FIVE: Stalker

CORNELIA HEADED TO Crawford Motel, she knew she couldn't just go into the hotel. She had never been that close with Jessica to just visit her. And she knew rumors would be endless if she went there.

But once she arrived she noticed the small coffee shop opposite the motel, and she decided she could just stay there. Once she opened the door, she was hit with the warmth it provided. Cornelia decided that she could just go there for a cup of coffee and some reading.

The place was almost empty, except for one table that had a couple sitting there. She chose the table right at the glass window, providing her with the perfect view of the entrance of the motel.

All she needed was to speak to him, to get to know him. She wasn't sure how he would take it, but Cornelia had that unwavering belief that her charm was simply irresistible. Therefore, she kept on waiting. It was almost an hour or so later, when she saw him exiting the motel with the man she had seen with him at her home.

She squinted her eyes, trying to make out where they would go. She hoped that he was one of those people who needed their coffee. With her eyes on him, she saw them speaking to each other, then he looked up and their eyes met. While she was wondering whether he recognized her or not, Lucien began heading her way.

It's impossible, no matter how good his eyesight is, he shouldn't be able to see me. Cornelia thought with furrowed eyebrows, but her eyes didn't leave him.

Her heart was pounding in her chest, getting faster with every step he took towards the place. She felt the cold wind hitting her back with the sound of the door opening, but she dared not see if it was really him.

She remained rigid, staring down at her book, she wasn't even sure what she was looking at. Her mind went on an overdrive, and the confidence she had before seemed to vanish. She tried to calm her breathing down, willing her heart to beat with a more average rhythm.

"You're Jerry's daughter."

The sound waves of his manly voice seemed to vibrate through her entire body. She slowly turned around, and put on that smile which everybody called charming, "Yeah, you're Mr. Amarok, right?"

He nodded his head, "Mind if I sit here?"

She shook her head, "Of course not."

Cornelia took pride in how calm her voice sounded. Thankfully he can't hear my heart. She thought to herself.

The moment he sat down, his eyes didn't leave her. She was watching him watching her, his eyes assessing every curve and every single part of her body and her face.

"So, Mr. Amarok, I think I read once that it means wolf." Cornelia tried to start up a conversation.

She didn't feel guilty, it wasn't a total lie. She did read that his name means wolf in Inuit mythology, but it was after she had looked it up. She had worried herself with what she would say if she met him, and she thought his name would be a good conversation starter.

He looked surprised, only for a second though, because then he regarded her with an impressed smirk, "Are you interested in mythologies?"

Nope, just yours. She thought to herself, but plastered a smile nevertheless. "I just came across it. Formid Root is right at the borders of Canada where the Inuit existed."

"Interesting." He said with a hum.

"So, what are you really doing here?" He asked, leaning forward slightly and for a moment she felt like his brown eyes could see right into her soul.

Her heart skipped a beat, wondering if her interest in him was that obvious. She swallowed, then gave what she hoped was a nonchalant shrug of her tensed shoulders, "I just wanted to do a bit of studying with some good coffee."

"And you came all the way here for that?"

Uh-oh, was coming here a mistake? Does he know that I came here for him?

Her questions were endless, and she began to feel her hands becoming colder, and clammy. She decided that another charming and toothy smile would do.

"I think I needed a place where no one knows me."

He hummed, and a waiter came to take his order. She wasn't surprised when he ordered black coffee. Lucien looked like the guy who would take his coffee black. Probably with no sugar too. She thought, making a silent bet with herself.

"How do you like Formid Root so far?" Cornelia tried to change the conversation, avert it into a safer topic.

"It's not bad, not good. Just another small town."

"Mind if I ask why did you come here?" She asked hesitantly, "Not a lot of people move in here, they all tend to move out."

A frown formed on his face, and he seemed to ponder the question for a bit longer. "It's quiet here. I wanted to settle down, spend some family time."

"And why the Hamilton Mansion? Why not just a normal house?"

He smirked calmly, leaning back on his chair, "Aren't you a curious little thing."

Somehow it felt like he was looking down on her, and Cornelia just couldn't take that. She knew he was older, she knew he was more manly than any man she had come across. He had it all, but she didn't like him treating her like she was a child.

She scoffed, "I'm just being nice."

He chuckled, shaking his head, "Yes, I'm sure that your intentions are pure."