Rabbit Hole (Romantic-Suspense)

Chapter 27: Hint

Chapter 27: Hint

3rd Person’s POV

The girl across the room stares at her with a sinister smile, oozing menace towards her. Standing there, she felt like fear struck her, paralyzing her to her spot as the girl just stared at her. Nothing else, yet the girl could feel her pulse beating in her ears, blocking out all other sounds except the breath that was untidily moving in and out of her mouth, gasping, she trembles.

But then, she found that the girl was just too staring at her. Not moving a bit, as they stood there. Yet, she could not take her eyes away from the other eyes across the room. It’s as if nothing else mattered. The connection had to be held if it broke... if it broke she would die. She had never felt so certain of anything else in her life. She could no longer control her hands; they were shaking in an odd trembling rhythm as the color drained from her face. Yet still, he stared, willing himself not to run, willing the connection to hold, she didn’t budge an inch until the girl across the room lifted and pointed her finger to her.

"This is your fault. Now, die Alice." She said, grin growing wider—

Lifting her chest up until she grabs back her consciousness, she wakes up, frantic eyes widening in beat, cold sweats breaking out, throat dry, with seemingly uncontrollable gasping, Alice feels everything all at once.

“What the hell.” She uttered, trembling, feeling the nightmare’s bitter aftertaste as she could still see the girl’s expression in her mind, she sat up and instinctively pressed herself to her bed’s headboard. Cornering her back from the terror’s that gets heavier with every breath she takes.

Staying there for more than a minute until she recovers from the shock, Alice hugs herself with her knees and legs pressing her chest.

“Damn it, what was that?!” She uttered, seeing outside’s light penetrate through her curtains. Alice feels thankful it’s already bright and sunny. Helping her to throw the pitch-black room she just had a dream.

Staring blankly, her thoughts mindlessly flew back into what happened a month ago at her aunt’s empty house.

After that day, the preparation of the bidding documents for the project has resumed with Alice being one of the junior architects alongside Lennox, who’s going to personally assess and plan the proposals just as they plan.

“Sh*t,” Alice hissed, feeling the throbbing pain in her temple. Catching her head groaning, she looked at her phone’s screen.

Again, without any record of missed calls or any text from Mae, she then again tries calling her but to her disappointment; her phone has been dead for a long time now. Yet, despite knowing this, dialing Mae’s number every now and then has been included in Alice’s routine.

Sighing heavily, she stood up and went head unto her typical daily routine, from the shower to preparation; Alice has been keeping a straight serious face. Then, when everything’s done, she paused right in front of her telecom, staring she started counting.

“1, 2, 3,4—“ And because she could even say five, Lennox’s beaming face appeared peeking through.

“5.” She said, pissed off watching him waves his hand, knowing she’s watching.

Alice’s POV

I am not exactly one of those people who get disappointed easily over anything. But, I guess everything really has its limit. Because ever since I met this douchebag, I have never been so disappointed with meeting the same person every day—and that’s him.

“Good morning, love!” He said, beaming, tilting his head sideways when I opened the door. Feeling tired of dealing with this everyday scenario, I rolled my eyes over his sweet innocent act, ignoring him, and walk straight towards the elevator.

It was, “good morning, darling” yesterday. I mindlessly thought, remembering how he goes around calling me ‘darling’ sweetly yesterday, every time he wishes to appear since what happened at aunt’s house.

We have been like this since we went to aunt’s apartment. And since then, he has been bugging me and him appearing out of nowhere anytime he wishes it, does surprise me anymore. I became used to it that even when he appeared banging the door open into the conference room when I was presenting a proposed project to one of our VIP clients doesn’t make me nervous at all.

And now, I’m living every damn day with a line in my head saying—fake it till you make it. And here I am, feeling like making it already after going on pretending everything’s fine. Like there’s nothing wrong with being calm together with your own hardcore psycho stalker.

Either way, it’s a win-win situation, I can a closer eye on him before his obsession gets out of control. As I can also get to walk in peace now without any sharp gazes looking at me.

Because of that, the employees have been feeling on the edge for a whole lot of time, popping like a mushroom around his firm’s office, certainly makes a difference with his employees’ mood.

Well, for a CEO, he certainly has much time on his hands. So much time that his employees become more active than they were before, well, a boss’s presence could really change the working area’s ambiance. Thanks to his frequent visits, no one ever dares to talk ill of me—at least in front of me.

I thought sarcastically looking back at the progress of things since I started acting more affront and confidence in front of him.

Yet, as much as I progress with Lennox, as much as I find myself more confused with Dove’s poems. After rereading Dove’s poems, I feel like my mind is a beehive that has broken open, and the entire hive of raging bees are swarming and buzzing around my head. Rereading his remaining poems in my inbox for the first time in a while confused me.

At first, I can't hear anything above the buzzing can't think or formulate the connection with the mirror at one of his poems I read with the rest of the other poem, I stopped. When I felt like the buzzing gets louder and I just shut down until they stop.

Mirror…

Mirror, mirror on the wall,

Mirror, mirror makes the wall.

Mirror, mirror through the hole,

Mirror, mirror makes the hole.

Recalling a part of Dove’s poem, that I couldn’t just brush off my mind, I started speculating harder. So, I decided to type it on my reminder on my phone, planning to check it out later after work.

Mirror huh? Is that some sort of metaphor? A hole? What hole…

Pondering, I didn’t pay Lennox any mind as he continues to walk beside me and opens every door for me. Making it in his car, it has been natural for me now to ignore and keep a straight face at him.

“What do you want for lunch? Hmm?” He asked, driving cheerfully.

Not bothering to ask, I looked at him whose smile reaches his eyes. Anyone who would see us in this scenario would just assume that Lennox is some sweet innocent boyfriend while me as some b***h girlfriend keeping him around.

Ah, the deal, should I just cut it off since he’s been going on like this with—

“Alice?” Lennox asked calling me again, stopping in the traffic lights. He glances at me, anticipating an answer.

Well, either way, cutting the deal off won’t stop him.

“Heeey, what do you want to eat for lunch?” He asked again, as I just stare straight at him.

“Or, do you already have a place in mind?” He asked again.

Yes, he’s been like this ever since that incident at aunt’s place. Asking me everything he knows I’m used to.

“Oh, do you want to try the new menu at Dainties? You were looking at it too much last time.” He asked chuckling at his own thought.

For a month, I haven’t just learned to keep a calm face whenever he’s around but I also learned that Lennox…Lennox has always been…

How do I say this? Meticulous?

I thought, thinking how fast he catches hints of everything I do. With this boyfriend act, at first, I thought everything was just because he has to keep the act real. But something’s definitely not right and it keeps on bothering me.

However small the details may seem, he never misses it, as if he knows what I think ahead of time before I even mention it. We have been sailing smoothly as we prepare the documents needed for the bidding, everything’s running fine according to his plan.

And for a month, this odd-relationship we have has also been running smooth. Well, because I don’t react most of the time like I always do before. But, I really couldn’t shrug off this feeling.

This feeling that…he might just be using this time to do something behind my back.

I thought thinking how calculative he might get, not forgetting the fact that this guy beside me is the one I have been warned about for years.

Glancing at him while he drives on with the green light, keeping up the cheery smile even if I keep on ignoring him, makes me more—restless?

Right, what do I expect? What we have isn’t normal after all.

Getting inside the office’s parking lot, I glanced at him and ask, “Lennox, it has been a month since you started asking me lunch, but I don’t remember you asking me about breakfast.”

After that, the cheerful smile on his face wavers and almost fell, and when he cut his humming a sudden cold silence appeared.

Bingo, I thought to myself, catching him.

So, he knows I’m not eating breakfast. How? Since f*cking when? I’m becoming more curious than I was before about how much Lennox knows about me.

The silence continued but not too long after he has parked the car. Resting his back against his seat, he glances at me.

“Oh! Then, do you want to eat breakfast now?” He asked, bringing back the sweet smile on his face.

Disgusting.

I thought looking straight at his smiling eyes; any girlfriend would wish her boyfriend to be this thoughtful, but. Not me, since I don’t acknowledge him one.

“We’ll be meeting my brother this afternoon, right?” Not bothering to answer his question at all, I brought up the bidding that’s scheduled later at 10 am.

Then, he beams an excited smile, which anyone could mistake him as a child being told they’re going to Disney land.

“Oh, yes. That means we’ll have no choice but to eat there.” He said, touching his chin, pondering on things I’m not interested to know. Sighing, I walked out of his car and continue to ignore him until I made it to my department’s office.

The moment my office mates saw him enter behind me, the moment they shift their focus on their screens. And these scenarios became normal ever since he barges into the office whenever he pleases to the point there are no latecomers anymore.

Heading straight to my cubicles, I immediately check every document needed for bidding later as Lennox goes straight to Ar. Santos’ office.

Re-examining the documents, my heart ponders in nervousness.

So, it’s finally happening. I thought, thinking about my memories with my older brothers.

Our relationship started to went downhill as soon as I can remember when we became aware of ourselves being half-siblings.

And it’s sad how mere child jealousy has grown into an adult’s hatred. And, knowing his past attempts of sabotaging me from minimal projects to humiliations makes it easy for me to pinpoint him being the one behind Mae and aunt’s case.

“I hope you disappear and die.”

Seeing a younger image of him wishing me dead startled, I massage my temples and brushed my fingers through my hair. Thinking where and when had I heard my brother telling me that.

But recalling it again feels like breaking my mind into pieces as I feel how can it strain my mind.

“What was that?” I thought, trying hard to recall the memories I never thought I had.

“Is everything alright, Alice?” Then, Lennox appeared beside me, looking down at me. And right just then, I realize I have been burying my face down my arms.

“Ah, yes,” I mumbled, still thinking when I saw that memory.

Well, thinking back…my first memory as a child was when in a hospital room. I thought, recalling the blurry and fading memory.

Why was that? I remember asking dad about it but he couldn’t give me a straight and proper answer, a clear sign of him, hiding something.

Ugh, why the heck do people around me like to hide everything from me?! I thought frustrated.

“Are you sure? You look pale.” Lennox said, causing me to focus back on reality.

Anyway, everything at the past now.

“Yes, I am. So, how’s everything going?” I asked, diverting the topic before he exaggerated the situation and drag me to the clinic room.

“Well, all according to plan. Your brother selected a few company candidates to attend the bidding with us. Of course, he selected minor companies so that his decision of selecting us won’t be too suspicious. Well, I pity those other companies—”

“I highly doubt that.” I straightforward disagree with the last words he said.

Chuckling, he then leans down onto me, hands resting on my cubicle’s desk, and said—

“Hey, you’re being too harsh on your boyfriend—“

“Cut the crap and return to your office,” I said, cutting him instantly before he makes my officemates more uncomfortable than they are now.

It must so suck to see your boss flirt with others right in front of you. And although, Lennox has to help me to walk around of not receiving any weird gazes anymore doesn’t mean I am comfortable with him being clingy with me around everyone.

“But—“He was about to refute but I abruptly glared at him.

Sighing hopelessly, sensing I wouldn’t entertain any reasons he can give, he looks at me with sad drooping eyes.

Nope, that won’t budge me. I thought knowing that no matter how he tries to pleases me with his looks, he’s a certified masochist—a psychopath.

It has only been a week since when I discovered that those two girl employees at the rooftop before were long ago fired due to several offenses. And the very thing that bothers me more was how I discovered their files over Lennox’s desk in his office.

Their folders were arranged not only with their office records but with their whole family’s records and pictures. Because of that I instantly understood that Lennox isn’t a person anyone can mess with. For after he fired those girls, he even didn’t let any companies hire them.

F*cking psycho.

“He may not have killed them, but he’s torturing his preys to make them wish they’re dead,” George said, Lennox’s bodyguard. I figured asking him because Lennox told me that George was also the person he always entrusted with my brother’s affairs, aside from the prostitute he used to tap with my brother.

“Why—“

“It’s because of you.” Recalling how George said those words when I asked the main reason why he fired them, still creeps me out to this day.

That asking why Lennox thought of those girls a threat to the extent of firing and making their lives miserable didn’t come out of my mouth anymore.

That’s why…no matter how gorgeous Lennox may seem to be, I won’t give in.

“Okay, see you later, love!” Lennox said waving, walking out of the department’s office’s room.

Then, a sigh of relief escaped through my officemates mouths.

I wish him walking out of the door could relieve me too. I thought, continuing to double-check every document needed for the bidding.

“Mae, auntie, wait for me,” I mumbled, feeling desperate inside.

That for the first time in my life, I’m feeling excited to meet my brother, I loathe the most.

Then, a random thought struck through my mind.

What if, I have avoided Lennox and understood Dove’s poems ahead of time? What could have possibly happened?

If that’s the case…Will Mae and auntie be at peace right now?

Then, a realization hit me.

The answer’s no.

Mae and aunt will still be in this mess because before Lennox started being a creep, there are my two half-brothers being full-pledge jerks.

Now, one of them is about to taste their karma.

“Ah, this is going to feel good,” I mumbled knowing what’s about to come on his way.