Beginning for the new Sunrise

Chapter 3

One month had already passed, the hospital still didn’t notify Erin’s request for security footage. The problem was already stressing Erin out. Even her work in the pre-school is already affected by it. Liam, her fiancé, is worried about Erin’s situation; he even offered help, but she said she didn’t want to and she could handle it. 

“ If you need help, Erin, I’m right here beside you; we’re a team, remember that,” as he gently holds her hands, he leans closer to her, softly kisses her forehead. Liam caressed her cheeks. 

“ I’m here, Erin,” he whispers into her ear. She nodded as a reply. He softly kisses her cheeks down to her neck, Erin giggled. His hand was around Erin’s waist as he moved her much closing to him  “ I love you, Erin. You always complete me,” Liam softly whispers it into Erin. Her face was blushing as if Erin had never heard Liam saying that word before. Liam thought this girl was so cute that he just wanted to kiss Erin roughly at the moment. 

Liam laughed “ Why are you so red?” he asked while still laughing at her. Erin was embarrassed, her face still turning red. “ Shut up!” she yelled. Liam hugged her tightly. 

Liam stared at her intensely, and slowly their lips collided. 

Erin was at work; she was at the faculty because she needed to finish checking her student’s test papers. An unexpected phone call she receives. A familiar voice she heard, she gritted between her teeth and clenched her fists. It’s none other than  Damon Lawson. "Hello, Ms. Austin, I heard your father went missing; that’s too bad,” Damon giggled. “ Meet me at the restaurant downtown at 8:00 pm,” he ordered. “Why should I do that?” Erin questioned him. Damon cackled and replied, “ Because you have to, sweetheart Bye!.” then ended the call. Erin was so irritated; she threw her phone on the wall. She groaned and gently massaged her forehead. “ Where are you dad,” Erin muttered. She was so exhausted; there were so many problems she needed to solve. Erin then lay gently on the desk; she was suddenly struck by drowsiness, slowly closing her eyes, then fell asleep. 

 It was already Dusk; Erin was still in the faculty room; she suddenly woke up and quickly glanced at her phone; it was already 7:00 pm. Erin was still sleepy; she cleaned her desk as she tidied up to leave. Suddenly, Erin received a text message; a small smile appeared on her face. It was from Liam. he texted her saying, “ Don’t come home late.” Then he added an in-love sticker.  Erin smiled; she texted back, “ I won’t,” with a kiss emoticon. A smile on her face turns into sadness; she doesn’t tell Liam that she will meet  Damon at the restaurant. His Fiancé only knows her father has a large amount of debt, and Erin needs to shoulder it all because her father went missing. He didn’t know who the person was. 

Erin went to the nearest terminal, she road the bus and sat on the side next to the window. It was already midnight; she looked at the window. It was a freezing night. Erin felt a little sleepy while sitting on the bus. After a while, the bus stopped in the last terminal, quickly got up. Erin was finally in front of the restaurant; she was amazed she had never gone to this kind of place before. Erin hesitates to go inside because the restaurant looks extremely expensive. 

But finally, she enters the place; she looks everywhere, like a small child looking at the toy store. It was astonishing to look at a diamond-crusted chandelier hanging on the ceilings and expensive vintage paintings on the wall—finally, a miniature fountain in the center of the resto. Erin was still gazing upon the place. Suddenly a receptionist approached her and greeted her cheerfully. She felt embarrassed because of her action a while ago; now, she has trouble maintaining eye contact. The receptionist assisted her at her destined table. She saw Damon sitting comfortably while drinking a glass of expensive red wine. They made eye contact, Damon enigmatically smiled at her. Then stood up and assisted Erin and offered her a chair, but she ignored him and sat elsewhere. Damon just smiled at her annoyingly. “ Good evening Ms. Austin.” Damon greeted her. Erin frowned her eyebrow; she was tired and sleepy. Damon offered her a drink. 

Erin didn’t think much of it because she felt exhausted and wanted to go home immediately. She has doubts, but she receives and drinks the wine. 

At the restaurant, Damon told Erin an offer if she worked for his company, maybe he considers to lessen the debts, he gives her a work contract paper. Erin immediately declines the offer; she doesn’t want to work for someone who hurts his father. Then it suddenly came up to her; she stood up and pointed at Damon. 

“ You, maybe your the reason why my father is missing,” she ranted keeps pointing at Damon. 

“ Sweetheart, be careful who you are pointing fingers; you don’t have the evidence,” he replied with a menacing voice. “I don’t care if your father is gone; just return my money,” he added. 

Erin felt scared, but anger consumed her. She grabbed the glass of wine in front of her and splashed it on Damon. “ I know you’re the reason behind it, Damon Lawson,” she yelled. The restaurant was quiet; the people were eating, stopped because of the commotion. It’s like they thought it was a lover quarrel. A concerned waitress approached them, checking if theirs any problem. Damon smiled and held Erin’s hand and responded, “it’s just a small conflict,” he was explaining while gripping onto Erin’s hand. Erin tried to let go of his hand, but Damon’s grip was hard to remove. Finally, the waitress left, but she offered Damon a towel before that. Damon loosened his grip only that Erin swiftly pulled her hand from him. 

“You’re lucky we’re at the public restaurant,” Damon muttered at her while wiping off the red stain on his expensive suit. “ I’m leaving; goodbye, Mr. Lawson,” he yelled before Erin was about to leave the door. “ Consider my offer, sweetheart; this is the only way to save yourselves,” Damon replied to her. Erin just looked at him before she left without saying a word. Damon just chuckled as he saw her. “ What a feisty woman,” he muttered.