His Obsession

Woman With Spruce Eyes

Manhattan, October 2018

When the rain fell, even Manhattan became so quiet. A woman with black wavy hair stood near her office window. She bit her lower lip and her brows were furrowed. The day was finally got a little easier for her after all the mess she got from her aunt.

"Ms. Spruce." The woman turned around after hearing some knocks then smiled upon seeing her golden hair secretary.

"What is it this time?" asked the woman. Her tone was a little bit sarcastic.

"Erm," the secretary stood far enough from her. "I wonder if...."

"Don't try to look innocent in front of me, Jeremy."

The secretary grinned then came closer. He sat on his boss's couch. Spruce walked slowly towards the couches. Her heels were clicking. She then sat across the secretary elegantly.

"What do you want?" asked the woman. Her spruce eyes were glistening under the light.

"I'll be frank then."

"Yes, you should."

"Can I borrow your car, Ms?" He bit his lower lip and fidgeting his fingers, trying his best to look nervous. But his boss know him better.

She chuckled. "Oh, Jeremy. Please stop all those drama, will you?"

Jeremy put his hands up and smiled sheepishly. His boss crossed her hand in front of her chest. "Another woman?"

Jeremy grinned and scratched his back head. His boss could only sighed knowing him better than anyone else in the company. She already knew her secretary since she got her position as CEO there. Jeremy Reynold was a bubbly guy with a slim figure. His golden-since-birth hair was his signature. People called him names but he just couldn't care less. He said his favourite was golden retriever. A guy who always smiled in front of other people were scary and his boss knew that he was indeed a golden retriever. Because, despite being bubbly, he knew the underworld better than her other employees who kept on blabbering about how they found it exciting to have one night stand. Jeremy touched the underwold deeper than that. 

She stood up and walked towards her desk, pulling her drawer and took her car's key. She looked at her it and Jeremy alternately then threw the key to Jeremy. "Don't...."

"Drunk driving," he cut her sentences. "Yes, Mam." He got up from the couch and left the room before she could say anything more.

She smiled, couldn't get angry at his easy behaviour at all. Jeremy was the only person she trusted.

***

Las Vegas, January 2013

Snow fell and the night undeniably cold when a young man fell to the ground on a dark alley. Blood was starting to pool around him. He got a deep stab on his stomach. His lips were getting blue when a young woman came and stood near his almost lifeless body. 

She stared at him blankly. Her appearance wasn't any better than the young man. There was a cut on the corner of her lips. Her black wavy hair was a mess. She was barefooted in a cold night like that. When she took off her shawl, her ripped dress' collar were shown. She just didn't care because she used her shawl to press that young man deep wound to stop the blood. Her dark eyes were blank but she was as calm as the water. She pressed emergency number on her cellphone.

"Please send me an ambulance," said her calmly. After she told the emergency number about their position, she stared at the young man and never took her eyes off.

"Look at me," she said. "Keep up with me. They will be here shortly."

Despite her calm voice, her hands were trembling because of the cold weather and uneasiness. It was indeed a horrible night for her too but seeing a young man who got stab she just couldn't left him alone.

"Ah tell me your name," she huffed. Her nose and ears were so cold. "I need to tell them your name."

"Jade. Benjamin," he panted before he lost his consciousness.

"Hey." The woman patted his cheek with one of her palm while the other palm still pressing the wound. "Mr. Jade. Wake up."

She felt relieved when she heard the ambulance siren came closer. When the ambulance arrived, she told them that she found him already on that state. She didn't see anyone in that dark alley. Upon seeing her state, the paramedics gave her a blanket and asked her to join them because she was a temporary guardian for him and she obviously needed to be treated too.

She couldn't remember the rest because when she woke up, she already wore a hospital gown and an IV was already injected.

"Ms. Spruce." A young man with golden hair stood near her bed. He helped her to sit.

"Who are you?"

"I am Reynold. Jeremy Reynold" He pulled his hand, offering a handshake.

The woman looked at his hand and his face alternately. "And?"

"I am Benjamin Jade's guardian."

"Oh, the young man," said her, still ignoring the hand. "Is he okay?"

"Yes. Thanks to you."

"I am glad." She smiled then took his hand. "Aren't you too young to be a guardian?"

"Yes I am. But we only trust each other."

The woman made an O with her mouth.

"I will be your guardian to return the favour you gave."

"Isn't it Benjamin Jade who should do that?"

He smiled. "There will be the time for him to do that."

The woman smiled. "Thanks. But I don't think I need it."

"Ms. Ariana Spruce, I thought your eyes were dark because Benjamin said so."

"It was because there were no light on."

"Benjamin said, your eyes were blank and dark. Just like his. You seemed lost."

The woman couldn't understand him.

"Your eyes were in Spruce colour." He sat beside her bed. "Let me be your guardian so your eyes will always be in that colour."