chapter three

SNOW

Back in the hotel room, I stretched out my hands and Maggie placed two pills of my anxiety medication in them. I stared at the pills. The headache from earlier on that day almost knocked me off. I could remember my doctor saying if the pains persisted, I would have to increase the dosage and very soon when my body gets used to the medication, it might become a serious problem as it won't be effective in its entirety.

"Add an additional pill."

Maggie stared at me before checking the prescription on the drugs, "it says here to take only two."

"If it turns out into an over dosage and I die, it'll be best for everyone. So can I get my pills please? I really hate it when some questions my every move."

She dropped an additional pill and cocked the bottle. I picked up the bottled water on the bedside table, uncapped it and gulped the whole contents down. I took a second to let it settle and noticed with the side of my eye that Maggie had slipped a piece of paper on the bedside table, probably hoping I'd see it and ask what it was for and who owned it. But I didn't give her that luxury. Instead of pulling it to check, I picked up my tablet instead, opened a celebrity gossip column and watched her using side long glances. She had recently formed the habit of placing those business cards for the past two months after she noticed I was having consistent headaches. I understood she was worried, but then after five years of working for me, she still didn't know me fully. I hated it so much when anyone showed too much concern for me, even my beloved grandparents were not allowed to feel too much talk less of just anybody.

When she noticed that I was paying no attention to the piece of paper she picked it up and instead of tucking it away, she came to stand in front of me.

"So while I was running around the other day, I ran into a friend, guess who." She began. If that was meant to be an opening speech, I'm afraid her plan was going to fall through before it even kicked off.

I put the tablet to the side and crossed my legs staring at her directly, "what is this? Are we chit chatting now?"

"It's not...."

"Because if it is I'll out rightly tell you that I'd care less what you do during your free hours." I said and nodded to check if it sinked in. she stared back at me blankly, probably fighting the rage bubbling inside of her I returned back to my tablet, thinking she got the I don't want help from anyone memo. But like the headstrong right hand woman she was, she either didn't get the memo or plain out refused to get it because she went on.

"I ran into a doctor friend, like two months ago."

I sighed and let my hand hang on my crossed legs, "why are you telling me this? Are you not feeling well? Do you want a break..."

"you of all people should know I don't do breaks."

"then what is this about ?Why would I care if you ran into your doctor friend or not?"

"because we talked about you."

"that's not anything new, if you're not new to this country, then you'll know almost everyone talks about me," I raised the tablet I was holding, "like this gossip column, they already have an exclusive of what happened in the radio station like how many hours ago?"

"we were not gossiping about you."

"don't care,"I announced continuing with the column.

"you should," she said in barely a whisper.

"whaaat?" I drawled surprised as I stared in awe at her. She cowered, flexing her fists.

"I said you should," she said extending the business card directly to me. I stared at it and almost bored holes in them. I carefully pulled the card from her hand.

"so what did you guys discuss about me?"

She seemed to relax a bit, "your headaches that your PTSD caused you and the increasing dosage of medication."

"hold on a minute?" I said putting a hand to halt her, "just hold on. Is it me or did you just say that you discussed my PTSD with someone other than me?"

"wait, i..."

"so what did you guys talk about? Hospitalizing me? Am I now a psycho or what?"

"hold on..."

"HOLD ON NOTHING!" I yelled standing to my feet and tearing the business card apart. "do I pay you to protect and assist me or to gossip?"

"I didn't mean to in the wrong sense. I was doing it in your best interest..."

"Who the hell do you think you are to decide what's in my best interest?" I yelled coming toe to toe with her.

She didn't bat an eyelash and we stared each other down. Maggie was not usually jittery in front of anyone, anyone apart from me. And she wasn't like that because I could harm her or something, she just hated being yelled at. I knew she was trying to help but I didn't want any kind of sympathy from anyone, it made me feel unbearably weak and helpless. I hated the idea of leaning into someone and depending on them. I tried it at an early age and earned a big scar that would stay with me for the rest of my life. I hated yelling at her like this but I couldn't help myself, it came to me naturally.

"let's start on a new slate and let me rephrase my warning to you again. I. don't. want. You. Or anyone. In. my. Hair. Got that?"

She put her lips in a flat line and nodded. "got it."

She pulled out her tablet and pulled up an image, "the interior designer sent this in a few minutes ago."

"glad we are back to business."I said dropping my tablet and getting hers. I zoomed in the photos and checked all the pictures out. It was the design for the pent house I was going to be staying at until I felt like the need to own my own house and properties.

"they said they'll be thoroughly done by Monday so you can move in."

"perfect delivery." I commented looking over the photos again.

"on that note, should I get movers to get ready to move your things come Monday?" she asked.

I let the tablet hang, "movers? To move what exactly?"

"your belongings from the other house." She retorted confused I was actually asking her that.

"whoever told you I wanted anything from that house?"

"I..."

"I nothing. Do you want me to yell at you all day long? Why aren't you doing anything right this afternoon?"

"I apologize."

"it's not to apologize. Just make sure you don't make assumptions any more. They are giving me a headache, okay?"

"okay."

"just call my stylist and ask her to meet up this afternoon for my wardrobe and do it now." I instructed. She nodded and stepped aside to make the call.

I moved to the side too and dialed my brother. He picked up on the third ring and I almost went deaf from the throbbing bass that hit me from the other side.

"do you want me deaf?"I demanded.

He cackled and the volume reduced almost instantly.

"what's up sis?" he asked cheerily.

"I saw your calls. What do you want?" I sighed picking my freshly manicured finger nails.

"I'm short on cash and I need to attend a party tonight." He said simply.

"is that why you called?" I asked.

"hold on...you weren't thinking of me checking up on you were you?"

I wished. The relationship between my brother and I was loop sided. As I cared so much for him more than I cared for any other person, he was way too involved in impressing my parents and sister that he barely had any spare time for me. I wanted to believe most of it was my fault because of my attitude towards affection and care.

But every time I had the chance to change that mentality, that demon inside me always spoke up on my behalf, "of course not. How much do you need?"

"a trifle amount."

"okay. Talk to the accountant and discuss the amount you need, he'll get back to me to confirm as usual. No extravagant spending please."

"you know that's an impossibility." He chuckled.

"I'm being serious."

"I know, I know. I might be useless but not completely."

"yeah.."

"would you turn up?"he asked.

That was weird.

"since when did you start inviting me to your parties?"

"since today?"

"yeah...no thanks."

"why not?i'm touching my chest right now. Are you turning me down snow?"

"duh..."

He cackled,"okay then..."

"hold up."I said stopping him from ending the call.

"what's up?"

"I ... the penthouse is almost finished. Monday will be an ideal date to move in don't you think?"

"nah. Monday is the first day of the week. It'll be hectic with all the meetings and stuff."

"meetings?" I asked humored, " since when did you start holding meetings?"

"it's not me. I meant you."

"me?" I asked reviewing my schedule for Monday in my head, "I don't think I have any meetings this Monday." I swore I heard him curse under his breath. "jay? What meeting do you know about that I don't?"

He hesitated for a while before replying, "you mentioned you're kicking off the project starting next week."

I racked my brain, "oh yeah. I mentioned it. But I think you heard me wrong..."

"probably. "he retorted almost immediately.

"I appointed people for the job."

"nice move. So catch you later." He said trying to dismiss me.

"hold on a minute,"

"what again?"

"you didn't answer my question."

"mmm...what question?"

"when is the ideal date to move in?"I asked again.

" I told you Monday was a no go, but you said you didn't have an meetings..."

"hold on...I wasn't talking about me. I was talking about you."

He grew silent.

"hello?"

"I don't want to live in the penthouse." He said quietly.

"why not? Is it because it will be too noisy? i actually put up a sound prove system so it'll be cozy, if that's what you're worried about although I find it hard to believe that you don't want to be around noise..."I chuckled.

"I don't mind noisy areas, snow."

My smile dimmed, "then what is it?"

"I just don't want to live in the pent house."

I paused, "you should have said that a long time ago. Maybe I would have gotten a house in an estate."

"it's not about the size of the house, if it is a penthouse or an estate or whatever it is. The thing is," he sighed , " I just like it here," he snapped.

"here?"I asked perturbed, "where is here? A hotel? Your friend's?"

"the house! I want to live with mom!"

I snickered, "mom?who's mom?how did you find her?"

"stop talking like that."

"our mother is dead. Grand pa and grand ma is gone we don't have any family left."

"we still have mom, dad and anna."

"since when did they become family?"I demanded feeling my temper rise.

"ever since they took us in..."

"and abandoned us?" I yelled.

"can you at least just forget?"

"not a chance!" I seethed. "Jason, you will pack up your things and get ready because come Monday, you're leaving that house..."

"who the hell do you think you are that you feel you can order me around?" he demanded.

"I am your sister! Your freaking blood sister! And you will listen to me because it is ME and only ME that care about you in this whole entire world."

"what am I twelve? we are the same freaking age stop acting like you're my mother because you're not!"

I pulled the phone off my ear, flung it to the floor and yelled out my frustration.

Maggie came to stand beside me, "who was that?"

"who else? Who else do I end up feeling like I could tear out every single hair from my head every time we talk?"

" Jason?"

"urgh!" I groaned again. "What about the stylist? what did she say?"

"she'll be rounding up the present business she's attending to and meet us at the boutique in 30 minutes."

"thirty minutues?" I demanded, "what does she mean by that? And who the hell cares if she has business or not? I paid her to be at my beck and call not to run a conglomerate. Tell her to meet us in 15 or she losses her job. They are an awful lot who'll sleep at my doorstep waiting for me to call on them. I'm in the mood to frenzy shop. I don't need any kind of hindrance to my channel"

"I'll call her again."

"you'd better."

Maggie pulled my beamer into the parking lot of the boutique and I came down from the car putting on my sun shades. We stood looking around for the stylist and saw her waving at us at the front of the building. Maggie waved back and we began the walk into the boutique.

"I'm sorry to ask but I cannot contain my curiosity any longer."

"you don't seem to be sorry as you're going to ask me any way so shoot," I drawled turning the yellow sundress in my hands.

"I heard you mentioning something something project earlier on when you were talking to Jason."

"if you're asking to know if I told Jason about my plans then yes. I told him about it,"I dropped the dress on my laps and faced her, "got a problem with that?"

"I can't quite say I have a problem with that since it's none of my business..."

"nah-ah. you just made it your business, I mean the time you asked." I pointed out. " you made it your business by asking about it." I explained further.

"yeah right..."

"so if you have something to say, out with it. I don't keep bushes around so that people like you won't beat about them."I smiled at my rare wisdom.

She bit her lip and shook her head, "I have something to say."

"yeah I know. I might not really care what you think but it's good to get it out of your chest sometimes, so you won't choke."

She raised her eyebrow in confusion, "why would anyone choke on their opinion?"

"no joke seriously", I said putting up a hand, "people actually choke on their opinion. Take you for instance." She paused, " you always have something to say, all the freaking time. If I let you, keep your opinion to yourself without voicing them all the time," I touched my throat and bent my neck, "it'll get up to here and you might just choke on them and die, then snow would automatically become a murderer."

"I...cannot believe I just let you explain that. I feel so dumb letting you explain it." She said squeezing her eyes shut in embarrassment.

"don't. you still have something to say. You can't feel dumb twice in one day."

She pinched her temple," I'm going to ignore what you just said and say my mind."

"do you think it was wise telling him?"

"aha!" I hit my palm with my fist, "you already feel dumb for asking me that don't you?"

"seriously, "she dropped her hands to her side in frustration.

I arranged myself on the sofa and crossed my legs, "I told you... a total stranger about my plans. What stops me from doing same to my blood."

"you're the same person who said no one should treat business with blood ties."

"of course I did but I don't think my brother would be foolish enough to sell me out."

Someone cleared their throat and both me and Maggie turned our gaze to them.

Anna, who was my foster sister and my junior by barely a year, stood in the doorway of the dressing room. She was in the company of her assistant and she was looking everywhere in the room but us, making small talk with her assistant. I laughed to myself at her childish gesture. Anna was into the habit of competing with me in any area of life, be it celebrity life or business. I was the first to begin using this boutique before anna but then when she found out it was my spot, she struggled to be part of the vvip and she cooked up a story of sisterly connection and telepathy. This she did with every other thing.

After a while of talking and pointing at random things, she made a show of stumbling upon me and then she gasped. "snow"

she practically ran over to come sit beside me on the couch. Just the time when she was about to sit, I stood up instantly and took the few outfits the stylist had dropped on the table into the inner chamber, "I thought this room was supposed to be private Gloria?" I said out loud for the stylist outside the room to hear me. I shrugged on the leather singlets and put on its skirt counterpart before walking out. She was in the room when I came out,

"hmm?'I asked coming to stand before the full length mirror.

"i..she mentioned she was your sister so I let her in." Gloria said with hands clasped in front of her.

"Gloria,"I said pulling at the singlet making it sit well on my shoulders, "do you listen to the radio?"

"ah.. no?"

"you should start making a habit of it. You ,might miss vital information if you don't."

The poor lady was confused but she nodded, "should I walk her out?"she asked.

I glanced at anna in the mirror and she widened her smile, "no. let her stay. I feel she has something to say. Not that I care or anything but meet Maggie to brief you." I said to Gloria. She nodded, though confused and walked to Maggie who was finding it so hard to keep the laughter in.

"what do you want?"I asked referring to anna.

"come on, don't be harsh... big sis."

I made a show of almost barfing and held my chest, "eww don't call me that."

She laughed and crossed her legs, "that outfit suits you really well."

"did you come here to help me shop?"I asked turning from side to side in the mirror.

"not actually but then I saw your car outside..."

"yeah I know right, the beauty is one of a kind, really rare sight and color. You could not possibly miss it...."I nodded in feigned agreement.

"....and I came it to see if I can be of help in any way. Your style felt like it was going off the track these days, so I thought it sisterly to put in a word or two to put it back on track."

I opened my eyes wide and stared at her in the mirror, "really? Gloria my million naira stylist can you hear that?" I asked turning to Gloria. "could that be true?"

I snapped my head back to anna, "absolutely not."I answered myself.

"very funny fact you don't know my dear paper sister, keeping to fashion all the time is broke ass people's thing. They always have this urge to want to impress, want to make up or cover up for their deep pocket status. I would have loved you to help out but then I don't want to fall under your category. Really horrible way to live life, I tell you." I smiled a one second smile and her smile dimmed. "oh no...anna baby? Are you getting upset?" I said feigning a horrified expression " no don't be like that. It's just paper sister to paper sister advice. You shouldn't take it too deep. I was just telling you what I think of consistent fashionistas, so you better iron out your face or you'll get old sooner than you think."

She noticed she was actually frowning and immediately lighted her face.

"everyone is actually entitled to their belief,yeah?"

"I suppose."I said tapping my chin. "so is that what you came all the way here to say?"I demanded straightening out my stance.

"not actually,"

As if right on cue, maggie's tab beeped. My gaze snapped to her in the mirror and I watched her read the text. She raised her head after wards and I searched her eyes, it screamed emergency.

"oh!" anna exclaimed. My eyes snapped to her too in the mirror. She rose up her phone to wave it at me, "I'm afraid I have to leave you alone now. I have an important meeting to prep for come Monday." She stood up and arranged her dress. "I guess I came all the way here to tell you to buckle up my friend so you won't be hit hard on Monday." She tapped her chin, "although it's a 100 percent chance that you'll be hit but then try not to fall to hard okay? I'd feel really sorry."

She turned to leave.

"is it a board meeting?"I asked stopping her in her tracks.

"it is isn't it?" she turned to face me. "come on! If it is...then you needn't be too dramatic about it."

"who said I was being dramatic?"

I shrugged. "a little birdy?"I narrowed my eyes in thought, "probably the little birdy that told me to prepare for this in advance?"

She cocked her head to the side and gave me a crooked smile, "oh please, that's just you bluffing."

"then it's safe to say you don't know me properly yet. Okay then," I clapped my hands, "that's enough chit chat. I heard you said you have Monday to plan for. Anna have you ever noticed this?" I asked turning around to face her squarely, "that's the difference between us. You plan...when I look forward to something after I've finished planning." I paused for emphasis. " you are always one step behind me everything."

She glared at me whilst me smiling sweetly at her. then put her phone to her ear and stormed out of the room her stylist trailing after her.

I kept the smile intact until I was sure they were a safe distance from the room before I wiped it off my face and turned to Maggie.

"give it."

She dropped it in my hands and I went on to read it through. When I was done I snapped the tablet shut, "Gloria leave us."

The little lady backed out of the room like some asian century old steward.

"Maggie what do you suggest we do?"

"strategic meeting calls."

"then what are you waiting for?" I demanded putting a hand to my waist and going to the couch to grab my bag. "call lulu."

"right away."

"send her a status report also. I want this thought through from top to bottom."

Lulu breezed in and dropped her bag on the table, taking a seat. She looked around her probably awed by the space.

"you rented out the conference room....just for us...to hold a meeting?"

"are you inviting more people?"I asked swiveling the chair slightly to the right and to the left.

She narrowed her eyes and brought out her tab, "I was just being curious."

"I don't want a third party in here or outside listening in us."

"yes because apparently someone sold us out," Maggie said and then added without looking at me, " someone who was told about our plans."

"I'm going to ignore that statement right there and delve in because I'm too deep into the actual strategizing than pointing fingers." I said equally not looking at her but forward, "so the way forward?"

"who told on us..."Maggie began.

"for chrissakes you are seriously getting on my nerves." I said cutting her short.

"what are you saying? You said the way forward right?"Maggie asked confused looking at lulu who just sat there observing them over the rim of her glasses.

"so you call that the way forward."

"I'm a hard core business management graduate miss snow. Business just like engineering has the process to managing crisis. First off, you find the problem before the actual solving comes in..."

"well now I'm not in the mood to take the first step thanks to a certain you for starting off like that."I said gesturing at her and dropping my hand on the mahogany table.

"I received the status report and honestly," lulu said swiping her tablet, "we don't have a real reason to panic. They are just asking for a meeting a day before the actual meeting."

"it's not just a meeting," maggie interjected. "it's a strategic one, someone told them about what we plan to do and they came up with this elections to erect a new board to set up a new law so we won't have the space to start what we planned. Miss snow we are looking at dethronement here not just your regular board election."she said looking hard at lulu.

"I never thought of that," she used her stylus to tap her chin. "they can do that! It's absurd. This is just Saturday and they didn't even give us an earlier notice. Is this even legal?" she bursted.

I stared at her like she was crazy, "I should be asking you that."

"of course it's legal, majority of the board members and shareholders have to be in agreement before they can even pass off the notice." Maggie slammed the desk to get our attention.

"I guess it's safe to say that most of the shareholders and BOD are not in par with our plans then." She stated.

"I'm not surprised at your negative way of responding to this issue because right from the word go, you were always against it." Maggie said.

"baseless facts...and I've told you countless times over." Lulu stressed.

"it doesn't matter if anyone is not in support of the project. Honestly I would, on a normal day not careless what the board thinks about the project... but right now, to get this thing off the floor, we need their approval so we can use the funds to startup. Talkless of...you."I said gesturing at lulu.

She only smiled to herself and arranged her glasses.

"looking at the project again, any one who has worked with us for a long time can agree whole hearted that this is a juicy bargain and that's it's doable by me." I said resting back in my chair, "hundred percent of our business ventures came out as foreseen and played out as fore planned."

"so what are you suggesting?" Maggie asked.

"foul play," lulu said deep in thoughts, "I think they talked them into having the elections without tabling the project for their scrutiny and evaluation. I guess they had the intuition that the plea for a reform would be negative if they tabled the project."

"so what do you suggest we do?"I asked directing my question at lulu. Since the moment this project planning kicked off, I smelt something fishy about lulu, I couldn't put a finger on it but then it was going to get clearer with the answer or solution she was going to proffer to the problem.

After a while of thinking and putting two and two together she spoke up, "we have from now to Sunday night to start having tea and dinner with major share holders and BOD."

I guess my intuition was wrong then.

"nicely said." It's not like I had anything particular in mind to say but then I just wanted her to say anything and everything only then would I know what exactly I wanted to hear from them.

"although you have to be the one to do the talking so you will come out serious and ready to take charge."

"I'm going to ask them for three minutes," I said after thinking a while.

"what are you going to say?" lulu asked.

"something decision changing worthy,"I shrugged.

"what if it comes to voting? You have to talk to them about it you know."

"that would be a showing incompetency and mediocrity. I wouldn't do that." I paused. "besides if it comes to voting I and my brother are majority share holders..."

"so are your pare...." I glared at her and she discontinued her sentence. "paper family."

Lulu snorted and I snapped my neck to face her. She readjusted in her seat and apologized.

"doesn't matter. Me, Jason and the rest of the minority's shareholder's veto is enough to debunk the others." I slammed my hands on the desk and supported myself to get up, "I think this is the end of this short lived meeting,"I scoffed, "to even mention that we were rattled by the elections. Maggie," I said walking towards the door, "set up a meeting with every minority share holder...."

"what about your brother?" she asked.

I put a hand to the door knob and paused, "I see no need to talk to him about it. Forget the fact that he is head strong but then Jason fights for my cause all the time." I walked out of the room and Maggie slammed the door behind us.

I got back to the hotel, showered and got ready for each and every meeting that was scheduled and followed it accordingly. This was the first time in a long while that I fought for something that meant a lot to me so if was going to be doing it at all, I had to do it well and thoroughly, seeing it to the end.

Monday morning, I got up as early as 6 and went around the speech I had prepared in my heard as I went about preparing for the day. I rounded up the remainder of the scheduled meeting that I couldn't complete during the course of the weekend via zoom in no time for the conference meeting.

When were in the car when Maggie spoke up, "snow?"

"yeah?" I replied putting on a pair of earrings and watch that I wore on occasions.

"did you by chance forget that we had those interviews scheduled for today?"

"what about it?"

"should we call it off?" she asked causing me to look up in the rear view mirror, "why? What for?"

"I dun..."

"are you indirectly saying we are going to fail today?" she stared open mouthed at me. I glanced at the figure that was around the corner, " you better look where you're going."

But I was too late, Maggie was already driving into a man who was standing and looking up at the hotel buiding. She missed him by barely a second and Maggie forced the car to a stop causing us to jerk forward.

"that was close" she breathed heavily. I looked in the rear view mirror and was beyond my self with humor as the poor man looked down at himself and back to the car, like he could shred it to bits and pieces. I decided to humor myself more, "reverse the car."

"Maggie looked at me in the mirror, "I said reverse."

She put the car in reverse, " are you planning to apologize?"

"let's see what I spit out first."

Maggie stopped infront of him and winned down the glasses,

"you were saying?" i asked pushing the sunglasses from my face in a questioning pose.

"uh..."he pointed at his soiled loafers. "you soiled my shoes with the murky water."

I leaned on the window pane and stared down at the shoes. He raised them higher in case I wanted a better look.

The smell hit me hard and I waved my hands in my face, "urgh that stinks."

He bit his dead rose colored lips and nodded in enraged agreement, "totally. And it's kinda all your fault, yeah."

"my fault,eh?" I nodded.

"yeah."I nodded too mimicking her.

"I would love to say sorry but that's not why I wasted my fuel to reverse and burn it to hold this conversation." I kept on nodding leaning and putting her hands on the window pane.

"really?" he nodded too.

"yes. I was just curious."

He tilted my head still biting my lips, "about?"

"why you were standing in the middle of the road and staring like a lost puppy."

He paused his lips and put them in a straight line.

"yeah... I know it hurts. You might also think I'm mean but honestly... I'm really considerate. I mean other actually mean like red with meaniness drivers would've ran you over and sped off like nothing happened. I stopped," she began counting her fingers, "came back, burned my fuel, pointed out who was wrong and gave you advice... I couldn't be any nicer,yeah?"

"does it..."

"bye." i said over him ad tapped maggie's seat and the car zoomed off with me still staring at him. When we lost sight of him, I turned in my seat and Maggie rolled up the glasses. "I knew you were never going to say sorry."

"if you did then you shouldn't have asked. Drop me here and park the car in the underground parking lot."

I walked into the company and headed towards the executive elevator.

I got on and pushed the button for the 15th floor and stepped into the walls. On the 5th floor,The elevator doors zinged and slided open ,revealing anna on the other side with a big fat smile.

"hey sis." She gushed pushing the wait button.

I glared at the finger stopping the elevator and why was she smiling that way,"are you getting on or something?" I demanded impatiently tapping my fingers on my arm.

"i...."

The executive elevator should be left unoccupied, the system is about to fix the faulty public elevator the executive should be left unoccupied.

The announcer guy did that for a complete three rounds and I had no choice but to go down.

"don't think that the faulty elevetors mean we can have chit chat.

"I wasn't planning one," she said causing me to turn to face her, that was weird, everything was just weird this days. "accept the little gift I'm offering you."

I searched her hands and found nothing in them.

"is it official yet?you're going crazy."I said it and left.

"enjoy." She said after that.

I ignored her and walked in the direction of the stair case.

I got out the door and started going up the stairs. I was halfway gone when something made contact with my head and I dropped to the ground. A man dressed in all black came to squat beside me. I thought he was going to help me but then he was about pushing me. All became blank and I passed out.

I opened my eyes again and instead of the man in black, it was a guy dressed in a suit. My eyes fluttered shut again as the pain from the impact of the hit started flooding in. I began to regain myself again when I felt hot breath fan over my face and I forced my eyes open only to find someone's face dangerously close to my face. My throat became dry and my eyes began to water. I was about to fall into one of my episodes again. I slowly inhaled in several times and counted from 100 backwards. When I was beginning to calm down, I swallowed before forcing out, "what do you think you're doing?"

His eyes fluttered open in surprise and I was overwhelmed by the weirdest Nigerian coffee brown chocolate eyes. I stared at them, swam in them and almost got lost in them.

I got myself back and repeated myself, "I said...what do you think you're doing?"

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