Joan woke up with a start, only to discover she was sweating profusely even with the AC turned on. Her brows knitted as she wondered why the strange dream she had the day before came back to her. A knock interrupted her thoughts and Grace's voice filtered in. “Jo, are you up?” Before she could respond, Grace opened the door and walked into the room, frowning when she set her eyes on her friend. “You look terrible. Have you been crying? And why are you sweating?” Grace asked in one breath, concern lacing her voice and features. “I'm not sure.” Joan rolled off the bed and headed to the bathroom. She was taken aback when she saw how red her eyes were through the mirror. That was when she understood why Grace had asked her if she had been crying.“Jo, are you okay?” She heard Grace ask from the bedroom and she let out a sigh. She didn't even know if she was okay or not anymore. “Yeah.” She responded from the bathroom. “I'll be out in a minute.” Joan went ahead to wash up before return
Outside the main door, she paused as she came face to face with the guard assigned to provide them security. “Is everything alright, Madam?” He asked, looking at her quizzically. He couldn't understand why she was all dressed up and out so early in the morning. “Um, yes. I just want to grab coffee downstairs. I'll be back.” Joan answered his question, but he wasn't satisfied. “It can be delivered to you up here, or I can go and get it myself. You don't have to go through that stress.” The guard suggested, and was about to move when she stopped him..“No, don't bother. I need the walk to clear my head. I will be fine.” She didn't wait after she finished speaking. She went straight to the elevator, knowing from the buzz of her phone that her ride had arrived.When the elevator door closed, she let out a sigh, seeing that he made no move to follow her. However, with the door now blocking her view, she didn't notice that he brought out his phone and made a call as soon as the door clos
As the phone rang, Grace paced about the living room, waiting for Trevor to pick up the call. She had decided to call him after searching for Joan and the guard without any positive results. If the guard was with Joan, then Trevor would reach the guard on the phone since she doesn't have his number. He didn't pick up the first time, so she called again. “Miss Grace?” Trevor spoke when the call connected. “Mr. Baliante, sorry for bothering you so early in the morning. I can't find Joan. And I can't find the guard either. I thought he may have escorted her somewhere but I've searched everywhere and didn't find them, and it's been an hour now.” Grace poured out her reports and worries the moment she heard his voice, without giving him a chance to speak. “I’m not saying she's missing, but her phone is switched off and I don't have the guard's number. Can you call the guard to find out where they are? I'm dying of worry here.” Grace finally stopped talking.“Your friend is fine, Miss Gr
Roman made no effort to move another step toward her. He just stared at her after hearing her yell at him.“What?!” he asked, surprised.“This is my room, right?” Joan asked after sitting up, her tone calmer this time.Roman didn't know why she was asking that, but he still answered. “Yes, it is.”“Good. Get out of my room.” Joan repeated, again with a calm tone, glaring daggers at him.“Are you okay?” Roman asked, still not moving. He didn't know what to think about what was happening. He expected her to be asking him about the attack but she was instead telling him to leave her room. Did she perhaps think that he was behind the attack? Was that why she was this angry at him?“Do I look okay?” Joan asked, annoyed. She felt she was going insane, and the dreams she had been having were not helping matters. It was no headless man this time. Rather, there were strange looking people who continuously whispered things she didn't understand into her ears until she finally found the will to
Joan remained on the bed, the image of what happened that morning refusing to leave her mind. She didn't know who those people were or why they came after her, but the driver was innocent. He was only doing his job, looking for his daily bread. Why did they have to kill him?The more she thought about it, the more guilt ate at her. If she hadn't booked that ride, that man would still be alive. It was her fault he was caught up in this and died in the process. The thought broke her down to the point where tears began to flow from her eyes. She heard a knock, but refused to respond. She sat still, staring at the door with a depressed expression until the knock echoed again.“It's Daniel, Madam. I brought your food. You haven't eaten anything for a long time so I know you must be very hungry. Can I come in?” Joan heard the words filter in and she sniffed, wiping her tears with the back of her palm.“Come in.” She said, but was forced to repeat it when she realized her voice came out ra
Roman didn't know how to feel about what she had just asked. Hearing her claim the house to be hers brought him immense satisfaction. However her eyes still held so much spite for him. He shifted his gaze to give Daniel a look and no one needed to tell the lad to disappear from the room at that instant.With Daniel gone, leaving just the two of them, Roman moved to the bed and sat down beside Joan, eyeing the left-over food on the tray before shifting his attention to her face.She had a glass of juice in her hand and she was sending him a wary gaze. Thankfully she didn't move away when he plopped his butt down on the bed beside her. “If you want company so badly, my room is right next to yours. You could have sent for me or just come to me.” Roman said, his eyes zeroing in on the area right below the side of her lips where a stray drop of juice rested. Seeing how she wasn't bothered about it or trying to wipe it off meant she wasn't aware of its presence. “I don't want your compan
Already tired of hearing the same reason over and over again Joan decided not to ask why.She just stared at the man promising her heaven on earth, and she still couldn't shake off the feeling that something just wasn't right with him.“You knew you had enemies, yet you involved me in this mess, knowing they would come after me and you claim to love me? How am I supposed to believe that?” Joan asked, swallowing the question about his identity, which she initially wanted to ask.“Don't you have enemies?” Roman asked and Joanne frowned.“I don't. I am not a troublemaker. I don't engage in things that bring the wrong kind of attention toward me.” Joan defended herself.“Are you sure about that? Are we forgetting how you caught my attention?” Roman probed, arching a brow, and Joan felt like slapping herself. However, before she could utter another word in her defense, Roman continued. “And did you say you don't have enemies? That would be the most delusional statement of the century. You
"No way, Joan! This is ridiculous and unacceptable. You have been married for three years. Three years is not a joke." Grace exclaimed in shock, disbelief evident on her face at what she just heard."I mean it," Joan affirmed, her green eyes doing nothing to hide the pain in her heart. "Richard has not touched me since we got married." She revealed, lowering her eyes and playing with her food. In the luxurious surroundings of the fancy restaurant, soft jazz melodies wafted through the air, creating an atmosphere of refined elegance. Crystal chandeliers adorned the ceiling, casting a warm glow over the well-dressed patrons engaged in hushed conversations.The chairs were plush and velvety, cradling diners in comfort, while linen-clad tables enhanced the overall sophisticated ambiance.Joan Brandon, twenty-six years old, blonde, beautiful, with large green doe eyes, was invited out by her best friend and colleague, Grace Everton, who noticed the latter was feeling lower than normal th