Page 30 of Abigail's King
“Anytime, Abigail. Tell Kye I said hi when he comes back.”
“Will do.”
We said our goodbyes, and I hung up the phone. I sat there for a while thinking about what Kelsey had said. She was sure that Kye liked me, and in some ways, I agreed. The lustful looks he had given me over the past couple of weeks had proven that. The times I had caught him glancing down at my lips, when I thought he was going to kiss me, gave me hope.
I was positive now that the feelings I had weren’t one-sided. That he did have feelings for me, but just didn’t want to act on them. I just had to find a way to break through those final barriers and get him to admit how he felt. Could I ask Mateus to help me? Even if I could ask him, would he help or even be able to help? I just had to hope that I got some time alone with him to be able to talk.
I scrolled through my social media feeds, seeing all my old friends. Most of them were happily married with children of their own now. Here I was, aged thirty-two and alone. Yes, I was a famous model, and most people would have expected me to be happy with that. But I wasn’t. I wanted what they had. I wanted to settle down and start a family. The problem was, the man I wanted that with was the one man that I wasn’t sure I could have: Kye. I wouldn’t give up hope, though. I just needed to crack that outer shell and get the man inside to come out.
I heard a knock at the front door and assumed that Mateus had arrived. I wasn’t sure if he had a key or not, so I headed over and opened the door. What I was faced with wasn’t what I had expected though. There was a young woman with a bouquet of white roses and a small box.
I froze as soon as I saw them. He couldn’t have found me here. The only people who knew where I was were either friends, family, or from the agency.
“Abigail Clarke?”
I realised the woman was asking if I was Abigail Clarke. With a shaky voice, I replied.
“Yes, I’m Abigail.”
“These are for you, then. You certainly have someone who loves you for the money they cost. Have a lovely day. Adeus.”
I stood there in a daze as I took the gifts from her. I watched her walk back to her car, and I walked back into the house and shut the door. I could already feel myself starting to shut down as the panic started. My heart was racing and my breathing had already become erratic. I placed the flowers on the counter and opened the box. It contained a note along with a single black rose. I dared to open the note and started to read.
My Darling Abigail,
You looked beautiful walking along the beach last
night.
I wanted to say hello, but thought I would leave that
for another day.
Like the rose in the box, its time is over, and so is ours.
We will meet sooner than you think.
Until then, my darling.
Your Admirer
It was then I realised that he knew where I was, and not just that I was in Madeira, but that I was actually staying here. He could have been watching me right now, waiting for me to leave the house to pounce on me at any time.
I could feel my heart starting to race again. I was worried that at any moment the door would open and he would snatch me and take me away. Kye would never know. He would never find me. I was struggling to breathe as the anxiety I was feeling started to take over my body. My whole body started to shake and I collapsed onto the floor. I couldn’t control myself as I found myself sobbing in a heap on the tiles. I heard the door open, and I started to panic.
He was coming to get me.
I felt two arms come around me and pick me up from the floor. I tried to scream, but nothing came out, and I started to hyperventilate.
“Shhh, Bonita. It’s me. You’re safe. Calm down, please.”
I realised I was in Kye’s arms. That it was him that had come into the house. The anxiety I had felt immediately washed away, leaving the feeling of complete helplessness. The tears continued to fall as I was scooped up into his arms and carried into the front room.
