The Devil I Love.

                     CHAPTER 6

MAZIKEEN.

    “Hey,Linda.”

The cheerful lady flashed me a warm smile,“Oh hey Maze…fancy seeing you here.”

I furrowed my brows in confusion. “What do you mean? I work here now, remember?”

The other woman's suddenly face paled,and her expression turned panicked.

“You need to leave…now!”

I hesitated,my confusion deepening. 

“Linda? Is everything alri…”

“They're coming!! You need to leave!!”

I let out a gasp, stumbling backwards as her face suddenly began to transform,until I was staring at the pretty face of the woman from my memories….but just as quickly, the face went limp.

I blinked and her body was laying on the floor, bleeding from a ghastly,open wound on her chest and a deep slit on her throat.

I shook terribly, sinking involuntarily to my knees beside the unmoving body,as I stared blurilly into the lifeless,open eyes.

“Mom?”

The word felt heavy in my mouth,but deep in my heart,I knew it was true.

This was my mother,and I'd watched her get murdered that day in our living room.

I shook with sobs as the memory got clearer,and clearer until…

Bam!

The door to the office main entrance was bashed open,and men with horribly contorted faces,and bloody claws trooped in. Their bloodshot eyes zeroed on me as they charged forward.

“No…no….please” I pleaded as I stood up, trying to run but I felt rough hands grab me,while another aggressively skimmed across my face, trying to clasp over my mouth.

“Please…. please!...Mom!!!”

I suddenly snapped awake,jerking up to a sitting position as I felt sweat dripping down my skin and soaking through the cotton shirt I had on.

I dragged a hand down my face as I willed my racing heart to calm.

Beep Beep! Beep Beep!

I groaned, reaching out to turn off the alarm I'd set for six AM.

Then it all came rushing back; Graylin's rejection the night before,our argument,my insecurities and my new job…my new job!

“Fuck…” I threw off the sheets and bolted from the bed, immediately dashing into the bathroom to prepare.

I walked into the office main entrance over an hour later, ignoring the slight rush of deja vu as I approached Linda's desk,a smile already on my face by the time she looked up from her computer.

“Why,hello beautiful…” she beamed at me and I felt my smile widen.

“Hey Lin…can I call you Lin?”

She nodded enthusiastically, staring at her screen as she replied, “I call you Maze…you call me Lin,and everything's better…” she paused, looking like she was mentally cringing at herself.

I held back my laugh as I nodded, then drew out my phone from my purse and handed it to her.

“I forgot to take your number yesterday…”

Her eyes lit up as she took the gadget and promptly began to type in her digits. “Me too,we should definitely hang out sometime.”

“I agree.”

She smiled, handing my phone back.

“Um…do you know why Mr. Black's last PA was laid off?”

Linda shrugged. “I don't know the details,but there were rumours…” she lowered her voice,“allegedly,they were in a relationship and it got messy…more so when his family got involved,so she had to resign.”

I couldn't control my frown as I processed her response. “His family? What is he,ten?”

Linda chuckled as she gave another smaller shrug. “His mom's a whole character…and not a good one.”

“Wow.”

“Yeah…oh and did you later speak to him yesterday?”

“Yep.” I nodded, “he emailed me a list of things to do and some appointments to book.”

“Okay,good.”

I slid my phone back into my bag and moved the curled tendrils of hair off my face as I gave her a dismissive nod and a smile.

“I'll see you later Lin…”

“Text me!” She called after me as I hurried towards the elevator to start my day.

“I will!” I called back.

                        ********

    “Oh,Gray...Gray…oh my God!!”

I stood, completely frozen at the apartment's foyer, completely sure that I wasn't mishearing.

The walls weren't thin,but thanks to my new excellent hearing,I could clearly pick up Graylin's harsh pants and the woman's—Savannah’s—low whimpers. I could even hear the headboard banging against the wall in quick successions.

My legs shook as I walked into the living room, tossing my purse on the armchair as I moved towards the fridge and grabbed an open bottle of vodka.

I'd never been much of a drinker,they never did anything other than give me a buzz…but perhaps it was because I hadn't ever drunk a half full bottle at a go.

So that was what I did;I tipped the bottle and guzzled the amber liquid without pausing, enjoying the trail it burned from my throat down to my stomach as I wiped the back of my hand across my mouth.

Why?

That was the recurring question in my mind as I stumbled towards the couches and sank down on one.

Why was he doing this to me? Why did I feel so empty? Why was my body changing?

Why wasn't I enough? Why did it hurt so much?

I placed the bottle down, trying and failing to tune out the sounds of their lovemaking from the room upstairs.

I leaned my head back against the backrest and squeezed my eyes shut.

And I stayed like that until the vodka began to sing in my veins, giving me more than the usual buzz but not quite incapacitating me the way I wanted.

I kept my eyes closed even when the bedroom door opened about forty minutes later,and they both walked downstairs, reeking of sex and steam.

“Maze…” Graylin muttered, “I didn't hear you come in.”

I forced my eyes open and stared directly at him,anger crashing through me like untamed waves.

“Of course you didn't…your whore was being so loud …”

“Hey!” Savannah exclaimed hotly and I flashed her a look,she was wearing Graylin's shirt,her skin flushed,her hair mussed and her lips kiss-swollen.

I hated it,I hated her….I hated him.

“Well you could’ve just left if you didn't wanna hear us,” Graylin replied flippantly and I scoffed to hide the fact that I was on the verge of tears.

“Perhaps next time,I will.”

He nodded, firmly, “You should….and never speak to Savannah like that again.”

I lowered my head,shame causing goosebumps to scatter across my skin.“Yes, Graylin.”