Chapter 15

My palm connected with my forehead when I couldn’t unearth the hideout. I checked every single out of the ordinary places but nada. Standing in the middle of the room, I took a deep breath to calm my nerves before concluding to do another sweep.

Shivers ran down my spine when I recalled the last time I saw the safebox before me. The varied types of combinations I dialed were all declined, impelling me to cease trying. An idea suddenly crossed my mind and I smiled to myself as I pushed the tiny door shut. The drugs had to be in a heftier place, one hundred kilos was a lot for a confined space.

Before I could take another step, the shower stopped and I scampered out of the room in haste, laying back on the sofa at the same time as the bathroom door opening and closing. I sighed in relief at the narrow escape and turned on the Tv. It wasn’t long before he appeared all dressed up in casual jeans, sneakers, and a white shirt.

“Are you going somewhere?” I asked, struggling to mask my uneasiness.

“Yes, I’m meeting up with someone in a few.” His gaze moved from his watch to me. “I will be back in an hour. Are you going to be okay on your own?”

“I will. I’m feeling much better.” I accorded him a fake smile.

“Alright, later then.” He grabbed his jacket and sauntered off. I waited for a few seconds before sprinting to the balcony to make sure he was gone. When I saw his car drive off, I made my way back in and fastened the inside locks. With my arms akimbo, I impelled my brain to operate like his only to realize I knew close to nothing about him.

When no clue came to mind, I settled on ransacking every single corner of the house and turning everything upside down but there was no sign of what I was yearning for. Disheartened, I took out the burner phone and phoned Dad. Barely hiding my annoyance, I said. “I can’t find it.”

“Has he called anyone or mentioned anything about someone picking them up?”

“I don’t know about that but he’s not here, he left to meet up with someone.” I threw my hand in the air, finding it hard to decipher how I thought this would be a walk in the park.

“Did he carry anything?” he asked.

I shook my head from side to side, voicing out my reply when I recalled that he couldn’t see me. “He didn’t. I don’t know what to do now.”

“Are you sure you heard him right? You could have erred the location.”

“I’m very sure of what I heard.” My shoulders shook as the tears I’d been battling to keep at bay let loose. “I can’t do this anymore. I give up. I am so fed up.”

“I understand what you’re going through but you need to stay strong and calm down. Try and think if there is anything you missed.”

My mind wandered back to the day he revealed his true identity to me, halting my tears instantly. “I know where they are,” I exclaimed. “Hold on a sec.”

I dashed to the bedroom and dragged the bed aside before pressing the button that rearranged the floor into a staircase. Taking the few steps down, I used my phone’s torchlight to look around. A box sat at the corner, the only thing in the room. I rushed to it and peeked inside. Nothing. My knees weakened and I dropped to the floor.

I sent Matthew a text and left the apartment, walking towards the bus station. The realization that I’d long walked past it hit me when a black ranger honked at me nonstop. “What’s your fucking problem?” I asked the stranger lurking behind the tinted windows.

“Who got you so riled up on such a beautiful day?” The window rolled down to reveal Lionel, the strange customer I encountered days back. It was a wonder I still recalled his name. A frown unknowingly etched to my lips as he got down from his car and joined me on the sidewalk.

“I’m having the worst day you can ever imagine and having to deal with you will make me go batshit crazy. So if you don’t mind, I have better things to do.” Without giving him a chance to reply, I marched off.

I’d barely taken ten steps when he jogged after me and tried to match up to my brisk pace. “Tell me about it,” he said.

I halted my movements to glare at him, unsure if I’d heard him right. “Tell you about what?”

“Your bad day, I would like to lighten up your mood.” His tone indicated he was more serious than I thought.

I found myself chuckling at his request. We’d barely know each other for two minutes and he was already attempting to solve my life crisis. I found it both amusing and unnerving.

“Could you please fill me in on why I would do that with an arrogant jerk like you?” I regretted spitting out the impolite words immediately they left my lips. I was taking out my frustration on the wrong person. “That came out awful, I’m sorry.”

He frowned. “You don’t have to apologize. I should be the one saying that for pushing your buttons. I just wanted to help but I’m clearly doing the opposite.”

“Your concerns are highly appreciated but I have to go now.” I made to get away from him but he obstructed my path.

“I don’t even understand why I’m doing all this but the urge to make you smile won’t leave me be. I know you won’t believe this but it’s all platonic. I have no ulterior motives.” His eyes held some sort of sincerity but I was still livid. Matthew dented my chance of ever trusting men that came all gentlemanly. It didn’t mean that I preferred rogue behaviors, it was just too overwhelming to trust in anyone at that point.

“I’m still not interested,” I said in all honesty. The further I distanced myself from him, the easier my remaining days with Matthew would be. With his extremely jealous nature, I didn’t want to imagine what he would do if he caught me getting cozy with anyone of the opposite gender.

He took a step back with his arms raised in surrender. “It’s okay. I understand. But it doesnt mean that I will stop trying. I know I met you for a purpose.”

“Just stay away. It’s for your own good.” With that, I sidestepped him and scurried off.

“See you tomorrow,” he yelled at my retreating figure, earning a groan and an eye roll from me.