Hostage

Death is all around you

Kimberly’s POV

I shivered as the cool air from the air conditioner hit me. My mouth dropped in awe as my eyes scanned through the large room. I let my gaze move from the grey wallpaper, to the antique desk in the center of the office, and then bookshelves aligned orderly at the far end of the room .I could spot some familiar book covers from where I stood. I squinted.

The room smelled of cinnamon and strong masculine perfume.

I let my gaze move further to the dark rug, then the gold chandelier that hung right above my head, and finally, him. He was standing in front of the window, his back turned towards me and his hands folded behind him. I bit down on my lip nervously, unsure of whether not he had noticed my presence. I took a moment to examine his features.

Broad firm shoulders which were held so high, I wondered how long he had been standing like that. He had perfect body proportions and boy did he look good in a tux.

"Miss Hastings." He whirled around quickly.

I froze.

He was devilishly handsome. His jawline was sharp and chiseled, his cheekbones; well defined. His brown skin shone like he just stepped out of a magazine. He had beautiful brown eyes; eyes so deep you could drown in them, a well profiled nose and I dared to think, really sexy lips.

I bit down on my lower lip, reminding myself to breathe.

"I've been expecting you." He continued. "Please take a seat." He added, gesturing towards one of the chairs.

Breathe, Kimmy.

Even his voice commanded authority. I felt a shiver down my spine as I walked towards the chair he had pointed at, my knees suddenly feeling weaker. I felt like I was going to.

'Thud'

I fell.

My cheeks turned bright red as I helped myself off the ground. I was so embarrassed.

I felt stupid. Even stupider because I was wearing flats.

I tugged on the hem of my dress when I was finally on my feet again and slowly moved towards the chair with whatever dignity I had left. I sat down and then cleared my throat.

He stood there for what seemed like a thousand years, his eyes watching me with abrupt attention before he cleared his throat and then sat down.

Oh, don't bother about me. I'm totally fine.

I rolled my eyes and then let out a breath I didn't even know I was holding. My stomach cringed. I couldn't think straight. Not with the way he was staring at me.

He just sat there, across the table, watching me. I felt as though he was trying to peer into my innermost soul. My breath quickened. I exhaled and then bit down on my lower lip. I drew in a deep breath and then opened my mouth to speak. I had to say something to break the awkward silence.

"I-" I started, my voice almost in a whisper. I had no idea what was happening to me.

Confidence

"I'm Kimberly Hastings." I started. He gave me a look that said:

'Do you really think I don't know that?'

"I know who you are." He finally said after a moment of silence. "And I know you came here because you have a lot of questions?" He continued. It took me a short time to realise he had asked a question. I stared down at my hands and then let out a shaky breath.

"What do you want from me? Why are you doing this? Just who do you think you are to show up in my life like this?..... Who are you? What am I to you? " All these questions ran through my head.

"Why?"

I felt like I was going to break down.

"Why are you doing this?" I rose an eyebrow. I watched his jaw tense, his eyes staring right into mine before he spoke.

"I just want to help." He said.

Liar.

"I don't believe that." I shook my head. "You don't even know me."

"I know that." He stated. "But we have all the time in the world to get to know each other better." He added. I ran my fingers through my hair and then gasped, realization suddenly dawning on me.

This had happened before.

I gulped, shaking my head in an attempt yo discard the thought from my head. It couldn't be.

"H-how much?" My voice was a lot more shaky than I thought it would be. I inhaled." How much am I worth?"

He eyes watched me for a moment, his expression unmoving before he shook his head.

"How much am I worth? "I repeated.

Silence.

"Three million."

I gasped. My mouth fell open and my eyes stung.

But there was no way I would cry, not here.

"Why?" I pressed further . I understood why my mother would do something like this, but I had no idea why someone like Kennan Monroe would agree to this.

What did he want from me?

" Wh-why are you doing this? "I stammered.

Wrong question.

"What do you want from me? "A drop of tear rolled down my cheek.

Wrong question still.

"What would happen - " I paused "If I don't do this?"

He looked at me for a while.

"I'm sorry to say that there's no other way." He paused. "It's not a proposition Miss Hastings. You don't really have a choice."

______________________________________________

Kimberly’s POV

Two years ago…

I glanced at my wristwatch for the hundredth time as I scurried through the empty street. I increased my pace, skipping some steps as I did. I had to catch the bus. I stole another quick glance at my wristwatch and then groaned. I was running out of breath.

I finally arrived at the bus stop three minutes later and I heaved out a sigh of disbelief as I watch the bus take a right turn and then disappear down the road. I scoffed and then glanced down at my wristwatch. The next bus would arrive in 20 minutes.

Great.

I got out my phone and then sent a text message to Isabel, explaining my current situation. I made myself comfortable on the patio and then smacked my lips. Twenty minutes was a lot of time to waste.

"Would you like to have your fortunes read? "

I jumped.

God!

I could barely stop myself from yelping out loud when I turned. I was even more startled when I saw the sight behind me. If your definition of a stall was a small desk and table in the centre of New York city, then yes, it was a stall. I studied the dark crooked woman behind the desk for a moment. Her untidy dreads making an unruly mess across the table.

"Twenty minutes is a lot of time to waste." She smiled broadly. I shrugged my shoulder. "Its just five dollars." She tried to convince me. I shrugged my shoulders. I didn't believe in fortune tellers. I never did. Not since my mother played fortune teller when we moved to Hong Kong two years ago. Scamming people of their money by telling them what they wanted to hear.

But twenty minutes was a lot of time to waste. Maybe I was about to waste my time intentionally. I moved towards her and then settled on the chair across where she sat.

"You have made the right choice"

She nodded as she reached for her tarrot cards.

I hoped so.

I dropped a five dollar note on the table and then watched her shuffle the cards thoroughly.

"What is your name? "she was trying to start a conversation.

" Kimberly. "I paused. "Kimberly Hastings "

"Kimberly Hastings." She repeated after me and then dropped the cards. "Touch the cards." She told me. "It'll transfer some of your aura onto it." She added.

I didn't really need the explanation since I'd been in the business before.

After I did as I was told, she picked up a random card and then showed it to me.

"The high priestess." I muttered under my breath.

"I see you know your cards." She picked up another card and then smiled.

"Are you looking for love?" She turned the card to me. I smiled.

The lovers card.

She reached for her cards and then selected another card.

"The fool." She announced dramatically. I frowned as she selected another card

"The devil."

My frown deepened. I wasn't finding it funny anymore. I watched her pick another card. This time, she didn't show it to me first. She looked at it for a moment, a frown on her face before she turned the card to me.

I gasped.

Death.

The sound of the bus behind me brought me back to my senses. I grabbed my bag from her table and then stood up. It was a big deal pretending like I wasn't scared out of my mind. That was some really weird stuff.

"I- I have to go."

"The cards don't lie." She called after me. I felt my feet come to a halt. I turned to look at her. "You will find love, and everything that you hope for, but you will never truly be happy." She said.

"Death is all around you, Kimberly Hastings." She added.

I'd had enough. I couldn't wait for her to utter another word. I rushed into the bus. I took one of the chairs close to the window and then inhaled deeply. I exhaled as I slouched. I stole a quick glance at the corner where she sat before the bus drove off.

She sat there, her dark brown eyes staring right at me, and maybe I had imagined it, but I saw the corner of her lips curve upwards until it formed a smirk.