With every step further into the room, I feel a little less nervous. My body is giving me no sign that anything unexpected is going to happen and I start to relax. I grab a bottle of water from the refrigerator and open the doors to the balcony. The gentle breeze blows the wisps of hair around my face, and I look up to the bright sky. “Today is a good day. It’s going to be a good day,” I say to myself resolutely. The sun is shining; I’m here, feeling fine, and I have Denham King to look forward to later, what more could I want?
I make a coffee, and before I can call down and order something for breakfast, there is a knock at the door, and I open it to find that breakfast has come to me.
It’s not Anthony today though; it’s a young girl in the uniform that looks too big for her and a very nervous expression. It looks like she’s new to this job, maybe it’s even her first day, and the poor girl has been sent to the penthouse, no doubt with specific instructions to do everything right. She fiddles with her fingers, picking at the skin around her nails, just like I do when I’m nervous.
“Good morning, miss.” She manages to push the words out, and I can see how hard it was for her. She’s really going to have to come out of her shell to work here, but I’m sure it won’t take more than a few good days and kind words.
“Good morning.”
“Mr. King instructed that I bring you breakfast. Where would you like it?”
“Just over there by the table will be fine,” I instruct and take a second to look at her name tag. “Thank you, Natalie.”
That name brings memories to the forefront of my mind. Memories I was forgetting, regardless of how long or short the time that has gone by, I was actually leaving it all behind and moving on. She reminds me of me in so many ways and I want to sit her down and tell her about everything, everything I went through, if for nothing but to make her more aware of the big wide world, and how much she needs to toughen up to survive.
I stop the racing thoughts. And instruct myself to breathe.
Natalie stands next to the cart with eyes so wide, she looks like a stunned rabbit.
“Oh, I’m sorry, N—” I can’t bring myself to say her name again. “Here,” I say, hurrying over to my purse and pulling out a bill for her.
“Oh, no, miss. I couldn’t possibly. I mean, I don’t think I’m allowed,” she stutters, shuffling her feet backwards in the direction of the door.
“Please, take it,” I say. Taking her hand in mine, I push the bill into her palm and close her fingers around it. “Is this your first day?” I ask with a smile, hoping to put her at ease a little.
“No, it’s my third day, I’m trying to do everything right today,” she answers in a dejected voice.
“Oh, you didn’t do everything right yesterday?”
“I tried.” She shrugs.
“Well, I think you’re doing a great job today. I wouldn’t tip you if you weren’t,” I reassure softy.
“Hopefully the dragon lady will think so too, although I doubt it.” Her eyes instantly widen as she realizes she just voiced this out loud. “Oh god, I’m sorry. I’ve spoken out of turn, please don’t tell Mr. King, please, I need this job, I need it bad.”
“Hey, calm yourself. I won’t be telling anyone anything, other than to say how good I think you are. I happen to be a friend of Mr. King and I will be sure to tell him how impressed I am, okay?”
She nods, although the worry lines are still etched around her lips.
“Now, you want to tell me who the dragon is, and why she’s giving you so much trouble?”
“I really shouldn’t…I’ve been here far too long and said far too much already. I must be going.” She scampers toward the door, leaving her trolley behind. “Damn,” she mutters, and comes racing back toward me, taking the breakfast tray and placing it on the table. “I’m sorry miss, please, enjoy your breakfast.” She pushes the trolley out the door, with her eyes downcast all the way, and she doesn’t even look up when she turns to close the door behind her. My heart hurts a little. She’s so shy, so innocent and vulnerable and I instantly feel protective over her. I want her to feel confident and special instead of timid and nervous. But she’s not my concern. She must have a family, maybe even a boyfriend. And I only spent a matter of minutes with her so don’t really know her at all. My hormones are running riot.
I huff out a breath and sit at the table to eat breakfast. Pancakes with maple syrup and a bowl of fresh fruit salad. Perfect.
When I finish the pancakes and move the plate to the side, I notice a card underneath it.
It’s a playing card. The King of hearts.
I twirl it between my fingers and on the reverse side is a note.
Every King needs a Queen…D x
I laugh out loud. He’s always thinking of me. Always letting me know he’s thinking of me.
I eat the entire bowl of fruit salad with a smile on my face, and then take a shower. After having so much company and a permanent chaperone lately, it feels good to be able to do thingson my own. Not that I don’t love spending time with Denham, Lottie and everyone else, it’s just, I need time for my mind to put things in order. Time to think logically and make sense of the crazy occurrences that seem relentless.
The shower makes me feel much more awake and although I promised Denham I would be wearing exactly the same as when he left, I really need to put on fresh underwear. I take out a matching set that I bought from Victoria’s Secret and smile to myself. This is going to drive him crazy. I stand in front of the mirror in the underwear and know that I have to put the shirt back on so that it covers the bruise on my ribs. It’s blackened since yesterday but looks far worse than it feels. In fact, it’s only a little tender and not nearly as angry as it looks. It frustrates me that I’ve been covered in bruises the whole time I’ve known Denham so far, and I wonder when it will end. Am I that clumsy?
