The Dreamwalker

Getting ready for dinner

Jenna POV

I could not have heard him correctly. “You were born in the year 776 BC?” “Yes.” He didn’t elaborate anymore and soon he put a plate of pancakes, bacon and scrambled eggs in front of me. The smell made my stomach grumble which made me realise I was completely famished. I didn’t know what was more important. Getting more info from him or sate my hunger. “You better eat that before it gets cold.” He looked at me with amusement as if to answer the question I asked myself. “How did you know that I’ve just asked myself the same question?” I asked him before I took a bite of the deliciousness on my plate. He could really cook. Soon I was devouring the plate of food. He shrugged then answered, “It was an educated guess, but the way your belly growled a little while ago I only assumed that you were really hungry. When you are done eating I will call the building supervisor so that we can get you sorted,” he said with a smile. He sat across from me at the breakfast bar and started to dig into his own meal. We ate in silence for a few minutes.

“How many properties do you own if you say that rental income can keep you wealthy?” As soon as the question left my mouth, I felt really bad. I sounded like a gold digger. “I didn’t mean it like ‘I want to know what’s going in your bank account’.” “I never thought you were a gold digger.” Was this guy a mind reader? “I have over 50 properties all over the world.” Answering my question. “Wow! 50? Where?” I rarely travelled and I’ve never been abroad. “Let’s see. I have a place in Paris, a few in New York, Alaska, Australia, Russia and a few in different parts of Asia.” “That’s really amazing,” I said with amusement. “I’ve never really travelled and if I did I never left the continent,” I said while clearing our plates and putting them in the sink. “You do not have to do the dishes.” He said while coming up behind me and standing a bit too close. I could almost feel the heat emanating from him on my skin.

“You cooked so I insist on doing the dishes,” I said in a weak voice. I could not turn around and face him, as my body surely would betray me. I heard him sigh behind me while I starting running the water into the sink. He moved to the opposite side of the counter and sat down. I carefully washed the dishes and left them on the drying rack. We didn’t speak to each other for a few minutes. When I finished I turned around and saw Adrian deep in thought. “Is there something wrong?” I asked him, hoping that his mood didn’t change because of my earlier inquisitiveness. “Nothing you have to worry about love.” His mood still hasn’t changed but I could not pinpoint if he was irritated or upset about something. “I guess we better call the building supervisor now to get you your keys back.” He fished his phone from his pocket and dialled a number.

While he spoke on the phone, I went to his guestroom for a hot shower. I spent a few minutes under the hot water and everything Adrian said mulled around in my head. I wondered what it was like living for as long as Adrian did and if there were more people like him living among us. I also wondered why I still haven’t gone running for the hills – maybe this was all a dream and I had to wake up? Maybe I’m losing my mind. Trying to clear my mind I left the shower, I dressed into my outfit from the night before but decided against wearing the heels. I had no idea how long it will take the locksmith to get here. As soon as I left the room, I saw Adrian sitting on the couch still brooding about something. “If you want to cancel tonight’s dinner, I will understand completely.” He looked at me quizzically. “Why would I want to cancel tonight?” I shrugged and said, “You have been so distant from after breakfast that I thought you didn’t want to go to dinner with me anymore.” I said in a small voice and then he stood up, came to stand in front of me, and brushed a lock of stray hair from my face. “That will be last thing I want to do. I still want to take you to dinner to… to thank you for coming to my rescue the other day.” He almost looked unsure of himself.

“Well, alright then.” I gave him a weak smile. Maybe he is just being nice and I’ve been imagining the sparks between us. “So what did the building manager say?” Changing the subject. “While you were in the shower the locksmith opened your door and I got your keys for you.” He almost looked guilty. “That was very kind of you. Uhm… I’m going to head home now and get into something more comfortable.” He looked sad for a second but composed himself quickly. “Alright then. I will pick you up at 18:30 for dinner.”

I grabbed my purse and started walking towards the door but before I got there I turned around, “Thank you for letting me sleep here last night Adrian.” I said with a smile, trying to lift his mood. “It was my pleasure having you in my home love.” He said with a wink and almost instantaneously, I started blushing. “I… I’m going now.”  He handed me my keys and when our fingers brushed against each other’s, I felt the sparks again. “That’s weird.” I mumbled to myself but it seems that Adrian heard me. “I take it you felt it too?” He asked while putting his hands behind his back. “It must be static electricity.” I shrugged and said. “Maybe your right.” He smiled but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. “See you tonight.” I said and without another word, I left his apartment for mine.

As I entered my apartment, I felt glum. I don’t know how to explain it, but I missed being in Adrian’s presence. “You are being ridiculous Jennifer. You only just met him.” I thought to myself. I went into my bathroom, started filling the tub with water, and added some lavender scented bath oil for a nice bath. A warm bath is just what I need to relax and maybe make sense of what is going on. I scrubbed myself from head to toe while thinking of what is going on. Maybe I’m really losing my mind.

I tried to distract myself and started thinking work. Work is usually the best way to clear my mind of any personal issues. I thought about new ways to help expand our company into other markets and how to improve our efficiency when dealing with client queries. I didn’t realise the water had gone cold while I thought about work and I actually started shivering. I got out of the tub and wrapped myself in a huge fluffy bath towel just to get some heat into my body again. After a few moments, I started to feel like myself again and didn’t feel as gloomy as when I got in the bath.

I checked some of my emails as was my weekend ritual and made note on my calendar for things that will need my attention on Monday and the rest of the week. My aim was to become CFO in the near future. It was already after 16:00 when I closed my laptop and decided to get ready for my dinner date with Adrian. I took a quick shower and went to my closet to figure out what I will be wearing. I had stacks and stacks of business clothes but I’m sure that I can find something to wear.