The maffiaboss who saved me

Chapter 8

Nora POV

I stop at the front door and put my key in the lock. When I open the door I look over my shoulder to watch Colin drive off in his black SUV and can’t help but sigh. Something about this man makes me feel things I haven’t felt in a long time. I walk over to the elevator and press the button to the third floor. While the elevator is going up I inhale the scent that lingers on Colins jacket. It’s a mix of his perfume, deodorant and just his masculine scent I guess, but it smells like heaven. I whine a little when I remember that I have to give it back to him tomorrow. The elevator opens at my floor and I walk through the to my door. I notice a single rose was left on the door mat so I pick it up and read the small card that is attached to it.

“P.Y.”

“Weird.” I mutter to myself with frowned eyebrows. I go inside, let my bag fall to the ground and kick my shoes off before I close the door behind me and walk over to the sofa to flop in it. I examine the rose but find nothing unusual apart from the note with initials that I can’t seem to put my finger on. A secret admirer maybe? I sigh because I really don’t know anyone with those initials except my father and for all I know he’s dead. He passed away when I was just a few weeks old so I never knew him and I was left alone with my mother and eight year older brother Jason. It’s been fifteen years since I last saw him. When he turned eighteen he left me and my mother after he got in a huge fight with her and we’ve never heard of him since then. I tried to contact him three years ago when mom became sick and then again when she passed away a year later but I never got a response and it really broke my heart. I snap out of my thoughts when my phone beeps from a text message. I go over to my bag to take my phone out and read it.

Eliza: “Hey, did you get your work done? Xx”

A flashback pops up in my mind and I cringe at the thought of what happened earlier.

Nora: “Yes, it’s finished. I just got home. Xx”

Eliza: “Nora, it’s 11pm. How come you just got home at this hour? Xx”

I sigh and think for a minute before I respond. I really want to tell her what happened but now is not a good time. It’s too late and I just want to take a hot shower to wash off Jack’s groping.

Nora: “Yes, I got held up at the office. I was just planning on taking a shower and going to bed, I’m really tired. Xx”

Eliza: “Ooh, did Jack keep you occupied? I know he’s an assh*le but he’s a cute assh*le. Xx”

Nora: “Something like that yes. How about brunch tomorrow at Earl’s? 11am? Xx”

Eliza: “That’s a deal. You have to tell me everything. See you tomorrow. Xx”

I don’t think she’ll be this excited when I tell her what kept me occupied, she’ll probably threaten to cut off his balls and I smirk at the thought of it. I walk over to my bathroom and let the water run so it can warm before I jump in. In the mirror I stare at my puffy eyes from the crying earlier. Reluctantly I take off Colins jacket and sniff his scent one more time before I throw it on the bed. Back in the bathroom I take off my clothes and toss them in the laundry basket right away before I hop in the shower. I let the warm water just stream down my face and I begin to sob as the flashbacks take over my mind again.

After an hour I decide it’s been long enough so I grab my towel to dry myself a bit before I get out of the shower. While I brush my hair I let my skin absorb the bodylotion I put on and then I walk to my bedroom to pull on the oversized t-shirt and lace brazillian undies I laid out on the bed. When I get under the covers it doesn’t take long for me to wander off in a nightmare, replaying the s****l assault from a few hours ago.

10:00 am

I wake up to a knock on my door so I jump out of bed to answer it, seeing Mrs. Miller standing at my door.

“Oh hi sweetie, did I wake you up?” She asks me with a concerned face. Chelsey Miller is my next door neighbor, a sweet lady who’s always been there for me. Especially when my mother passed away, she and my mother always had good contact. We often went to dinner together when my mom visited me.

“Hi, Chelsey. Yes you woke me but that’s a good thing, I almost overslept for a meeting with Eliza.” I smile at her while I rest myself at the door frame.

“How is she doing? Tell her I said hi.”

“She’s doing fine. I will pass along the message.”

“Can I help you with something?” I continue.

“Yes sweetie, Henry is coming over from college and I was wondering if I could borrow your car tonight to pick him up from the airport?” Her son is a few years younger than me and he’s studying in Europe. Chelseys husband died in a terrible car accident ten years ago and she’s been doing the best she can to provide her son all he needs for a good education. Even though it meant she saved on getting a car of her own. I really look up at her achievements so far, and she did a very good job at raising her son right.

“I’m so sorry Chelsey, I would borrow you my car but I’m afraid I have to get it to the garage first because he wouldn’t start yesterday and they are closed for the weekend.” I reply with a distorted face.

“Oh don’t worry dear, I’ll find another solution then. I just hope it won’t cost you too much to get it repaired.” And she rubs my arm in consolation.

“Thanks, I hope so too. I have to get ready now but if I don’t see you again today enjoy Henry’s homecoming.” And I give her a squeeze in both of her hands.

“I will sweetie, feel free to stop by and say hi.”

“I’m definitely going to do that! But I really need to get ready now. See you later Chelsey.” I say as I close the door and walk back to my bedroom to change and get ready for brunch. I decide to go for navy, high-waisted trousers, a khaki tank top and a grey cardigan. To my surprise my hair doesn’t look like a birds nest after I went to bed with it being still wet, so I pull it in a high ponytail which was nice and wavy and leave out some pieces at the front. Just a little concealer and mascara to mask my still puffy eyes from yesterday and then I’m ready to leave as I put on my white sneakers and grab my purse. I take the elevator to the underground garage to see if my car will magically start. As the elevator doors open I slightly notice a weird smell but I don’t worry about it since there are weird smells more often. I get in my car and try to get it started, unsuccessfully.

“Damn it!” I slam at the steering wheel before I get out of the car. “A call to the towing service it will be.” I mutter to myself as I roll my eyes and slam the door shut. At least it’s sunny outside so my walk won’t be that big a deal. When I arrive at the park to take a shortcut and stroll past the pond I decide not to stop to watch the ducks like I did yesterday. But I do look in the direction where I saw that man staring at me and I’m relieved when I don't see him anywhere so I continue my way to meet up with Eliza. As I turn around the corner I see Eliza waiting for me and I speed up my pace. She looks up from her phone and gives me a big smile when she sees me coming.

“Hi boo, did you get some rest?” She asks while she pulls me in a hug.

“Hi, yeah I almost overslept. Good thing Mrs. Miller knocked on my door. She said ‘hi’ btw.” I hug her tight. As I look over her shoulder I notice a man staring at me from a white SUV parked across the street. He looks the same as the man I saw yesterday, wearing a black suit and sunglasses. A shiver creeps up my spine again and I let go of Eliza.

“How is she doing? And why did she need you?” She asks me while we turn to go inside the bakery.

“She’s fine, Henry is coming over so she came to ask if she could borrow my car tonight to pick him up from the airport.” Then I sigh.

“But I tried to start it again this morning and guess what? No response.” And I roll my eyes.

“You should consider getting a new car Nora. This one is having troubles a lot lately.” Eliza is trying to convince me to buy a new car for like six months now, but since I’m on my own I have to save some money first.

“I know, I’ve saved a lot the last couple of months but not enough to buy a new car yet” I try to sooth her so she backs off of the subject. We go over to the counter and order the brunch menu for two before we take a seat in the corner. As we sit I start to tell her what really happened yesterday and as I expected she flips out and threatens to go cut off Jacks balls. When I tell about my plans tonight she seems sceptical at first but then she gets back to being excited because she sees it as a date for me and she doesn’t accept any denial from me. “It is just a formality to help them out, nothing more. Or is it?” I ask myself in thought.