The house was dark, there was only one light outside illuminating the area. Diane stood there quiet. Their separation tonight left her feeling alone and desolate. A cold wind hushed by. She cradled herself with her arms around her, temporarily warming her from the night chill permeating her skin. She went into the house and to her room. Not turning on the light, she sank onto her bed. The darkness cloaking her, letting her hide. From what, she wasn"t clear. Herself? From the past? From John?
Then it occurred to her, it was from her feelings. "Am I falling in love with him?" She recalled what she said to him, and covered her face. "Oh G.o.d, what have I done? Why did I say those awful things."
Diane snuggled on a pillow. She wondered if she dared to trust John, would she be exposing herself to another round of pain? Yet, she knew what she said was wrong, most of all, the man was really good to her.
"I need to apologize or else…"
Fatigue engulfed her brain. She closed her eyes. Sleep, she told herself. Tomorrow you"ll be fine and rejuvenated, she thought.
John left her house in sadness but he promised he would not give up. He believed, he would make her fall for him.
However, instincts alarmed him that her appearance in the hotel was not right. She could be involved in a very risky job. He had to keep an eye on her.
Thus, when he reached home, he scheduled his time well, with his work and matching it with Diane"s probable daily routine. He called his brother Leonard for help and scheduled for them to meet tomorrow at the same hotel, for two purposes: for privacy, and he wanted to find out the owner of that room #503.
Diane woke the next morning the opposite of what she was yesterday, her body aching, her eyes heavy with eye bags. She was anything but rejuvenated.
Then her phone rang the same ringtone yesterday but it stopped, then a message tone followed. She knew who it was. She opened her phone and saw ten calls unanswered. Her fingers scratched a non-existing itch on her head and opened the message.
[Jovan: I"ve been calling but you"re not answering. Come back to the hotel. We need to talk.]
[Me: What to talk about?]
[Jovan: It"s risky. Don"t do it.]
[Me: Let"s talk.]
Diane changed clothes and went to the hotel as soon as she could. Unknowingly, John was on his way to meet with Leonard and he booked rooms #520 and #505. The latter was the one next to room #503.
Diane charged to the elevator. When the door was closing in, a hand stopped its movement. It was John"s. He leveled his eye to the person inside and stunned for a second but masked it by smiling. Diane was also surprised when she saw the person who joined her and lowered her gaze.
John walked in and stood beside her with his hand in his pocket. The door closed.
Diane"s mouth turned dry. This was her chance to tell him she was sorry for what she said last night but all of a sudden, something dawned on her and said it out loud. "Why are you here?"
"I think I don"t need to report my activities to you." With a slight glance, John caught her shrank in embarra.s.sment, made him felt terrible. "But, since I"m a gentleman, I"ll answer the lady"s question. I"m meeting with my brother." He intentionally exposed his meeting companion and gave her a glance-over again.
Her shoulders dropped, relief filled her chest. She thought it was with a woman. He chuckled in silence to see her relieved face.
"How about you? Can I ask why you"re here as well?" John broke in her thoughts.
However, the elevator door swung open on the second floor. She stepped out but John captured her wrists in his hand and leaned close to her. "Diane, let me help you with what you are doing now. Heed my words, you are facing danger. That guy who owned the room yesterday is a drug lord"s secretary," he whispered.
Horror reverberated through her and stepped back in. She looked up to him. "Are you certain?" The elevator swung closed.
"Yes, I am."
"Am I supposed to take your word for it?" she said softly.
"I don"t have the answers now but I"m on my way to get the information. Will you join me?"
"I don"t know why you"re doing this and why you"re involving yourself with my affairs but I admit, you satisfied my curiosity. And, I trust you...," she didn"t say the rest.
He got what she meant. "Trust me. I won"t do anything to harm you, I"d rather give my life to protect you."
She dropped her guard and smiled sweetly. "I think, joining you won"t be bad." Diane decided to trust him.
The door opened and John held her hand. This time, Diane didn"t protest as they walked to room #520.