Page 38 of Caffeine & Chaos

Gratefully, Ryan smiled at her. “I’ll have Armand take you home to pack some things. I need to go by the office to tie up some loose ends before we leave.”

Less than ten minutes later, they were on their way out the door, stepping into the company cars Ryan had arranged. Nadia hopped into one with Armand, while Ryan, already engrossed in a phone call, entered the other car. Despite the visible stress, Nadia noted Ryan’s sense of control return as she watched him disappear behind the tinted glass.

Nadia’s thoughts swirled with concern as she imagined what would unfold in the days ahead. Ryan’s uncharacteristic explosiveness at the hotel lingered in her mind, chipping away her confidence to endure his familial turmoil. Going to Montana was shaping up to be far from the typical romantic getaway most couples experienced on their first trip together.

Twenty tense and silent minutes later, the car pulled up outside Nadia’s apartment. It seemed that Armand was already privy to the situation with Ryan’s mother.

“Can you give me an hour to get cleaned up and packed, Armand?” Nadia requested as she stepped out of the car, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

“Actually, Miss Moore, my instructions are to return to pick you up at twelve,” Armand responded solemnly, his demeanor confirming his prior knowledge of the situation.

“Thanks,” Nadia said as she stepped onto the curb. Ryan’s rush to leave contrasted with the generous five-hour window he gave her. Maybe he had some pressing matters to sort out. She shrugged it off and flashed a smile at her morning doorman.

“Morning, Miss Moore. You’re looking sharp,” Tim greeted her with a mischievous grin. It was still early, and Nadia couldn’t help but feel a tad embarrassed for showing up at this hour, disheveled once again. At least this time, she was dressed more appropriately.

“Thanks, Tim,” Nadia replied with a smile, resisting the urge to offer an explanation for her early morning return.

Tim followed her inside and headed to the security desk. “Got another package for you last night. That makes three this week. Either you’ve got a secret admirer or a serious online shopping addiction,” he quipped, stifling a laugh.

Nadia furrowed her brow in confusion as Tim handed her the package. Why would Ryan send her a gift last night when they were together? It didn’t add up. She took the package from Tim and immediately recognized the familiar yellow and white polka-dot wrapping paper. It was the same paper the daisies had been wrapped in.

Nadia’s hands trembled as she held the package, her mind racing. Who was sending these?

“Everything alright, Miss?” Tim’s concerned voice broke through Nadia’s thoughts.

Nadia tried to shake off the eerie feeling that settled over her. “Uh, yeah,” she stammered. “Yes, sorry, I am just not sure who is sending this stuff. Do you know how this was left here?”

“Let me check the logbooks from last night,” Tim offered, pulling out a binder from below the desk and flipping through the pages. “Ah, here it is. It was dropped off by a courier service. Sorry, I don’t have any more information for you, Miss.”

Nadia’s mind raced as she tried to make sense of it all. “What was the name of the courier? Maybe I can call to find out more,” she asked, desperation creeping into her voice.

“Triple P Parcel Service,” Tim replied, tracing his finger down the page.

“Thank you, Tim,” Nadia said, her mind spinning as she headed towards the elevator, the package heavy in her hands.

The familiar sound of her key sliding into the lock brought Nadia a sense of relief. It might have been early, but she was already feeling drained. Resting against the door, she closed her eyes, inhaling the comforting scent of lavender. It felt good to be home, if only for a little while.

Her mind wandered to the promise of fresh coffee waiting in the kitchen. The thought of its rich, dark aroma filled her senses, tempting her with its warmth. Lost in anticipation, she almost forgot about the small package in her hand. Maybe a cup of coffee would make facing whatever was inside that box a little easier.

Setting the mysterious package on the kitchen island, Nadia reassured herself that its contents wouldn’t change in the time it took her to brew a cup. Her stomach growled loudly as she measured out the beans and started the grinder. She pictured the Eggs Benedict from the hotel and her mouth watered longingly. A couple of pieces of toast would have to suffice.

As Nadia waited for her breakfast, her gaze kept drifting back to the small box on the kitchen island. Why did these mysterious gifts unsettle her so much? Most women would be delighted by a secret admirer’s tokens of affection. Maybe in a time before Ryan, she wouldn’t have felt so unnerved.

She shot a glare at the box, her annoyance building. Ryan was all she wanted, and this admirer was just an irritating distraction she’d have to deal with. The thought struck her as absurd, and she burst into laughter—a wild, almost hysterical laugh that threatened to turn into tears. She had never felt so conflicted before. So much had changed in such a short time. Just a few weeks ago, she would have been intrigued by the idea of an unknown admirer, curious about how attractive he might be, what kind of a lover he could be, and how much excitement he could bring into her life.

Nadia toyed with the idea of not opening the package at all while nibbling on the last bit of toast. Maybe she could just have the courier service return it to the sender? But her curiosity got the better of her. She slid her chair over and picked up the box, turning it over in her hands once more.

There were no clues on the packaging, just like with the flowers. Nadia sighed and began unwrapping it. As she peeled away the layers, she found a plain cardboard box inside, sealed with tape. With a butter knife, she carefully cut through the tape and opened the flaps.

Inside, wrapped in tissue paper, was a small item. Nadia tore open the tissue paper and found a delicate, hot-pink lace garment. Could this be from Ryan? He denied sending the daisies. Nadia pulled out the item and unfolded it, recognizing it immediately as her own panties.

Nadia’s hands trembled as she dropped the panties in shock. How had someone gotten hold of her underwear? Panic surged through her as she scanned her apartment, everything now seeming foreign and threatening.

She hugged herself tightly, trying to steady her breathing as she surveyed her surroundings. Had anything been moved? She needed to call the police.

As she leaned over the island to reach for her cell phone, her eyes caught sight of a folded piece of paper at the bottom of the box. With shaky hands, she reached inside to retrieve the note.

Her heart raced as she opened the note, half expecting to find something written in blood. To her relief it was a brief message written in pen:

---