Chapter 28-A body and a threat
Audrey's POV...
Why does my face grow hot whenever Jonathan and I are close and why does my heart race whenever he looks at me?
Well, maybe I just felt sympathy for him. I'm a kind person, you know.
But, I had caught him twice. First, he was staring at me and second, he wanted to touch me.
I hit my head with my hand. Maybe I was just overthinking things. I needed to focus.
The gala was tonight. I was at the spa getting my VIP treatment. I needed to get my hair done and so many other things. I wanted to get a massage first and this girl giving me a massage, was so good at it.
My chest was resting on the signature spa lounger when she paused.
"Ma'am" she called.
"Hmm" I hummed.
"Will you permit me to apply some lotions on your back?" She asked.
"Just do what you have to do as long as it's comforting and doesn't contain harmful substances" I responded.
"Yes ma'am"
I felt a soft liquid on my back. It was chilly and my body shivered in satisfaction. The scent of lavender filled the air. She massaged my neck and I hummed in comfort.
I needed my nerves to relax. They've been on edge of late. My thoughts drifted to Jonathan again.
I overheard him on the phone with Richard, when he was telling Richard that he had something important he wanted to do tonight, so he wouldn't be able to come back.
Yesterday, we bumped into each other when I was leaving the room and he was entering. When we excused each other, his hands brushed mine and I felt tingles.
We talked like normal friends but each time, it always seemed like there was tension in the air.
It was like he was restraining and I could tell from the way he spoke sometimes.
"Ma'am"
I coughed out of my daze. "I'm sorry, what did you say?"
"This way please" she gestured.
She was done massaging and it was time to get my hair done. I wrapped a white bathrobe around my body and went into the VIP styling suite.
There were so many hair care products lined on the counters and on the shelves.
I sat on a chair in front of the mirror. Another girl came in. Looks like she'll be the one doing my hair. They all had their area of specialization.
She washed my hair like it was the most fragile thing ever and brushed it calmly. I love this place already.
She took her time while doing my hair and she made sure to apply hair cream and hair care products and also based on my preferences.
Three hours later, I was standing in front of the mirror, gushing at my appearance.
I gasped as I stared at my look. I touched my hair tenderly. My hair looked amazing. I started making poses in front of the mirror.
I turned to her. "You're so good" I shrieked in happiness.
She smiled. "You like it?"
I scoffed. "Like. I don't like it" her face fell.
I put my finger on her chin and raised her head. "I love it. Thanks"
I always did my hair in Dubai. My favourite hair salon was there. Even there, I haven't gotten my hair done this way before.
I didn't want to bother my stylist to come with me, especially after the gala was rescheduled.
I'm on a vacation and all my workers go on vacation and when I'm back to work, everyone gets back to work.
Wait... speaking of stylists.
I turned to her. "Can you become my stylist?"
She looked at me confused. "I'm sorry?"
I smiled. "Do you want to become my stylist and join my team?"
"Me?" She asked as she touched her chest.
I held her shoulder. "I want you to be my stylist... my personal hair stylist"
She shrieked in excitement and jumped in happiness.
"I can't believe this. You want me to be your personal stylist. Thank you so much. I'd be honoured"
"I'm glad you agree"
Sheesh. People have funny ways of showing excitement. Whenever I'm super excited, I simply go on an expensive solo trip and spoil myself.
"Good. Here's my card" I took out my card from my bag on one of the counters and gave it to her.
"Call me tonight. I'll speak with your employer and tell her I picked an interest in you and want you to be my stylist alone, and I'll also recommend this spa" I said.
One more person on the team. Lena was always complaining whenever it was time to pay salaries due to the high number of staff. I wonder what her reaction will be now.
Taking one last look at myself, I turned around and left the room.
A few more steps to go. Get my nails and makeup done, then pick my outfit, and I'll be ready for tonight.
Time to crush that gala.
As soon as my car came to a stop in the garage, I got a strange feeling. My outfit was arranged neatly inside a bag.
I entered the hotel and the attendants greeted me. I merely hummed to their greeting. As I approached the door, I felt really uncomfortable. My steps sounded so loud to my hearing like I was in a horror movie
I slid the key card and the door opened with a click.
I looked around immediately and saw Jonathan sitting by the wall. His knees were bent and his head was resting on his arm.
Why was he sitting there?
I shut the door and dropped my bags on the chair. He didn't raise his head.
"I'm back," I said.
He didn't say a word. Was this the important thing he had to do tonight? To prank me?
I moved closer and touched his shoulders. He didn't move. Fear creeped into my heart.
I reached forward and tried to raise his head. His body was cold. I raised his face and saw how pale he looked. I squatted on the floor in panic.
"Jonathan" I called him.
No response.
I hit his face softly to revive him.
"Jonathan"
My breaths came out loud and uneven, each breath raising my fear as my heart pounded in my chest.
I sucked in a shaky breath and called him again. I had already put my arms around him and made him lean on me.
"Jonathan, please" I begged.
I felt wetness in my ears. Before I could comprehend everything, the tears rolled down freely from my eyes.
I clutched his hands. They were ice cold. Was he poisoned or attacked? He was okay these past days.
I let the sobs come out as I called him and held his face.
"Jonathan"
Why did seeing him like this break my heart and make it ache?
I didn't care if I had makeup on or not. I used my hands to wipe the tears off my eyes.
I set him slowly and carefully against the wall and I rushed towards the chair to get my phone from my bag.
I quickly went to him and supported his body.
"Please, don't die on me" I sobbed harder.
I unlocked my phone to dial Lena's number, just then, her call came in.
I connected immediately.
"Something's wrong, Lena"
"I've got bad news" Lena and I said at the same time.
"What news could be worse than this?" I looked at Jonathan.
"Audrey, why are you crying?" Lena asked, alarmed.
"It's Jonathan... he's dead" my lips trembled when I said that.
"What" she screamed. "That can't be. Check his breathing"
I put my index and middle finger under his nose. His breathing was slow and uneven. I let out a sigh of relief. At least he still had hope.
"His body is so cold and his face is pale like he has no blood"
"Calm down Audrey. I just texted the doctor who treated him before. We're friends. He's on his way. Stop crying" she assured.
I held my chest and squeezed my clothes. I could feel my hard thumping hard.
"What bad news do you have?" I sniffed.
"I don't think you're in the right frame of mind to hear it". She said,
"It's okay. This alone has traumatized me. Nothing will be too worse to handle"
"I ran into someone who might complicate tonight" Lena said.
"Who and what kind of trouble?" I asked. I watched Jonathan as I spoke. I feared that if I took my eyes off him, something bad would happen.
"Maya Benjamin will be present at the gala tonight. She's Jonathan's childhood friend or childhood love and she has just enough leverage against you"
I scoffed. Maya! Who was that and what do I have to do with her?
"What leverage?" I asked.
She paused.
"Your fans?"
No way!
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