CHAPTER 6: The Man Next Door

The moment Victoria stepped inside her apartment, she dropped her handbag beside the couch and sank into the cushions. Her feet throbbed from the long day, and she stared at the ceiling for a few seconds before finding the energy to move again.

Luckily, finding an apartment had been easier than she expected. After receiving her promotion on Friday, she immediately searched online and found an affordable place in the city.

Her parents had suggested she stay in a hotel since the company offered to cover her living expenses until she settled in, but Victoria had refused. She saw it as unnecessary waste of money. 

 Victoria slipped off her shoes and glanced around her new apartment. Boxes were still scattered everywhere, and her dress from the previous night lay on the floor, dragging painful memories of the night back to her.

She quickly shoved them aside, refusing to dwell on what she had lost.

After changing into a comfortable top and shorts, she spent the next hour unpacking and organizing until exhaustion forced her to stop. It was already past 6:30 PM.

She had barely settled down when she suddenly remembered her phone.

She had not checked it since she left home that morning

Reaching for it, she froze when she saw over forty five missed calls and about seven text messages. Her parents, her  brother, Clinton and her best friend, Bertie, had all tried reaching her. A small smile touched her lips. They must have been worried sick.

She quickly checked the messages. One was from her mother, asking her to call her back immediately. One was from her father, threatening to file a missing-person report if she didn’t contact them before the end of the day. Another was from her brother, asking her if everything was ok.  The rest were from her best friend, demanding to know why she wasn’t answering and jokingly asking if she had been kidnapped by a serial killer.

She quickly tapped her mother’s name to call back.

Before the call connected, the sound of her doorbell echoed through the apartment.

Victoria looked up in surprised.

Who could that be?

Peeking through the window, her heart nearly stopped when she saw Ray standing outside with what looked like a tray in his hands.

Ray?

How did he know where she lived?

Had he followed her?

She had deliberately refused his chauffeur's offer to drive her home that morning, So how on earth had he managed to find where she was living?

She placed her hand on the doorknob but hesitated. After a deep breath, she finally turned it.

“Hello? " Ray  greeted 

“Oh! Hi… Who are you?” she stuttered, pretending not to recognize him. She hoped her glasses and tied-up hair were enough to hide her identity.

“I’m Ray. Your next-door neighbor. I came to welcome you to the neighborhood.” He smiled, lifting the tray in his hand.

The sight of the apple peach cobbler made Victoria’s stomach growl, reminding her she hadn’t eaten all day.

Next-door neighbor?

Her eyes widened. The mansion where they had spent the night wasn’t his? Then how was he her neighbor?

“Okay,” she said, relieved thinking he hadn’t recognized her.

“Can I come in?” Ray asked, seeing she was still standing at the door, obviously she didn't want him in.

“Oh, yeah.” She quickly stepped aside for Ray to moved inside. 

“You’re still unpacking? Need help?”

“No, I’m fine. Thanks,” she replied, keeping her distance.

Ray noticed she hadn’t closed the door, clearly hoping he would leave, but he only smiled.

"You’re really planning to fight those boxes alone?" Ray glanced at the pile behind her. "I admire the confidence, but the boxes are winning."

He placed the tray down and suddenly paused.

“Wait… why do you look familiar?”

Victoria swallowed nervously.

“Do I? I don’t think we’ve met before.”Ray chuckled.

“I guess you’re one of those people…...”

“Those people?”

“The kind who forget everything after getting drunk.” He smiled. “Don’t worry. I remember enough for both of us.”

Victoria’s face tightened.

“Who would have thought you’d become my next-door neighbor?” Ray added. “Could this be coincidence… or fate?”

Victoria cleared her throat. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You’re Vicky, aren’t you? We met at the club last night.” Ray replied 

“Wow. You really look different with your hair up and those glasses on. I almost didn’t recognize you.” He smiled at her.

Victoria’s expression changed immediately.

“What do you want?” she asked with a tired sigh.

Her heart began racing as a terrifying thought crossed her mind.

Was he trying to blackmail her?

What if he had taken pictures of her and planned to use them against her? What if he demanded money or threatened to expose her?The thought sent panic through her, and her breathing became faster.

One look at Victoria’s wide eyes and tense shoulders told Ray exactly what was going through her mind.

“Calm down. I wasn’t stalking you, and I’m definitely not here to blackmail you.” Ray raised both hands, keeping his distance. “I just happen to be your next-door neighbor.”

Victoria glanced toward her door before looking back at him, still suspicious.

“How am I supposed to believe that?”

“You’ll have to.” A teasing smile tugged at Ray’s lips. “Besides, last night was pretty unforgettable. You were moaning and begging me not to stop.”

Heat rushed to Victoria’s cheeks. She quickly looked away, refusing to meet his eyes.

Ray stepped a little closer, his voice dropping into a playful murmur. “So… do you mind if we continue from where we stopped?”