ROBERT FIVE DAYS LATER For the umpteenth time this afternoon, I stared blankly at the commissioned portrait hanging on the wall in my room. My eyes refused to stray, and I couldn’t look away. Even if I managed to turn, some invisible force brought my eyes back to the beauty on the wall, with her hair billowing in the cool, invisible breeze. My strawberry blonde beauty. My Renee. I closed my eyes at the thought of her and gripped the whiskey glass I held in my hand so tight it almost broke. Not that I cared. Opening my eyes briefly, I stared at the portrait, this time imagining Renee standing near me in my oversized shirt, or maybe some nice as fuck sexy lingerie. Or even a bathrobe… anything at all. She always looked so good in any clothing, and I loved that about her. ‘She’s not here with you, mister. Get your thinking straight.’ My subconscious chimed all too quickly and shaking my head, I tried to dispel my wandering thoughts, but it was too difficult. It’d been five days
RENEEI shut the door blindly behind me, hands groping in the dim space as I desperately searched for the light switch. I was finally home. After a hectic day of scrubbing tables, serving dishes, and avoiding the hooded stares of leech-looking men, I was now in my home. The little apartment I shared with Nicole. Sighing, I tossed my handbag on the small couch and walked straight to the kitchen. I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and popped the can open, taking a deep sip.With my eyes closed and my thoughts racing, I allowed myself to ask the same question in my head for the umpteenth time since returning from my mini vacation. How was Robert Clarke doing? What was he up to now? Did he miss me as much as I missed him? Did he think about me every night before bed? Did he even touch himself as he thought of me like I did as I thought of him?Every night since I left Miami, I’d pleasured myself with sex toys or my fingers. With every orgasm that coursed through me, I imagine
RENEE “Have you considered what to do with the gifts?” My busy hands froze. I turned to face Nicole with a raised brow, dropping the hairbrush I held on the dressing table. “What do you mean?” “You heard me, Renee. What plans do you have for the gifts? The flowers and the greeting card. Are you going to call him? You realize Robert is sending you these things, right?” “I am aware.” I said, annoyed.“Why don't you call him? Remember you never thanked him for the ones he sent you in Miami? He was hurt because you never called.”“I know, I know, I know! I called him last night.” I exclaimed a little too sharply as I continued, “I dialed his number, the one I’d been keeping, but it didn't go through. So I'm confused, Nicole, and I'm not sure what to do.”I returned my gaze to my best friend, expressing my concerns, and her brow furrowed. I could tell she was concerned about me.She wanted what was best for me, and I wanted to do the right thing too, but it was all too complicated.“T
ROBERTWas I a creep? A weird stalker? An obsessed man in love with a woman who barely knew it?Per se, I wasn’t necessarily a creep, nor was I weird, but I was stalking Renee, and I was madly obsessed with her too.As I watched her get into the cab, her eyes darting about in fright, my chest tightened.I didn’t want her to be afraid of me, and I knew by now she’d know it was me sending the gifts.If she were sharp enough, she’d have recognized my cursive handwriting in the notes I sent to her, and with my R initials engraved at the bottom, I’d surely given myself away.Even though I wanted to be mysterious, I decided to give her the benefit of the doubt, as I didn’t want her lashing out at me when we met again.Smirking, I closed my eyes briefly, my head falling back to the car’s headrest as I thought about how she’d looked today.She was so stunning in her waitress uniform, and my dick twitched remembering that.Luckily for me, the restaurant where she worked was lined with windows,
RENEE“Girl, I’ll be damned if this man doesn’t love you. Just look at the gifts. Oh girl, I say you’ve hit the jackpot with this one.”Staring mindlessly at the couple art notebook Robert gifted me and the lone tulip flower attached to the wrapped package, I didn’t say a word as Nicole went on and on.Another cryptic note was attached to the presents, but I wasn’t ready to read it.Instead, I stared blankly at everything sprawled out on the bed. I rubbed my forehead, unsure of what to do.“Aren’t you going to say anything? Damn, look at this. So romantic and sensual. He imagined both of you when he bought this.” Nicole said, picking up the art book. “The pictures are out of this world, though the gift is strange. Robert Clarke is very thoughtful. I’ll give him that.”“You think?” I mumbled, staring at the picture Nicole showed me, and my eyes glazed over the sensual black-and-white art.It was a drawing of a naked silhouetted man and woman in bed, tangled with the sheets. The man ha
ROBERT “Excuse me, Mr. Bradley.” I raised a finger, stepping back from the estate manager I was talking to. I walked away, bringing the ringing phone to my ear.“Any news, Natasha?” I queried sharply, not liking that her call interrupted a critical discussion.“Good day to you, sir.”“Good day, Natasha. Now get on with why you called. Is there anything important you want to tell me?” I interjected sharply, not wanting any of my time wasted. Luckily, she got the hint.“No, not at all, sir. I wanted to let you know that I got your mail last night, and I don’t understand what you asked me to do. I mean I—”“What don’t you understand?”“You said I should… As you said, aren’t you coming back to New York in a week?”Ignoring her last question, I said, “I told you to transfer most of the work files to my mail. Compile the list of everything I left, and send them to me. I’ll attend to them here and work at the Orlando office until further notice. Now, do you understand?”“What? I mean, sir.
RENEERobert sent me gifts again. This time the delivery included a sizable flower bouquet, an expensive Richart Chocolate box, and another note.In the note, he wrote that he missed me. And as Nicole had predicted, he sent the remaining numbers.To be precise, four numbers were written on the back of the card he’d sent, and I couldn’t help but wonder again what this man was up to.If he was in Orlando, why hadn’t he approached me yet? He knew my location. He knew where I worked. So why this cat-and-mouse game? Was he afraid I’d lash out at him? Is that why he’d chosen to watch me from afar or taunt me like this?Yes! I’d lash out at him for being a creep and watching me like he had some power over me. He’d also turned me into an emotional jumble. But then…“Oh, Christ.” I mumbled, placing my hands on my stomach as I continued to think.I was more than confused, and as I lay flat on my bed, eyes staring blankly at the ceiling, I knew I had to talk to him. I had to call him and tal
ROBERT “Good morning, Mr. Clarke.” As I entered the premises, the staff and employees at my Orlando office greeted me enthusiastically. I respectfully responded as I went from the reception to my office, my hands waving with a broad smile.The office set aside for me was roomy and precisely as I liked it. Similar to my office in New York, this one was opulent, with minimalist art hanging from the walls, a large desk with a laptop, and a few other items I needed. The office featured a spare bathroom and changing area, and as I looked around, I reminded myself to ask Mark to fill the wardrobe with some new, crisp clothes.I turned my head away from the changing area and turned to look at the office's beautiful glass doors and balcony. My lips spread into a grin.I always loved to hang out on balconies, because I cherished them so much. Perhaps in the late afternoon while sipping alcohol and gazing at a cityscape or structure. I treasured the activity because it gave me solace. I