Olivia
When I opened my eyes, the sun had shone so brightly. Too bright at this hour. I overslept. Probably the result of the tiring three days that I had and Blake didn’t wake me up.
Speaking of Blake, he was out last night. He went to this office so suddenly and as he promised, he was already home when I woke up. When I went to the dining room, he was there working on something with his laptop and a cup of coffee beside him. He told me that he came back around twelve and I had no idea that he was already back at that hour. I was grateful because I could sleep at ease even though I received another letter last night. In my room.
It made me wonder how the stalker got inside my room. Was he just putting the letter on top of my bed or did he do something else in my room? I didn’t find anything suspicious there and everything was still in its place. All my underwear was safe and that was it. Only a letter and nothing more.
What the stalker did…creeped me out. I hoped he would stop and leave me alone.
As I was busy thinking about the stalker, my phone rang and there was a call from Karen. I picked it up immediately. “Hi, Karen.”
“Hi, babe! Got enough rest?”
“I did. I overslept actually.”
“Me too! I was grateful there is no photograph today or everyone is going to be mad at me because I showed up late.” I giggled at her statement. “Listen, about our summer holiday. Can you come to my house tomorrow?”
“I would love to.”
“Great! Oh, you can stay over too if you want.”
“Oh, I have to…ask permission from Blake about that.”
“I think he’s going to let you. Besides, you need some refreshment after the festival.”
“I’ll call you again later about that.”
“Cool. Talk to you later, babe! Bye!” And we ended the call. Stayed a night at Karen’s. I would love to and it has been a long time since I visited her house. I hoped Blake would allow me.
I walked out of the room and headed to the dining room again. I saw Blake still working with his laptop. It was tough to be a CEO also the owner of the company. I went to him slowly and even though he didn’t say anything, he aware of my presence. “Um, Blake?”
“Yeah?” he answered with his eyes still focused on the laptop.
“I want to go to Karen’s house tomorrow. We want to plan our holiday together. And she asked me to stay over for a night. Can I?” I didn’t know why but I sounded so nervous just by asking permission from him.
Blake was silent at first and was typing. “Where you two planning to go?”
“Malibu. Karen’s parents had a beach house there and we wanted to stay there for five days.”
“I see. Just the two of you?”
“For now…yes.” And he stopped typing and glanced at me.
“You girls are still sixteen, Liv. It’s dangerous for you two walking around alone.”
“We’re going to be fine. Her cousin will be there as well.”
“A guy?”
“Yeah, but he’s married, so…” I sounded hesitating. I didn’t know but I had to say that.
Blake was my step-father. My legal guardian. He was just worried about his daughter’s well-being and maybe having a guy around will calm him down. A guy who would never touch me. Because in my mind, Blake needed that.
“I will be fine, Blake,” I convinced him again while looking straight into his eyes. Hoping that I could convince him to let me go. Maybe I was still sixteen, a minor, a child, but I could take care of myself.
“…Fine. You can go. Both to Karen’s house and stay over also to Malibu,” he approved. Oh, my God!
“Thank you so much, Blake!”
“But don’t go wandering alone at night. You don’t know who are you going to meet on the street.”
“We will. Oh, God! You don’t know how this means to me. Okay, what do you want for lunch?”
“I have ordered it. I don’t want you to cook today and just get some rest.”
“Oh. Well, okay then. Maybe I should do a little laundry.” Although it was already late to do the laundry, at least I could get something because I won’t be in the house tomorrow.
While waiting for lunch, I grabbed the clothes from my bathroom and Blake’s. I went to the basement and put all the clothes inside the washing machine. All of this was the result of three days without any washes. I put the remaining clothes until I grabbed one of Blake’s shirts and I spotted something from it.
There was some spot in there but almost faded. If I was not mistaken, this was the shirt that Blake wore yesterday and he went out still wearing this. I couldn’t see it clearly since the color of the shirt was dark. I sniffed on it and it smelled rather irony, like blood.
My mind immediately strokes on the stalker. Last night Blake suddenly went out saying that something was going on in the office. And it was urgent. He came back around midnight.
I immediately thought that Blake…was searching for the stalker.
No, he had no idea about it. I never said anything to him and John. I only told Josh about this. Oh, man. I hoped Josh didn’t tell John because two days ago, I saw them together at John’s table. Talking but I didn’t know what they were talking about and when I returned to them, John immediately said that he was going to stay at my house until Blake came home. Did Josh tell him? And John told Blake?
I shook my head. Trying to think positive and maybe it was just a stain from the ink or something else. Not blood.
“Olivia?” Blake called as I immediately threw the shirt inside the washing machine and turned it on. I turned to Blake and he was already standing by the door.
“Yeah? What’s wrong?”
“The lunch is here,” he informed.
“Okay, I’ll be up in a minute.”
“By the way, why are you doing laundry? It’s already late.”
“Well, I won’t be at the house tomorrow and I figure out that you suck at doing home chores so I better save our clothes so you will have something to wear tomorrow and Monday.” Blake chuckled at me.
“Alright, Princess. I’ll be waiting upstairs.”
“Sure.” And Blake turned and walked up to the dining room. I sighed, feeling grateful that he wasn’t suspicious about anything.
When I couldn’t hear his steps anymore, I was still curious about the stain from his shirt.
No, it was not Blake. He was not the type of person who would do that. He might be looked cold and cruel but he won’t go so far as…killing someone. He would never harm anybody.
Right, Blake?