HER'S

Chapter Five

"There's a package for you from the young master,"

I passed the maid by my door a smile and collected the gift bag from her hand. “Thanks,"

She bowed in respect and walked away. Closing my door, I walked to my bed and pulled out the dress in a box in it.

Opening the box, I pulled out the dress from it and unfolded it, running my eyes all over it.

It was a sapphire blue dress. It was off-shoulder and long enough to reach my ankles. A smile appeared on my lips as I ran my hands across the lace of the dress, imagining myself in it.

My phone buzzed with a notification and I grabbed it immediately, seeing that it was a text from Matteo.

Two unread messages:

'Hope you like the dress?'

'I won't be able to pick you up for the party, I'm sorry about that, but I'll send one of the drivers to do that.'

Immediately, I texted back.

'Okay, then'

I dropped my phone and stuck my hand inside the bag, only to pull out a jewellery box. When I clicked it open, there was a diamond necklace and earing laying in there, enough to compliment the dress on me.

♡♡♡

The party hall was filled with sophisticated people; men talking about business while the women talked about the latest fashion trends in town. There were sounds of laughter’s, clinking of glass and chattering all around.

"Hey, Soph" Matilda, one of my friends walked up to me. "You look breath-taking in that dress. I bet Matteo will be able to take his eyes off you,"

I smiled at her. "You don't look bad too,"

"Oh common, "She flipped her hair. "You're wearing the newest dress from Vogue. I’ve heard that only two ladies have a similar dress, so it's safe to say you're the third,"

I nodded, clearly not interested in what she was saying. The new Sophia might come out sophisticated and all, but that old one still had a great effect on me internally.

That Sophia didn't fancy fashion.

"Have you seen Matteo?"

She passed me a teasing smile. "Already looking for our fiancé, aren't we?"

I smiled and looked around the hall, looking for him. I finally spotted him, speaking to a few clients.

"I'm going to meet him" I said to her. Without letting her say anything, I walked away towards his direction.

Ignoring the lustful eyes on me and heads whipped towards my direction, obviously because of the dress I had on, as Matilda had said, I kept on walking towards Matteo who hadn't seen me yet until I bumped into someone.

The drinks on the tray in person's hand spilled on my dress and I gasped, feeling everyone's eyes on us.

"I'm so sorry, ma’am" the waitress apologised. “I wasn't looking. I'm sorry. I didn't do it intentionally,"

"It's okay,” I said to her. "I'll just go to the bathroom and clean up,"

After that, I headed towards the bathroom area.

In less than ten minutes, I was done cleaning off the stain on the dress, even though it wasn't completely off.

I stepped out of the bathroom, but I froze the minute I felt someone's eyes on me. I looked round the hallway, trying to look for anyone, but no one was there.

I had to be imagining things.

As I continued walking, I felt it again. I ignored the shiver running down my spine as well as the creepy feeling and continued walking until a gasp left my lips as the lights went off.

I stopped for a second, but the minute I heard the sounds of footsteps coming towards me, I began to walk again. Faster than I had done before.

I wasn't far gone before I felt warm hands gripping my waist and then, I was slammed against the wall.

My breathing quickened and I tried to fight off the person, but they were too strong.

"Let go off me,"

I couldn't see the person because of the darkness. I tried to claw at the person with my nails but the person was faster. He held my wrists and pinned them above my head.

There and then, I was sure that person was the one that was staring at me earlier.

“Who are you?” I struggled, scared that it was a serial killer out to kill me. "What do you want?"

He leaned his face closer to me, giving me a whiff of his minty cologne, then whispered in my ear as his warm breath caressed the skin on my neck while his lips left a feathery peck; something almost non-existent on my neck. “Shhhhhh,"

I froze at the sound of the voice and my eyes widened.

Chase. Chase Romano. He had found me.

My breathing quickened and then, in less than a few seconds, he wasn't there again and the lights came back on.

Just when I turned, my eyes fell on Matteo who was staring at me.

I whispered. "Matteo,"

He came closer. "Are you okay?"

'No. No. I'm not okay'. I wanted to say, but my lips stayed glued. I found it hard to tell him I had just seen-no, heard and felt-my ex-husband's voice and presence. “I’m okay" I lied. “I was just scared,"

"Are you sure?” He asked. “You look like you've seen a ghost,"

"I'm fine. I just thought I saw someone,” I said, pushing a strand of my hair behind my ear. “That’s all,"

"There was no one here when I came, "He said. "I think you might be imagining things like you used to two years ago. Have you been seeing your therapist?"

"No,” I said.

"You should try and see her, don't you think?” He said and moved closer to me.

That was when the similar minty scent I perceived on Chase wafted through my nostrils. Whipping up my head, I stared at him. “For how long have you been here?"

"Before the lights came on" He replied. “I had used the wall as a shield to get to you. By the time I got here, the lights came back on. That was when you turned and saw me. What happened?"

"You didn't see anyone when you came here?” I asked.

"No" He said. “I didn't,"

It couldn't be.

I was sure I heard Chase's voice. I was sure I-

Matteo's voice cut off my thoughts. “You didn't wear the dress I sent you. Didn’t you like it?"

I frowned. “I’m wearing the dress you sent,"

"No, I didn't send this dress. There must've been a misunderstanding somewhere, "He said. "Either way, this one looks better on you than the black dress I sent,"

Before I could say anything, my eyes fell on the shadow in a corner. It was a man's shadow, and he had a cigar between his lips.

Hurriedly, I pointed at the shadow. "Look! Someone is there, "I said to Matteo.

The mistake I made was moving my eyes from there to look at Matteo because the moment we both looked towards the place where I pointed at, the shadow was gone.

What the-