This guest room runs circles around my hotel suite. It smells like lavender and vanilla, my favorite. The fireplace is burning, and the atmosphere is so peaceful. I put on the gown at the foot of the bed and fell asleep. Soon awakened, I looked at the clock at 3:54 a.m. After using the bathroom, I sit in front of the fireplace. Suddenly, I hear faint yelling. Tiptoeing to my room door, I crack it, and It's Mrs. Connors ordering someone to do something. I hear a dog growling, and she yells, "Get him out of here!"I'm terrified of big dogs, so I lock my door, and thankfully, I do. Seconds later, I heard the dog running up the stairs. He's barking and growling right outside my door. I am petrified!"Where's Tristan?" I hear a man ask. I assume it's Mr. Connors."Get him outta here!" Mrs. Connors screams.Seconds later, I heard all this tussle and bustle. I see shadows under my door. It's several men fighting to get this dog out of the house. They must've slammed against my door ten times
After Tristan drove off, I felt very uneasy, as if someone was watching me. I leave the lake, and as I approach my front door, I'm startled by Toni calling my name."AHHHH! Toni! You're going to give me a heart attack!""Sorry, but Pastor Gene needed me to deliver this immediately. It's from Mrs. Connors." Toni says, handing me an overnight envelope.I hear rustling in the bushes, so I suggest we go inside. I open the package, and it's a first-class round-trip ticket to New York. She wants me to visit her ASAP. Dropping the envelope, I plop down on my couch."I saw Tristan's white Porsche leaving here. You two fight?"Sighing, I answer, "I don't know what to call what we do. He and I can't accomplish going on a date, yet I have his mom inviting me over to vacation with her!""Is that a bad thing?" Toni squints."No, but it's not good either. Toni, Tristan isn't a good guy. I want him to be, but he just isn't. His mom wants me to tame him somehow, but I can't."I tell Toni of the mass
"Tristan wasn't home, but we refused to leave you hiding there alone. What's going on? Why are you in danger?" Pastor Gene asks. I tell him of the demonic visions I keep having that have come to pass. I then explain how I believe Tristan is symbolically represented within these nightmares. "Pastor Gene, I just discerned he would do something awful to me." "Then, you're right! We need to get you far away now." "Not until he's detained somehow! I can't leave. If he's free, I know he'll come for me." "Well, you'll just have to stay at my home." Pastor Gene lives in a gated community, so my evening ends peacefully, and now it's bedtime. While sleeping, I was awakened by Tristan's scent. Soon, I feel him touching me. Suddenly, I envision him entering my room. He's only wearing shorts as he walks very slowly towards me. I begin to undress. I'm now lying on my back nude. But once he starts undressing, I say no and start covering myself with the comforter. He snatches the comforter and
I feel silly at my Pastor's home after two days. Neither Tristan nor Mrs. Connors have called, so I tell my pastors I'm ready to return home. They tell me their door is always open for me to stay with them, so if I get home tonight and can't rest, return. They even give me a key. I thank them and then leave. I pull up to my condo, and Jason comes out to greet me."Hey, Jade! I was worried! Where'd you go?""Hey Jason, I was over to my pastor's home.""Everything okay?""Yes. I just overreacted to... nothing. How are you? You just missed me?" I grin."Let's go inside." He says, panning our surroundings.My home feels so peaceful. I left my oil warmer plugged in, so it smells great. I tell Jason to follow me into my bedroom, and then I plop face-first onto my bed. I lie there for a few seconds before rolling onto my back to face him. Jason looks stressed."You alright?" I ask as I sit up."Tristan came to visit me two mornings ago. Were you at his home?""Yes, why?""Did you know he's a
"Pastor Gene, I don't need that warning. With all due respect, sir, you're terribly mistaken! Someone needs to tell him to stay away from me, not for me to avoid him!"Almost tossing my chair, I storm out. Once I get in my car, I call Blake. He answers, "Hey, Jade.""Hey...Blake, has Pastor Gene talked to you about Tristan and me?""Briefly, why?""What did you tell him?""He asked me what kind of guy he was and to tell him what I knew of your relationship.""Tristan and I never established a relationship, so what did you say about me?""I said I didn't know if you were still with him, but last time I talked to you, you were.""Blake, when were he and I ever in a relationship? You know full well I had been with Shane!""Well, Shane said you left him for Tristan."People are idiots! I begin wailing from anger and hang up the phone on Blake. I'm so upset I was unaware my nose was bleeding. By the time I get home, I look like a vision from my nightmares. Blood has run down my mouth, down
After my vacation, I returned home renewed. Knowing Monique was out of Tristan's life pleased me. She probably was obsessed like Alex and went to his base to see him and got killed. I stop by my office in the evening to check messages, and my floor is covered in letters from the mail slot. I've been requested to attend an executive meeting for The Black Corporation. They're hiring under new ownership, and via Tristan Black's recommendation, I should be hired in any area of design. Gloria Vasala has signed the letters, and upon checking my office voicemails, she's also left two messages. I was hesitant, but I left a message letting her know I was on vacation and to confirm I'll be at the meeting.Now home, I put my phone on speaker to hear my messages. Pastor Gene called looking for me last Sunday, Wednesday, and today. I stick my tongue out at the phone, hang it up, and get into bed. This meeting is on Tuesday, so I get pampered all day on Monday. Once again, I want to be flawless w
The driver's friendly but quiet. Nine of us are going on this trip, but we were individually driven to Black International's jet. We board, and it's announced Tristan will meet us in Brazil.Disappointed, I observed the nine passengers. I'm shocked to see six men and only three women. Everyone is dressed semi-casual, but some men look rugged. They must be military men. Gloria was one of the three women. The other woman was very exotic-looking. She wasn't beautiful, but her features made her uniquely pretty. Samantha is her name, but they call her Sam. Sam looks tough, so she's probably also from the military.No one smiled or conversed. Everyone seemed engrossed with whatever they were doing. None of these people looked familiar except Gloria. I guess I'm the only new employee required to travel.After two hours of silence, Gloria hands me a glass of wine. I wished she had a martini, but it'll do. "Thanks," I say."So you're a minister?" Gloria asks.Discerning this is a test, I sit m
"Shhh, listen to the peacefulness," Tristan whispers.We stand enjoying the waves for a few seconds, and then he dives into the water, causing me to scream. He stays underneath forever, it seems, then climbs aboard on the opposite side, laughing."Why'd you scream? What, you thought I couldn't swim?""The ocean isn't an ideal place just to dive into."Pulling me onto his wet body, he starts kissing me. I don't resist, I indulge in his passion. Grinning, he stops, then sits down, saying, "Join me."Now, sitting next to him, we kiss again."What have you done to my mother?" He laughs."I've done nothing to your mother. Sorry, but I think she's gone insane.""She's been insane. She told me you told the police I hurt you.""I never told the police anything. It was the military who arrested me and then questioned my relationship with you. They pretty much insulted me, then sent me home."Gazing into the ocean, he grunts, "Hmmm. Well, don't worry about that. I got that under control. ...So,