FINDING HER-E

Ace Wagner left for his office as soon as his parents took his brother to their home. He was feeling sticky and tired. Ace had to rush back to his parked car and ordered the same fried rice for his brother's sake. He had to wait 30 minutes this time and everyone was looking and flirting with him openly. He wondered if he covered his face with a mask would it be the same? His mind strayed to the thoughts of the girl with the pale brown eyes.

When he asked Abigail for help, she refused him upfront stating her image did not allow her to wait for food. It should be the food waiting for me, she told him. With his driver on leave, he had no choice but to do the deed.

He walked to his private elevator and marched quickly to his office ignoring his employee who stood and bowed to him. He closed his office door and opened a door hidden behind his mahogany table. It is an en suite room complete with a bed, walk-in wardrobe, a small pantry, and a huge bathroom. The room screamed masculinity. Dark grey walls contrasted with off white tiles and white furniture embossed with gold and blue W emblem.

Ace opened his first 2 buttons and pulled his shirt up revealing his well-sculpted body. He dropped his clothes on the laundry basket and dip himself into the jacuzzi. The warm water soothed his aches and calmed his stress. He closed his eyes and leaned his head back on the headrest. An image of a girl with pale brown eyes came to his mind again.

What was that? He thought. He took a deep breath and the smell of lavender hit his nose. He was alarmed. He looked around him but saw only his shampoo and bottles of oils. He eyed the essential oil bottle and read the name on it `Jungle Jones Oils and Creams'

Ace remembered. He stole quite a few of Abigail's oils and creams. He did not know where she procured them, but they smelled divine. He should get a gift for her. Maybe a car wasn't a bad idea after all.

Ace closed his eyes again and this time Hadwin came into his mind. Hadwin, lavender, and a certain brown-eyed girl. He put two and two together and gasped. Hadwin mentioned lavender when he had an accident and before he passed out. Only the last time he pointed to the mysterious girl.

Was she the one to help his brother? From the way Hadwin mumbled about her and the girl saying she punched him before, it made perfect sense. But was she in the car when he was driving? Wasn't he alone? Hadwin was resting by now. There is only one way to confirm.

Ace showered and swiftly dressed before calling his secretary, Gordon.

`Did you find the person?'

`Yes, sir. It's a female by the name of Astrid Kaija.'

`Any ID photo?'

`I've sent you right away'.

Ace flicked his phone and an image of a girl appeared with her biodata. Ace grinned. Caught you, he thought. But when he checked her address it was blank. Where did she stay?

'Gordon are you there?'

`Yes, sir?'

`Her address is blank.'

`About that sir. We may have a problem locating her house'

`What do you mean?' Ace was losing patience and Gordon sensed it.

`We checked the CCTV footage of her and she was indeed the one who helped Mr Hadwin, but she left as soon as she placed him in a safe area. I could not trace her. But she appeared again after you left the scene.'

`Where did she go?'

`She took a bus and went into the city. But sir, there is something different about her'

`Speak up'

`She climbed down the bus stop. As if she was sitting on the roof of it'.

Ace was surprised. Of course, she was sitting on the tree branch observing them all along. She was concerned about his brother's safety. He did not decipher the situation wrongly. But he had questions in mind. Why didn't she wait for them to arrive? Was she afraid of vampires? The city is big. Where did she live? And she can climb trees? The trees in the jungle were dense and thick.

`Gordon check the bus route she took today. Check them all. And please put more emphasis on the area of the accident. I have a hunch she stays nearby there'.

`That is impossible, sir'

`Why?' Ace raised a brow.

`The place where Mr Hadwin had an accident is Route 3.'

`And?'

`It's the end of the city and the beginning of Mellow Forest'

Ace hung up. His mind was jumbled, and he needed rest. He climbed into his bed, took a bottle of blood juice, and finished it in one go. Blood for vampires is sold in bottles and cans.

But Wagner Corp produces its own bottles of blood juices, wine, and sparkling blood water. It is a thriving business. Sometimes, bottled blood juices and wines could not quench the vampire's thirst and that's when humans and animals came into the picture as a substitute.

Ace closed his eyes and pushed his thoughts for tomorrow. He turned his head to his bedside table and saw the sparkle of the strange girls' earring. The corner of his lips smirked. Interesting girl, he thought before tiredness took over.