Dedicated to ChowChow394 for your lovely votes and comments! They make me so very happy! Thank you sweetie!

Picture of Karina (Victoria Justice) to the side. This chapter is unedited so please excuse the grammatical errors.

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Suzzanah's POV

Limping out of the elevator back towards my room, I couldn't help but feel unnerved. Those strange whispers had really spooked me. But had I really even heard them, or had it just been the wind sounding through the trees?

Roma had offered me some coffee but I had refused politely and told her I wanted to rest upstairs. I reached the room and quickly shook my head.

No! It had probably just been the wind. I'm being paranoid about nothing. It must be the exhaustion from yesterday that is getting to me. I'm starting to hear things.

I inhaled deeply letting the realization sink in, then exhaled and was about to open the door when I remembered that my roommate might be inside, so I knocked, but I didn't get a reply. I knocked again and still didn't hear anything so I opened the door and walked inside.

Sure enough she was there, lying on her bed with her ear phones plugged in and fast asleep. I sighed closing the door and limped to the bed. The rest of the day was uneventful. I fiddled with my laptop and attempted to brush my hair but gave up when I almost misplaced my hairbrush in it.

At lunch time my roommate got up and left wordlessly, ignoring my wide smile. Roma very kindly brought my meals up for me and replaced my bandages with new ones for which I thanked her multiple times. My wound still looked bad but it was healing well.

I impatiently waited for Mr. Talon to bring me my bag so I could get my phone and call my sister. Evening came and Mr. Talon arrived punctually with my handbag. When he came up to me I immediately hugged him and thanked him to which he squealed and wiggled away from me uncomfortably making me laugh. After making sure I was okay, he left after vehemently refusing to let me walk him to the door.

I found all my belongings in my bag and I sighed happily on sighting my phone. I mentally reminded myself to thank those two men who had saved me, whose names Mr. Talon had said were Derek and Mason, for even going through the trouble of finding my bag for me.

I plugged in the charger and connected my phone to it. Quickly switching it on, I dialed my sister's number and braced myself just in case that annoying guy from before picked up again. The call was received after the first ring.

"Anna?!"

My face instantly lit up with a dazzling smile as my sister's anxious voice calling me by my pet name filled my ears.

"Rina!" I exclaimed happily and I heard her let out a loud dramatic sigh.

"Thank goodness! I'm so glad you called. Are you okay? Where have you been? I've been worried sick about you!"

"I know, I know, I know, I'm so sorry. I wanted to call you earlier but yesterday was very..." I searched for a word to describe my adventure, "eventful and I didn't get a chance to. I'm sorry. But I'm really alright."

She sighed into the phone again, "Well, at least you're okay. I tried calling you like a billion times but your phone was switched off"

"It ran out of charge"

"What am I going to do with you?" she said and I could picture her shaking her head at me.

"By the way, who was that guy who picked up the phone when I called you earlier today?"

"Huh? A Guy? What guy?"

"I just asked you that", I said with a blank expression, "The guy who answered your phone when I called in the morning"

"You called in the morning?!"

My eyes widened in shock and then I felt anger fill me, he hadn't told Karina I had called!

"Yeah I did, using the landline here. Some jerk picked up the phone and told me to call in the evening using my cell phone and then he just hung up on me!"

There was short silence followed but a furious cry emitted by my sister, "Why that annoying, no good, son of a-"

"Karina! Language!"

"Jackal" she completed irritably and I smiled, 'So you do know him"

"Unfortunately", she replied sounding extremely annoyed, "He is the CEO of the company I'm designing the interiors for"

"He sounded young", I said, thinking of the CEO of Royale Industries who was also quite young.

"He is"

My eyebrows then rose in confusion, "So...why did the CEO have your phone?"

"I don't know! I gave it to my friend earlier, how on earth did he get his hands on it?"

"And he told me to call using my cell phone and not via landline, it was so strange."

"I know right! How dare he? Argh I could just kill that infuriating specimen of walking nonchalance!"

I was very surprised to hear my sister sound so angry. It wasn't rare for her to get mad , but this mad? This guy obviously had some serious skills in the annoying department.

"He is a jerk, just like you said, proud and arrogant. And for some obscure reason he's extremely fascinated by me. He just can't leave me alone!"

"You are alright though right? He isn't some crazy psychopath who'd spy on you or stalk you home is he?"

She snorted, "I'd like to see him try. I'll send him back in more pieces than there are in hairs on his head!"

I laughed and shook my head. While I had taken archery lessons when we were younger, my sister had taken self-defence classes, so I didn't doubt her words.

"Don't worry. I'll give him a piece of my mind later, two maybe. But for now, tell me about how you are. How do you like your new job? Where are you staying? Do you have a roommate?"

On hearing the word roommate, my high spirits fell and I sighed deeply before telling her all about my irritable roomie. She listened patiently to my every word, never once getting distracted. I told her I felt sad that my roommate harbored such dislike towards me even though she didn't even know me, and how she refused to talk to me.

"Sometimes the people who don't talk to you are the ones who really want to!" she said trying to sound professional and wise.

I snorted, "Yeah right! I highly doubt that's the case in this situation Rina. Why did I have to get stuck with such a difficult roomie?"

She was quiet for some time, and then asked, "You know, if she is so mean, then why not just leave her be? Why do you want to befriend her so bad?"

I bit my lip thinking about what she had just said and then answered the only thing that was always true for me, "Because I feel like it"

She laughed and the sweet nostalgic sound instantly made me feel warm and happy on the inside.

"Of course you do" she said knowingly, "In that case, don't let her cold attitude get you down hun. Remember, people's experiences make them who they are. Just because we can't understand them or how they act, doesn't mean they are wrong. They are just...different!"

I felt myself smile at her words. Karina was always kind, regardless of how mean someone was to her. Don't get me wrong, she wasn't a pushover. I was sure that if someone tried to mess with her she would not hesitate to break their bones, but she would probably also be the one to take them to the hospital to have their injuries treated. What could I say? She was weird like that.

She had always been the voice in my head that guided me through life. She had been the one who told me to live life to fullest and I think that was the reason I did what I felt like regardless of how silly it seemed, because I didn't want to have regrets later.

"Yeah, you're right! I'll just have to try harder and maybe she'll open up"

"That's my little sister! Now give me a hug!"

I laughed, "How?"

"Air hug silly!"

I shook my head and placed the phone between my head and shoulder, and I did the awkward motion of wrapping my hands around, well, nothing and flapping my wrists.

At the same instance the door opened and my roommate walked in wearing the same expression as the first time she had come in. I jumped and the phone slipped from my shoulder into my shirt.

"Eeeek!" I shrieked and started to wiggle and shimmy trying to get it to slide out of my shirt. While I continued my self-induced seizure I heard my roommate sigh heavily as she came and sat on her bed.

I felt myself blush as I finally managed to get my phone out from under my shirt. I quickly answered my sister who nearly died laughing when I told her what had happened. But then she had to go work again so she said she'd call me later to hear about my new job.

"Okay, take care of yourself!"

"Back at ya sweetheart. Bye. I love you Anna"

"Love you too Rina. Bye"

I heard a snort and turned my head to see my roommate rolling her eyes just as I cut the call.

"Did you say something?" I asked to which she didn't reply but simply turned away to face the wall.

I sighed and busied myself with the files Mr. Talon had brought with him. I spent the rest of the evening working on the files and typing mails. Roma very kindly brought dinner up for me and I ate alone as my roommate had left again. Later that night she had still not returned and I snuggled into bed, wondering where she was as I let sleep take over me.

***

A soft sniffing sound drifted to my ears waking me from my slumber. I rubbed my eyes sleepily but the sniffing went on, followed by soft gasps.

What was going on?

It was dark and it took my eyes sometime to adjust to the lack of light. My eyes shifted to the clock, its luminescent hands read 12:35 am.

I heard the sniffing again. It was coming from the bed opposite mine. I blinked and pushed my body up on my elbow.

"Hey", I said and immediately the sniffing and gasping stopped.

"What are you doing? Are you okay?" I asked sleepily.

She didn't reply yet again and I continued to stare at her dark figure.

Was she even awake? Or was I just hearing things like I had earlier?

A few seconds later when she still hadn't said anything I sighed.

"Alright well, goodnight", I said groggily, just in case she was awake and I lay back down, letting sleep take me almost immediately.

The next morning when I woke up, my roomie was gone. I spent my day monotonously working on the few files I had been sent from work and just staring at the walls in sheer boredom. My roommate didn't show up all day and when I woke up the next day she was still missing.

My days passed like that, filled with boredom and monotony save for the few nice conversations I could have with Roma. She was rather nice. My roomie had gone missing, and I was worried for her but Roma told me she'd return when she wanted to.

Finally my last day of house arrest arrived and I was feeling ecstatic. My leg was almost healed now so I went downstairs for breakfast, hoping to meet a few more people. But my hopes were crushed when there was no one at the table but my lately missing moody broody roommate.

I cringed. So she was back. I didn't want to deal with her rude behavior right now. But I guess I had no choice. Sighing internally I limped to the table to get myself some food. She looked up from her plate at me and I attempted a small smile but she looked away again.

Oh brother!

After getting my food I wondered if I should have sat next to her, opposite to her or far far away from her. The lattermost seemed like the wiser decision but that would also be a little rude, so I sat about two seats away from her, on the opposite side.

Okay Suzzanah, here goes nothing.

"Good morning!" my voice came out squeaky and high pitched, annoying not only her but also me.

She scowled and began to chew her cereal more ferociously making me cringe.

"How are you feeling this morning?" I asked smiling awkwardly to which she glared at me.

I gulped and continued, "You know...since the last time I saw you, you seemed a little angry and then you sort of went missing..."

She just rolled her eyes and I felt irritation seep into me. Sometimes people made it really hard to like them. People like this roommate of mine. So why was I still being nice to her?

Because I feel like it...

"So...where were you?"

"Don't talk to me"

Ah, she spoke!

"But why not?"

"Just don't!"

I groaned, "Don't be like that. I'm not asking for you to be my BFF or anything, why can't we just be civil with each other? Let's try and get along."

"I don't want to get along with someone like you?"

"What did I ever do to you?" I asked feeling offended, "You don't even know me!"

"Yeah and I don't plan on getting to know you either"

Suddenly I don't feel like it all that much...

"Can you at least tell me your name so I don't need to keep referring to you as 'my roommate' in my head whenever I think about you?"

"I can't believe you still don't know my name. And what the hell are you thinking about me for?" she looked at me disgustedly and I sighed in irritation.

"Your name?" I asked again.

"Forget it", she said stuffing her face again.

And...I don't feel like it...at all!

I shook my head and continued to eat. When I was nearly finishing my breakfast, she was still eating and it was her 4th helping. I stared at her in bewilderment before quickly getting up and walking toward the sink. When I was done washing my plate, I started making my way back to the room when she called out.

"Hey!"

To say I was shocked beyond belief would be a grave understatement. I turned towards her with wide eyes and a gaping mouth making her grimace and look away.

"Are you talking to me?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.

She glared at me, "Do you see anyone else in the room?"

I crossed my arms and over my chest and stared at her with a blank expression.

She grit her teeth, "Well?" she asked louder.

I shrugged, "You're the one who told me not to talk to you"

"Shut up! Don't act smart"

"Talk or shut up? Choose one please" I said rubbing my temples.

She scowled at me, then said, "I'm going to ask Roma for a change of rooms. So you should pack up your stuff"

I stared at her confused, "Why should I pack if you're leaving?"

"Not me, you are leaving!" she stated rudely and I narrowed my eyes at her, "I'm not going anywhere", I told her.

Her scowl deepened as she stood up, "Like hell you're not!"

"I'm not the one who has a problem with the rooming, you are. So you leave", I said with a shrug, "or stay or do whatever, it's your choice", I finished with a smile.

"Why you!" she growled walking up to me making my eyebrows rise, "I've been here a lot longer than you. That room upstairs is mine, do you hear me? I'm not leaving!"

"Great!" I said smiling wider making her anger change to confusion, "then I'll see you later-" I turned and walked toward the elevator, before turning around again and adding, "-roomie!" with a huge grin as the doors closed on her fuming face.

***

My roommate didn't come back till after dinner. While I was alone, I finished up the work I had been being sent by Mr. Penson. But my mind kept drifting to my very rude and irritable roomie putting me in a foul mood.

When I went for lunch that afternoon Roma told me that my roomie had asked for her to allot some other room to me but she had refused telling her that the rooming arrangements were final. The news had made my mood drop even more.

After dinner, Karina called. She had been extremely busy all week and we hadn't spoken at all, so I was ecstatic to talk to her again. We spoke for over an hour about her job, about the annoying dude who had picked up the phone and about her friends.

She narrated some of her experiences to me animatedly, especially the ones with the phone call jerk, making me laugh till my stomach hurt. The guy's name was Terrence, which Karina had told me before but as always, I had forgotten. And personally I thought was a handsome name.

And so was Zuerien...

WHAT? NO! What are you thinking you shameless brain! STOP RIGHT THERE!

I knew talking to her would cheer me up, it always did. When it was my turn I told her everything, about Mr. Talon, Mr. Penson, Master Cole and the CEO.

She had squealed into the phone when I told her about my first meeting with the CEO telling me that my experience sounded like something right out of a movie. I had blushed at first,  then I continued telling her about how I had splashed water all over myself and she almost fell off her chair laughing.

But unfortunately I forgot one grave detail and I only realized it when I came to the part about my stroll in the forest.

My accident...

I bit my lip wondering if I should tell her about my injuries, but I knew she would be terribly upset if she found out later. So I braced myself for the onslaught that was to come and told her about me climbing the tree and then...about my dramatic fall.

I heard a loud clatter of a chair hitting the ground and winced at the sound only to have my ear drums blown by my sister's frantic cries. She immediately bombarded me with questions and it took nearly 20 minutes for me to convince her that I was alright.

Around that time my roomie walked in looking tired and sweaty, giving me her classic glare. I just flashed her my biggest goofiest grin making her look at me like I had suddenly grown facial hair.

Karina started talking about getting ready to fly here to check up on me so I quickly snapped a picture of myself with that same goofy grin and sent it to her to reassure her.

"You look like crap", she said and I heard my roomie snort making me narrow my eyes at her, "At least comb your hair once in a while!"

"Gee thanks, really feelin the love sis", I said sarcastically while eyeing my roommate with suspicious eyes.

Had she really heard what my sister had said? It couldn't be...

On the phone I heard Karina sigh heavily, her voice was laced with sorrow immediately catching my attention again, "You look really tired", she said sadly and I smiled, "nah, not tired, just bored. Don't worry. I'm fine. My leg feels much better already"

"Which brainless nincompoop goes around climbing random trees in unknown forests in a pencil skirt?" she asked and I could have sworn I heard a silent cackle coming from my roomie making my eyes go wide as my sister continued, "You're not the modern female reincarnation of Tarzan! Don't ever try such a stunt again or I'll tape both your legs together and tie you to a wheelchair!"

"Oh please stop! Oh such love! I can't take this overload. Oh it's just too much!" I said over dramatically and immediately received a picture of her sticking her tongue out at me. I laughed and shook my head and I heard my roommate walk into the bathroom and close the door.

After Karina's little freak out, I refrained from telling her about the wolf or she would go berserk and start jumping continents to get to me, so I started telling her about the hospital incident and my skirt tearing and this time she did fall off the chair laughing.

"Please just sit on the floor", I told her blushing as she laughed at my embarrassing narratives, "because at this rate you're either gonna break that chair or your back"

But she continued laughing making me worry about what the people around her must have been thinking. At that exact instance I heard her drop the phone and for a few seconds I heard nothing but a lot of shuffling and muffled voices. A short while later my sister came back on line.

"Hey hun, I-I'll...have to call you back...is that alright?" she was whispering and I could tell she sounded embarrassed.

"Is something wrong?" I asked involuntarily whispering myself.

"He's here", she whispered back and I immediately knew by her irritated tone that it was that Terrence guy. I smirked.

"Ooooh! Well all the best sister dear", I whispered suggestively making her tell me to shut up before she kissed the phone and cut the line with an abrupt bye.

I shook my head at the phone and laughed softly when I heard a throat clearing behind me. I turned to see my freshly showered roomie standing with her hands crossed over her chest. She had changed into a white tank top and shorts.

"What?" I asked making her scrunch up her face, "Why are you whispering?"

My eyes widened, I hadn't realized I had whispered. I quickly cleared my throat and said louder this time, "What?"

She huffed before walking to her bed and sitting down facing me, "I'm not going to share a room with you" she told me, "I don't share what is mine!"

I sighed, "Can we not do this right now? I'm tired"

"I don't care, this room belongs to me!"

"Belonged to you", I stressed, "now it belongs to us", she grimaced at the word 'us' making me want to ruffle her feathers further so I added, "roomie" making her squeeze her eyes shut and scowl harder.

"Don't call me that!"

"Then tell me your name"

"No!"

"Fine by me, ROOMIE!"

"ARGH!" she yelled and shot off her bed with her hands fisting her hair in frustration.

Was it just me or did I hear her growl?

"This isn't going to work", she said glaring at the door.

I sighed, "Look, I told you before, I'm not leaving but it would be morally incorrect for the earlier owner to have to leave because of that. You don't like me", she snorted, "and I'm not exactly your biggest fan either", she glared, "so why can't we just compromise with each other?" I said making her look at me with uncertain eyes, "Lets act like grown-ups and just share-"

"No!" she immediately cut me off, "I will not share"

Ugh, this was getting nowhere; I thought slumping and shaking my head.

"I will definitely not share" she repeated making me look at her wearily, "but I'm willing to, as you said, compromise"

This caught my attention and I sat up straight. She inhaled deeply then stared me dead in the eyes

"Let's divide the room"

My eyes widened and my eyebrows disappeared into my hairline.

"This half of the room is mine and that half can be yours", she stated making me gawk at her, "I won't cross over to your side and you won't cross over to mine"

She couldn't be serious!

"No!" I refused vehemently, "that's ridiculous. The bathroom is on your side!"

She eyed the bathroom door and a wicked smirk made its way to her face and she shrugged nonchalantly, "Can't be helped! The bathroom is now my property!"

"You can't do that! Where will I bathe?"

"That's your problem, not mine. That's just how it's going to be now"

"I haven't agreed to this yet", I grit out.

"You may as well have", she said pointedly, "because this is the only way I'll agree to stay with you. You wanted me to compromise and now I want your cooperation"

"This is so unfair!"

"Life is unfair! Deal with it" she said coldly then smirked at me haughtily.

She got up and walked to her desk taking out some colored tape. I gawked at her as she pasted it in a straight line across the room dividing it into two equal halves such that the balcony was also divided into two. Then she got up and dusted her hands looking proud of her handiwork.

I gaped at her in disbelief before slowly taking in all that was on my side. My eyes slid over my desk, a half of the balcony, my bed, the door, a window- THE DOOR?!

My mouth fell open as I stared at the door before it slowly widened to a huge grin. My roomie noticed my sudden change of mood and her eyes drifted to the door and all of a sudden the tables had turned.

Now I was smirking and she was gaping in disbelief.

"The door-"

"Is now my property", I said smugly making her face contort in rage, "all the best getting down from the window or balcony, roomie" I added with a sickly sweet smile.

"You can't so that! That's not fair!"

I smirked at her, "Life is unfair! Deal with it"

Her face went red in fury as I continued to smirk at her.

"Fine then", I said after she had glared holes into all of the walls, "you share the bathroom, I'll share the door"

"No!"

I stared at her incredulously, "You're really going to be stubborn about this?" I asked, "You do realize you'll have to use the window or balcony every time you want to leave the room", she grimaced, "and you seem to do that a lot"

"Shut up, I know! I'll manage it somehow. It's none of your concern!"

With that she lay down on her bed and turned away to face the wall. I couldn't believe she was really doing this. Fine! If she wanted to be stupid about this, I'd just have to watch her accept defeat tomorrow when she would be unable to get down from the window, while making sure she didn't break her neck being stubborn about this.

***

The next morning by the time I woke up, she had left. I scowled at her bed. She must have taken advantage of the fact that I was asleep and used the door to leave. If this was going to work, we would have to establish a punishment for breaking the rules too. But for now, since she had used the door, I could use the bathroom too!

I crossed to the other side only to gasp in shock when I saw that she had locked the bathroom door. I don't remember the last time I had screamed that loudly in my entire life.

***

I managed to catch the staff bus and reach the office on time. That morning I had to ask Roma to let me borrow her bathroom to which she had laughed out loud but very graciously agreed. But I had been delayed due to all the running around and arrived at work looking like I had been thrown up by a tornado. Mr. Talon looked even worse as he took in my appearance.

"What ever happened to you?"

I smiled wearily at him, "Good morning Mr. Talon" I said, "it's good to be back"

"Yes yes, welcome back Ms. Winters", he replied shaking his head.

"Suzzanah"

"Huh?" he stopped at the door to my room with a confused expression as I made my way to the desk, placing my handbag on it and falling into the rotating chair with a sigh of relief.

I looked up at him with a smile, "Please come in, and call me Suzzanah from now. Ms. Winters is alright for everyone else I guess, since it can't be helped, but I would really like it if you would call me Suzzanah"

"I...I couldn't", he said looking away as he approached my desk.

I looked at him puzzled, "Why not?"

'Well because you're the Lu- LU-lu-lu-lu-lu-lu-"

Because I'm the Loo???

"The Looker! You're quite the looker! I mean, look at you, you're a complete mess!"

I stared at him with a blank face, "Mr. Talon, you do realize that that isn't the context in which being a 'looker' is used right? It's supposed to be a compliment not an insult"

"Is it?" he said fidgeting and looking around nervously, clearly not paying attention.

I sighed, "Please Mr. Talon", I said making him look at me, "Call me Suzzanah, it'll make me very happy, because you're my first friend here"

His eyes widened as he stared, his mouth opening and closing but no words coming out. I smiled at him.

"Okay?" I asked softly and he gave me a defeated look.

"Okay", he huffed, "but only when it's just the two of us. Not when others are here too"

I smiled warmly at him and felt it grow even wider when I was rewarded by his very own cute little smile, "Deal"

***

The day at work started off really well. Mr. Penson was welcomed me back I was happy to see that he was glad to have me back at work. I was looking forward to working again. I busied myself with mails, files and various other documents.

Even though my injuries were alright now Mr. Penson made sure most of my work could be done sitting down, and Mr. Talon kept coming to check up on me. It was wonderfully sweet of them and my respect and adoration for them just kept growing with time.

Master Cole and the CEO were out today, so the atmosphere was stress-free and quite relaxed. But that was only until the afternoon when I open my handbag to check my phone.

The minute I unzipped the handbag, my eyes landed on the thick white plastic bag. I immediately remembered that I had hurriedly packed the CEO's jacket on my way out. I quickly went to Mr. Talon's room to give it to him.

"Mr. Talon! I brought the CEO's jacket with me", I said to him as he looked up from his computer with wide eyes.

"Oh! I had forgotten you still had them with you", he said getting up and coming over to me with extended hands, "here let me take them. I'll give them to his PA"

Them?

I handed him the plastic bag and asked, "Why say them? There's only one jacket"

"But of course there isn't my dear, he gave you his jacket twice remember, and a different jacket at both instances", he said looking into the plastic bag.

My heart sped up a beat

"Uh...yeah I do remember but...those guys who saved me found the other one in the forest with my handbag..."

I trailed off as Mr. Talon's eyes went wide and he looked at me with shock clearly marring his features.

My heart started beating even faster

"They did find his jacket too...right?" I asked with my voice coming out squeaky and high pitched towards the end.

His face now portrayed pure dread as he shook his head slowly from side to side.

My heart went into overdrive

We both paled visibly as the realization of what that meant sunk into our skulls.

The CEO's other jacket...was still somewhere in the woods!

My heart exploded

***

A/N

C'est fini!

Hello my darling readers,

Two updates in a week :D A huge thanks to all the people who are taking time to read this story, and voting and commenting. It means the world to me. Thank you so much!

Hope you like the chapter. If you did, then please do vote and comment and continue to support this story.

Our beloved CEO Zuerien will be in the next chapter ;D

Until next time,

All my love

Angel