CHAPTER FIVE: Sima’s Promise
888 Words
The night was really cold as Phyna walked out of the Laurent mansion. She was so tired from the dinner party that her body ached over.. Her mind was still thinking about what happened inside.
She remembered Smith’s voice and the way he touched her. He got really angry when that man grabbed her wrist. No one had ever stood up for her like that before. It made her feel weird.
Phyna put her coat on tighter. Started walking to the bus stop. The streets were pretty with all the lights and cars moving. Las Vegas is always awake. It can be a lonely place too.
Then her phone started ringing. It was Sima. Phyna answered, feeling a bit weak. "Please do not yell at me tonight " she said.
Sima was already excited. "Oh my god I knew something was going on!" she screamed.
Phyna rolled her eyes feeling tired. "How do you always know these things?" she asked.
Sima just laughed. "I can tell by your voice when you are thinking much " she said.
Phyna stopped walking for a moment. "You are annoying " she said.
Sima just said, "And I am right."
Phyna sat down at the bus stop. Sighed. "I do not know what is wrong with him " she said.
Sima asked, "Who are you talking about? The rich guy who looks perfect?"
Phyna said, "Sima stop it."
Sima said, "What? I am being serious."
Phyna shook her head. "He acts different " she said.
Sima asked, "How is he different?"
Phyna looked down. "He notices things like if I have eaten or if I am tired " she said.
Sima was quiet for a moment. Then she said, "Maybe he really cares about you."
Phyna did not believe it. "Men like Smith Laurent do not care about girls like me " she said.
Sima said, "You do not know that."
Phyna said, "Yes I do."
Sima asked, "Is it because of what happened in your past?"
Phyna did not say anything.
Sima sighed. "Not all men are the Phyna " she said.
Phyna said, "That is easy for you to say."
Sima said, "It is true."
Phyna leaned her head back. Looked at the sky. "I just do not want to be stupid " she said.
Sima understood what she meant. Phyna had been hurt before by a man named Daniel Reeves. He was rich and charming. He turned out to be married.
Sima said, "Smith does not sound like Daniel."
Phyna said, "All men sound different at first."
Sima said, "That is fear talking."
Phyna said, "Maybe fear is what keeps people safe."
Then the bus. Phyna had to go. Sima asked her to promise something. "Do not run away from happiness before it even gets to you " she said.
Phyna just said, "Goodnight, Sima."
When Phyna got home her roommate Elizabeth was already asleep. The living room was quiet with a small lamp on. Phyna went to her room feeling really tired.. She could not sleep because she kept thinking about Smith.
She thought about the way he looked at her. It scared her. It was not because she thought he wanted her. Because it felt real.
Meanwhile Smith was in his office trying to work.. He kept thinking about Phyna too. He remembered the way she looked when that man grabbed her wrist. It bothered him.
He did not know why he cared much about her. He barely knew her.
Then his friend Holan came in with two glasses of whiskey. "You disappeared after dinner " he said.
Smith said, "I had work to do."
Holan did not believe him. "You were thinking about her were not you?" he asked.
Smith did not say anything. Holan could tell.
Holan said, "You defended her fast tonight."
Smith said, "That man was out of line."
Holan said, "You looked like you wanted to kill him."
Smith just shook his head.
Holan asked, "Is this serious?"
Smith said, "I do not know."
Holan said, "Yes you do."
Smith leaned against his desk. "She is different " he said.
Holan said, "What do you mean?"
Smith said, "She does not care about money and she looks at me like I am a person."
Holan said, "That is rare for people like us."
Smith said, "It feels strange but I feel calm around her."
Holan said, "Maybe you should not fight it."
Smith knew it was not that simple. His family would not approve of him being with someone like Phyna.
The morning Phyna was cleaning the hallway when she heard Smith coming. She already knew it was him before she turned around.
He looked really good in his sweater. Phyna tried not to look at him. She could not help it.
Smith said, " morning."
Phyna said, " morning, Mr. Laurent."
Smith smiled. "You still call me that?" he asked.
Phyna said, "You are Mr. Laurent."
Smith said, "You make me sound old."
Phyna. Smith noticed. He saw her smile. It was beautiful.
Phyna stopped laughing. Looked away. "What?" she asked.
Smith said, "Nothing."
Phyna knew he was looking at her. The air, between them felt weird like something was starting to happen.
Neither of them understood it yet. Something was growing between them. Something that could change their lives forever.
- Writer
