CHAPTER TWO: Searching for Him
1322 Words
“You mean you cannot assist me?” Stella’s voice was shrill as she argued with the hotel receptionist.” He was staying here. Oscar Tate. Tall, dark hair, really good-looking. ”
The receptionist looked at her and shook her head. “Sorry miss, we cannot disclose any information about the guests here. ”
Stella leant back against the desk, tears pricking the back of her eyes. “Please,” she whispered. “I wanted to know if he left a message for me or something.”
“Sorry, ma’am, there is nothing I can say,” the receptionist replied, her voice a little less harsh. “Maybe you should try calling him?”
Stella laughed bitterly. “Sure that would be great, if only I had his number. ”
Humiliated, she walked out of the hotel. The morning sun which rose up was so bright that it felt like someone had slapped her. How had it all turned so sour?
Stella was thinking the whole time as she was walking home. Perhaps Oscar had a family emergency. Maybe his mobile phone ran out of power and he had to leave in a hurry. Maybe. . .
She shook her head. No, the fact was bitter. She was abused and then simply dumped.
Stella had to walk for a long hours before she finally arrived at her hostel only to find Jessica, her hostel mate, pacing in the living room.
Stella, Megan and Jessica were living in the same hostel but Megan was more a close friend to Stella than Jessica.
Megan was not around at the time she came back from the hotel.
Jessica embraced Stella warmly and said, “Stella!” “Where have you been? I have been texting you all night. ”
Stella's composure crumbled. She started sobbing and hugged her friend.
“Hey, hey,” Jessica comforted her and took her to the couch. “What happened? Are you okay?”
While crying, she told her friend everything that had happened. “Me and Oscar, going to his hotel, waking up and finding that he is not there. . .
“Oh, sweetie,” Jessica said, and she began to rub Stella’s back. “I’m really sorry. He is such a wicked man. ”
Stella sniffled. “I wish I could get away from here, I feel so stupid.”
“You are not an i***t,” Jessica said. “He is the asshole who took advantage of you. ”
They spent some time in silence and Jessica was simply comforting Stella as she wept.
Stella sat up, rubbing her eyes in the end. “I have to find him.”
Jessica frowned. "What? Why?"
“I need to know why he left,” Stella said. “I am going back to the club tonight. ”
“Stella, I don’t think that is a good idea. ”
But Stella had made up her mind. The rest of the day she was in a daze, she could hardly eat or sleep. When night set in, she dressed with trembling hands.
“Why can’t I come with you at least?” asked Jessica.
Stella shook her head. “I have to do this by myself. ”
The club was as energetic and filled with people as it was the night before. However, this time, instead of eagerness, Stella was filled with nothing but fear.
She forced her way to the bar and ordered a stiff drink to help her overcome the nervousness. Looking around the room with increasing desperation, she took a sip of her drink.
No sign of Oscar.
Hours passed. The hope that Stella had slowly disappeared with each new face that she saw. She was about to do so when a voice called out to her suddenly.
“Hello, you stunning woman. What’s wrong?”
Stella turned around to find a guy eyeing her. He was not nearly as good looking as Oscar but there was the same sort of intense maliciousness in his expression.
“I am okay,” Stella said in a low tone, moving her back to him.
He moved nearer, and touched her waist. “Come on, baby. Let me cheer you up. ”
Stella moved his hand back angrily. “I said I’m fine. Please leave me alone. ”
“Don’t be like that,” he snapped and pulled her arm. “It’s just that I want to be friendly. ”
Fear shot through Stella. She attempted to jerk free, but he only clamped down further.
“Let go of me!” she screamed, but her voice could not be heard because of the loud music.
The creep grinned, pulling her even closer to him. “So, you are trying to be difficult now, are you? I do like that. ”
Stella's heart pounded. She searched for someone to help her and get her out of the situation but there was no one who cared to look at her.
Before she could be completely overcome with panic, a large hand came down on the creep’s shoulder.
She just tell you to leave her alone.
Stella's breath caught. That voice. . . could it be?
She whirled around, with hope and fear clashing in her heart.
She turned, feeling the hope and the fear in her heart.
But it wasn’t Oscar standing there. Instead she saw a tall built man with broad shoulders and soft eyes staring at her from the other side.
“Stella!” the creep hissed, with a menacing look and still holding her arm tightly. “Mind your own business.”
The man's eyes hardened. “Let her go.”
There was something in his voice that forced the creep to retreat back down. He let Stella go with a string of curses and disappeared into the crowd.
Stella sagged with relief. “Thank you,” she said, her voice trembling slightly.
The man smiled gently. “Are you alright? Did he beat you?”
Stella only shook her head and tears were burning her eyes. “Oh, I am okay thank you, just… it has been a rough night. ”
“Do you want to discuss it?” he said. “I think I am quite good at listening.”
Stella hesitated. The mere thought of trusting Oscar was the last thing she could ever consider and the name alone made her sick to her stomach. But there was something which made this man different from the other men, he looked friendly, the way he was looking was very friendly, the position he was standing in was very nice.
“It is nice to meet you,” he introduced himself, “My name is Jake,” he added as he offered a handshake.
Stella took it cautiously. “Stella.”
How about we get a cup of coffee and you share with me what has put that look on your face in such a place?”
Stella looked at the different choices she had and decided to bite her lip. A part of her wanted to go home and lock herself in the hostel room. But there was a tiny voice in the back of her head that told her that perhaps, it was not all guys like Oscar.
“Okay,” she said finally. “Coffee sounds good.”
Stella looked around the hall one more time as they stepped out of the club. No sign of Oscar. She breathed out, and the final string of hope that was still left in her was now severed.
Perhaps it was high time to move on.
Jake opened the door for her, and Stella stepped out into the cool night air. As they walked, she found herself relaxing slightly.
“So,” Jake said in his light tone. “Tell me about what has happened to you, Stella?"
Stella took a deep breath. Where can I even start?
- Writer
