911 by now that I have a stalker but I'm running from the police and the last thing I want is drawing attention to myself. I turned to face him slowly. His face was masked with a smirk. Now I really want to punch him.
"You know who I am?" My voice came out crooked but I cared less. My whole life is at stake right now.
"I've known since the first time I saw you. I made you a fake ID, Tiff. You didn't expect I won't snoop right?" He said. He has a point. And like he said. He's a curious person. Any curious person would want to deep into why I need a fake ID.
"So now what?" My eye lid fluttered with nervousness.
"Don't worry Tiff, I'm not turning you over to the police." Hunter said. "But have dinner with me" he added and that made me frown. "It's not a date" he said and simply started walking off so I followed him. What was I thinking anyway?
"Where are we going?" I came up behind him and he took my hand as we crossed the road to the other side.
"There's a restaurant just down here"
"Funny how I never noticed" I shrugged.
"You never notice anything around you" he said with a little frown and that had me wondering. We came to stop in front of a small but well furnished eatery. We walked in as the little bell above us rang. A waiter came up to us and led us to a free table.
We placed our orders and the waiter walked away.
I stared at Hunter" so what now?"
"What about now?" He asked with a shrug. He seem to be taking things lightly.
"Hunter, you know I'm Elaine Rivera. That's risky"
"So...you plan on shooting me into a deep Well so I'm silent?" He smiled in amusement.
"This isn't some movie, Hunt. This is real life" I whispered. The restaurant seemed quiet and unsettling.
"Nothing will happen. Trust me" he said. The waiter came back with our orders. "Ash told me you hardly eat"
"Is there a point to?" I snort. Even if I want to, I can't.
"It's not healthy" he said before stuffing his mouth with risotto. "You look skinny and helpless. Is that a way of getting your daughter back?"
"How did you even find all this out" I sigh.
"You stare at that picture of a girl everyday and I know who she is. I found out actually" he shoved his food around.
"I do have a plan" I said. Hunt looked at me for explanation but I just shrugged.
"You can trust me, you know?"
"I'm not sure who I can trust" I said with narrowed eyes. "After all, your blackmailing me to have dinner with you" I spot.
Hunter chuckled.
"Yeah...but It's for your good. I'll tell you what?" He scooted closer and I did too. "I have a secret too"
I raised my brows at him. Is he a criminal? A thief perhaps, or he scams people for money. Maybe that's why he's so curious.
"What secret?"
"You'll find out" he grinned. "But trust me"
"The Rivera Family is hosting a charity ball this Saturday. I plan to go" I said with a low voice.
"You don't expect to walk in there like that without getting caught right?"
I shrugged. "Same thing Ash said but I don't have any option right now" I relaxed into my seat. "I just need to see Autumn first, then everything would come rushing back"
"I think I can help You with that" Hunter said. A wide grin broke out on my face.
"Really?"
"We"
I walked in through the door and into Ash's apartment. I knew she was in the kitchen cause I heard the sound of the cooker go on."Ash!""In here!" She called right back so I hurried to meet her. I can't wait to tell her how my day unfolded. The talk with Hunter, and the plan.I sat on a stool by the counter and passed myself an apple from the fruit bowl. "You got off work early" Ash said as she sprinkled a little oil in the pan just to grease it up."Yeah...the girl taking the shift from me came earlier" I took a large bite from the Apple."So what's up?""Hunter knows I'm Elaine"I wish I hadn't said that with her standing next to the cooker. She turned around quickly and that made her tip the pan off her hand and to the floor. I bit on my bottom lip."Say again!" She half yell.I repeated myself the same
I didn't expect Hunter to come in early the next day but he did. Ash was right. He does seem to care about me in a special kind of way. One I'm not ready to look into or discover why?I went down the steps slowly pulling my little box of cloth that Ash graced me with. I would rather not wear prison clothe everywhere. Hunter appeared at the bottom of the steps and helped me with the box."Is this all?" He asked."Yep! Don't got much" I sighed"Then we'll have to go shopping" Hunter said and walked away quickly so I didn't have time to object. I'm still going to anyway. He can't just take me shopping like that. This is all an act. Not some romance prodigy.Ash was seating by the counter having coffee. I'm surprised to see she's not holding a bottle of wine. What's up with her?."Hey girl" I dropped my purse on the counter and poured me my own coffee. Black coffee? Ash is
I got dressed in a floral free gown. The length was a bit over my knee but nice and still decent. At least the gown didn't have a low cut or anything. I'm surprised Ash even has a floral gown.I packed my hair up in one breezy ponytail and decended downstairs. The sweet smell of food led me all the way to the kitchen and I stopped in my tracks when I saw Hunter cooking. He even had on an apron. I chuckled."So you cook?" I came and sat by the counter looking at the already made dishes on the table. Pastrami on Rye, black and white cookies, , Bagel and cream cheese."Yeah" he replied and placed a plate of creamed cheese in front of me. I inhaled the sweet aroma that suddenly made my tummy growl. "You better take care of that" Hunter grinned.I served myself some Pastrami and then stuffed my mouth. I won't deny, this is good food. At Ash's place, sphagetti and meatballs were the common.
I stared between Hunt and Nicole,waiting for Hunter to correct her but he didn't. He only grinned and stretched his hands out to her. We have a lot to talk about."You know her honey?" I ask with a side grin and clenched teeth."Nicole is a good friend" he smiled at the blonde and I blinked. Is this a game? How did he know Nicole and they seem to be so much good friends.A plump lady came out from the Rivera mansion with a worried expression on her face."Ma'am....Autumn won't have lunch" she said with full concern. I held my hands up to say something but Hunt pulled me away."See you around" he told Nicole before leading us back into the mansion. I found the nearest chair and sat down burying my face in my palms."Tiff. Are you alright?" Hunter asked kneeling in front of me."Why call me Tiff when you know who I am?"He smiled. "I guess I
The fair bob lady in front of me kept trying to steal glances at Hunter. When she tried looking at our direction again, I scowled at her and she cleared her throat looking away.We both stepped into Kennedy & Co boutique. The lady by the counter smiled at us and did a full glare at Hunter. Can I ever stop calling him that? His name is Lucas.I glared at him and he wasn't even noticing all the attention seekers around him. His right hand was tangled with mine while the other punched into his phone. He's here with me beat that.... i grinned stupidly to myself."We're here" he suddenly announced beside me.Once more, we're greeted with a fair blonde but this time, Lucas does seem to know her. He hugged her, kissing both her cheeks."Content de te re voir, Lucas" she grinned at him. While I never paid much attention during french class, now i wanted to gnaw my eyes out fo
Staring at the woman in the mirror was just as inspirational as any motivation I could ever need. Myself. The Cocktail dress I and Jacq finally picked out was as dashing as ever on me. On the hanger it looked pretty and all but wearing it now, I feel powerful. Intimidating.It was a red Sheath/ column off-the shoulder Assymetrical cocktail dress, with sequins. Jacq finalised the entire dress with a pearl earring and diamond necklace."Make sure to not loose this" she said pointing to my neck. I stared at the necklace through the mirror as it shone like thousands of diamonds. It wasn't huge or anything but looked simple and intimidating as ever."Why? Has he got his family fortune on it" I said with a grin but Jacq shook her head. "So what?"She pushed my cheek gently to the side applying a little rosy blush to my cheek making me look plush."You wanna know what's on your neck?"she asked st
My palms felt sweaty and often times, I'd touched the diamond on my neck so the cold feeling of it soothed me. Hunter placed his warm hands on my cold ones."You'll be fine. I've got you" he said with a smile but that didn't stop the nervousness that still ran down my spine."Tell me... how's it going to be like?" I asked him and he looked at me in disbelief and a raised brow."Ethan never took you to charity balls?" He asked and I was shocked to notice how freely he'd mentioned Ethan's name. I don't think I've heard anyone say his name for a while now. Myself included. And Lucas just said it like it was an easy thing to do and like he knew him."Only once and that was before we had Autumn. After then, I just enjoyed staying home with her." I said and smiled in the end. "He never liked the events anyway""Ethan?" Hunt asked and I nodded. God! I can't even pronounce his na
My dark mood was suddenly brightened up when I saw Autumn. She was in a pink flowery dress with black flats. Her short bangs were parked in a tight bun, I feared it'd wound her scalp but she looked neat and lovely.. She took her seat opposite me and next to Nicole.I watched her as she focused on the napkin in front of her before her eyes darted to me and she smiled."Hello" she said in a shy manner. I squeezed my hands together under the table and took deep breaths before replying."Hi little one. Nice to see you again" I smiled lovingly at her."Likewise" she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ears before looking at her aunt. She's grown so much.I can't believe I'm sitting with my daughter right now. She looks happy to be around people but bored at the same time.I spotted Diana coming over with her husband Ryan. She had smiles all over her face as she talked with