Velvet

Chapter One

Chapter One

The streets were packed with pedestrians. Nobody stopped to say hello and instead pushed their way through, so desperately trying to get home. Heels tap while shoe soles scrape against the wet concrete ground. Umbrellas high above their heads as to try and protect themselves from the drops of water. It has been raining all week in Chicago. Not a surprise since it was the middle of spring. Lexie inhaled the sweet smell of coffee and took a sip from her hot cup.

Her eyes observed the busy cafe. An elderly man reading the daily news in the local newspaper. Next to him was a group of teenage girls gossiping about fashion and boys. Two tables down was a pregnant woman holding her stomach while she smiled warmly at the man sitting across from her. Behind her was two women chattering about tickets to a country concert.

“Would you like a refill?” the waitress asks her.

Lexie raised her eyes to meet her before glancing back down. There was no longer coffee inside her cup and she didn’t even realize it until now. She nodded her head to the waitress and slides the empty cup towards her way. The waitress was an elderly woman. Her grey hairs neatly tied into a tight bun, a pencil stuck between her ears, and a smile that lit up the entire cafe.

“You must be thinking about something.” she says while pouring the coffee inside the cup.

Lexie scrunched her eyebrows together in confusion. The waitress finished pouring her coffee and smile warmly at her as if she knew what she was going through. Lexie smiled back politely and thanked her for the refill. The waitress was right. She was thinking about something and she tried her best to avoid it. Her mind didn’t seem to listen to her and that topic always came back.

She felt a vibrating sensation coming from her jean pocket. Her thumb immediately ran across the red button. She didn’t want to talk to anyone and especially when the caller was him. She thought she made it clear when she said not to call her anymore. Her head began to pound.

She needed to go home now. She laid a twenty dollar bill on the wooden table and began to rise from the booth. She collected her things before heading out the door of the cafe. Raindrops falling from the thick grey clouds and landing on the top of her red umbrella. She silently passed through the people of Chicago with the handle of the umbrella wrapped tightly around her right hand.

“Nice to see you again, Ms. Bishop.” the doorman greeted.

She gave him a small smile before heading inside the building. Her heels clicked against the fancy floors. A heavy sigh escaped her lips and she wrapped her coat tightly around her. She could not wait to get inside her apartment so she can sit in her warm covers and sleep the rest of the day off. The elevator doors came to a halt and the doors opened widely. Lexie began to walk through the halls and as she put the key through the hole, someone came up to her and pushed her against the door.

She knew that familiar smell. Her body was turned and soon her eyes gazed into his. “Peter, I’ve made it very clear that I didn’t want to see you.”

He grinned at her. “C’mon baby, I’ve missed you.”

Her eyes rolled while her hands began to push him away. She didn’t want to see him ever again, not after what happened. It was impossible to push him away since he was stronger than her. He grabbed her wrists tightly and she struggled to be released from the pain.

“Let me go.” she hissed.

He lowered his head and kissed her neck. Lexie was beginning to panic and as she struggled to get out of his strong grip, he held her tightly. He never listened once when she kept telling him to stop. He was going too far and Lexie didn’t want him anywhere near her.

“She said for you to stop.” the stranger said tersely.

Lexie’s eyes raised to the man in amazement. His tone was deep and demanding. He looked at Peter with utter disgust as he stood there with his hands shoved inside his jean pockets. Peter looked at the stranger with amusing eyes and grinned slightly.

“And who the hell are you?” he spat.

The stranger narrowed his eyes. He took one step and than another before towering over Peter. The anger in his eyes burned against Peter’s which caused Lexie to inhale deeply. What exactly was he going to do? Before things could get out of hand, Lexie whispered quietly for Peter to leave. He wanted to argue but shook his head in disbelief and began to walk down the hallway.

“Thank you,” she said.

He nodded his head but his eyes held hers. Her stomach pinched with a nervous feeling. Why was he looking at her that way? Lexie bit her lip inwardly and dropped her gaze to the hallway ground. He was making her feel timorous with the way his eyes burned into her skin so intensely. Her breath hitched when he bent down to grab her purse to hand it to her. She thanked him once again before opening her apartment door slightly so only she could get inside.

Your welcome.” the tone of his voice was deep and husky. Her core was beginning to throb and she mentally cursed to herself.

She gave him an awkward smile before fully going inside her apartment and closing the door shut. She let out a breath and gently closed her eyes trying to calm herself down. She needed a nap and maybe a few drinks because at the moment, that was the only thing that could get things off of her mind.