I FELL IN LOVE ON THE JOB

SURPRISE GUEST.

Sarah went mute, she was hyperventilating. She had no idea her mouth was left open while she stared into space. Derrick was still in range so he overheard everything, he could smell Sarah's panicking. Hell, her heartbeat was so loud he could hear the thuds. He saw how her legs trembled, her hands struggling to steady the grip she had on the doorknob.

He had the nudge to rush to her, he didn't know why but he wanted to protect her from whatever situation she was in. Derrick replayed the woman's voice in his head and he felt that same feeling of Deja Vu, only now it was potent since he got something tangible to cling unto.

He didn't recognize the voice, or get a chance to see the woman.

Whatever it was that happened to Leah was so important that even after her death, certain people were still shaken. This sudden visit did more damage than good to Derrick's state of mind. He could sense the coldness in the woman's voice from where he stood, talking more of Sarah who was standing next to her.

" What did you say? " Sarah managed to speak.

The woman giggled softly, " I think you heard me correctly. "

" You're threatening me? "

" Take it as a threat, a warning, a message, a statement, I don't care. "

" Who are you? "

" Someone very, very important. Someone who can ruin your life in a heartbeat. "

Sarah couldn't believe what she heard, she launched a short glance at Derrick which surprisingly gave her the strength to reply,

" You do realize that is a serious threat, I could report you. "

The woman let out a burst of mocking laughter, " I can't control what you do from here on out, but don't say I didn't warn you. "

Sarah took a few steps closer to the woman with a surge of precision, " Did you kill Leah? "

The woman smiled, " Are you accusing me of murder? "

" Well, you came to my house to threaten me__

" You took it as a threat. "

" That is what it is! " Sarah was gaining her confidence back.

"As I said, I'll wrap this up quickly. I know, we all have needs, wants, and what we want to protect but if wishes were horses beggars would ride on them. "

Sarah squinted, " What__

" Your friend is dead, leave her be, don't go sticking your nose in FIRE, you'll get BURNT. " With that said the woman walked away.

" Wait! " Sarah couldn't just let her leave, " Who are you? " Her attempt was futile, she watched the woman disappear into a car and zooms off.

Derrick walked out of his hiding spot, his hands on his waist as he exchanged perplexed glances with Sarah.

" Hey__

" She just threatened me. " Sarah's eyes trembled as she spoke.

" Sarah__

" I haven't even been here long enough and she already knows who I am and what I'm after, she... threatened me. " Sarah's voice came off a little crooked.

" You don't know who she is? "

" I... don't. " She whispered.

Derrick felt the same urge to be near her, it came as a sharp trigger but he stood still.

" Then how did she know you, she knew about your relationship with... " Derrick took a deep breath, " With Leah. "

Sarah rubbed her palms together as she began pacing, " The meeting I had on Sunday with the people I'm gonna work with... it didn't go well. "

" I figured, anyone, in particular, you think told her? "

" Stephanie, probably, she hates me. "

" Why? "

" I'm taking Leah's position, she thought she would have it. "

" Stephanie... Stephanie, Stephanie, "

" Everyone has something they want or are afraid of... it just makes it harder to tell. " Sarah lamented.

" Hey__

" The restaurant, everyone in it and even you... " Sarah sighed tears standing at the bridge of her eyes, " Why? what did Leah do? what exactly did she do to trigger all this hate and fear? " She sniffed.

Derrick was forced to move closer to her, his hands still withdrawn, " I don't know. "

Sarah was crying now, Derrick couldn't stand it, he saw it coming.

" Try harder! Derrick... remember something! " Sarah yelled as she flung out of the room banging the door behind her.

Derrick fell on the couch as he let out a frustrated groan, his head buried in his palms as he drifted deep in thoughts. He couldn't blame Sarah for the fact that he was at the receiving end.