Behind the mask

Chapter 5

job.

“For the last time, Sydney, are you sure about this job once you sign the contract there's no going back?” Emily asked me to hold out the drawn-up contract.

“Yes, I'm sure,” I answered, collecting the contract from her. My hands were trembling as I picked up the pen to sign my name and body off to this woman.

Her long nails were clinking on the table impatiently as she watched me.

Just as I put the pen to paper, the door swung open.

Emily looked up at the intruder, I dropped the pen and paper turning towards the door.

"Nel...Nelson?" I gasped in surprise and shock.

My mouth dried out, and the world around.d my closed in as I stared at the man I never expected to ever see in my life.

Nelson O. Butler.

He looked the same as ever, just a little older, the boyish glint in his eyes replaced with manly confidence.

“What are you doing here Sir?” Emily asked confused.

His presence felt like a dream or maybe more of a nightmare as he stared at me. The same piercing hazel eyes bore into me, eyes I spent years trying to forget.

Eyes that had haunted both dreams and nightmares alike.

“Sydney?” he whispered, my body shuddering from the effect his velvety voice had on me even after all these years.

His face was frozen in shock as he walked into the small office, his eyes roaming over my body.

I forced down my emotions as I stood up to face him. He was much taller than me, his body huge compared to my petite figure.

I swallowed hard as I looked up at him. “What are you doing here?” I asked, my voice dripping with disdain.

He hesitated for a second with an unreadable expression in his eyes before he blinked it away.

“I should be asking you that question. What are you doing in this kind of place?”

My face burned with humiliation from his question. He remembers the Sydney of five years ago, a quiet, shy girl that would never be found in a place like this, but I had changed; everything has changed since then and It was all because of him.

“Are you stalking me?” I asked, Emily was standing between us, watching the conversation with blatant interest.

“Why the hell would I be stalking ayou?” he replied. His nonchalant nature riled me but I had to keep my emotions in check.

Emily grew tired of our conversation and stepped between us facing Nelson. “Sorry you have to step out of my office, I was just concluding business with Sydney.” She said, leading Nelson out of the office.

But he didn't budge his eyes. “Sydney, answer me right now, what are you doing here?” He asked with authority.

I scoffed at his audacity, turning away from him. “That's none of your business,” I replied. Both Miss Emily and I waited for him to leave the office and when he didn't move.

I turned to Emily, picking up the contract from her desk. “I'll sign the contract and return to start working tomorrow.”

She nodded at me “Fine. Be here by eight.” she ordered her voice stern.

I walked past Nelson, my breath hitched as our bodies brushed briefly. I pushed open the door and stepped out rushing through the hallway towards the exit.

Just as I expected Nelson was following me. His footsteps echoed through the hallway as he rushed after me.

“Sydney, wait!” he called out but I kept walking, my heart racing as I rushed through the exit, past the girls crawling in the like and outside to the cold night air.

As I got out, I tried to get a cab as fast as possible. His hands reached out and grabbed my arm, pulling me back towards him.

I pulled my arm free from his electrifying touch. “Don’t you dare touch me” I snapped at him.

He stepped back when he saw how angry I was.

“What do you want for me, Nelson?” I asked.

“What work were you talking about in the office?” He demanded staring at me in frustration.

“I already said it's none of your business,” I answered.

“Sydney, you want to start work at a strip club. How can you say it's none of my business”

“It’s my business, not yours. You can't just come into my life and tell me what to do and what not to.” I snapped back my voice cracking with emotions.

He stepped closer, his scent just as I remembered. “This is not the Sydney I knew,.....” he stated but I cut him off mid-sentence.

“The Sydney you knew is dead, Nelson. And you killed her.”

The blood in his face drained at my words.”Sydney, I never meant to hurt you all those years.”

“Don’t you dare to explain what happened, I can remember everything, Nelson I Butler.” I spat at him.

“If you're doing this job because you need money, I could help with that.”

I laughed bitterly at his words. “Did what you always do, throwing money at everyone like that's all that matters.”

I ignored the pain in his eyes from my hurtful words. He had caused me much more pain than I could ever imagine and deserved to feel some himself.

I let out a deep breath of relief as a cab finally pulled up in front of me. I quickly climbed in ignoring his voice as he called out for me as the cab sped away.

Nelson Butler ruined my life and I wasn't going to ever forgive him.

I got home a while later, paying the cab driver for the little money I had left.

I stepped into my apartment, unfazed by Derrick's figure slumped across the sofa, probably high and passed out.

Nelson Butler did this to my brother and I would never let him forget that. Tomorrow I would start stripping to save my mother and I would not let him spoil my plans.