Chapter 3

Last evening was much easier than the one before. Hannah was right, she was getting used to everything. She got out of bed, Hannah was still asleep, so she crept quietly into the bathroom and first took a long shower. She enjoyed the luxury of the hot water that ran gently over her body. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. "Ally? Are you ready soon? ”Hannah's voice came from the other side of the door. She turned off the water and wrapped herself in a soft towel. "Yes, you can come in." The door opened and Hannah gave her a guilty look. "Is everything okay?" She wanted to know. Hannah started grinning and nodded. “There's a guy living downstairs in the village, he's really cute and he asked me if I was there today. You want to hit the slopes. "

Alissa's heartbeat calmed down again. What did she expect? Hannah couldn't possibly ... She shook the thought off. "It's okay." She grinned. "I'll make breakfast, but I have something good with you!" Hannah squeaked happily and then hugged her, then pushed Alissa out of the door and locked it behind her. "I'll make breakfast tomorrow!" She shouted.

"But I have to get ready for breakfast as well!" She called through the door.

"OK!"

Breakfast was fast today, fresh snow had fallen during the night and everyone wanted to hit the slopes first. Nobody noticed that Hannah was missing. Alissa already had everything ready an hour after breakfast, she sat on the sofa in the living room and took the remote control. But there was just nothing decent on TV and she turned it off after a few minutes. She went to the bookshelf and took out a novel, the title sounded promising and so she decided to take it with her room and read it comfortably in her bed. In the past few months she had read a great many books; she had had nothing else to do. She shook the thought away and opened the door to her room on the second floor. She threw the book on the bed and went to the window, the white snow looked beautiful. It's actually a shame that she couldn't ski. Yesterday nothing came of it and she didn't want to try it alone. Hannah should be there by now. Lost in thought, she unbuttoned her white blouse, dropped it carelessly on the chair next to her and pulled on a comfortable T-shirt. Suddenly she saw a flash, something like a mirror in the sunlight. She let her gaze wander and then she saw him! The neighbor who had been watching her yesterday. He stood in his house, binoculars in hand, watching her. Without further ado she ran down the stairs, opened the front door and ran the few meters to this Frank.

And Hannah said that he was a nice guy! Are you kidding me? Are you serious when you say that! He was a stalker! Angrily she knocked on the door and shortly afterwards a pretty brunette opened the door for her. She looked at Alissa, startled. "Can I do something for you?" She found her language again after a brief hesitation and a look at Alissa's appearance. "I want to speak to Frank." Alissa demanded, snorting. "I'm sorry, but Frank ..."

"Lara, would you please leave us alone?" A dangerously calm and deep voice came from behind the girl. Lara didn't have to be told twice. Alissa saw this as her opportunity and stepped into the dim hallway, she couldn't see Frank exactly, she just saw that he was quite tall. But she didn't care at the moment, she was angry because the guy was watching other women even though he was married! No wonder his wife never wanted to come here. She crossed her arms over her chest. "Why are you watching me?"

Joshua was unsure what to expect now. He had let himself be distracted, he shouldn't have done that! He had just watched Mason at his desk when his gaze fell on the blonde one floor higher. She just stood by the window and stared outside. She looked somehow familiar to him, but he didn't know where he had seen her before ... and how could he have known that she would be undressing in front of the window shortly after? And which man wouldn't look then? "I? She?"

She nodded. “You must be wrong. And now you will excuse me, I still have work to do! ”With that he turned on his heel and walked down the long hallway into the living room. Alissa stood in the front door as if moved by the thunder and looked after him puzzled. Had he just left her here now? Again she grabbed the anger and so she ran after him. "Hey, what are you thinking of?" Alissa stepped into the sun-drenched living room and blinked. This guy could hardly be a tensioner. He didn't have to. He looked like a model, with jet black hair and almost as dark eyes. His chin was prominent, as were his cheeks, which had a slight shadow of a beard on them. He was wearing dark jeans and a white shirt that was only half buttoned. "Is there anything else?" He wanted to know in an almost bored voice. She swallowed. "I want you to apologize to me and stop watching me."

“I'll repeat it again. I'm not watching you! ”He said with a hint of anger in his voice and came up to her. Alissa stiffened imperceptibly but forced herself to stop. "But. Just now and yesterday morning, I saw you exactly. ”Now he was only a few centimeters in front of her and suddenly it ran down her spine. Why had she come here so carelessly and snapped at him like that? She should have gone to Mason, or the police. She took a step back, he followed her, his eyes boring into her face and she abruptly bumped into a wall. Frank stood right in front of her. She swallowed. "Let me go or I'll call the police."  

"And what do you want to say to them?" He suddenly wanted to know with amusement in his voice. He knew who she was, how she looked, how she was. He hadn't forgotten her. Just as defiant as two years ago.

Why did he all of a sudden go on duet? An icy shiver ran down her spine. She tried to push him away, but he didn't move an inch. Just smirked at her. Oh god, why was she so stubborn and run into his house? When he watched her it was clear what he wanted from her and she ... sweat of fear formed on her forehead. "Let me go." She breathed. When he made no move to step away from her, she whispered a quiet "Please." But that didn't seem to impress him either. “Do you think I can just let you go now? You are to blame. You made everything complicated! ”With frightened eyes she looked at him in fear. "I won't tell anyone anything."

"I know that!" He said with a smug smile and took a few steps away from her. "Alissa Aspelkamp. Correct?"

"How do you know my name?"

“Have a seat. Would you like something to drink? ”He pointed to the sofa and went to the bar to pour himself some water. Since she didn't say anything, he made one for her too and put it on the table. She still stood suspiciously against the wall. Probably assessing whether it was worth running away. "It took a little while, but you know, I never forget a face." She stared at him in amazement. "Why did you sit down?"

She looked at him in horror. She would never have expected anyone to recognize her here! What if he told the Masons? They'd kick her on edge. And living here on the street would be worse than in Germany - she would freeze to death! Josh literally saw it rattle behind her eyes. "Who are you?" She finally asked. “I haven't done anything bad, nobody has been harmed, it's not worth sending someone after me. Unless… ”She didn't finish the sentence. And Joshua didn't want to know what she was thinking either. "I'm not here because of you," he told her. "Not?" Relief crept inside her.

"So, are you still a criminal?" He had to know if he could possibly trust her, she would be a sign of fate. "Are you planning to exempt the unsuspecting rich?"

"No! I got two years for a little robbery, I don't want to spend my whole life behind bars. "

"It's a good decision," he said. "Now finally sit down." He gestured again with his hand to the sofa across from him and reluctantly she took a seat. She looked at the water glass. "Take it easy," he encouraged her.

"Why did you commit the attack?"

"I just wanted something to eat." He saw the pain in her eyes and believed her straight away. He had to call Janik afterwards and let him do some research on Alissa Aspelkamp, ​​he had no time for that.

"OK."

"Okay?" She looked at him confused.

"So all in all you're an honest person?" She just nodded and he continued. "But why did you want something to eat?"

"I've lived on the street since I was 17, at some point you just do things to survive," she said defiantly. Pity came over him. “Don't look at me like that. I can't use your pity. Life on the street was always better than where I came from. "

He didn't say anything and after a while she wanted to know: "How do you know me from?"

"I saw you sitting in the interrogation room."

“But I didn't see you.” She would remember a man like that. Every woman would remember him!

"That was because I was standing behind the mirror while one of my colleagues interrogated you."

"You are from the police?" He nodded and she looked at him in amazement. "You don't look like the cops ..." When she realized what she had said she blushed. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ..."

"It's okay." He cut her off. "I need you." She looked at him blankly. "I have to go to Mason's office." He then explained.

“And how should I get you in there? I don't even know where that is. "

"It's under your room."

Now a light dawned on her. "So you really weren't watching me?"

“I said that. Mason is the man I'm tailing. And please stop talking to me. I'm Joshua Herzog, but my friends call me Josh. "

"But what did he do that the police are after him?"

“It's better if I don't tell you. Just keep an eye on him okay? "

“But I only see him eating. Otherwise I have no idea where he's hanging around and I'm new here, don't even know my way around the area. "

"Great, I don't know my way around either." He put his elbows on his knees and rested his head on his hands.

"But maybe I have an idea ..." Josh lifted his eyes and looked at her invitingly. “The big party will take place on Friday, all neighbors are invited. You too or not? "

"So far I don't know anything about it." At that moment the doorbell rang and a short time later they heard a woman's voice. "This is Samantha, Mr. Mason's wife."

Josh jumped up and pulled her up from the sofa as well, dragged her to the bar and motioned for her to hide. "She mustn't see you here under any circumstances." He warned her as the steps of Lara and Samantha Mason came closer. Alissa crouched on the floor and hoped that Samantha didn't think about looking around the house.

"Mr. Joshua?" Came the voice of the young woman who had already opened the door for her. “Ms. Mason, your neighbor is here. She wants to speak to you. "

“Thanks Lara, you can go now. Hello, my name is Joshua Herzog. What can I do for you? ”His voice was deep but genuinely pleased. Why did it hurt her? Samantha looked really very pretty, she was also tall, slim and probably she was exactly Josh's taste. "Mr. Joshua?" Came Samantha's questioning voice and Alissa concentrated on the conversation between the two. "My father is Mr. Duke," explained Joshua. "I don't feel like Herr Herzog yet." He smiled charmingly at her, which also made her smile. "Please take a seat. Can I offer you something to drink? "  

"With pleasure, a cherry please."

"Coming right away." He went to the bar and stood in front of Alissa, who had slipped to the side. His unsuspecting gaze slid over all the bottles in front of him. Alissa pushed his leg and pointed a finger at a bottle. He read the label and took the bottle as he was about to take a random glass, Alissa nudged him in the leg again. He looked down at her and she held up the appropriate glass. He crouched down, took it from her hand, their hands touching and Alissa felt a pleasant shiver over her body. "Thanks." He breathed and grinned mischievously at her. “I'm sorry you had to wait. The staff is just too tidy, I had to look for the glass first. "

"But, but my dear. No excuses. We are here on vacation and if the staff does their job properly, then you have nothing to complain about. Are you satisfied with your staff? "

"Yes indeed. Lara is very… ”He stumbled briefly over the word. "Courteous."

“That's how the Chalet Girls have to be. With the tip you get, you can expect a lot from them. ”Josh was silent and after a short, uncomfortable pause Samantha asked:“ What do you do for a living, Joshua? Can I call her Joshua? ”She asked ingratiatingly. "Of course it is." Joshua said amiably. "I don't actually work, I live my life." He beamed at Samantha. "I like to snowboard for my life, I do a lot of sport in general."

"Aha ..." Suddenly Samantha's voice didn't sound so lovely anymore. “And who will finance your stay in Frank's house? Actually, he doesn't rent to strangers. "

"My brother. He is very generous to my sister and me. We are both spoiled from front to back by him. "

"And who is her brother?" She wanted to know with curiosity in her voice.

"Well Liam, Liam Herzog."

"The Liam Duke?"

"Exactly that, I see this reaction more often." He smiled at her. “I just can't hold a candle to my brother. So I decided to be a little brother. And look around. ”He made a sweeping gesture. "I have everything my heart desires."

"We always wanted to get to know him." Admitted the woman.

"Oh really?" Now it was up to Joshua to look at her curiously. "Why that?"

"We noticed that he owns real estate halfway around the world and we urgently need new premises."

"In what way? What kind of premises? "

"Oh, that's not her soup." She waved her off. “Do you think you could make an appointment with him? We really need the rooms urgently. "

Joshua was on his guard now. “I have to know a little more precisely. My brother might want to come over with his family next week. I don't necessarily want to bother him with something like that on vacation. "

“Oh, don't worry. We'll ask him when he's here. ”She got up and left the glass of Cherry untouched. "Oh yes, and you are cordially invited to our party on Friday." Joshua who had also got up accompanied her door. "That's very kind of you. I'll be happy to come over. ”Their voices grew lower and lower and Alissa exhaled audibly in her hiding place. But a second later she heard footsteps in the room again and she tensed up again. "You can come out." Josh said and Alissa got up. "Suddenly she was in a great hurry to get out of here." "Yes, right after I mentioned Liam." He pondered for a few minutes and Alissa left him alone, but after a while in which he was still completely lost in thought, she cleared her throat. “I should go slowly now. Maybe Samantha needs me over there. "  

Josh woke up from his musings and stared at her briefly. "Yes, of course go home, but not a word from our conversation."

"Got it." She nodded and fled the house.