Chapter 5

Grace looked uncomfortably between Lisa and Orion as her neighbour flared at the man in front of her. Despite the intense stare, Lisa threw Orion’s way, the latter didn't seem to be bothered a bit. Instead, Grace was left startled by the way he grinned at Lisa. Lisa huffed before blowing her hair off her face and stood tall on Grace's side. Grace felt bad for Lisa, she had just arrived and was still in her long black coat and white pants and boots, her feet must be hurting.

It had only been half an hour since Lisa got back from work and Lord help Grace, she wasn't happy seeing Orion sitting on her sofa with a grin on his face.

"Show me your work card," Lisa said, her arms crossed over her chest as she tapped her foot against the floor. Grace was looking between the two of them with nervous and anxious eyes. It was reluctant of Lisa to trust Orion this fast, but he was her bodyguard.

"As I said, I've no reason to lie to you. It was her who came to hire a bodyguard." Orion said, matching Lisa's glare as he leaned back against the couch and widened his legs.

Grace sighed. This wasn't going well, for either of them. If anything, Orion was making it worse.

"I don't know if Mr Smith has told you about my situation, but I cannot just trust you on this when I've been stalked by a man whose face I don't remember. I hope you understand how crucial this situation is for me," Grace mumbled politely rubbing her hands against her thighs as his gaze lowered to the ground. Orion didn't look like a stalker, even though he had a contagious grin.

Orion averted his attention to his left as he saw her sniffing and clenching her hands against the fabric of the dress she recently changed in. His eyes squinted over her features as he blinked with a sigh.

"Alright," he said pulling out his wallet and handing over a card to Lisa. Lisa suspiciously looked at him as she eyed the card.

"Orion Rogers," Lisa mumbled the name written on the card and with a sigh of relief she handed it back to him.

"So, when are you-"

"Now," Orion stated, raising his brows as Lisa narrowed her eyes at him. Despite his marvellous features and glowy eyes, Grace needed him to shut up and not cause any more problems.

"Excuse me?" Lisa reciprocated his action and positioned her hands over her hips as she towered over him.

Grace's eyes widened as Orion placed his legs over the table and tilted his head to the side, a light smirk over his lips as he spread his arms across the back of the sofa.

"As I said, Ms Jane. I was told to guard Ms Grace, and my boss instructed me to never let her out of my sight that significantly explains why I am here."

Lisa sighed at his words and looked at Grace.

"Are you sure, Grace? If you want I can have him kicked out."

It was already tough for Grace to hire a bodyguard, and Jayden had already explained why there was the problem in getting her a guard in this little fraction of time and even though Grace was reluctant to stay with a man who she barely knew, the danger lurking in shadows was more deadly.

She strained her lips in a small smile.

"It's alright, Lisa. You don't have to worry anymore."

"That's not what I meant, Grace. The problem is, we don't have a spare room for him to stay."

Lisa explained ignoring him.

"Oh," Grace pondered when an idea snapped in her head.

"My apartment was cleaned today. He can stay there." Grace suggested and Lisa nodded.

"Yes, he can." She eyed Orion and murmured with clenched teeth. "Cause there's no way I'm letting him stay in this apartment."

Grace sighed. It was so evident Orion and Lisa was not fond of each other. Well, who would? Orion just behaved like a nuisance.

They were interrupted by the knock on the door as the trio looked at the door. Lisa and Grace shared a look as Orion raised his brow.

"Go, blondie," he smirked as Lisa threw him a dirty look before opening the door. She frowned.

"There's no one here." Grace looked over her shoulder before walking toward Lisa. Her eyes scanned the area when they couldn't find any single soul there. Frowning, they both were about to close the door thinking someone might have pranced them when Grace yelped almost colliding into Orion who stood just behind her.

"Move aside." Grace eyed him with a frown at his rudeness. But when she noticed that he wasn't looking her way in fact over her shoulder. Grace and Lisa followed his gaze when a startled gasp left their mouths.

Orion stepped aside, brushing his shoulder against Grace's as he walked out the door to cross the hallway and crouched in front of Grace's apartment door. She watched, her nerves splintering with every movement Orion made.

Lisa followed him and Grace was left stunned to her place with eyes widened. It couldn't be happening, this was not supposed to happen.

He smirked as he lifted the envelope between his fingers and flapped it in before whistling and walking back inside Lisa's apartment. Her terror mounted with his every step.

Grace watched him as he walked toward her, her breath hitched as he leaned to her face and whispered in her ear. Her heart hammered in her chest.

"Looks like I'm spending the night here."

He tucked the envelope inside Grace's blouse as he walked to sit on the sofa while whistling.

Lisa worriedly walked to Grace and grabbed the envelope before opening it. Her hands were cold and clammy with terror.

Blood drained from her face upon focusing on the photos inside the envelope as Grace gulped and took the piece of paper attached to the last photo from Lisa's trembling hands.

Peak-a-boo. Found you.

There was no name, but Grace could hear him whispering the words into her ears. A chill went down her spine. What was she running from? When did she know he would never let her have a peaceful life, how many he had made it clear? Hundreds? Thousands? Countless. It was not just a letter but a death note for her. Her hands trembled as she grabbed the photos from Lisa's hand and her eyes widened.

Adrenaline shoots through her system. Fear became a tangible, living force that crept over her like some hungry beast, immobilizing her; her brain, holding her captive.

They were pictures of her. Not just normal pictures, but pictures of her in her vulnerable moments. Intimate moments.

Her hands shook as she flipped the photos and assessed them. Some were of her leaving her workplace, others were of her having lunch with her colleagues but the last set had her nerves in panic.

The pictures included her leaving her bathroom in a robe, her showering, of her partially naked body while she changed into clothes. It was obvious they were taken from inside her apartment.

Her mouth opened as she took small steps backwards. Her hands were numb as pictures fell onto the ground scattering over the floor. Heart pounding in her chest, she tried to scream but instead, a choked sob escaped her mouth as she fell onto her knees as tears cascaded down her cheeks.

"Grace!" Lisa called out immediately crouching on her side and rubbing her back.

"Hey, hey! Are you alright?" Lisa asked panicked as she wiped her teary face.

"He-he found me. He found me." Grace mumbled continuously as she suddenly looked at Lisa. Lisa tried not to cry as she watched the younger girl break down. "I-I need to leave. I need to leave." Grace mumbled as tears blurred her vision and her head was suddenly rushed by every memory of pain, suffering, and torture he had inflicted upon her. She couldn't go back to him.

Lisa tried to calm Grace.

"Grace, what's happening? Who's he? Who found you?" Lisa tried to ask as Grace's lips trembled and she cried.

"Okay, let's talk inside. It's cold out here. You'll get sick." Lisa patted her back and tucked her hair behind her ears and wiped her tears.

Grace shook her head and stood on her wobbly legs as she lost her balance.

"I-I need to leave." Lisa grabbed Grace by her shoulders and hugged her.

"No one's going to hurt you. It's fine. You're fine." Lisa felt Grace shaking as she looked at Orion for help who looked at them with a stoic face. His hands clenched in fists and his eyes never left Grace.

"Come, let's get you inside," Lisa mumbled and helped Grace to step inside when Grace felt the world around her spinning. Her vision went fuzzy and black for a few seconds before she blinked her eyes. Lisa's worried and blurry face flashed through her eyes as she felt herself slipping into the dark abyss. The last thing she remembered before darkness consumed her, he found her.

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