Page 24 of The Dark Obsession

Another loud ding startles me.“Rosalie, Rafael Alcazar here, just a reminder for 8:30 a.m. tomorrow, my office. Hope all is well. Hope all went well.”

My heart skyrockets, as if it has a mind of its own.“All’s fine, thanks. See you tomorrow.”I triple check the message before sending it and lie on my side. With closed eyes, I review Rafael’s weird reaction to Dale. Rafael’s smile is the last thing I remember.

???

I wake with a jolt much earlier than usual to an ignored phone call from my mother. I reluctantly listen to the waiting voice message.

“Rosa, see you soon, I love you. Tell Benjamin I love him too.” Her voice is quiet and croaky.

As guilty as I feel for never talking to her, it is for good reason. Her constant badgering of me never being good enough for her much-too-high standards, me not trying hard enough, me not meeting the men she’d throw my way. Together, my mother, Eleanor, and Father, Walter, make a good living. Her job as a prestigious estate agent ensures that.

A black skirt and vest with a black cardigan will have to suffice for today. I can’t seem to focus on the upcoming work; the unanticipated happenings of last night are still burned freshly into my mind.

???

I arrive at work with ten minutes to spare after spending twenty trying to find a parking space. Eyeing the illuminated lights, my heart skips a beat, which has been feeling quite normal these days. The dark, gloomy English morning makes walking into the warm and well-kept entrance feel ten times better. I direct myself straight to the lift to not talk to anyone on the way to Rafael’s office.

“Morning, Rosalie.” A voice startles me as the lift doors slide open. A firm hand holds my shoulder, and I turn.

“Mr Alcazar. Good morning,” I say between several deep breaths.

I step in, Rafael by my side. His face is tight, with a smile forcing its way through. Rafael’s suit is light grey today, with a bright red shirt and a grey tie. His hair is a bit scruffier than usual.

“We have a day full of research today. I hope you’re ready.”

“I’m always ready, sir.”

“Rafael.” He holds his office door open for me.

The room looks the same, except for another smaller dark wood desk next to his own and a black shiny computer. I hold my breath as I stand in the middle of the room like a lost child.

“Rosa,” he says with a laugh. “It’s for you.” He turns the metallic plaque on the front of the shiny new desk. In bold words, it states, MISSLOCKWOOD.

“Really, in your office?” I grin, walking up behind him.

“Our office. I told you we’re partners. Now make yourself comfy. This data stick contains what little video evidence we have of who was supposedly stalking poor Eliza.” He hands it to me, lingering a moment. “This is the petrol station, but we need to find the time he and she entered. There is twelve hours of footage here that you need to watch.” He sits at his own desk. “I’ve got another twelve hours here, so we’re splitting the load.”

Five hours pass and neither of us say a word between us, nor do we see anything incriminating on the recordings. Dale sends me a text, explaining he is going away for the night to visit a friend, and with a confusing feeling of happiness, I fill myself with an endless supply of coffee.

“How did last night go, anyway?” Rafael breaks the silence with the worst question imaginable.

“It was fine, just chatted.” I remove my cardigan, my body heating up.

He pauses his video and ponders across the desks at me, sliding his glasses from his head to over his eyes.

I stare at my screen, preoccupied with an old man paying for his petrol. I watch from the corner of my eye as Rafael leans forward onto his elbow.

“Really? He wasn’t mad?”

“No … well, a little bit, but I was angrier at him. He doesn’t own me.”Or does he?I run my hand over my cheek, the fear I felt last night rising in my chest once again. I stand, about to rush to the bathroom, before I burst into tears, but Rafael is faster.

“Tell me what happened,” he asks, his voice dark.

“Nothing. He just got a little bit mad, as he should. I shouldn’t have made him mad.” I rush my words. “It’s fine; it’s just my first argument with him.”

Rafael regards me blankly, his eyes emotionless, and he puts a hand awkwardly around my shoulder.

My heartbeat slows almost to the point of stopping, my breath catching up in my throat; a sense of calm engulfs my body from head to toe.

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