INTRUDER

Grayham’s POV

I stepped out of the hospital with my bowels heating up with rage. While that pauper gets to ride in my limo, I’m trapped in his body and forced to figure out a way out unlike him who got Henry and my team at his beg and call.

Imagine walking down the street and no one even notices you. I used to command so much attention.

I had just walked away from the hospital when a cab pulled up in front of me. The driver pulled down the reflectors and smiled.

“Going somewhere?”

“Back off!” I yelled at the elderly man.

He sped off.

Why should I get into a cab? I wondered but immediately after the car drove away, realization dawned on me. In this body, I was a nobody.

This means that the only way I could move around was by getting into a cab. I wanted to go somewhere and hide until we figured out this shit but I needed to be Miles while he was being me else his dad would form a search party and get another heart attack like he said.

“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” I muttered under my breath and then stretched out my hand to hail a cab.

A red cab pulled out and I jumped into the back seat. “The old street. Kaden home.” I said. The address tasted like bile in my mouth.

The driver swung into action and a few moments later, he was hitting the road while I was sweating profusely.

“Would you mind turning the air conditioner on?” I said after mechanically blowing myself with my hand several times. “I’m burning in here.”

“Oh, sorry about that.” The driver said and adjusted his hat with one hand while his other hand was glued to the speedometer. “The air con is broken. Might have to lower these a bit.” He said and resolved to lower the reflectors.

The rage I was harboring nearly burst out of me.

What kind of life was this? First I get into a cab and now I’d have to sweat through to that darn street.

I hate this life.

“How many more minutes before we get there?” I managed to ask.

“An hour.”

“You gotta be kidding me.” I fired back.

“You’ve never been there? It’s on the outskirts of the city so it’s quiet.

“Shut up and drive.” I hushed him.

An hour of discomfort later, the cab pulled up in front of Kaden’s home. I immediately stepped out and slammed the door pretty hard.

“Hey, where’s my money?” The driver called out to me.

“I’ve got no money, okay,” I said.

He remained there, looking at me like I was crazy.

I touched my jeans pocket and felt a wallet that belonged to Miles. His dad must have sent it with the clothes earlier.

I opened it and saw a couple of tens and twenties. I pulled out everything and threw them at the driver then I tucked back the wallet in my pocket.

The driver sped away, mumbling incoherent words.

I stood before the property that had completely changed my life. It wasn’t as if the Kaden home was good enough. Just that I needed the space not the fucking house.

The neighborhood smelt like shit and I couldn’t move an inch closer.

Maybe coming here was a bad idea I thought and immediately turned around but then I heard the door creaking. I looked back and saw it opening.

Mile’s dad with a group of other people were standing by the entrance flashing bright smiles.

“Welcome home, Miles!” They screamed.

“Surprise!” A boy in tattered pants said and ran toward me. “We didn’t want to make a scene at the hospital so we decided to wait up here.”

“What?” I raised an eyebrow.

Did they want to pull this off at the hospital? What manner of humiliation was this?

Is this what I’ve been reduced to now, a teenage boy who’s welcomed home with toys and flowers?

I looked at the entrance and saw some kids carrying handmade placards with bold inscriptions that said ‘Welcome home, Miles’.

I’ll have to give it to them. The writings were aesthetically pleasing.

“Come along.” An elderly woman urged. “We baked for you today.”

Miles’s dad stood frailly with open arms.

I took a step back and then two more.

This is bullshit. I immediately turned around and ran away without looking back.

I ran till I found myself on a busy road. I had to stop to catch my breath.

What the hell just happened?

Suddenly, a yellow cab drove by.

“Hey!” I called out and reached for the wallet.

I opened it and realized that I had given more than enough to the driver who brought me from the hospital.

The driver stopped in front of me.

“I need to get to the city. Lake Avenue. Wilsons Ltd to be precise.”

“50 dollars.” The driver replied with a straight face.

I checked the wallet and all I could find were two dollar notes. A twenty and a ten. Miles is such a broke ass.

“Can you take me there for 30?” I asked in a low voice. I can’t believe I’m haggling now. How torturing.

“Fine.” The driver responded and opened the door to the front seat. He must have taken pity on me after seeing the way I was digging into the wallet.

I hopped into the car and sat.

~~~

I marched toward the building with a determined expression. I’ve had enough. There was no way I was going to pretend to be Miles and get away with it.

It won’t work.

“Hello, Jeff.” I greeted the security chief at the gate after reaching the post.

He moved closer to me and began to study me like I was a criminal. Well, maybe I looked suspicious in these faded jeans and an old tee shirt but this guy works for me for God’s sake.

“How did you know my name?”

“Nothing to worry about.” I waved my hand. “I need to get inside the building. I must speak with Henry.” I said cocking my head toward the skyscraper shielded by the gate.

Jeff turned to the other security guard behind him who must have heard what I said. They both broke into a laugh.

“Who the hell do you think you are?” Jeff asked and leaned on the enclosed gate.

“Mr. Grayham knows I’m here,” I replied.

“Great. First, you want to see his assistant, Henry, and now, you’re claiming the boss knows who you are.”Jeff said and shook his head.

“Look, I don’t have time for this nonsense. Just let me in.” I retorted, forgetting that in Mile’s body, there was no way I could exert my authority.

Jeff arched a brow.

“ I’ve seen boys like you who show up here pretending they have an appointment so that they can get in and beg for scraps but you, you’ve got some nerves. Do you know why the company keeps us here?”

I raised an eyebrow.

“To keep the trash away.” Jeff completed and turned to his colleague with a wink.

He unlocked the gate in a flash and they began to march toward me.

“Get your hands off me.” I backed away before they could touch me.

Maybe coming here was a bad idea.

After all, I was the one who made the rule that no one without an official appointment should be allowed within the premises of my company.

And what was I going to say to Henry when I came face to face with him?

Tell him that it’s me, Grayham Wilson, and that I switched bodies with Miles then expect him to believe me?

With my hands lifted in total surrender, I backed away from the building.