Elsa's POV

A lazy soul was forced awake when the sound of a head-splitting siren went off beside my head. I didn't want to go to work today but, bills needed to be paid and I needed to maintain my shelter and eat.

I searched for my phone in my ruffled-up sheets to message Jessie; my girlfriend. Ever since I got raped, I felt as if men were no good for me. But I would consider my self bisexual because I still found men attractive, and I was sexually drawn to them as well but, I preferred women also. So there was a 50:50% chance, but honestly speaking I was afraid of men so I preferred women most of the time.

I finally developed the strength and will to get out of bed. I groaned in annoyance as I let my feet touch the cold floor. When you're much too cheap to buy a cozy mat to put beside your bed, it's that moment in life when you realize that you need to change your habits.

I didn't know where my bedroom slippers were. My pet dog, Sledge always chewed on my shoes. So, I guessed he was making love to my bedroom slippers somewhere in the apartment. I looked at my watch and realized that I was late. I was the type of person that always lost track of time when I was under the shower. I'm either dancing, singing or imagining myself being a famous actress. Daydreaming under the shower was my favorite thing to do.

I forced down a cup of coffee and a piece of toast, gave Sledge his breakfast and left some extra food for him in the living room, then I hurried out of the apartment. I got into my mini car, which was not too fancy nor too dull and drove my late ass to work.

"You are late again Ms. Elsa." My boss gave me the eyes of doom when she saw me walked in late. But hey she can kiss my ass because this job didn't pay me that much. It was a surprise that I still had my job though, afterall, I was a late bird.

"I am so sorry boss, I promise it won't happen again." I innocently replied to her words of scolding.

"I have nothing to say to you," she said without even looking at me. My boss walked away with her give up look because she knew that I would never stop being so damn late. I signed the time book then went to my desk and prepared myself to deal with annoying customers and be kind to them. Always remember guys, the customer is always right; said no employee ever!

I checked my phone to see if Jessie messaged me but seemed like she was not awake yet. She took a day off from work because she wasn't feeling well. Her 23rd birthday party hangover was still messing with her head. So, I just decided to head over to her place after work to surprise her.

I never understood why people had to work, like why can't money just grow on trees. Graduating College was hard enough for me and now University was killing me out as well. Thankfully I was on my three weeks semester break from University, so I had time to relax when I got home. I only had one more semester to complete and I would finally attain my degree in Economics.

I grabbed my bag and told my colleagues Adios, seemed like some of them rather stay in the hell hole than to go home as soon as their shift was over. Yeah, I know I was not the type of person who's loyal to my workplace, but hey; I wasn't about to stay in work overtime unless I got paid for doing that shit. And frankly speaking, working at a call center wasn't that charming as well.

I was on my way to check up on Jessie when suddenly, my car started to slow down, I pulled into a corner and tried restarting it but that didn't help. Luck was my enemy most of the time, sometimes I'm compelled to think that I'm cursed or some shit. I know I can get emotionally spiritual over little things.

I decided to leave my car on the roadside until I got a mechanic, and walked to the nearest bus stop to get the next bus home. I changed my mind about visiting Jessie, I was just going to try to call her again when I got home. I got to the nearest bus stop and the next bus was 15 minutes late.

I sat on the bench looking down at my phone reading a Wattpad book, just to let time fly by while I waited for the bus. I would have called an Uber, but my purse wasn't that good at the time, neither were my credit cards, one bad move and your girl was about to be bankrupt.

I looked up to see if the bus was coming because the wind started to get cold and the sky was turning grey. I hated grey skies, they always brought back terrible memories. The rain was coming and I had no umbrella or coat, all I could have done was hope for the bus to arrive before it started to rain. I sat down on the bench with my eyes stuck to my phone in hopes of seeing Jessie reply to me because I started to get worried. It wasn't long after I heard the bus beeped to let passengers know it was near.

I stood up to enter the bus, I paid my fare and searched for a seat. I ended up sitting next to an old woman who carried her pet Chihuahua that constantly groaned at me. I had faith that I would reach home safe without any dog bites because that Chihuahua was vicious to me as if I wanted to steal its food. Bitch, I wasn't that desperate.

I hopped out of the bus and while I made my way up to my apartment I saw a very familiar face, and when I say familiar face I literally meant that the image ripped my vision apart. I had to look twice before I confirmed my assumption, then a weight dropped on my heart as soon as I realized that it was actually him.

"Mr. Carlton?"

He tilted his head to my side and looked at me, he was confused because it had been years since I hadn't seen him and he hadn't seen me. So, I wouldn't blame him for looking at a 24-year-old woman and wondered who she was.

"I'm sorry, do I know you?" the confused look on his face made me eager to tell him who I was.

"It's me, Elsa, you used to be my foster parent?" I was devastated by the fact that I had ended my statement and it sounded like a question as if I wasn't sure. It took him a few moments to comprehend what I said then I saw a frown stretched across his face. He now knew exactly who I was.

He placed his hands on top of his head and let his fingers slide through his thin blonde hair, for a man of his age he was sure attractive though. He walked towards me giving me a tight hug which I really missed, and I wrapped my arms around him like I used to.

"Oh my God, Elsa honey, it's been so long!"

He pulled back observing me fully to see how big; well not big but old I had gotten, and he kept smiling. He placed a cold kiss on both of my cheeks and complimented me on how beautiful I've become. His old age probably gave him a bad vision because I kept wondering who he was referring to when he said beautiful, all I saw in the glass door's reflection was a potato.

"I am fine Mr. Carlton, it's been so long. You and Mr. Garfield are quite hard to forget."

His smile was suddenly wiped off his face and he had this hostile look when I mentioned Mr. Garfield and his name in the same sentence. An intense tension started to build up between us and I didn't like it, Mr. Carlton fiercely hit his tightened fist on his lower thigh while he stared at the concrete floor grinding his teeth together. I saw his jawline becoming more defined and veins struggled as they raised in pressure.

"Why would you even want to remember such a disgusting man!" he said in anger.

He placed his hand on my shoulders and as I stared into his eyes, the memories came back again when he whispered so only I could hear. "I wish I was there to save you that night."

My heart rate increased and my eyes blistered, my mouth started to cringe. I tried my best to hold in my tears as Mr. Carlton pulled me in for a comforting hug. When Mr. Carlton broke off with Mr. Garfield, it was heartbreaking for me. I was left to live with Mr. Garfield, he made me feel safe but that was until he started operating an illegal nightclub in his underground garage. He left his well-paid job and he turned to dealing with drugs. Night after night people would come and go, he would lock me in my room but that one night when he forgot to lock my door, that was the night everything went wrong.

"You made it Elsa, you made it and I'm proud of you."

I pulled away from his hug; which I regretted and looked at Mr. Carlton giving him a fake smile which he accepted.

He smiled and quickly changed the topic before I had the chance to ask where Mr. Garfield was now. Anyways, it was best for me to not ask questions and get answers that would have made me cry in front of him.

"So, Elsa what are you doing here?" he questioned.

"I actually live here Mr. Carlton, what are you doing here?" I asked politely.

"Oh, I just came here to visit my son Jabare, he's staying here for a month, he's just on a business trip."

I was guessing Mr. Carlton adopted a son after his separation from Mr. Garfield.

"Son? Adopted?" I was curious to know so I didn't hesitate to ask.

"Haha, no dear I have children now, none of them were adopted," He responded.

I was shocked, I thought Mr. Carlton was gay, now I understood why he divorced Mr. Garfield and left with a woman that day. I remembered that I woke up to a loud argument which led me to sneak downstairs and listen to them insult each other and confronted the situation of Mr. Carlton cheating.

He was bisexual but he gave up a ten-years relationship to be with a woman. That was something I believed I would never understand.

"Wow, that's great!" I faded my thoughts and responded to him before I found out anything else that would confuse me.

"Aww Elsa sweetie, we have a lot to catch up on. I have to go now, give me your number so I could contact you whenever I'm in town." He said to me while he looked at something on his apple watch.

I gave Mr. Carlton my number and then headed up to my apartment. On my way up, I contacted my friend Jason; who was a mechanic, to tow my car back to his garage and fix it.

While I stood and waited for the elevator to return, a young man rushed past me shouting Dad...wait!

I turned around to see where he was heading and realized that he was trying to stop Mr. Carlton. I was lying if I said Mr. Carlton had an ugly son because his son was freaking hot.

But I guessed he was a no-good bastard as well, because with looks like that; he was probably a playboy; and a badass one too, judging from his well-built body and his tattoos.