Chapter 22
Act II, Scene XIV: The Nomad, Greenwich
Kalina
C harlie sent me tickets and a link to a music festival.
Which was certainly a…surprise.
I’m sure I could endure a night of crowds, extremely loud music, and flashing lights.
It would be fine.
I messaged Charlie with an update as I left work, responding to the last text he’d sent earlier.
Hi, I’m leaving the office now. See you soon.
18:30
My plan was simple; meet Charlie and have a good time together.
Easy right?
I got home and stared at the outfit on my bed. With a lot of research, and not a lot of work during the day, I’d discovered The Nomad was a themed music festival held indoors and often ran late into the night.
Dressing up made it all worthwhile.
I took my time to shower, carefully apply my makeup, and change into a leather skirt that’d been gathering dust in my wardrobe. Tonight was it’s time to shine.
An hour later I popped my earphones in as I walked to the Tube.
Charlie was surprised I hadn’t immediately started the next book in the series but, between work and the need to sleep, I couldn’t bring myself to it.
Five minutes later I had the entire series of eight books, in audiobook format, delivered to my phone. Charlie was an all or nothing kind of guy.
I found a seat and settled in to continue where I’d left off. Book two was a second chance romance where the characters went through nearly ten years of heartache before finding each other again. I knew it was going to break me in the best possible way.
I could only hope my dreams remained Titan free for the rest of the series.
An hour later, the rakish love interest watched the main character dancing at the ball with another suitor and I’d arrived at my stop.
A warehouse larger than La Nova, but less creepy looking, came into view. People were crowded at the entrance receiving wristbands, the music was loud and vibrated all the way to where I stood, and everyone was dressed up in either an extremely sexy costume or one that seemed impractical for the space. They looked great.
‘Hi. Do you have tickets or would you like to purchase at the door?’ a young woman asked.
I lifted my phone with the QR code on the screen. ‘I’m waiting for someone. This is his ticket as well.’
‘Great, I can give you his band and you can give it to him when he arrives.’ She scanned the code and looked at the screen before giving me two aqua coloured bands. ‘This is for your entrance.’ She pulled out two gold bands. ‘And this is for the VIP section’
‘Oh.’ I obviously didn’t read the tickets correctly, but it felt like something Charlie would’ve done.
‘Here’s a map of the layout and lineup. Enjoy.’ the woman said.
I put the map in the pocket of my coat, slipped two of the bands onto my wrist, and the others into my bag, then walked through the doors.
Two things happened then; the crowds cheered, sending a wave of sound over me, and the band shouted loudly into their mics.
‘Perfect,’ I mumbled.
My earphones beeped in my ears and my stomach dropped. I rummaged through my bag for the case and the little yellow light flashed. I could’ve sworn it was green when I pulled the charging cable out earlier in the day, but it meant I only had about an hour of noise dulling.
Charlie would be here soon and I’d be okay.
I’m here.
19:45
The message wasn’t delivered to Charlie, but maybe his phone had died on the way. I’d stay close to the entrance just in case.
Ten minutes turned into thirty, which turned into an hour. I needed to find something to eat and drink. He’d find me when he came?
‘Oh, fuck it.’
I glanced at the map, to figure out where the bar and food was. It was really well thought out and the directional signage was excellent. I needed to look into the event organisers when I got a chance.
‘Food,’ I said to myself. I followed the green path on the map until I reached a veranda with food and beverage vendors. There was bunting and lights strung overhead creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
The hardest thing to do was choose; between pizza, dumplings, and wraps. With another glance at my phone, and still no response from Charlie, the pizza won.
I popped two lactase pills and walked toward the yellow neon sign.
My earphones died.
It was getting close to ten p.m. and there was no sign of Charlie.
Texts had gone unread and phone calls went straight to voicemail.
No need to panic. There must be a valid explanation.
I could leave, go home, and figure this out in the morning.
I squeezed through the crowd, aiming for the door when I knocked into someone.
‘Sorry,’ I mumbled, knowing they wouldn’t hear me even if I shouted.
The guy braced his hands on my upper arms and his gaze roamed down my body. ‘No worries.’
I tried moving out of his grasp but he tightened it
‘Where are you going? Stay. Let’s dance.’
‘No thank you.’ I pulled back, harder now, and managed to get free. I turned and nearly sprinted to the door.
As soon as I was outside, I exhaled loudly.
I reached for my phone and wanted to call a car when footsteps sounded behind me.
‘Are you here with anyone?’ It was the same guy.
I plastered a smile on my face before I replied, ‘Yeah. Getting some air. My friends are waiting for me.’
‘Oh. So, you wouldn’t mind if I stayed outside with you for a while? Don’t want you out here all alone.’
I didn’t know how to respond.
‘You’re really sexy. I love your outfit.’ He ogled my thighs and exposed midriff through the sheer fabric.
I regretted wearing this outfit now.
I could call a car or walk to the Tube But, both of those seemed like bad ideas. What if he tried to get into the car with me? Or followed me?
‘I should get back to my friends.’
‘Great, I’ll walk you.’
‘Actually, I wanted to find the ladies.’
‘I can show you.’
I swallowed back tears as he stepped closer and placed a hand, firm and sure, on my back. I had no idea what my next step was. My heart thrummed in my ears and the pizza made its way back up my throat.
We walked toward the side of the building where a line had grown and when it was my turn, I ducked into the nearest stall. My hands shook as I scrolled through my phone and tried Charlie’s number again.
‘ The number you have dialled is not available, please…’
Voicemail again.
Fuck.
I could call Savi. Or Ted. But it was late.
My breath started rattling and tears pricked my eyes. This was not okay. I was not okay.
My thoughts slowed. There was one person I could call.
But we hadn’t spoken to each other since my birthday.
Did I have much of a choice?
He could’ve been out with someone. Was this really the best idea?
My body decided before my brain could, and I hit the call button.
He answered on the first ring.
‘Kalina?’ Concern laced his voice. Ambient noise flowed through the earpiece.
I hadn’t thought about what he might be doing. Or who he was with.
‘Hi,’ I said, and tears of relief pooled in my eyes. ‘I’m really sorry to do this. I was meant to meet Charlie, and I have no idea where he is. I’m kind of stranded and scared and I didn’t know who else to call—’
‘Where are you?’ his voice went taut and I heard rustling on his end.
‘Some club…Studio something? In Greenwich. I can send you the location?’ My voice cracked and the tears threatened to flow over.
‘I’ll be there in fifteen minutes, stay inside,’ his voice was rough. ‘Are you safe?’
‘There’s this guy, he won’t leave me alone.’
‘Okay. Where are you?’
‘In the bathroom. But the one beside the building. I was trying to shake him off.’
‘Wait there.’ He dropped the call.
I cleaned up my face and splashed some water on my neck.
He was coming.
Everything would be okay.
I tossed my phone into my pocket
‘Pull yourself together Kalina,’ I said to myself. I waited for as long as I could in the stall, but the minutes didn’t seem to go by fast enough.
‘Hey.’ Banging sounded on the door. ‘Come on, I need to use the loo.’
Fuck.
I unlatched the door and was met by the face of an upset girl with beautiful silver eyeshadow.
‘Sorry.’
She scoffed and pushed into the stall, leaving me face to face with the stranger. His eyes shone with purpose.
‘I have to go. My friend is here.’ I added an apologetic shrug.
‘Oh, that’s too bad. But, let me make sure you get there safely.’
It’d been nearly ten minutes. Titan could be here by the time I reached the drop off zone on the other side of the building.
‘Okay. Thank you.’ I kept a polite smile on my face, while my hands shook beside me.
I took the smallest steps I could as I passed the entrance. A group of smokers stood to one side and when we turned the corner a car pulled away with some party goers calling it a night.
‘Finally got you alone,’ he said, a harshness laced his words as he advanced on me.
My back hit the wall and my heart sank down into my stomach as I realised the parking spot was deserted.