After that incident, George escorted Valerie home and in the end, after Valerie forced him and assured him that she was fine, the man wanted to leave her and go home. That night she lay in the dark, trying to sleep but her eyes were wide open. She then sat down and opened the drawer beside her bed. There was a small pill in a glass bottle, a sedative from her psychiatrist in a small dose, only taken if Valerie had a panic attack due to the trauma of her accident.
She hadn't taken the pill in a long time.Does she have to drink it now? The memory of the incident at the restaurant still made her nauseous. It feels so excruciating to feel scared but do not know why. Valerie took a deep breath, closed the drawer again and tried to forget the intention to drink it. She has recovered, she will no longer return to being the depressed and fearful Valerie. Maybe the candle just reminded her of something from her past, something that had probably sunk into her memory so she couldn't even think about it anymore.Valerie will try not to be defeated by her fear. She can do it. Especially with the presence of George in her life which brings a new glimmer of light to Valerie's life.George.Without realizing it, Valerie's lips curled into a smile when she remembered their beautiful dinner, which was interspersed with exciting conversations. Everything was perfect with George and Valerie hoping it would always be perfect.***In the morning when Valerie cooked her breakfast, eggs and toast, her phone rang and she immediately picked it up when she saw George's name on it.“Hello?” Valerie couldn't even hide the drooping smile that was reflected in her voice.“Valerie, how are you?” George's voice was crisp on the other side, making Valerie's smile widen.“I am fine, I am sorry for yesterday to make you worried.”“I am glad You are fine.” George cleared his throat for a moment, then said, “I stopped over there, I happen to be near your house now, we go to the office together.”Valerie's smile widened irresistibly. “Yes, I'll be waiting for you.”After turning off the phone, George drove the car a little faster, heading toward Valerie's house. Impulsive indeed, but her reaction yesterday worried him. There was something there; she was clearly terrified even though the girl might not realize why.It's George's job to look after Valerie.He used to do it because it was a job, but now he realizes there was a feeling involved and that feeling wanted to make sure that Valerie would always be okay.His phone flickered again, making him glance at it. He picked it up and cleared his throat again, trying to calm his voice.“Are there any signs?” the voice on the other side without further ado immediately asked. In fact, there really is no need for further ado, they must organize the conversation as effectively and briefly as possible to avoid leaking of information.George subconsciously nodded his head despite realizing that it was impossible for the person on the other side to see it. “Yesterday she was in shock, there's something, I am sure. I'll try to find information.”“Very nice,” the voice on the other side was firm. “And make sure she's safe. We have tried everything we can to hide her, lest what we have done fails completely.”“I know,” George answered quickly and his interlocutor immediately cut off the conversation. The man then drove his car to Valerie's house.***Valerie opened the door cheerfully and smiled at George who smiled sweetly at the door, the man lifted the paper bag that was in his hand.“Donuts with sweet powdered sugar,” he muttered, winking. “I hope You are not on a diet.”Valerie laughed. “I guess I am willing to sacrifice everything for a donut in the morning.”She opened the door and let George in. “Come in, I am brewing coffee.”George followed Valerie and stepped into her tiny kitchen, it was still early and they could have a quick breakfast before leaving for the office. Valerie deftly poured the coffee into the white cup she had prepared, the fragrance of the coffee aroma wafted through the air immediately.“Use sugar or cream?” Valerie asked George who was sitting in the dining chair and studied her with a sweet smile.“Not sugar, just one spoon of cream.” George pointed to the paper bag filled with donuts, then laughed. “I've given my ration of sugar in this donut.”Valerie put the cup of coffee in front of George and smiled sweetly then she sat in front of George, facing her own coffee.George took out the warm donuts with the tantalizing powdered sugar, placed them on the empty plate in the middle of the table, then took one and took a delicious bite. He smiled seductively at Valerie. “Come on, taste it.”Valerie took the donut and tasted it, struggling a little with the sugar all over her mouth and chin, but she then managed to bite it and rolled her eyes feeling the pleasure that melted in her mouth.“Very good,” she muttered, her mouth half full, as George watched her and laughed with amusement.“There's sugar on your chin,” he whispered softly, reaching out his fingers to wipe the spilled powdered sugar on Valerie's chin. For a moment his gaze turned serious and his strokes grew gentler. They stared at each other, as if a spark of feelings was flowing between the two of them.George, who realized first, cleared his throat and tugged at his fingers, then smiled and looked at Valerie apologetically. “How is your condition?” he asked softly, shifting the strange atmosphere that surrounded the two of them.Valerie knew that George was referring to her condition last night, she shook her head with a deep sigh.“You must have thought I was weird yesterday,” she muttered softly.“No, I am just feeling worried!” George interrupted quickly. “All night I was worried about you.”Valerie gave George a sheepish look. “Actually, since that accident... I... I have had a bit of a psychological breakdown.”“Psychological breakdown?” George frowned.“That is the term my psychiatrist uses. He says I was traumatized by an accident that killed my father. I always experience fear and horror without cause, as if I was afraid of a danger that I do not even know what danger. But I have been undergoing therapy with my psychiatrist and have recovered. It's been a long time since I had panic attacks and anxiety anymore, I think I've completely recovered.”George's gaze turned serious. “And you felt it again last night? Why?”Valerie closed her eyes. The shadow of the blue candle emitting the faint light terrified her, she held the back of her neck, suddenly feeling a shudder in the hairs of her neck. “There was an empty table at the restaurant yesterday. I-I accidentally noticed it and the sight over there made me panic.”“What sight?”“The sight of the blue candles being lit and arranged in a semicircle... before even counting them I knew how many there were somehow.” Valerie grimaced. “There are nine of them. It was laid out specifically and the sight seemed to strike me as if it caused an unexpected reaction... just like you saw yesterday.”“And you still do not know what the nine blue candles mean?”“I don’t.” Valerie shook her head weakly. “I've been trying to remember whatever I have in mind that could link the blue candle, but none of my memories can connect it. I just know I feel scared, terrified, all the feelings I can't define are mixed up in my mind.”How to explain that? Valerie did not know, it felt like her heart was being forced out of her chest cavity, causing a suffocating pain. George took a deep breath, looking thoughtful, but then his gaze softened.“Maybe it has nothing to do with you, just a spontaneous reaction that makes you remember the trauma from your accident, who knows? Maybe you were traumatized by the color blue or something.” He smiled reassuringly at Valerie. “The important thing is You are okay, are you?”Valerie nodded her head, sincerely hoping that she was really all right. “Yes. Thanks, George.”George glanced at his watch.“I think we should go to the office immediately.” He looked at Valerie seriously. “You do not mind if we go home together later?”Valerie smiled brightly. “No, I do not mind.”It felt good to be with George, his presence was like a drug that made him forget the fear that was over her.***“Blue candles. That is the cause, and the specific number is nine,” George muttered to the caller. He was inside his office which was tightly closed and of course he had made sure no one could hear this conversation.His interlocutor on the other side was silent, looking thoughtful. “You think That is code?” finally he asked.George thought for a moment. “Valerie's reaction last night was incredible. She was scared and gripped by terror, I was there to see her. And that candle must mean something, otherwise Valerie would not have reacted that strongly.”“The Slayer is back,” the voice across was terrified. “It must be a code, which is specifically aimed at Valerie. We have to find out, George, no matter what, you have to get as deep information as possible from Valerie.”“She looks scared when I bring up this matter. How could I have the heart to do that?” protested George.The interlocutor took a deep breath. “I know you love Valerie, but you have to remember our priorities, and aren't we going to do this in the end to protect Valerie as well?”George took a deep breath. “I know. We will see later.”“Your prince is coming to pick you up.”Charlotte winked as she lightly touched Valerie's shoulder as she walked by, awakening her from the work contract files she was examining. Valerie raised her head and her smile widened when she saw George leaning against the entrance to her division, looking at her with a gentle smile.It was already late in the afternoon and most of the employees in her department had left so the room was deserted, there were only one or two people who were still finishing their work, including Valerie.“Overtime?” George approached and stood at Valerie's table side.Valerie shook her head. “Just finishing unfinished work, this file just arrived at four o'clock this afternoon and I have to check it because tomorrow this contract must be signed.”Valerie smiled apologetically. “I am sorry, it might take a while. If you have something more important maybe you can go home first.”George smiled. “I do not have anything to do. I'd rather sit here and wait for you, st
“Gift for you.” George stood again at the entrance to her house that night. Shows the mysterious paper bag in his hand.Valerie smiled broadly, they had met so often in the past few weeks. It could even be said that George drove her home almost every other day or visited her house and brought her dinner to eat together.“What other dishes did you bring this time?”George winked. “Come on into the kitchen.”The man entered Valerie's residence casually as if he were in his own house. They went straight to the kitchen and Valerie prepared the dishes. George took out the boxes of food from the paper bags and poured them carefully onto the plate.Valerie's eyes widened at the food George had poured onto the plate. A fish; a fat, fleshy fish covered in a mouthwatering reddish sauce.“What fish is this?”“We call it yellow tail fish, with a special sauce from the maker.”“Wow!” Valerie brought herself closer and immediately smelled a tantalizing aroma there, a spicy aroma mixed with very sedu
Valerie is in a room. The room's shades are golden in color. The soft white silk sheet felt so good against her skin, she sighed and writhed in satisfaction, the gift of her restful sleep.Valerie opened her eyes and felt confused, this room is not her room. This room was so beautiful and she did not know it at all.She winced even more when she felt a heavy, burly arm wrapped around her waist. A man's arm? Valerie on tiptoe was about to sit down, but the man's arm held her back. Soft but dominant.For a second Valerie felt very scared, but the arm moved up and his fingers caressed her gently. Soft and seductive, one of the man's fingertips traced the surface of Valerie's arm with a feather-light touch. The man's head was lowered and presented a kiss on Valerie's temples.Valerie frowned, trying to see the man's face, but the dim atmosphere of the room made his face vague. Suddenly the man's body was crushed on her. With seductive smooth movements, as if he had already done it hundred
It turned out that tonight Valerie had to work late. She took a deep breath as she repeatedly looked to the left, the place where the bus she was waiting for should have appeared. The bus was supposed to have arrived half an hour ago, but it was almost ten at night and the bus was still not in sight.The atmosphere at the bus stop was dark and eerie, making Valerie feel uncomfortable. She hugged her own body as the chill hit her, sending goosebumps on her back. The air grew colder when the rain started to fall, making Valerie even more anxious. She could have waited for a taxi, but even on this silent night there were no taxis, while motorists were only passing by rarely. It seems like the cold night and light rain make people lazy to go out of the house.Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, Valerie caught a crowd of people walking towards her. As they got closer, Valerie was worried because it was a bunch of young men with indistinct make-up, piercings here and there and
When Valerie got home, it was raining heavily and stabbed the earth with a loud sound, the water crashing along with the wind. The taxi stopped in front of her house. After she paid, Valerie jogged through the rain to her porch. Her whole head was drenched, but her body was protected by the thick coat of her mysterious helper so that it could remain dry. Even though the coat was now drenched in water and dripping on the terrace floor.Valerie tossed her wet hair and tried to find the keys to her house. She wanted to hurry in and dry herself off, perhaps making a cup of warm chocolate milk to drink. Actually Valerie prefers a cup of coffee, but coffee makes her sleepless, while she must sleep enough tonight.She opened the door and stepped inside, then locked the door behind her. She took off the coat which was now heavy and wet from the rain and she embraced it. The scent of wood and musk lingered over her, making her feel good. Valerie walked over to the kitchen and put the
“This morning he will come!” Charlotte walked over to Valerie's table and whispered excitedly.“Who?” Valerie frowned.She just checked her phone and still no message from George. Was George so busy that he did not have time to contact her?“Manuel Alvaro!” Charlotte really couldn't hide her enthusiasm. “Did you know he just broke up with that Thailand model? Now he's single.”Valerie chuckled. “Even if he is single, the person who will fill the position of his girlfriend later is definitely not from among us.”Charlotte nodded her head in agreement while chuckling too. “Yeah, but I am excited to know that I can see him in person anyway. You know, all the news says he's so handsome, I want to see the real him.”“Seems just as handsome.” Valerie took a deep breath, then glanced at her phone again.Charlotte seemed to have noticed something was bothering Valerie. “Why, Val?”“I’m okay.”“Ah, come on, I see that in the last few minutes you've glanced
Charlotte did scream hysterically when Valerie told her about Manuel's last greeting.“He greeted you? Did he really say hi to you?” Charlotte said in a high voice, so that Valerie had to nudge her because everyone in the cafeteria turned their heads to them.“He said I really reminded her of someone.” Valerie pondered while supporting her chin. “He also emphasized the word ‘really’, not just mediocre.”“Maybe you look like his ex-girlfriend,” Charlotte began to imagine. “Maybe he then decided to approach you, and within six months while Manuel is here you can win over him. Imagine, an ordinary staff can reach the heart of the person with the highest position in the company. It's like a cinderella story!”“And cinderella stories like that are mostly very rare,” Valerie interrupted quickly.“Who says it?” Charlotte smiled knowingly. “Very rarely doesn't mean it doesn't happen, right? Do you know who Angela Alvaro is, Manuel's mother and Ruben Alvaro's wife? She us
Manuel seems to be receiving their important guest, James Cliff, in his room. The news was blowing because since this morning there had been a rush at the office, many people were passing by to prepare everything.Well, Valerie still remembered the old man, who was carrying a line of bodyguards dressed the same with the same flat face as a robot. The contract with James is the most successful one their branch has ever signed, which is why having James in the office to meet Manuel is so important.Mr. McLean, Valerie's own immediate superior, seemed very busy. Valerie saw the stocky body of the foreigner pacing in his room, sometimes busy calling someone, sometimes looking for files. Until then, the man came out of the room.“Valerie!” the man called out, causing Valerie to immediately stand up.“Yes sir?”“Come here for a moment.”While adjusting her skirt, Valerie stepped out and entered Mr. McLean's room. The man was already sitting behind his desk and invi