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CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT.
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Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE.
DANIELLE'S P.O.V. "Let's be friends." Adrian's words rang in my ears and echoed in my head, over and over again, like they were being played on repeat in my memories. Let's be friends! Let us be friends? His statement was so unusual, so sudden, so out of the blue; and the absurdity of those words were so transparent, so evident, so plain, that the best way I could react or respond to his shocking statement was to erupt into a fit of laughter- stomach wrenching, breath taking, and head ticking laughter that originated from deep down in my throat, escaped through my lips in a light rumble, and it resonated and bounced on the walls of Adrian's cool and dark themed room. Adrian sat up on the King sized bed, staring at me with astonished eyes, and an amused expression was painted on his face. He watched, quietly, as I continued to laugh uncontrollably. "Are you laughing right now?" he asked incredulously, sending me into another fit of spasming laughter. "You're really lau
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER FORTY.
DANIELLE'S P.O.V. Sunday's afternoon met me in the kitchen, cleaning up the mess that Adrian and I had made the night before. After our tete-a-tete in the morning, which consisted of Adrian bringing up the crazy proposal of us both being friends, and him successfully convincing me to go along with his unbelievable suggestion, I had eventually convinced Adrian that staying in his bed with me for the entire day was not such a good idea. While I would not mind staying in bed with Adrian the entire day, letting him unravel my body and take me to Cloud 9 and back, it would not be very responsible of him to leave the business unattended to just because of a few hours of pleasure. Adrian left for work later that morning, but not before showing me exactly what I would be missing between the sheets for the rest of the day while he would away. Once he had headed out of the house, the doors closing and locking with a resonating beep, I buried myself deeper into the bed sheets and
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER FORTY-ONE.
DANIELLE'S P.O.V. I hated Mondays. I always had and always would. Monday mornings were the worst, and that particular morning was not an exception. Monday mornings were always slow and gloomy- somehow, the fun and merriment from the weekend always never managed to tell on or impact Mondays. Everyone was usually the happiest on the last working day of the week, which was on Fridays. Friday evenings brought with them an incomprehensible excitement - a thrill for the start of the weekend, but come Monday morning, that thrill would be replaced by a suffocating bleakness. This was the never ending cycle of life that we, as humans, had to face. That Monday morning, I woke up to a dimly lit room. While on any other day, the sun rays that managed to escape the shield of the curtains would brighten up the room- the bright light serving as a sort of assurance that one would be having a merry day, the sun rays on Monday mornings were dim and dull- they, unlike the sun rays of
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER FORTY-TWO.
DANIELLE'S P.O.V. The rest of my Monday morning passed by in a blur of speeches and teachings, and by the time the time for the Interblock Lunch rolled by, I was extremely hungry and very exhausted. We were all directed to the cafeteria where we were to have our lunch. I hoped that the cafeteria food would be better and more edible than the food from other cafeterias that I had been to. I had never had any good experiences with cafeterias, ever since my days as a middle schooler and even up to my days as a college student. The cafeteria food was always either barely edible, or vomit inducing. New York University's cafeteria was attractive and seemed homey. Several light bulbs, which were built into the ceiling, shined brightly and casted the entire room in a torrent of bright white light. Beige colored cushioned chairs were tucked under round brown wooden tables- four chairs into each table. The tables and chairs were placed strategically and arranged to encompass the entirety of
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER FORTY-THREE.
DANIELLE'S P.O.V. The remaining activities after the Interblock Lunch passed hazily with my head ticking and my patience wearing thin as the time rolled by. Seconds rolled, slowly, into Minutes, which in turn rolled even slower, into Hours. I sat in the audience, amongst my peers, as we spent the rest of the afternoon listening to speeches upon speeches, and teachings upon teachings from several Professors and Directors of some of the MBA programs. I badly wished I could tune out every one and every thing around me- I even tried to do so by focusing solely on my breathing technique, but every time, just when I was starting to focus on nothing else but my intake and exhaust of breath, another round of thunderously loud applause or another eruption of loud reverberating laughter, always jolted me from my means of escape back to my inescapable reality. At that point, I wanted to be anywhere but in that hall. I felt a wave of anxiety hit me, running through my veins and causing
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR.
DANIELLE'S P.O.V. The familiar chime of my ringtone echoed in the quiet room, breaking the silence and causing me to rouse from my slumber. I groaned in exhaustion, and with my eyes still closed, I searched for my phone by blindly patting the bedside table with my right hand. Once my fingers grazed the cool metal of my phone which was chilly from its exposure to the cool air blasting from the air conditioner, I picked it up and pried my glued eyes open. I squinted at the screen to check the caller ID before picking up the call, the line connecting with a dull beep. "Dad?' I said, my voice coming out in a groggy whisper. "My sweet! You sound sleepy, I hope I have not disturbed your sleep." he said. His voice sounded strained and he sounded fatigued; it seemed like he had not had any rest from working the entire day. "Not really. I just woke up."I answered. "Is now a good time for me to call? I could call you back later, that way you can get enough rest." he said.
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE.
CHAPTER FORTY FIVE. DANIELLE'S P.O.V. "I wish I could stay back to answer some of your other questions, but I unfortunately can not because my time allotted for the teaching has been far spent. I hope I have managed to impart you all with the little knowledge which I have shared with you today. I wish you success in your journey as leaders in the Leonard N.Stern School of Business. I remain Jordan Lancaster, Associate Professor of Management and Organization, and Director of the Leadership Accelerator Program. Enjoy the rest of your day." Resounding applause ushered the middle aged man off the stage while Doris Covington stepped up the podium. She declared the first half of Tuesday's orientation program, which was titled 'Leadership @ Stern' , over, and announced that we would be having an off-site lunch. She told us all that we could get our lunch wherever we wanted, and advised us to make sure we were back in the hall in time for the second half of the orientation program.
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER FORTY-SIX.
DANIELLE'S P.O.V. The doors to the Penthouse eased open with an electronic beep as I typed in the pass code. I walked into the house, the sole of my sneakers pounding noiselessly as I made my way through the hall way into the open living room and kitchen. The air conditioner in the living room blew cool air into the room from its vents, giving the house a chilly but homely ambience. "You're home. Welcome." I heard Adrian greet as I stepped into the living room's thresholds. I turned to see that he was in the kitchen, strings of an apron tied around his neck and waist. His hands were busy with chopping carrots on a wooden chopping board, the sound of the knife hitting the wood reverberating in the room. "Good evening. I see that you're busy." I greeted. Adrian looked up at me, a sweet smile gracing his face as his eyes found mine. Meanwhile, his hands did not for a moment, stop their movements, chopping away at the big orange vegetable without a break. "You're going t
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Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-NINE.
DANIELLE'S P.O.V I stirred from my slumber, my eyes blinking open reluctantly. The room was bathed in the soft glow of dawn and a lingering sense of unease clung to me. As consciousness found its way back to me, I felt the sting in my eyes which were heavy from a restless night. My eyes stung as I tried to focus on the familiar surroundings. A few remnants of the nightmares that had plagued my sleep replayed in my mind, their vivid images taunting me. A groan escaped my lips as I tried to sit up, the dryness and ache in my throat were evidence of the tumultuous night I had. The taste of fear lingered in my mouth, leaving me parched and exhausted. When I finally sat up, I rubbed the sleep from my eyes. I could still hear the faint echoes of my own screams and I took a quick glance around, half expecting to find shadows lurking in the corners of the room. The sheets clung to my skin- further evidence of my night which had been filled with restlessness. The room, usually a pe
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-EIGHT.
ADRIAN'S P.O.V. It had been a month since the storm called Chase Sinclair, had hit our lives, leaving destruction and doubts in his wake. The air hung heavy, in my office, with the weight of unspoken words as Omar Zayn, my lifelong confidante and best friend, sat across from me. His eyes, filled with understanding, met mine, as if searching for the turmoil that had etched its mark onto my soul over the past month. The weight of the past month lingered heavily on my shoulders, and I couldn't shake the guilt that gripped my conscience. "Omar, I messed up big time," I sighed, rubbing my temples. Omar leaned in, concern etched on his face. "What happened with you two, Adrian? Last time I knew, you guys were solid. Tell me everything. Maybe there's a way to fix this." Omar said, his expression empathic. In a flash, I recalled the doubts that had plagued me and the message that had led to my questioning Danielle's fidelity " I doubted Dannie's loyalty, questioned her commitment
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SEVEN.
DANIELLE'S P.O.V I woke up with a splitting headache. The piercing pain that seared through my head dragged me out of the depths of unconsciousness. As my eyes fluttered open, I groaned, clutching my throbbing temple. The room spun and my vision blurred as I blinked. "Where in the world am I?" I muttered while trying to make sense of my surroundings. As I tried to sit up, the sharp pain in my head intensified, sending shockwaves through my body. It felt like a sledgehammer had collided with my skull and I could hear the faint echoes of my own pained groans. With my muddled senses, I struggled to make sense of my situation. I continued to blink rapidly to clear off the dizzy spell until the dimly lit room slowly came into focus. Suddenly, I felt restraints on my wrists and ankles. "What the hell...?" I muttered pulling at the ropes that bound me and restricted my movement. On seeing that they would not budge, undiluted panic started to creep into my bod
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SIX..
DANIELLE'S P.O.V The weeks following my traumatic ordeal at the hands of Chase were a blur of hospital rooms and tests. I had also been offered therapy sessions, but I rejected them as the very last thing I wanted to do was revisit the torture I had gone through. However, I could not seem to run away from those days of captivity as even after I had long been discharged from the hospital, my mind was still trapped in the nightmares that had plagued me ever since that fateful day- the day Chase Sinclair had kidnapped me. It felt like I was trapped in a unending nightmare, unable to escape the memories of what had happened to me- memories of how my baby had almost been taken away from me. I was back in the safety of the mansion Adrian and I had gotten but the house which used to bring me so much peace now seemed as oppressive as it was comforting. I sat on the plush couch in the living room of our grand mansion, surrounded by my friends and family. Adrian was on a busi
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE.
DANIELLE'S P.O.V. The hospital corridors stretched before me, a maze of sterile white walls, distant echoes of life, and busked whispers. Their white walls were an unsettling reminder of the captivity I had endured for far too long at the hands of Chase Sinclair. Determination surged through my veins as I made my way towards the women's restroom, a small glimmer of hope guiding me towards the next step in my escape. I walked with purpose and my steps were fueled by a desperate determination to reclaim my life from the clutches of the darkness that Chase had surrounded me with. My footsteps faltered as both anticipation and apprehension coursed through my veins and each footfall echoed in my ears as I made my way to the restroom. Every step that I took felt heavy with anticipation and my heart pounding in my chest as I neared the restroom. It was a moment that held the key to my freedom; the key to reuniting with my family and escaping the clutches of Chase once and for all. As
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FOUR.
DANIELLE'S P.O.V. Chase’s eyes bore into mine, and I could see the rage simmering beneath them. His gaze moved around the room, scanning for any signs of betrayal and then, suddenly, his eyes locked onto my shaking figure. A cruel smile pulled at his lips as he lunged towards me and on reaching me, he grabbed my hand with his grip tightening around my wrist. Panic engulfed me as he wrenched the phone from its hiding place under the pillow and he held it up, triumph gleaming in his eyes. “You really thought you could get away, didn’t you?” he sneered, his voice dripping with malice I stood there, transfixed to the spot by the fear that caused my heart to pound in my chest, my hands trembling. The stolen phone rested securely in Chase’s grip; a small but strong weapon that I had used against the man who had held me captive for far too long. Chase loomed over me, his eyes burning with a mix of anger and desperation. "You think you're so clever, don't you?" His voic
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY THREE.
ADRIAN'S P.O.V The walls of my office seemed to close in on me as I sat there, utterly drained from the dual onslaught of my demanding position and the storm raging inside of me. The dim lights seemed to intensify the shadows that had taken a place in my life recently and the air felt heavy as the weight of my tumultuous life burdened me. The office room felt like a prison of polished wood and cold steel and the distant hum of the city just outside of the office walls did nothing to ease the feeling of being trapped. The room that was usually a place of productivity and creativity, had. now become a battlefield between my professional obligations to the company and my personal emotions. Rubbing my temples gently, I tried to erase the persistent ache that clawed at my skull, but I couldn't seem to find relief from it. Weariness weighed heavily on my shoulders, and burden on my heart as I could not seem to get away from the shattered pieces of my broken life. The weight of my r
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-TWO.
DANIELLE'S P.O.V. The days, weeks, or perhaps months, following my abduction felt like an eternity; I had lost track of time as those moments that I spent while being trapped in this desolate room passed in a hazy blur of fear and despair. Each passing moment was filled with fear, uncertainty, and a desperate longing for my freedom, every second spent in Chase’s clutches was a reminder of the very fragile line that separated both my life and death, every waking moment that I spent in that godforsaken room was tainted by the knowledge that I was at the mercy of a man I once called a friend; a man whom I had thought to forgive and let go of the hurtful things that he had done to me in the past; a man that had now turned into an obsessed captor; a man that had snatched me away from my peaceful existence. The room was always dark and even with the air conditioner, who’s hum served as the only other source of sound in the dreary space, it always felt suffocating as the only other me
Sweet, Sweet, Nightmare. CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY ONE.
DANIELLE'S P.O.V. I did not know how long I slept for, or how many days had passed by while I was in a state of unconsciousness; all I could remember when I slowly opened my eyes, the heaviness of sleep still lingering in my limbs, was that I had been taken against my will and the culprit of my kidnapping was none other than my former childhood friend and recently reconciled nemesis. As my vision started to clear, I found myself in a dimly lit room; it was not as small as the one I had previously woken up in, but it felt the same to me as I felt the sterile walls closing in on me. Panic coursed through my veins as the memories of the events leading up to my kidnapping flooded my mind. My heart raced and thumped loudly in my chest as the realization of my situation settled in once more. I would give anything to exact as much pain on the culprit of my predicament and source of my pain at that moment. Chase Sinclair! A name that I had once associated with friendship; a name that
