The stranger
1009 Words
Spring Hotel
The moment Scott Rowland entered his suite, the doorbell rang.
He loosened his tie as he walked toward the door.
The charity dinner had lasted longer than expected, and all he wanted now was a hot shower and a few hours of uninterrupted sleep.
The bell rang again.
Scott frowned and pulled the door open.
His expression immediately darkened.
Dora smiled brightly before brushing past him. Her short red dress barely covered her thighs.
The perfume she wore filled the room.
she asked innocently. "Why did you leave your fiancee alone at the party?"
Scott shut the door with more force than necessary.
"Fiancee?"
Dora laughed.
"Don't act surprised. Both our families already agreed."
Scott pinched the bridge of his nose. A headache was beginning to form.
His family had spent the last six months trying to force this marriage on him.
Dora came from one of the wealthiest families in the country.
According to his father, it was a perfect match but to Scott, it was a disaster waiting to happen.
"What do you want?" Dora pouted.
"That's such a cold way to greet me."
She walked closer and then placed a hand on his chest.
Scott immediately removed it.
Her smile faltered.
"Scott.."
"I'm tired."
"Then let me keep you company."
"No." Scott replied
Dora folded her arms.
"All the rooms are booked anyway."
Scott stared at her.
"So?"
"So I can't go home tonight."
She smiled again.
A smile that usually got her whatever she wanted.
"I'll stay here."
Scott almost laughed.
“Make yourself comfortable.” With that he grabbed his car keys from the table.
Dora frowned.
"Where are you going?"
He ignored her.
"Scott!"
The suite door slammed shut behind him.
Rain poured heavily across the city.
Scott's hands rested loosely on the steering wheel as his car moved through the nearly empty streets.
The city lights blurred against the wet windshield.
His villa was almost forty minutes away.
Normally, he would've stayed at the hotel but the thought of spending the night trapped with Dora made the drive worthwhile.
The road stretched empty ahead.
Then suddenly headlights flashed.
Scott's attention sharpened immediately.
There were two vehicles ahead
One large SUV and a small sedan, something felt wrong.
The SUV was speeding far too fast.
For a brief second, Scott thought the SUV would pass, instead it accelerated directly toward the smaller vehicle.
His grip tightened.
"What the hell?"
The SUV slammed into the sedan.
The impact echoed through the rainy night.
The smaller car spun violently then crashed into the pavement.
Scott stared in shock.
The SUV stopped and for one hopeful second, he thought the driver would get out.
Instead, the vehicle reversed then sped away like nothing had happened.
"Son of a bitch."
Scott immediately drove to the scene and pulled over.
Rain soaked him the moment he stepped outside.
The damaged sedan sat crooked against the pavement.
Scott hurried toward it. He knocked against the window but nothing.
Inside, the driver's head rested against the steering wheel motionless.
A knot formed in his stomach.
The door was locked.
Scott swore under his breath.
Running back to his car, he grabbed the emergency tool from the glove compartment.
One strike and the glass shattered.
Rain poured into the vehicle as Scott forced the door open.
Ruth sat inside unconscious.
Blood trickled down from a cut near her temple.
Her long dark hair partially covered her face.
Carefully, Scott checked her pulse.
He breathed in relief immediately.
His phone appeared in his hand automatically and his thumb hovered above the screen.
He stopped and locked the screen.The last time he'd called emergency services after an accident, reporters had somehow arrived before the ambulance.
The victim had spent months being followed by journalists.
He wasn't letting that happen again.
Carefully, he unfastened her seatbelt then lifted her into his arms.
She felt impossibly light.
Rain soaked them both instantly.
As Scott turned toward his car, his gaze dropped briefly to her face.
Tear stains, even in the rain, he could still see them.
His brows furrowed. Without another thought, he carried her toward his car.
Twenty minutes later, Scott's black Wagon pulled into the private entrance of Silver Medical Center.
A man in a white coat was already waiting. Michael was his close friend and doctor.
"What happened?"
"Hit and run."
Michael's expression immediately changed.
Together, they rushed the unconscious woman inside.
An hour later, Scott stood inside a private hospital room.
Rain tapped softly against the window.
Ruth remained asleep.
A white bandage wrapped around her forehead.
Now that her hair had been moved away from her face, Scott could see her clearly.
She looked young, beautiful and fragile and there was something strangely heartbreaking about her.
Like she'd already been through too much before the accident ever happened.
The door opened.
Michael stepped inside. After examining her, he muttered.
"She's stable."
Scott released a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
"Good."
"Just a mild concussion."
"Any internal injuries?" Scott asked
Michael shook his head.
Relief washed through him immediately followed by confusion.
But why did he care?
He didn't even know her name.
Michael sat down.
A grin slowly spread across his face.
Scott narrowed his eyes.
"What?"
"When's the wedding?"
Scott groaned.
"Not you too."
"I'm just asking."
"Don't."
Michael chuckled.
Scott glanced back toward the sleeping woman.
"When she wakes up, call me."
"Really?"
"What?" Scott asked
Michael shook his head.
"You save a complete stranger, bring her to a private hospital, stand here watching over her for an hour, and I shouldn’t be surprised"
Scott ignored him.
His gaze drifted back toward the hospital bed.
Ruth hadn't moved once, not even a little.
For some reason, that unsettled him.
Without another word, he turned and headed toward the door. Why did he even care..
"Scott." Michael called
He stopped.
Something about Michael's voice made him turn around.
"What?"
Michael cleared his throat
"There’s something I didn’t tell you about this woman you brought in..."
- Writer
