Death stalks you, child.

I closed my eyes tightly and craned my neck to the side. My phone buzzed from beside me and I jumped coming out of the memory. A shiver raked through my body and I had this uneasy feeling of being watched or that I was not alone in my apartment.

I couldn't get Marianne's face out of my head. The fear in her eyes the moment she saw me as if I were the Grimm incarnate.

I shook my head and picked up my phone. It was Ben telling me he was outside the building to take me to work.

I stood up from the kitchen table and dumped my untouched cereal in the sink. I'd just get something to eat later. I had no appetite.

I knew my body would fail on me. No food, no sleep. I was going to crash. I just needed to hold out and make it till the afternoon. I was going to meet with Marianne.

I'd follow her strange request of meeting her alone. I didn't tell Ben anything about it. I grabbed the present I got for Zane's birthday and walked out of the apartment.

I walked out of the building to Ben's car which was parked on the curb. I yanked his car door open plastering a smile on my face hoping it would make me appear more bright and lively and hide that there was something wrong.

"No freaking way it's Monday," Ben and Zane were arguing.

"Ah come on I'm only going to turn twenty-three once. I want my college roommate back not this grandpa," Zane chastised.

"Come on you know how you get when we go to the Valley."

The Valley was a bar Zane would like to celebrate his birthday in every year. It was a tradition for him to complete the same amount of tequila shots as his age. It ended with him being shit-faced and me and Ben carrying home.

Last year he almost threw up on me. If Ben hadn't pushed me out the way I would have been scarred for life.

"Val what do you say the Valley tonight?" Zane asked.

I smiled and kissed him on his cheek. "Happy Birthday." I dropped the small square package on his lap, changing the topic.

"Aww, sweetness you shouldn't have," Zane smiled from ear to ear.

I rolled my eyes. "Just open it."

He ripped off the paper and the look on his face was priceless. It was one of the reasons I enjoyed giving gifts the look on someone's face when they realize how much you know them.

"Metallica's entire album," he gasped touching the cover of the case. "Sweetness I-" he was speechless and then he reached over and hugged me. "Thank you so much." He kissed my cheek.

"You're welcome." He pulled back and then Ben started the car.

The one day a year she has to be nice to you," Ben laughed.

"Don't be jealous because she loves me. She might even love me more than she loves you," Zane teased.

Ben laughed and looked up at me in the car's review mirror. "Oh fuck off."

"Green is unbecoming of you Benjamin."

"If you want a beating for your birthday just ask," Ben growled.

I stifled a yawn. My eyeballs felt dry and my body felt creaky. I felt like the tin man in need of oil. My muscles were sore and I felt like the life was draining out of me.

"Did you sleep last night?" Ben asked and his voice echoed in my head as my temple throbbed.

"Yeah." I slept for two hours. My skull felt like it was going to crack open.

"You don't look so good sweetness," Zane's voice was one of worry mirroring Ben's.

I shut my eyes tightly praying for a second wind or third wind to kick in so I could manage the day. I forced a smile on my face. "I'm fine it's nothing. Just Monday I guess."

"Val I can take you to a doctor if you not feeling well," Ben suggested.

"Ben please I'm fine trust me," I said and he clenched his jaw.

They let the topic go and Ben stopped outside my work building. I wished them both a good day and made my way into the building. I was lucky that the elevator wasn't occupied and I stepped in pressing the button for the third floor.

The lift went up and I leaned against the cool wall. It dinged and I stepped out to see Camilla standing against my front desk. She was wearing a blue silk dress that sat on her knees and revealed her shoulders. "I got good news and bad news. Which would you like first?" She asked with a stern expression on her face which immediately alerted me that something was seriously wrong.

"If the bad news out ways whatever that could possibly be good and surrenders the good news moot due to the extensity. I choose the bad first."

She chuckled. "Wow. But okay let's get to it. Determining how future events go you will no longer be my assistant."

I gulped hard at that. "Am I fired?" The words came out choked. "Camilla I deeply apologize for Friday. I promise to make-" she cut me off with laughter.

"I think you should hear the good news first. As you might already know Mr. Ortega is planning on resigning at the end of the month. I've spoken to Brosnan about the new position opening and I told him he should give you a shot." My eyes widened and I stood on the spot frozen on the good news. But was it really good. I felt sad that Nick was leaving and I had a very strong feeling that if he left I would never see him again.

"Camilla, why did Nick say he wanted to leave?" I asked and she did a double-take.

"Beats me. Can barely get two words out of the man. But this is a great opportunity, Valerie. Once in a lifetime. Brosnan has agreed to allow you to write one article for the Live category. Now I will relieve you of being my assistant and going down to Mr. Ortega's offices so you can get familiar with the place."

Excitement or sadness. The feelings were mixed. Two feelings that didn't belong in the same bottle together. Water and oil. Oil being the excitement of sinking and laying in the bottom of the bottle.

"Valerie you confuse me what is that look. I know Mr. Ortega can be a bit domineering at times but think of it. He has two weeks left to serve and then he'll be gone. Can't you just put up with two weeks? Opportunities like this don't come around often you know."

But how could I tell her I didn't want Nick's job because it meant him leaving. Yes, he was rude around me and said things I didn't understand most of the time. But somehow I didn't believe it was him. Maybe I was crazy but my mind chose to believe that there was more to Nick than he let me see.

How would things be once he left. I had nightmares of watching him die. What state would I be in not knowing where he was and if he was okay or not. If he left would the man in my dreams go back to being faceless.

"As your boss Valerie. I demand that you go down to Mr. Ortega's offices and get a fresh look at the job and speak with the researchers. Your first article is due in two weeks." Camilla's demand brought me back.

"What about you. You need an assistant." Camilla gawked at me like I was speaking another language altogether she never heard of.

"Do you not understand that an editor's pay is ten times what I pay you to be my assistant. Are you afraid of success or something?"

Afraid of success no. Afraid of what the future had in store, yes I was terrified. "That's it enough talking. I gave you an order," she told me and I nodded.

"Yes mam," I said and she walked me back to the elevator.

"Great my office later for lunch?" She asked in a lighter tone and I nodded with a smile on my face. We always had lunch together in her office.

The elevator doors closed and I broke my knuckles one by one. Oh, this was not good. Nick would not be happy to see me. The elevator stopped and I walked out onto the second floor that looked just like the third.

Nick's assistant Tatum sat at the front desk. She eyed me cautiously as I walked up to her desk and I wondered if I managed to push these mixed feelings below the surface and got the job if Tatum would be my assistant unless she was also a potential candidate for the job.

Her one dark eyebrow rose almost touching her hairline as her Cleopatra-like eyes narrowed and her black-stained lip dipped as I approached her desk. "Good morning," I greeted and her face remained neutral.

"Good morning Miss Hudson. Can I help you?" She asked and I was surprised that she knew my name.

"Is Mr. Ortega in?"

"Yes," was her simple answer as her eyebrow rose in an arch as she tried to decipher my next question.

"Is he busy?"

"It is a workplace after all Miss Hudson." Wow, she mirrors her boss to the T.

Dr. Evil got himself a mini-me.

"Can I speak with him?"

"If you must," she said in a tired voice.

"Oh, I insist," I said and she glowered at me before I could turn to go find Nick's office.

His name was on the door and I knocked lightly inhaling and exhaling frantically allowing my brain to absorb much-needed oxygen because I tended to hold my breath and stop breathing altogether when I was near him.

Suddenly the door was being pulled open and I came face to face with Nick. He was dressed in black. Black slacks and shirt. His blue eyes landed on me and I forgot what I wanted to say.

"Miss Hudson, can I help you?" He asked formally. To think he comforted me last Friday. His arms around me my head on his chest as I cried. I had to push those thoughts away immediately. It's like he already forgot about it anyway.

He walked back into his office and took a seat at his desk. His eyes looking everywhere else in the room but at me.

"Yes. I was pitched to Brosnan to take your job after you left. Brosnan wants me to write an article and then he will determine whether I get the job or not."

I could have sworn I saw a smile tug at the complicated man's face but it was gone in a flash. "Interesting and I suppose you here to gloat." He smiled. The amusement clear on his face.

"No I'm here because for the next two weeks I need to gather information about the article I'm meant to write as well as learn your job," I told him and he gulped realizing he would be spending time with me.

"The job is fairly simple an English-speaking monkey can do it!" He sounded outraged.

"Listen I'm just following orders and hoping to get somewhere in my career. I wouldn't bother you. I just need the research an article is not going to form out of thin air."

He looked at me something like fear washing over his facial features. "If it is necessary fine."

"Great where do you keep all the past articles you've written?" I asked and he rolled his eyes standing up.

"Plagiarism is barely a skill Miss Hudson." He walked over to a filing cabinet and pulled it open.

"I don't plan on plagiarizing anything, Mr. Ortega. I'm simply researching your writing style."

He dropped a stack of papers on the table in front of me. "Have at it," he told me and then moved to walk out of the office.

I took a look at the first article. It was titled: Searching for adventure.

Nick's starting words of the article were Don't wait for the adventure make the memories today. The article went on for about five hundred and thirty-two words about the best places in New York to live and make those memories. The articles were goading people into taking more calculated risks and being spontaneous.

I didn't know how long I sat in his office hunched over past articles. His next article started with a quote from Joe Lewis it read: you only live once but if you do it right once is enough.

The quote somehow hit home with me and I wondered why he had chosen it. I scanned through more articles where he got advice from experts, gurus, and life coaches by conducted interviews.

I continued to read more and more articles and each one got deeper than the next. Nick imparting some of his thoughts being bolder with each new article. I figured he got more comfortable speaking his mind.

The office door opened again and I didn't have to look to know it was Nick. "You still here," he voiced in surprise.

"Uh-huh."

"Valerie it's noon. You haven't had lunch yet."

"In a minute."

"Go have lunch immediately," he ordered me and I looked up at him.

"I'm not hungry." His eyes challenged mine it was a staring contest as his narrowed. I broke away immediately unable to bear the intensity.

He left the office again slamming the door shut behind him. I rolled my eyes what a drama queen. I went back to reading the article. Making a mental note on how he would base real-life scenarios on whatever he was meant to be advertising.

A few minutes later there was a sandwich being placed in front of me with a cup of coffee. The bread of the sandwich was wheat and it was grilled with no tomatoes and no lettuce.

It was my idea of a perfect grilled cheese. I looked up at him in astonishment. How could he get it so right without even trying. "Eat he growled. I don't need you fainting."

And just like that the magic and awe of the moment were gone. I glowered back at him. "Thanks."

Nick sat at his desk and busied himself on his computer. It was hard to concentrate for a while and I gave up taking a break and eating. As I ate I pretended to be reading so I didn't stare at him. I would have looked around the room but I didn't trust my eyes to keep landing back on him.

He was the most interesting thing to me in the mundane room. The dramatic paintings with flourishes of color on the walls or the view of New York City from his window were something ordinary.

I read the same line in the article over and over and then realizing that I took too much time staring at the same page I quickly changed it. When I allowed myself to steal a glance at Nick I saw a discreet smile on his face as he stared at his computer.

I had so many questions for him and I didn't know where to start. My body was comfortable around him but my head knew better than to pry but there was this nagging feeling gnawing at me to ask him whatever I felt like. I wasn't intimidated by him as much as I wanted to dislike him I couldn't.

"So Mr. Ortgea why is it that you are leaving?" He looked up from his computer his jaw ticking.

"Personal reasons," he answered bluntly and I took those words to mean shut the hell up. I sighed and looked back down at the papers. I wasn't a sucker for punishment but here I was again making a fool of myself.

I heard him sigh, "New York is not safe, and the longer I'm here I'm putting the person I love at risk," he suddenly spoke and I looked up to meet his eyes.

I was so stupid to think that a guy like him was single of course he was in a relationship. "I didn't know you were in a relationship," the words stung to say out loud.

I was jealous.

He snorted and it was cute. "It's a lot more complicated than that," he said meeting my eyes and then looking away again.

I don't know why I was interested but I was. "So you leaving the city with her?" I pried knowing that he would soon have enough of me.

His eyes met mine again and this time a serious expression on his face. "Leaving the city would ensure her safety, and I would do anything for her."

Again I felt like he answered my questions but didn't.

I left the conversation there not wanting to irritate him or he would kick me out of his office. My back ached sitting in the chair so I stood and took the notes from the table to the couch in the corner of the room. I figured Nick would like some space to work.

The couch was comfortable it absorbed me in and I crossed my legs and rested my head back as I read.

The sky was perfect; bright blue, sun peaking through clusters of clouds perfect. The air smelt earthy of grass and sand... maybe that's because I was laying on the ground?

I felt a tingling sensation on my palm and I turned my head slowly. Nick? I asked and he smiled at me. "I haven't seen you smile in days my love," he touched my face playing with a strand of my hair and I leaned into his touch.  "If I could freeze this moment with you forever," he kissed the back of my hand.

I heard myself laugh."But you can't." Wait why did I say that what were we talking about.

"Do what your mother says for now. I promise we will find a way out of this."

What was he talking about?

Something is wrong.

I tried to ask him but I couldn't. What was happening?

"Valerie," Nick called and I shifted and opened my eyes. My head was resting on the armrest and my legs were hiked up.

I rubbed a hand down my face and then I sat up running a hand through my hair. I blinked a few times until I realized something. I didn't have a nightmare.

I stood up from the seat so fast that I startled Nick. I had a dream. It was a good dream. "I had a dream!" I declared like a mad person. "I didn't die."

Nick's eyes widened and he walked away from me and went to stand by his desk. His breathing changed. "You should go home." He looked away from me as he spoke, but I could tell he was deeply disturbed about something.

"Nick are you..."

"Go home now Valerie!" Nick's voice was hard as he glared at me. His jaw clenched again and he loosened the top button of his shirt. "Shit," he cursed under his breath and kicked the trash can by his desk startling me.

He looked so angry.

Tears pricked at my eyes when I noticed the contrast between the Nick from my dream and the one in my reality.

The Nick from my dream seemed so real. He looked at me with so much admiration and then this Nick was just mean without reason. I wanted the one from my dream.

I wasn't going to show him I was crying. "You're a jerk," I told him and I moved to the door.

"You may think so but it's better this way," he said his voice breaking off in the end.

"You know I've been nothing but nice to you. Do you know how fucking frustrating you are, but I'm tired of your shit. Brosnan can give the position to someone else. " I growled and he swallowed hard and shut his tightly. It almost looked like he was hurt and before I said anything else I would come to regret I walked out of his office and slammed the door behind myself.

He could complain to Camilla about how rude I was. I didn't care. I'd find another job. I'd work in a book store or star bucks.

I had to tell myself anything was better than spending two weeks with Nick but I knew it was a lie. I still couldn't bring myself to hate him and I wanted to hate him so badly. Hot tears spilled down my cheeks and I sniffled.

I took the elevator and pulled out the piece of paper in my back pocket that had Marianne's home address. I sent Ben a text telling him I was going to the mall since I finished work early and then I switched off my phone.
**********************************************

A/N

I apologize for the late update. I've been really busy with assignments. Updates should return to normal after the 5th of May.

So do you guys think Nick will tell Valerie the truth about what's going on or will she have to figure it out herself.

💜P. A