Chapter 2

Paetyn’s POV

My heart rate hasn’t slowed down since the incident in the parking lot. Even as I drive further away, leaving the man standing under the streetlamp in my rearview, my heart continues to pound painfully against my rib cage, pulsating in my ears.

Who was that man? And why did it feel as though his eyes were piercing through my soul from behind that mask? 

The car rolls to a stop in the driveway, and for the first time in twenty minutes, I exhale sharply. My lungs burn from holding onto a breath I hadn’t managed to release, and I gasp for fresh air to fill my lungs. I close my eyes and drop my hands from the steering wheel. Images of the masked man flash in my mind, sending a cold shiver racing across my skin and down my spine. 

Forget about it, Pae, I tell myself. Dwelling on the details of the incident isn’t going to change the fact that it happened. All I can do is be thankful that the man didn’t get close to me and that I’m home safe. 

Now that my breathing has calmed down slightly, I grab my handbag and get out of the car. The night air is crisp against the exposed skin of my cheeks. However, I’m grateful for the chill because they were on fire the moment I got in the car and sped away. 

As I approach the front door, the flickering lights from within the window indicate Liam is home. It’s odd because I’m usually home before him considering he spends a lot of late nights in the office as of late. 

When I enter the house, I make sure to lock the door behind me as quickly as I can. The thought of that man somehow tracking me down and coming up from behind me only to snatch me away before I can alert Liam is not something I want to risk. 

“Liam, I’m home,” I call out, my voice echoing across the foyer. 

“In here,” he responds from the living room to my right. “I’m just watching TV.” 

I kick off my shoes beside Liam’s haphazardly discarded leather loafers and walk over to the doorway to the living room. The house Liam bought before we got together has too many rooms for me to count, let alone clean in one day. When he invited me over after our first date, I was shocked to learn the house had three living areas, six bedrooms, and eight bathrooms. The kitchen was larger than the apartment I was living in at the time, and it even had a media room with recliners, a bar, and a popcorn and candy station. It was as if I had just walked into a movie theater and not a room in a normal house.

The home is beautiful, to say the least. It’s far beyond anything I ever saw myself living in, especially in a city like New York. But it’s far too big for two people. A house of this size would make sense for a large family, but Liam and I are nowhere near having kids right now. He does, however, enjoy showing off such an extravagant house to his friends and campaign sponsors whenever they’re invited over for dinner. Liam loves being the center of attention, and I must admit, he does shine under the spotlight. He was born for it.

Liam is sitting on the leather couch with his arm lying across the back of it and his ankle resting on his knee. When he notices my presence by the doorway, his gray eyes pull away from whatever is playing on the television to meet mine. He smiles, although it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. It wouldn’t be the first time. 

“You’re home early,” I comment as I walk across the room toward him. When I reach him, I bend down to plant a kiss on his chaste lips. The stale scent of women’s perfume clings to the collar of his shirt. It’s faint but noticeable. It’s a scent I have grown used to smelling whenever my fiance returns home most evenings. 

I’ve had my suspicions about what Liam might be up to while he’s supposed to be at work. No matter how many times I ask him about the perfume, he reassures me that it’s nothing. His explanation is the scent likely transfers to his clothing from the women he works with at the office. While it could have some truth to it, I’m skeptical. 

I don’t want to believe my fiance—who proposed to me six months ago—is cheating on me, but I’m also not blind to the evidence staring me directly in the face. A couple of weeks ago, a woman whose name I didn’t know found me on social media. She messaged me with details of a night she spent with Liam. It was a weekend he had been “out of town” for work. While the message came as a shock, I already knew deep in my heart that Liam was hiding something from me. 

But despite all the evidence stacked against him, I can’t find it in myself to confront him about what I was told. Why? Well, part of me is afraid of his reaction. Liam has a bit of a temper, which I’ve seen many times since we’ve been dating. It’s not something I want to be on the receiving end of, and I know that if I were to accuse him of cheating on me, he wouldn’t be able to hold back his temper. 

But that’s not the only reason. Keeping my mouth shut is my only option, especially if I want to keep the continued financial support he offers for my mother’s medical bills. My paychecks as a fairly new psychologist aren’t terrible, but it’s certainly not enough to support such extensive bills since my mother has no insurance. Liam comes from a wealthy family who has more money than they know what to do with. His father is an established politician, and his mother is the CEO of Aster Pharmaceutical. Not only do they provide their son with an abundance of money and a recognizable name to help him win elections, but they would do anything for him. And I mean anything. 

If I want to continue living a comfortable life, it’s in my best interest to keep my mouth shut and pick my battles. I need to think about my mother to ensure she gets the best possible care for her condition. Without Liam in my life, it would be rather hard to give her that comfort.

“I managed to get away early,” he says, watching me as I take a step back. The skin between his brows creases as his eyes roam over my face. It’s almost as if he’s searching for something. Can he see the fear from earlier lingering on my features? “Is everything okay, Pae?” 

Not wanting him to learn that I’m still shaken up over what happened earlier and the scent of the perfume on his collar makes me nauseous, I force a smile. “I’m fine. Just tired from work is all.” 

Liam nods slowly and runs a hand through his dirty blond hair. “You work hard, Pae. Pour yourself a glass of wine and relax a little, okay?”

“Yeah, okay.” I throw my thumb over my shoulder in the direction of the kitchen. “I’m going to cook pasta for dinner. Do you want a glass of wine while you wait?” 

He grins and leans forward to wrap his hand around the back of my thigh. His fingers skim the curve of my ass before he grabs a handful of the skin and squeezes hard. “You know me so well, darling.” 

***

Cutlery clinking against porcelain plates echoes across the large kitchen. Liam is devouring the creamy chicken pasta on his plate, but I’m unable to stomach the food. The incident with the man earlier tonight plays through my mind, making my stomach twist painfully. 

The more I think about him, the more I realize I could have been in serious danger had I not gotten to my car as quickly as I did. If he had gotten his hands on me… well, I wouldn’t be sitting here with my fiance eating this delicious meal. 

I keep coming back to the same question: Why? Why me? 

“Pae, what’s on your mind?” My eyes snap up at the same time Liam lowers his fork and wipes his mouth with the napkin from his lap. “You’ve barely touched your food, and you seem lost in thought.” 

I swallow hard. “I’m okay, I promise.”

He gives me a pointed look. “I’ve known you for four years, Pae. I can tell when something is wrong. So, spill it. What’s on your mind?” 

“Okay.” I lower my silverware and exhale slowly. “Well, when I was walking to my car after work I felt like someone was watching me. It was… unnerving, to say the least. I made a beeline for my car and once I was safely inside, I noticed a man standing next to  a streetlamp nearby. I couldn’t get a good look at him because he was wearing a mask. It scared the crap out of me though.” 

His eyes widen ever so slightly before they lower. “A man, you say? Did he approach you at all?”

I shake my head. “We didn’t interact, but I could tell he was watching me. Waiting for me even. I was totally freaked out.” 

He reaches across the dining table to take my hand in his. His skin is cold, despite the warmth from the heater, but I ignore the frigidity and squeeze his hand. “You have nothing to be worried about, Pae. Whoever he is… I will protect you from him, okay? When you’re with me, you’re safe. Besides, maybe it was just some kid trying to scare you to impress his friends.” 

I want to tell him that the build of the man watching me was not that of a teenager, but I keep the thought to myself. While I appreciate Liam’s sentiment in wanting to ensure he is able to protect me if someone were to ever try and hurt me, I know that deep down if push came to shove, Liam wouldn’t be able to hold his own against a perpetrator. 

Liam may not have a strong build or lots of muscles, and at times can be a little wimpy, but it doesn’t make me love him any less. I know deep down he believes he could protect me, but I know that isn’t the case. 

I smile at him. “Thank you, darling.”

At that moment, Liam’s phone started vibrating on the table beside him. He snatches his hand away from mine to check the caller ID. His eyes find mine as he points to the device in his hand. “Sorry, Pae, but I have to take this.” 

“Take your time.” 

I watch him stand from the table and walk out of the room. His voice travels down the hallway as he takes the call, leaving me alone in the dining room. 

Slumping back in the chair, I sigh heavily. My stomach growls, but my appetite is completely gone. I hate wasting food, but right now, the thought of eating what’s on my plate is nauseating. 

As I’m pushing around the food on the plate, I hear Liam’s voice rise with anger. That captures my attention. I still my hands and listen intently, hoping to catch part of the conversation. I’m not one to eavesdrop on him, especially if it’s a work-related call, but I’m also curious. He doesn’t share too many details about his campaign for a seat in the Senate other than how he’s doing in the polls, the candidates he’s up against, and other minor details about working with his father. 

After the media caught wind of some images circulating of Liam at college parties in some rather unflattering positions—mostly him passed out on the front lawn of a fraternity—his position in the polls dropped, despite having his father’s last name. Not even his father could dig him out of that faux pas. 

Liam’s voice is slightly muffled, but somehow, I swear I hear him say, “All I need is a few days, and I’ll be everyone’s hero.” 

What he’s referring to, I have no idea. 

His footsteps echoing down the hallway have my back straightening and my eyes turning downward to focus on the plate of uneaten food in front of me. 

He exhales heavily when he enters the room and slides back onto the chair across from me. When I look up, he runs a hand through his hair, frustration consuming his features. 

I clear my throat. “Is everything okay?” 

He doesn’t meet my eyes as he nods. “I’m down in the polls and need to boost my campaign to drive in voters. But it’s nothing for you to worry about, Pae.” 

***

Staring at the dark ceiling has grown boring. The longer I stare, unable to fall into the realm of sleep, the more restless I become. Liam fell asleep hours ago after we had sex, but I haven’t been able to follow suit, instead lying awake, eyes wide and mind racing. 

With a sigh, I fling the duvet back and slide out of bed. The hardwood floorboards are cold against my feet as I walk to the closed bedroom door. Liam is snoring softly as I open the door and pad quietly down the hallway. I’m not sure a glass of water will help me sleep, but I need to do something to distract the racing thoughts circling my mind. 

The kitchen is pitch black save for the moonlight shining in through the window above the sink. I grab a glass from the cabinet above the stove before walking over to the sink. The silence in the room is almost eerie and does nothing to soothe the anxiety coursing through me at this moment. 

“Get a grip, Pae,” I mumble to myself as water fills the glass. “You’re okay. You’re safe.” 

When the glass is full, I turn the tap off and lift it to my lips, ready to chug the entire thing. But something catches my eye through the window, halting my movements. My heart begins to race as I scan the backyard. The same shiver I felt in the parking lot races down my spine again. The glass in my hand trembles, but I make no move to put it down.

He’s here. 

Moments later, I find him. He’s standing under the large tree in the backyard with his hands shoved deep into the back of the black pants hanging from his hips. The moonlight shining across the yard allows me a better view of him. I’m unable to see his face as it’s still covered by a mask and is hidden in the shadows, but I notice his torso and the hard muscles protruding from the black T-shirt clinging to his chest. His right arm is littered with tattoos, but I’m unable to make out the designs, and inky strands of dark hair frame his face, wavy in texture, adding to the intensity of his presence.

Blood rushes in my ears, and my heart pounds harshly against my rib cage. The glass of water slips from my   hands, smashing to pieces at the bottom of the sink. The impact sends a shattering noise throughout the kitchen, likely traveling far enough to reach Liam in the bedroom. But I don’t move. I can’t move. His eyes are holding me hostage, pinning me to where I stand. I may not be able to see them, but I can feel them. 

I grip the edge of the sink for support, my knees wobbling beneath me. The urge to run to Liam and have him protect me screams at me, but my feet are unable to move. My spine is rigid as I stare ahead, unable to tear my eyes away from him. I convince myself to commit as many details about him to memory as possible so that I can relay them to Liam if something were to happen. 

For some odd reason, I find myself unable to look away from him because I’m curious. Why is he here? What does he want with me? It’s clear he has an agenda in mind. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have waited for me after work or tracked me down at my home. 

If he wants to hurt me, then what is he waiting for? He could easily enter through the back door and execute whatever plan he has in mind, but instead, he’s waiting for me intently. But why? What is he doing? 

Rushing footsteps down the staircase tear my eyes away from the man. 

“Pae? Are you okay?” Liam calls out, his voice thick with sleep.

“I’m fine,” I murmur, my mind whirling. 

When I turn back to look at the man, he’s gone. And for some odd reason, my heart sinks a little. 

Who is he, and what does he want with me?