Chapter Nine

The week passed slowly for Kiera.

The good news was that she finally caught up and it made her so excited about her progress that she felt she deserved a trip around the world. Of course, the thought was a mere fantasy. She couldn't leave even if she wanted to, which she didn't. Nothing would keep her from going on the second date with Mikael. She considered it their second date because the first one was merely him being kind. It was at the sushi restaurant where it all started for them. Well, a little before that, but when she sat across from him that night, his intentions were clear to her.

It was Friday. She had one more day to go. It was almost torture, having to wait for so long. He was the only thing on her mind and she fantasized about telling him exactly how she felt. But he hadn't called her and so she felt that she should follow his lead. If she were a different woman, perhaps she would have called him instead of waiting around. Maybe it was what he wanted or had hoped for. Thinking of it made her feel dejected so she brushed the negative thoughts aside. The days were long behind her so stressing about them was pointless and only made her miserable.

She stretched in her chair right after she submitted the final manuscript. Regina, her boss, had sent her an email concerning another piece of work that she wanted her to polish up and she agreed without seeing a sample of the manuscript. It was her way of apologizing for delaying the whole process. Regina was good to her. She was kind and understanding. Kiera made a mental note to send her a bottle of champagne someday. She truly deserved it for not firing her when she was at the bottom of the barrel and wouldn't reply to any of her emails for days.

They had a meeting the following week. Perhaps she would present the gift to her then. Yes, that was a solid plan.

She got up from her chair and checked her phone for no particular reason. She got the daily notification from the news blog she followed and that was it. No text or call from Mikael. It was beginning to worry her, his silence.

Did he feel he came on too strong and was putting some distance between them? She hadn't second-guessed anything since he kissed her tenderly on the cheek but perhaps she ought to? She was perplexed and she didn't know what to do.

She went downstairs for lunch and thought about Mikael while Simone talked about the gardener that would be arriving later in the afternoon to clean the mess that was their garden. Simone talked about costs and Kiera agreed to everything without giving it a thought.

Simone soon noticed that something was off about her. "Is it the man you have been seeing? What did you say his name was again? I forgot."

"Mikael." Even saying his name made shivers race down her spine. She hoped Simone didn't notice it.

If she did, she didn't show it. "And what are you worried about exactly?"

Kiera decided to tell her of her troubles. Simone was older and a lot more experienced in matters of life. She would have some solid advice for her. "He hasn't called or texted me since Tuesday. I mean, our second date is tomorrow. Shouldn't he have said something? I don't know, I'm just guessing here. I don't know what to think."

Simone shrugged. "You haven't known each other for too long. I think it's perfectly normal. He's keeping his distance and you should too, for now. It's healthier that way. You're both adults with responsibilities."

Kiera felt her explanation was logical but her gut told her something different. She didn't like that she felt queasy whenever she thought about it. She asked Simone, "You don't think he lost interest, do you?"

"Why should he?" she asked. "You're a perfectly good woman. I don't think he did. But if the worst has happened, well, it's his loss, never yours. I know your worth and you should, too."

Kiera nodded thankfully and finished her breakfast in silence. She asked Simone where Kane was and she told her that he was running some errands. Things weren't the same between them since her small outburst in her father's office. She felt guilty for it but she didn't know how to approach him on the matter.

She made her way back upstairs and paced around her bedroom while she nibbled on her cuticles. She stared at her phone which was on her writing desk. Every second that passed made her feel more anxious. She felt that, despite Simone's advice, she should give him a call. She hadn't told Simone everything about them. She didn't know about his phone call earlier in the week when he told her that he couldn't get her out of his mind. She didn't know about what he did in the restaurant or what he told her afterward.

Simone didn't know anything about their dynamic and so her advice wasn't the most reliable. She didn't know why she bothered to ask. It was a way of delaying the inevitable.

Kiera was good at doing that.

She picked up her phone and tried to keep her mind empty as she typed his name. Her finger hovered above the call button. She lost her courage for a moment and it nauseated her. She didn't know what she was so afraid of. She knew Mikael. Well, there was still a lot she didn't know, but there was no reason for her to be afraid to call him. It was utterly ridiculous.

She screwed her eyes shut and tapped the call button despite her fear. She swallowed her worries and troubles. She held her breath as the phone rang and rang. For an instant, she thought he wouldn't answer the phone. And then the ringing stopped and she panicked for a second before a sultry voice spoke, "Mikael Samson."

It wasn't Mikael. It was a woman's voice. Kiera swallowed but she discovered that there was nothing to swallow. Her mouth was completely dry. "Um. Hello?"

"Yes?" she said. She wasn't necessarily polite. Kiera sensed some aggression from her side, but maybe it was just her insecurities talking.

"I want to talk to Mikael," she finally said. Her voice wavered a little. She wasn't expecting someone else to answer the phone.

"He's busy at the moment," she replied. Again, there was something about her tone that Kiera didn't particularly like. "If you leave a message I'll relay it to him. Who am I speaking to?"

"Just tell him Kiera called," she said and hung up. She exhaled sharply and stared at the blank screen. They spoke for forty-four seconds, and she has to admit that it was forty-five seconds of pure torture. Who was the woman and why was she handling Mikael's phone? It was his personal number. Well, that's what she always assumed. Maybe she was wrong but the whole interaction exacerbated her feelings of uneasiness.

She should have followed Simone's advice. She had no business calling him. Her instincts once again failed her.

She was about to put her phone down when it vibrated in her hand. It was Mikael calling. It never crossed her mind to ignore the call. She said, "Hello?"

"Kiera," he said. He sounded breathless. "I just came back from a run. I was told you called." Was told. He didn't specify. She wanted to know who the woman was to him and why he didn't clarify who it was.

The uncertainty left a bitter taste in her mouth.

"Yeah," she admitted, "I just wanted to talk to you. It's been a few days. I wanted to hear your voice. I don't know. If I had known that you were busy I would never have called."

"Nonsense, I'm not that busy," he replied. "Rather, I'll always have time for you. You can call whenever you like. I'll always get back to you as soon as I can."

Kiera blushed deeply. "Alright."

"We're still on for tomorrow, aren't we?" he asked.

"Yes, absolutely," she answered, "I can't wait."

"I can't either," he said warmly. "Don't forget to bring a coat along. You're going to need it where we're going."

She chewed her lip. Her disquietude fled from her body and left her saggy and relaxed. "And where is that?"

"It's a surprise," he said. "You'll find out tomorrow, don't worry."

Mikael was all that was on her mind after the phone call and she forgot about the woman with the seductive voice. She lay in bed and thought about him and their date and how special it would be. She thought about what to say and she even came up with a few interesting points to discuss with him. She learned them from the book she was editing. It was worth sharing, especially with someone as intelligent as Mikael.

When it was clear that she was too engrossed in her thoughts for it to be healthy, she got up from bed and made her way downstairs. According to Simone, Kane still wasn't back.

"But why do you keep asking?" she asked. "Did something happen between the two of you, something I've not been made aware of?"

"No," she said and waved a hand dismissively. "I just want to talk to him about something I saw in my father's office. Something he showed me. I've been so busy lately that I haven't had the chance to ask him about it."

"What was it?"

"Some small statue of a werewolf," she explained. Simone was kneading dough. "Made of silver. You know which one I'm talking about?"

"Yes," she answered plainly. "But why did he show it to you?"

"I don't know," she said, "he said it was one of my father's most treasured possessions. I guess I want to know more." She was lying; she didn't care to know. If her father hadn't felt the need to tell her when he was alive then it most certainly didn't matter. It was the only excuse she could think of. Simone was a suspicious lady.

"Oh," was all she said.

Kiera left her in the kitchen when it was clear that she had nothing else to say and went into the living room. She sat on the couch and wondered out loud when the last time she sat on the couch was. A long time. She never sat in the living room. Why should she when she had a perfectly comfortable bedroom upstairs that had everything she needed? Plus, she hardly received guests. There was truly no point in spending time in the living room.

She glanced around and studied all the nooks and crannies she had almost forgotten about. She was waiting for Kane, she didn't know why. An apology wasn't that necessary. Perhaps it was simply because she had nothing to do. Yes, that was it.

She lay on the couch and stared at the ceiling. Simone was baking something in the kitchen and it made her mouth water. She wondered what it was but suddenly, it was almost as if life itself weighed down on her. She was exhausted, mentally and physically. Her eyes drooped and she sank into a marvelous sleep.

Kiera opened her eyes.

She was alert, suddenly. She sat up and rubbed her eyes. The front door was wide open and the lights were off. The house was oddly still as if she was the only living soul inhabiting it. She stood up and moved toward the door to close it. It was her first thought; she had to close the door. The fact that it was wide open bothered her. She wondered where Kane and Simone were. She wondered what the time was.

As she neared the door, a pair of yellow eyes made her stop in her tracks. Fear crept into her body and embedded itself just beneath her skin. She stared at the figure beside the door and all her senses left her body. She stared at it in disbelief before opening her mouth and screaming at the top of her lungs.