Endless Obsession

Liv steps back as I swing my legs to the side of the bed and get to my feet.

“I’m sure. Now go. I don’t want to see your face again until any time after midnight.”

I take her shoulder and give her a shove toward the door. She looks stunning in her shimmering midnight blue knee-length dress. The material is loose and hanging over one shoulder. The other shoulder is bare, except for a thin strap. Her feet are in a pair of sparkly dark blue strappy heels.

“You look beautiful, Liv! I told you that dress would look amazing on you.”

She looks down and smooths out nonexistent wrinkles. Looking up, she smiles brightly.

“I do look pretty good, don’t I?”

“So much so, I’m surprised Tony hasn’t locked you in your room.”

She laughs and turns on her heel. I follow behind her into the living room. “He’s already tried. I told him I’ll give him something special tonight if he let me out.”

“And I expect to collect.” Tony comes up and wraps an arm around her waist, kissing her lips briefly. He turns to me. “Don’t wait up,” he says to me with a wink.

I smile. He’s in a black tuxedo with his black hair smoothed back. He looks just as stunning as Liv. They make the perfect pair.

Liv grabs her small matching clutch, and I walk them to the door. After saying good-bye with a promise to call if something happens, I close and lock the door, then set the alarm. I go to the kitchen to pour myself a glass of water. I lean back against the counter as I take several sips. The house is eerily quiet and it sends a shiver down my spine. I’ve gotten used to always having someone near. Maybe not in the same room, but there’s always someone in the house. I feel like a child again as I look around, checking for the boogeyman. Every little sound has me jumping.

Feeling stupid, I set my glass down in the sink and go back to my room. There’s no one here. No one can get in the house. I’m being stupid. I pull out some night clothes and go to the bathroom. I’m still extremely tired, so I decide on a shower and then back to bed for an early night. I could certainly use it.

Turning the dials until it reaches the right temperature, I pull off my clothes and slip my hair up into a high bun. The water feels good against my skin, so I stand under the spray and just let it wash over me. After several minutes, I soap up the loofa and scrub my body. Shaving comes next. Ten minutes later, I step from the shower, dry off, dress, and then go back to the room. I miss sleeping naked. My clothes always get tangled during the night. My body also tends to run hot, so I’m often waking up sweaty. But there’s no way I can sleep naked in someone else’s house. Not to mention I’m self-conscious about sleeping naked now anyway. I look over to the window to make sure the curtains are pulled closed. Although the thought of him watching me unawares is still creepy, a small fucked up part of me wishes he was. That would mean he was close by. I don’t know why, but I know I would feel safer if he were, because right now, I don’t feel safe.

I sit on the side of the bed and apply lotion to my legs and arms, before slipping underneath the cool sheets. The shower rejuvenated my energy, so I decide to read for a bit before calling it a night. I pull the kindle app up on my phone and find the book I started earlier today. Since I’ve stopped working at Silver Technologies and have nothing to do, I’ve picked up reading more. I know I need to start looking for another job, but I just haven’t had any motivation lately. I hate that I’m no longer at Asher’s company. I really liked the people I worked with and the work itself, but I know I can’t go back. I wouldn’t be able to handle seeing him every day. Liv tells me Asher’s been in a perpetual bad mood lately. She’s been assisting him in my

place. Jokingly, she’s begged me to come back to take him off her hands. She plays it off like she’s not serious, but I can tell she is. She hasn’t outright told me she thinks I should forgive him, but I know she wants me to. I can see it in her eyes every time his name is brought up, which isn’t often, because I always put a stop to it. It’s only a matter of time before she puts her foot down and makes me talk about it. I have no idea what I’m going to say when that time comes. I’m still so confused with my feelings for him.

A noise at my window has my head snapping up and ripping me from my thoughts. I stiffen as I strain my ears for the noise again, wondering if I’m going mad and just imagined it. I stay still for several minutes and hear nothing. I grit my teeth as I realize my mind must be playing tricks on me. This guy has my nerves on edge. I can’t even be in a house alone without freaking out.

I shake my head and bring my phone back to life, just as it pings an incoming message. My stomach tightens, hoping it’s from Asher. I desperately need it to be Asher.

Disappoint hits when it’s not his number, then fear takes over when I see it’s from a private number. It’s him. My tormentor. I can barely get my hands to work, they’re shaking so bad as I pull open the message.

It’s a picture. It’s so small I have to make it bigger to see it. Once I do, distress has my entire body quivering. It’s still hard to see, but I can tell it’s of Asher standing at my window at home, watching me.

Another picture pops up of me outside, sitting on my back porch. Then another comes through of me sitting outside underneath the tree at the park, feeding the ducks. I go lightheaded when another appears of me sitting on my bed with my phone to my ear. From the look on my face, I know I’m on the phone with Asher. My heart slams in my chest, and I feel bile rise in my throat as another shows me and Asher walking hand in hand down the strip in Dallas. This crazy person followed us all the way to Dallas? Another is of Asher at my window. It’s a side view with me standing in front of Asher with my fingers in my mouth. I’m naked.

I jump up from the bed and rush to the bathroom, barely making it to the toilet to throw up. I’m covered in sweat by the time I’m done, and I’m shaking so bad that my teeth are chattering. I realize my phone is still stuck in my hand when I feel it vibrate. I squeeze my eyes shut, not wanting to look, but knowing I have to. I fall to my butt and lean against the wall as I bring my phone up to see what else the sick fucker sent me.

It’s another picture. This one is of me sitting on my bed here at Liv’s. I have one leg bent on the bed, rubbing lotion on it. My heart stops in my chest and all the breath leaves my lungs as I look down at the clothes I’m currently wearing. It’s the same clothes I’m wearing in the picture. I try my hardest to make myself remember wearing this outfit before tonight, but no matter how hard I try, the memory won’t come.

Another picture appears. This one is of me lying in bed, holding my phone with a look of fear all over my face. But what has my vision blurring, my heart racing so fast in my chest it hurts, and complete and utter terror taking hold of my entire body is the man that’s standing in the background. It’s a reflection of him from the mirror that’s on the wall by the dresser. He took it just right so it shows him standing in my closet, shrouded in shadows. His clothes are dark; black pants and hoodie. He has the phone up, hiding his face as he snaps the picture.

There’s a message attached.

Unknown: Did you really think you were safe? You’ll never be safe from me.

Fright like I’ve never felt before slams into me. He’s in the house right now… he’s in my room! My heart feels like it’s about to pound out of my chest as I frantically scramble to my feet. I throw open the bathroom door and run toward the front of the house, looking behind me as I go and seeing nothing. My hands tremble as I search for the one number in my phone I need as I fumble with the lock on the door. I run from the house and out to the street, unsure of where to go from there.

It seems like ten minutes pass before I hear his voice, but it couldn’t have been more than a couple seconds.

“Beautiful,” Asher says, sounding tired, but excited.

“He’s here,” I whisper, my voice coming out in croak.

“What?” he growls. “Where are you?”