Rita did not tell Matthew the truth, why should she? This was not his problem to be burdened with, she just told him that she just wanted to come in early today was all. He knew she was not telling the truth but he did not press anymore on the subject.
In the end she could not finish the pastry that she was making. She just shoved the mixture in a baking pan and slapped it in the oven. Matthew gave her an account of the week, what sold best, how much money the bakery made, how much they spent and…incidents.
So far there were three incidents this week and all of them except for one, were of Mrs Hendrix, an old woman who seemed very interested in Matthew and some of the other men that were under her employ.
At first it looked like she wanted them to come work for her in her bakery instead, of course, being seventy eight years old gave her the patience to keep the act up for two and a half years but most of that and the mask went out the window when she “stumbled” into the men’s changing rooms.
She had gone straight for a then very shirtless Matthew like a rabid wild animal.
Matthew said he had only ever seen that look on one person, his younger brother, his sex crazed nineteen year old brother, and even so the look or intent was not directed at him.
Nathan, one of the youngest at the bakery had gone to call him and came back screaming that Mrs Hendrix was in there with Matthew and he had called for help.
A hulking biker had to break the door down and what they had all seen in there was not something, unfortunately, they would forget so easily or forcefully erase from their minds, Nathan had tried.
Worst of all was Matthew’s experience, he still could not figure out how she managed to tie him up like that and the lewd look on her face, oh God.
The number of incidents with her name on it had significantly reduced but even so two times even for this week, although relatively incredibly small, was far too much. They had tried getting to a restraining order on her, keyword there, tried, she had better lawyers…and probably the judge.
The other incident was just yesterday when an incubus strolled in looking for a quick meal and his target just happened to be Biola, one of the waitresses/workers and the woman Matthew had a mega huge crush on, that everyone except Biola herself noticed. Matthew got into a fight with the prick when he kept insisting after Biola refused several times, Matthew beat him to a pulp and Nathan called the police.
After the police and an ambulance had taken the incubus away, Biola said she would not come in for work today, Matthew looked so dejected as he recounted the event to Rita. Biola came from a family with an abusive and violent father, seeing Matthew beat that guy up must have brought something back.
Matthew confirmed that when he said he saw the fear in eyes and smelt it in the air.
Matthew was a total sweetheart but when he got angry, he got angry. He was usually a calm but deadly storm but this time he had gotten angry enough to draw blood. Biola must have practically run away.
He looked like a sad little, well, not so little, kitten while he sat there in the chair opposite hers. Rita felt sorry for him.
By the time the cake was done baking, most of the employees had already arrived and so had customers. The day went by as usually as it did and before twelve in the afternoon Rita had forgotten all about Theo and her tiredness, she was trying to get an eighty year old Miss Hendrix to stop openly and suggestively eyeing her manager who was old enough to be her grandson like an attractive piece of meat. The sight had crossed several levels of uncomfortable…for everyone.
Closing time came all too soon and so did the anxious nagging feeling at the back of her mind. No one had picked up her calls, and they had left no voicemail, no text or email, to say she was just angry and sad was a supreme understatement, if she got out of this unscathed she would get some new friends…or just go back to staying alone. Again.
Rita drove back to the hotel she had spent the night in, the building and the surrounding areas less lively than when she had madly driven in the night before for six P.M in the evening. The more active patrons of the area would be out and about later in the evening.
She needed to get into her hotel room and catch a few Zs before she went to that damned engagement party or saw Theo’s sleezy face. The party was by nine thirty so she had three and a half hours to get some much needed rest and get ready.
She just hoped that the evening went according to how it was supposed to go.
She opened her room door, glad that she could finally get some sleep. That one single happy thought got washed away she saw a maid standing in her room, frozen, caught in the act of going through her things.
¶¶¶¶¶¶
Rita had taken the problem to the hotel manager, who promptly dealt with the matter and promised to reimburse any of my things that could not be found. If only he could do that for her peace of mind.
She tried to sleep but the incident threw sleep off her mind and she was once again left alone and anxious for the next few hours.
When eight rolled around, she decided on another bath, a very warm one because of the gnawing headache lack of sleep was causing, after that, was getting into the cream armless dress reached just above her knee, it appreciated her figure but did not hug it.
The invitation had been very specific on the colours of the night, all ladies wear cream, all gentlemen black, it was not even a wedding and everyone as to adhere to a colour code, it said a lot about Theo’s sister, she was probably a perfectionist.
Rita slipped on the bronze coloured heels, she wanted something nice that would also allow her to easily make a run for it if need be.
She put her hair in a ponytail, applied enough makeup to hide the bags under her eyes and any sign of tiredness and put on some hanging diamond studded earrings and pearl bracelet, they were fake of course, the diamonds were just glass and the pearls were plastic painted to look like the part.
They were cheap and cheaply made and would fall apart soon, they were only for a one time use anyway, she planned on throwing out the entire outfit or giving it away, even the shoes.
The outfit did what it was intended to, exude confidence, beauty but keep her reserved, it showed just enough skin and covered the rest. Okay enough to enable the wearer walk head held high in the midst of ethereal vampires, stuck up highbrows and empty headed blondes and brunettes. She looked good, she just did not feel it.
She took the small black hand purse she bought, inside were her phone and one debit card, lip gloss, the gloss was a usual and good distraction for herself, and a small taser. The taser would do next to nothing to a Vampire but she always took it everywhere.
She made her way out the door, double checking the state of the room before she left. The looks she got as she made her way down before would have made her feel sexy, classy, confident, everything she wanted to actually feel at the moment and not pretend to show.
She was not that religious but as she walked to her car and got in, she silently prayed to God that everything worked out tonight.
¶¶¶¶
The six men watched as the woman left the building and went for her car. The leader, a bald man in his forties with black eyes sat in the front passenger seat of a blue Jaguar, his hands already dialing their boss’ number.
The one behind the wheel, white with blond hair, late thirties and icicles for eyes watched her intently, lustful admiration all over his face. “Damn she looks fine. What do you think the boss wants with her?”
“Just another fuck probably.” The leader answered, short, bored and clearly sure that was the answer. He typed in the last of the digits of their boss’ phone number. He had it committed to memory, there were no contacts stored in the phone, it was a security protocol in case they ever got in a bad situation with the Feds or any other guys.
Icicle eyes continued to watch her. “Must be really good if he wants her out of trouble. What I wouldn’t give to have that fine looking ass all to myself.”
The leader liked at him before placing the phone to his ear. “Make sure the boss doesn’t hear you.”
Their boss picked up the call. “She’s about to move boss.”
“Follow her, you know what to do.” Was all he said.
The leader nodded, replying a yes, sir before he disconnected the call.
He picked up a walkie talkie and switched it on. “We have our orders men, let’s go.”
His men replied a series of Roger that’s in unison before he switched the walkie talkie off and they all rolled out, discreetly following her car.