Bound By Gratitude, Shackled By Lies

The Invisible String

CHAPTER 7

MAZIKEEN.

“Hey, wanna hit the bar tonight?”

I frowned at the way my heartbeat increased like I was in danger,when all I'd done was send a text to Linda.

I glanced at the screen, waiting for the text bubbles to appear,but then I panicked and set the phone down on my desk and wiped my palms on my skirt as I took a deep breath.

So what if I hadn't texted her all weekend? She certainly didn't mind…

“I hope.”

Also,I was kinda hoping to ask her personally,but today was her day off.

I swallowed as I swiftly grabbed the phone just as it tinged with a message notification.

“Sorry,I can't…I'm babysitting my grandma,she has dementia. But I'm open for next time though,xoxo!”

“Oh,” I breathed out, feeling slightly guilty and just a tiny bit disappointed.

Well I wasn't going to just go home after the day's work,I needed some sort of distraction.

Not just because of Graylin.

Mr. Black had gotten severely cross with me over a small error that I could have definitely avoided if I wasn't so distracted by my own life.

I sighed irritably as I slammed the laptop shut and glanced at my wrist watch.

Ten minutes before closing time,I was leaving.

The photoshoot scheduling could wait till the next day.

With this in mind,I grabbed my bag and stood up, pausing only briefly to arrange and align the files on my desk before exiting the office.

The sun had set over Los Angeles, casting a warm,golden glow over the city's towering skyscrapers and busy streets.

But I wanted it to get darker before I went into the bar,so I decided to treat myself to dinner.

Graylin had control of all my income so what I had was what he gave me. Which meant I couldn't particularly afford to eat at the high end restaurants;but that was okay.

I stood behind a tall, broad shouldered man with messy, curly hair as I waited for the food vendor.

And I craned my head impatiently just as the seller put a clear plastic container filled with cut fruits into a paper bag.

“That'd be seven dollars,sir.” He said, handing the bag over to the man in front of me, who'd dipped a hand into the back pocket of his jeans, pulling out a bill between long,slender fingers.

“Keep the change,” the man replied smoothly,then moved off without looking back.

I caught a whiff of his cologne,a citrusy-sweet smell,and it lingered even after he'd disappeared into the throng of moving people.

“Thank you,” I said with a small smile as I took my wrapped torta and a cup of agua fresca, resisting the urge to glance at my watch just to make sure it wasn't too late to eat everything.

Graylin would be so upset if he saw me eating something like this, “that’s exactly the reason you can't lose weight,” he'd say.

Just this once…I wanted to enjoy something I loved without feeling like I was committing a heinous crime.

I moved towards a corner and leaned against the wall as I tore open the wrapper and delved in, moaning softly as the taste of crusty bread and savory fillings exploded in my mouth.

I was taking a sip of my drink when I caught that citrus-sweet scent again,but before I could act,I almost startled when I saw a tall figure push off the wall, closing the lid of a plastic container as he began a measured saunter towards the bustling street.

I paused, feeling a little bit paranoid before proceeding to finish my food.

I fished inside my purse for a handkerchief and wiped my hands and mouth with it before pushing away from the wall.

It was almost seven PM by the time I walked into the karaoke bar at Wilshire boulevard.

Blinking rapidly as neon lights flashed across my face as I moved towards the crowded main stage and took an empty spot beside an older man whose eyes were glued to his phone screen as he tapped aggressively.

That was when I saw him,the stranger from the food stall— and the street corner.

He was on stage, holding a mic casually as the beat for Ozuna’s Vaina loca started playing.

For some strange reason,my chest tightened as he began to belt out the Spanish lyrics,his voice as smooth as velvet.

I couldn't look away,not even when his hooded eyes found mine and my mouth went dry.

He looked so good,with his hair hanging over his face,his jeans loosely fitted over his long,long legs,and an equally slightly loose white T-shirt hugging his lean, muscled frame.

I clenched my legs together,every muscle in my body alive as I watched him,too aware of him,each light sway of his hips as he sang.

I swallowed again but my mouth was still dry,so I clumsily stood up and stumbled towards the bar for a cold drink.

I felt hot,too hot.

“A cold glass of fresh lemonade please.”

“Coming right up,” the waitress replied, giving me a brief smile before turning to another customer.

I pressed a hand to my temple,then to my racing heart as I waited for my drink.

“I'll have the lemonade too.”

I stilled, feeling the male heat caress my back even without being touched.

A mix of relief and discontent rushed through me when the heat suddenly disappeared,but then he was at my side…the karaoke man with his sweet scent.

I turned, flushing deeply when I found him staring directly, unabashedly at me.

“Were you at the food stand earlier?” He asked and I sucked on my tongue to unfreeze it before nodding,my breath catching at how breathtaking he was.

Black silky waves, falling imperfectly over his perfect face,feline eyes with green depths,and lips that made me want to see him smile,just to know what they'd look like.

“Y…you were at the street corner too,” I muttered, turning forward just as the bargirl placed our drinks on the counter, pausing briefly to flash the strange man a sultry smile before sliding away.

He didn't return it,I wasn't even sure he saw because I could still feel his gaze on the side of my face.

“Are you following me?” He asked softly as I brought the cool glass to my lips and I frowned as I took a gulp, swallowed then lowered the glass.

“What?! Why'd I do that?”