Prologue
"What happened?" he asked worriedly and held my hand as I went out of the car with body still trembling. "You're still shaking," he presumed, still holding my hand as we walked towards his house. An elegant living room caught my eyes, a combination of brown and white accent from the couch to the curtains, carpeted floor, and a mini bar that separates living room from the dining.
"Is this yours?" I asked as I surveyed the first floor. Grant went to the kitchen and got me a drink.
"Yes. I just bought recently. Have a seat," he said as he looked at me and handed me a glass of water. I sat at the sofa and drank the water straight as if I just came from a long run. "What do you mean you are being followed? Did you get the plate number of the vehicle?"
"No." I shook my head. "The car has no plate number or I forgot to pay attention to it because I have to drive as fast as I could."
"Or maybe there's no one following you," he concluded which makes my lips became thinner.
"What are you trying to say? That I am making up stories?" I almost yelled in exasperation. "Why did you offer help anyway?"
"I didn't mean that way. Okay, let's assume that someone wants to catch you for some reason. First of all, why do you have to send Mr. Reyes home by yourself? It is not safe, Jade. There's no residential area on that part of the road."
"How could Mr. Reyes and the two other workers go home at this hour?" I said sarcastically. "We have a deadline to meet tomorrow and I was glad that they agreed to work overtime."
"Why didn't you tell me that you're staying late? I could've gone back to the factory to assist them after my meeting with Mr. Olivares," he told me as if he is blaming me for what I did.
"You're the last man on earth I would ask favor from, Grant," I almost whispered. A heavy sigh came out from Grant as he leaned his back on the wall facing me.
"How many times do I have to tell you that I am not an enemy, Jade?"
I didn't answer. If I will look at my situation, Grant is the only one I could depend on right now. But that doesn't mean that he had nothing to do with the threat that I've been receiving. Even the black cat that was constantly appearing puzzles me. I could swear that was the same black cat that was on my bedroom the other night.
And there's another danger from Grant that I wanted to avoid since that day I came back in this old town. It wasn't the danger that could harm me physically, but it was an old familiar danger that I once failed to keep myself away from.
"I should go home. Maybe they stopped chasing me."
"It's almost midnight, Jade. It is not wise to expose yourself again in the dark. You can sleep at one of the bedrooms upstairs; I'll sleep at the sofa if you are worried about my presence."
"There's no need, Grant. I just need a place to stay until the sun rises."
"Why are you keeping yourself away from me? Do you really think that I am responsible for what you just encountered today?" he asked earnestly. "I don't even know where you're at, or who were you with."
"What do you expect me to believe?" I asked furiously. "Your family has the only intention to scare me to let me drive out of this town again!
"We didn't wish you any harm, Jade!" he raised his voice in frustration. "Where did you even get that idea?"
"Oh, c'mon, Grant," I said with sarcasm. "You blamed my father for what happened to your mother. I heard you clearly! You think that my father had something to do with Auntie Emma's accident?"
"I didn't blame Uncle Patrick for my mother's accident!" he stated again. "What I was trying to say was it wouldn't have happened if your father ended your affair with my mother! She left our house that night to meet your father to finally run away with him!"
"Blame your father for hurting your mother! If he had been a good husband, Aunt Emma wouldn't even think of leaving your house."
"Who are you to judge my father?" a pain crossed his eyes. "You had no idea how your father brought misery into their lives. Our lives, Jade."
I sighed helplessly. Argument with Grant would not help me in anyway. "We both suffered misery, Grant," I almost whispered again. "I don't even have any clue what happened to my father. You were lucky to have your father and Luke to comfort each other with. I had no one." My voice became poignant. I walked towards the stairs to end our discussion but Grant spoke again. I didn't turn my back though.
"You had me. . ."
A weary smile appeared when I looked at him. No. He walked away that day I needed him the most. "I wish I could agree. Goodnight, Grant."
