Chapter 2: The awakening

The door bell rang as I opened the door to my favorite place in the world, Diana's Oven. This place and I go way back since I moved here from Seattle. It was here I met my closest friend, Diana. Back then, I had no friend as I didn't mingle with my coursemates much. Diana was the first friend I made before Cynthia. While with Cynthia I had a sister, with Diana I had a soul mate. We had the kind of connection that couldn't be explained or reasoned with.

I stood still and spread my arms wide, breathing in the scent of baking cakes. If only perfume makers made perfumes  that smelt like cakes, it would have been a hit.

Because of my very dramatic reaction, I heard a snickering sound at the counter and I opened my eyes and smiled at my one woman audience.

"You look like you just had an orgasm." Diana said teased.

"I call it cakegasm, Dee" I replied as I made my way over to the counter. I slapped my hand on the counter she was resting on and demanded, "What do you have for me?"

"You're in luck. I just made a fresh batch of your favorite, so you owe me your ovaries." She joked

"I would gladly give them over in exchange for anything you make." My eyes began to room the shop, taking in all the pastries possible at once. 

Shaking her head ruefully, she mockingly declined my offer. "Luckily for you I still have functioning ovaries." 

"You sure your hubby hasn't banged them all away? Because the last time you gave birth was thirteen years ago." I commented as I moved towards the muffin counter.

"Shut it!" She tossed her napkin at me, which I caught easily.

"Quick reflexes," I said smugly before tossing it back to her.

"So, it's just the cake right?" 

"Well, that and some muffins," I paused to think about it, "make that two cakes and a dozen blueberry muffins." 

"Why two cakes?" She asked. 

"Have you forgotten today's my boss's birthday?" I had already told her before today she should make one extra.

"Suck up! Buying a cake for a boss you don't like, pure genius." 

I rolled my eyes at the irony in her tone, "I told you I was put in charge of buying the cake, no one else wanted to do it." She dropped a tray of hot cookies in my front and I took one and chewed.

"Why not just get another job?" She asked, before she went into the inner room.

"Because I think there's still room to grow. Besides, I am waiting for the right time." I told her, not wanting to think of it.

"Baby girl, I think you'll do just great anywhere you go, so get that fear out of your mind." I wasn't surprised she got what troubled me without me saying it.

I watched her as she took off the net, running her fingers through her reddish brown hair. She turned her sea blue eyes at me and spoke.

"What about Dr Hunter Fisher?" She asked and I groaned. I didn't want to hear of the psychologist Cynthia had been trying to get me to see.

"What about him?" I returned, stretching my hand to take another cookie.

"I recommended him you know, in case you're feeling skeptical. He doesn't just take any case if he isn't interested." She assured me. 

"Thank you for worrying but I'll be fine. Don't worry about me." I said, and she nodded, ending that conversation. Diana knew when to stop pushing and it was something I appreciated about her. It could be because she was older, or more experienced but it made our friendship better.

"What kind of cake does your boss like?" She brought my cake, and dropped it on the table in front of me.

"Anything chocolate. He is crazy about that stuff." I waved dismissively not caring what he thought of the cake. Knowing him, he would probably stuff his face immediately I handed the cake over to him.

"Diana, I hope you haven't forgotten about the other birthday cake I told you I wanted. Will be needing it in five weeks time." I reminded her.

"Don't worry about it. Florence would love the cake." She assured me.

Florence was Cynthia and Tom's mother. She was the third person, apart from Cynthia and Diana, who knew of my life before San Francisco. I loved her almost as much as I loved my mother. 

It occured to me that I hadn't seen her husband this morning, which was unusual.

"Where's Mark? Is he sick?" I asked. 

"Well, he went with Cherry to school today. Some boys bullied her, and we are concerned about it. The other day, she told us one of them grabbed her breasts." 

"And you didn't go with him because?" I asked because Mark can be very irrational when angry, and he wasn't the average man when it comes to looks.

"Maybe because I didn't want to be there so I wouldn't feel compelled to stop him, or more importantly because I have people like you coming in for their cakes." She said.

"I really don't understand who raises these kids." I said, speaking my thoughts out loud.

"Pfft! You'll be surprised by the number of psychos we have out there. Can you believe she went to complain to her class teacher, a woman who should feel angry on her behalf, only for her to say that she must have encouraged them. I was offended because she made my daughter sound like a whore, for wearing tight jeans and a simple blouse." She fumed angrily.

I, on the other hand, had taken a trip down memory lane to the time when two police officers came to take my statement at the hospital. It was the female officer, that suggested I caused my rape because of the gown I wore to the party. I remembered father getting super upset; he shouted down the whole hospital, causing the hospital director to come beg him to calm down. He would have been kicked out, if he hadn't been the town's most loved pastor.

You would expect women to feel rage on behalf of that kind of crime against other women, instead they blamed the victims as if they wanted to be raped in the first place.

"I am so pissed....so pissed.... so pissed that I could break someone." She slammed her hands on the counter rattling the contents on it.

"Some parents raise assholes." I didn't say more than that, although I was tempted to encourage her to get the teacher fired for failing to protect a child under her care.

"They better not try that with my girl again. Kids or not, I would mow them down!" she threatened.

"Mark and I will raise Cherry together. Don't worry, I'll be a good substitute mother while you're in jai-" she threw a rag that gave a loud sound when it smacked my face. I let the rag fall on the floor before stepping on it and twisting it on the floor, doing so while watching her watch me.

"I would have been worried if I hadn't just mopped that floor," She shurgged carelessly. "The force you used to stamp on that napkin was brutal, don't you think you have to change heels before you fall, that is." She mocked, laughing at me. Knowing she was not affected by my action, I carried my cake and muffins, walking towards the door.

"Help me bring the other one to the car." I begged and she picked up the cake for my boss, helping me with the door as we took them into the car.

"I hope your boss enjoys the cake." She called after me as I closed the door to the back of the car.

"Like I care." I pushed open the door, and then paused as I turned back to say one last thing to Diana.

"Assholes are everywhere, so keep a close eye on Cherry." And I drove away.

-

It was the smile on Evans face when I presented him with a chocolate cake. He hugged me and almost carried me off the floor; it turned out his wife got all other flavors except chocolate, to probably prevent him from eating much. No wonder she stood at the side, tearing me apart, limb from limb with her eyes.

After I had done my part, I and my colleagues went to sit down at a table free for us all to sit ourselves.

It was lucky no one else sat with us because we all started joking about many random things, that had to do with the boss and his wife. I only laughed, not saying much even though I wanted to speak but I had learnt the hard way that spies exist in comfortable places.

"Actually I don't blame the woman for trying to stop him from eating cake, that huge tummy of his on you during sex can be quite uncomfortable." Gina whispered, and we laughed weirdly, wondering if she realized what she had unknowingly admitted. I tried to push the discomfort most of us, except her, felt by pretending to look at his tummy, which was pushing against the confines of his sky blue shirt.

"I think it's actually bigger than a cauldron. Check it out, Miles?" I said. 

"I'd rather you looked at something more appealing than that slime ball's tummy, you could gaze lovingly at my six packs all night long." I rolled my eyes at his lame attempt to flirt with me.

"I'll do more than look at yours, if you want?" Olivia practically purred back at him, batting her lashes in a way that made me scared they'd fall off.

Gina frowned, "Miles wouldn't take a skank like you home, even if you were free." She definitely didn't like Olivia's suggestion.

I watched the two women arguing about who Miles would take home like he was Jason Statham. I looked at Miles to see what exactly it was about him that made ladies dumb. I saw his dirty blond hair, green eyes and slightly huge nose. His body was averagely built like he went to the gym, but that was all. They were so lost in the argument, they didn't notice me begging God for Mercy to endure the humans he created. If only Cynthia had not decided to stay the night at Paul's place, I would have rushed home. I didn't like being alone in the dark even with Louise, our cat, for company.

One hour gone and it felt like three years had passed.

"I repeat, I am free because I am not a prostitute, it's you he wouldn't take home for anything." Olivia retorted.

"Ladies! Ladies! Let's not fight about me." He spoke up, looking at me with a boastful smile that said, 'You see, I am a catch you best do well to catch.'

'I would rather go blind.' I said slowly and silently, knowing he would read my lips.

"Miles, tell us who you like best?" Gina asked and I saw him go a little green.

I had to stifle my laugh because I knew he already had these two ladies, just not at the same time.

As they waited for Miles, who looked like he had a noose wrapped tightly around his neck, cutting the supply of oxygen to his lungs. I excused myself and went to the bar to get one more drink- or maybe two, who knows.

 The cute bartender smiled and took my order, telling me he would be back soon. I took out my phone, waiting for him to return while playing soduku. I didn't look up till two young ladies began to twitter beside me.

"He looks so gorgeous, I wonder what he wants here." One with a fire red hair said. 

"I know right. I didn't think Evans knew the Arenas." The other with the same blond as Miles said, and it was the awe in her voice that made me look in the direction they were looking at.

At first I didn't see anyone as people were standing and it would seem the spot the ladies were allowed them to see this fellow. It was when I got tired of looking for someone I didn't know, that the people that had been blocking my view moved aside and I saw it, sorry, him. He was definitely gorgeous like they said but it was something else that made sealed the deal for me; his eyes. I shouldn't have been able to see it from so far away, but where he stood talking to a manager in another department in my company. He didn't have the golden light shining down like it was on the rest of us, instead, the white light from the side of the stage, was glowing behind him, giving him this effect that was spell bounding.

"He rarely attends these things, you know. Daddy said he is too busy. If he isn't at the office, he is doing something else like saving those poor starving kids and all," the blond released a dreamy sigh, "Isn't he wonderful?" She asked no one in particular.

"Let's go meet him." The other said suddenly like she got a genius idea and the blond agreed, jumping off the barstool to go meet him.

"Your drink, mademoiselle." The bartender said and I took it and gave him a grateful smile. He was turning, when he saw the forgotten iPhone one of the ladies had forgotten. 

"Bella, can you please give that blond lady that sat here her phone? I remember she was holding it." He handed it out, waiting for me to take it. Normally, I wouldn't have had a problem with doing that, but the idea of getting close to the man that caught my attention in a way no other had, made me nervous. When the bartender saw I still hadn't taken the phone, he raised an inquiring eyebrow, "Bella?" He called and I snatched it, the force almost making me drop the phone.

"I'll give her, don't worry." I stood up and walked some few steps before running back, "let's wait for her instead, she would look for it when she can't find it." I told him and he laughed.

"Honey, they won't remember anything. Just go and it's over." He said. I turned my head to look at them and saw the ladies laughing seductively at whatever the man had said. 

"Is something the matter?" He asked, sounding worried. I shook my head and turned to face them, drawing strength from where it was supposed to be.

"We can do this." I kept repeating as I walked towards them, my eyes looking at everyone else but at him. When I got close I spoke, "Excuse me, sorry.." the blond was already frowning, unhappy at my intrusion, "One of you forgot your phone-" I hadn't finished speaking when she grabbed the phone and dismissed me without a thank you. I raised my eyebrows in shock, twisting my head trying to understand what happened. She turned and gave me a dirty look, demanding to know what I was waiting around for and telling me to get lost before turning back. I tapped her on the shoulder, getting ready to blast her back to hell, when Miles appeared from no where and covered my mouth, apologizing for my rudeness.

I was still trying to speak even through his hands, as he struggled to take me away when my gaze went to the man that I had forgotten was even there. He was apparently amused by me because he was trying hard not to laugh and it pissed me off the more. I yanked Miles' hand off and moved to the stranger I had been admiring some seconds ago.

"What's so funny?" I asked, "You think I am funny, don't you pretty boy?" His answering smile made me want to tear up his face.

"Babe, you're calling attention to yourself. Evans will kill you for this." Miles said for my ears only but I didn't care, I was angry. I spun around to tell him to leave me alone when my left heel broke and I began to fall down. Miles tried to catch me but he was too late. I closed my eyes as I waited to hit the floor only not to hit the floor.

"You can open your eyes now." A voice I already knew was the stranger's, said. I did as I was told slowly and found my breath was missing because I had full view of his golden eyes. " I was laughing because I enjoyed the way you were about to defend yourself, if only your friend didn't stop you, we could have laughed about it over drinks." He said.

"What's stopping us now?" I stupidly asked what was on my mind and he gave a quiet laugh.

"What's stopping us is you'll come up, see you have the attention of the whole room and run out faster than the speed of light." He replied and I turned my head slowly to see that I did have the attention of the whole room. They didn't tell me twice before I did all that he said, grabbing my purse off the table as I ran out with my two heels still on.

It was when I got home later, hugging Louise as I cursed my luck, that I realized he touched me intimately for quite sometime, and I didn't panic; in fact, I enjoyed it.