CHAPTER 99

"AND TOMORROW???" HE ASKED WITH A VERY INSISTENT TONE HINTED ON HIS QUESTION. This guy was so unbelievable. He just couldn't give up.

I gave him a chance to prove himself but his actions were really getting me worried.

What if Lauren and Ciara were right? Was Drake really obsessed with me?

I didn't understand any of it.

"Sorry. My aunt Louisa from San Diego will be coming after several months. She didn't make it over the harsh times I've been through....so she wants to catch up...." I lied yet again.

I wasn't enjoying this but I had to. Things were getting out of hand and I was getting scared.

Why was he insisting so much? What did he have planned? What exactly was going on in his mind?

What if he abducted me? Even worst, what if something terrible like with director lane were to happen to me?

No...I couldn't let that happen.

"Nice. Is this weekend okay???" He asked and I threw up in my mouth and swallowed it down my lungs choking me and poking my chest. What??? I've learnt of persistence but this was just on another level.

Something was definitely wrong. Definitely definite.

After being turned down several times he was supposed to read the signal and leave. Couldn't he see it was a red light with no chance of it getting green?

What was he doing?

"I can't...am sorry...." I replied pressing the button on my remote unlocking the door to the driver's side on my car.

I had to get out of here!

"Okay I understand...." He held my hand and I gave him a worried look. "Next weekend?? Is that okay??"

"Come on Drake...." I whined showing just how disinterested I was in whatever it was that he was getting at.

"Anytime. Please Eleanor. I just need you to spare some of your time for me....even a minute is enough....when will you be available???"

" Am not available next weekend either....Not any time soon..." I closed the book and hoped he'd finally leave.

"Why is that???"

"Because.....what happened that night...." I started hoping I'd say the right things. "I....well....after my experience with that horrible man I don't want to be in cahoots with any man at the moment....I've activated my no-go-zone and it applies to men...." I explained.

"What?? I can understand your experience was traumatising but you can't do that. And anyway, you mentioned Adam....what about him, isn't he a man?" He asked rather rudely and challenging pissing me off.

"Drake! Did you forget he's my boyfriend, he's an exception..."

"He's still a man.."

"I trust him!"

"..and not me...."

"Please leave...." Was all I managed to say. I could do this no more. I'd talked enough. I was sick and my head was already starting to hurt.

"Eleanor please listen..." He begged but the ringing of my phone interrupted.

I looked at the caller ID and saw it was Aaron. Did he have something to tell me, regarding the cases?

"Hello....??" I began.

"Ma'am...I found something big regarding the case back at the lodge in Peru. Are you alone?" I immediately knew I had to do something.

"Uh....no....am with Drake...." I replied and Aaron heaved a sigh on the other end of the line.

"Where are you???" He asked.

"Am at the laundry. I'll be home in---"

"WHO IS THIS???!!!" Drake thundered and it was then that I realised he had snatched my phone away from me.

This guy was insane!! This was the only clue I needed to be sure and I was. He was a threat.

"Why are you calling Eleanor and asking her so many questions! What do you want to know about her exactly!!!" He asked angrily even I could feel the anger. In a bit of rage, I snatched the phone back and held it close to my chest.

"Are you kidding me???!!! What was that for? How dare you just snatch my phone like that and yell at my friend. Do you even know who I was talking to???" I asked my eyebrows furrowed and my face taking after the tomato. Red.

"Elly...am sorry...I...I didn't realize.....am sorry...I just want to talk to you....please hear me out...." He pleaded with me but I gave him a deaf ear. I quickly got into my car and locked the door incase he decided to open it.

And I was right. He tried to open it and after a failed attempt, he kept banging on the window shouting for me to open the door for him.

With no delay, I started the engine and stepped on the accelerator pedal bursting me out of the place!

Something was really wrong with Drake Anderson.

He wasn't the same person I knew anymore.

I arrived at Lauren's house and didn't bother carrying my laundry out of the car. I walked into the house and fortunately or unfortunately, she was in the living room.

"Hey you're baaaaa---" her statement trailed off after I didn't give her any attention.

I jumped up the stairs skipping a few and almost knocked down the door.

I smashed it against the frame as I closed and threw myself on the bed.

What was going on?

Drake's reaction scared me and I anticipated something evil awaiting.

He seemed hurt and knocking on my window like s mad man, really grew the jitters around me.

He was sane not so long ago but why was he acting insane now? He was behaving as if I was a drug prescribed to him to be taken three times every day.

It was as if his life was at stake and I was the only one to restore tension in him. He was confused. Highly confused and someone had to make him understand.

I sat up, drying my tears and looking into my hand. The cut was slowly healing and looking at it reminded me of the dream I wished would never end. What was that place?? And who is that man?

"Elly???" Lauren knocked and walked in , sitting next to me on the bed. I clenched my fingers to hide my cut but it seemed to be too late.

"What are you trying to remember??" she asked looking at hand but I quickly shook my head and shoved it between my legs.

"It's..it's nothing..." I shook my head and dried the snots coming down with tears. I looked away hoping she wouldn't see them.

I took my hand out from my legs and looked at it one more time.

This memory was a treasure and I found peace in them. There was no one or nothing to save me from the shackles of pain I was bound to...yet I found peace in knowing that for a day, I existed somewhere and fell in love with someone else.

"I believe you....." Lauren's words reminded me I had company and I placed my hand down. I drew a deep breath and got off the bed walking towards the door. I needed some air.

"I believe you. There really....was ....a man...." her words came like a magnet pulling me back to her against my will. Even though I didn't want to, I found myself turning back around to look at her.

What was she on about now?

"What--what'd you just say???" I literally pointed at her. She got up from the bed and walked close to me.

"I believe you. There really was a man....and it wasn't Adam...."