C2 Chapter 1

Bright lightning accompanied by a tremendous sound of thunder echoed throughout the city of California as heavy rain poured down so heavily in the busy road, cars drove in a haste to escape the harsh and unpredictable change of weather.

At the corner of the road stood a young beautiful blonde with a black bag over her head to cover herself from the pouring rainfall. Her face squeezed in worry, her clothes drenched in the rain, droplets of water rolled down her face and legs. Scanning around the busy road as she waited for the bus, Bailey looked down her wristwatch and the worried expression on her face deepened, her beautiful set of eyebrows twisted as there was a sign of fear in her eyes.

"God damn!" She cursed biting her lower lip as both hands held tightly to her bag she used in replacement of an umbrella. She should have known better about the weather forecast but she was too busy that it took her unaware. Her eyes scanned around again, cars drove past her as there was no sign of the bus. She dipped her hands into her jean pocket but found out it was empty, she didn't have enough money to pay for a taxi and she cursed herself for this. An old couple walked over and stood beside her, each had an umbrella in their hand to save them from the pouring rain, and silently, Bailey wished she was them.

"Are you alright my child?" A sweet tender voice said beside her. Bailey diverted her gaze to the direction of the voice and found the old lady staring at her with concerned eyes.

Diverting her eyes somewhere else, Bailey nodded, "I am fine" she replied with a smile as she tried to hide her tensed voice.

"You don't look fine to me dear, your lips are vibrating endlessly, you might get a cold standing under this rain without an umbrella," The old lady said with a concerned tone.

Slowly, Bailey bit her lower lip, her lips have been shaking this whole time? She had no idea. She turned to the old lady beside her, talking to a stranger made her feel weird in a way, "It's just the cold, once the bus gets here, I will be good to go" she responded with a fake smile but deep inside her, she was freezing to death!.

"I don't think the bus will be here tonight. It's getting late and you know how terrible this place is at night time" The old lady spoke up, "My driver will be here soon and I will love to give you a lift" she said to the surprise of Bailey to turn to her.

"Thank you for your kindness, it's nice of you but I will be able to handle myself" Bailey replied but deep inside her, she wanted to accept the offer but she didn't know this lady, she is just a stranger.

To her surprise, the old lady placed her hand on her wet arm. Bailey turned to her with a surprised look.

"I know that I am a stranger but I insist," she said turning to the older man beside her, "This is my husband Eric Garfield and I am Samantha" she introduced with a smile.

Still unsure, Bailey nodded with a smile. She diverted her gaze to her wristwatch realizing it's almost 10 pm. A look of panic settled on her face and she became nervous all of a sudden.

A few minutes later, a black Limousine halted beside them, the woman and her husband entered the car as the driver opened it for them. Samantha turned to Bailey, gesturing her to come in. Without any other choice, Bailey walked into the car with a look of appreciation on her face.

Her ride home took a few minutes, after what seemed like forever to Bailey, the car stooped at her apartment as she instructed the driver. Bailey turned to the couples and thank them for their kind gestures. She got out of the car and waved at them as the car drove past her, the rain pouring down so heavily.

With her bag by her side as she allowed the pouring rain to touch her hair, Bailey turned and get eyes fixed on the magnificent mansion before her. Her heart sank and it began to beat faster than ever before.

Gulping hard, she glanced at her wristwatch realizing that it's 10:45 pm, she began to feel hot under get cold shivering body.

She walked into the large compound with wet soaking hair and clothes, her mind was filled with worry and concerned as she got closer to the front door, her heart beating twice as before.

She got to the door, every step she took towards it felt like the ground was shaking beneath her. With shaky hands, she rang the doorbell and the heat within her grew rapidly.

Immediately, the door opened and the young maid stared at her with pitiful eyes as she scanned Bailey's wet body.

"Welcome ma'am," she said with a concerned voice as she tried to help Bailey with her wet brown bag.

"It's fine, I can manage" Bailey responded walking into the house as she avoided locking eyes with the young maid. Walking past her, Bailey climbed up the stairs and headed towards her room as she hope not to meet Alex, her fiance. She walked through the long passage with her heels sound filling the large hall which was always quiet and clean.

As she got closer to her room, she began to hear voices coming towards Alex's private room which was few feet before her room. With shaky lips as she wrapped her hands around her bag, clutching it to her chest, she got closer to the room and found out that the door was wide open. Inside the room was Alex and his friends. At the sight of her, they stopped talking and fixed their eyes on her wet dripping clothes. Alex turned to her with an irritated look on his face, his eyes held so much anger that made her blood run cold. Filled with fear, Bailey quickly walked past the room and got close to her room, turned the doorknob, and closed the door immediately she got inside. Her heart was beating so fast that she felt she was going to pass out, great fear embracing her.

Suddenly, she heard footsteps approaching the room, her eyes enlarged in fear as the doorknob turned. Slowly, the whole room freezes as the air in her lungs seized. A figure walked into the room, as he turned to look at her, Bailey gasped in fear, his eyes were blazing in nothing but fierce anger.

Alex walked closer to her and before Bailey could react, a heavy slap went across her face, her whole body shook in ultimate pain.