SELENA'S POV
I was feeling much better by the next morning as I stepped into the kitchen to find something to eat. The kitchen smelled warm and cozy. A pot of steaming coffee was ready so I just made scrambled eggs to go with it. I sat at my usual chair and ate quickly. I was dressed for work already and I hoped to just have a quiet breakfast before heading out for the day.
I took a long sip of coffee and exhaled. My mood has improved from how I felt last night. I has slept badly last night and skipped dinner, so the breakfast made me feel better.
Maybe today would be better too.
I pulled my phone out of my bag and discovered it was still on flight mode. The fact that I was answerable to anyone made me feel ready for the day, even though my stomach still felt tight.
Then I heard familiar footsteps in the hallway. My mother came in calling for a servant to get her coffer. She saw me and her surprised face turned into a small frown.
"Good morning, Mom," I said without looking up.
"I heard you came home crying," she said as she sat down. "But you do not look like someone that was crying."
"If someone told you I cried, they should have also told you the reason," I said and took a sip of coffee.
"Pass that coffee here please," she said, ignoring my tone.
I walked over to pour her a cup. She squeezed my hand for a second.
"You should've called," she said. "You know I worry about you all the time."
"Why didn't you check up on me then?" I asked.
"I tried calling but your phone was switched off."
"Shit!"
"What's it?" my mother asked.
"I forgot my phone is still on flight mode." I said but was reluctant to turn it off.
"It's fine. Moreover, we came in very late last night," she said, "It's a long story but let's focus on you for now. What's up?"
"Nothing much, Mom," I said with a faint smile, "I was overwhelmed and did not know who to tell. So I slept it off and feel a bit better now."
"Well, I am here now," she said and opened her arms. "You can tell me anything."
"It isn't much," I said as I hugged her. "It's just that Val got engaged yesterday."
"That's great news," my mother said and then paused. "Wait... was that why you were sad?"
"Not exactly," I said and tried to keep my face calm. "It's just that she's happy with a man who accepts her. I'm hardworking and put in my best in every relationship yet I get jilted each time."
"Don't be hard on yourself, Selena," she said. "Good things come to those who wait."
I know she was going to go into another round of advice so I quickly changed the topic.
"So how was the meeting yesterday?" I asked.
"Well," my mother's voice was low, "Something dramatic happened at the Chambers last night."
I did not want gossip, but my quiet breakfast has been ruined.
"You're the queen of drama. I'm sure you put on a good show," I said as I stood up to leave before she could start the story. "I need to hurry to work."
"What's so important that you must leave so early?" she asked and looked at her watch. It was just past seven.
"I have a new client who needs an assessment," I said as I walked to the door.
"Since when did you start doing assessment?" my mother said with surprise. "You must be breeding a host of lazy workers out there for you to be doing this on your own. If you had a man in your life..."
"Mom! Not now!" I shouted. I didn't want to be pulled into a talk about men.
"I apologize. That was insensitive," she replied.
"Thank you."
Just then, my father came in through the adjoining door with a newspaper.
"What has your mother done this time?" he teased.
"Good morning, Dad," I said as he came close and kissed my forehead.
"None for your darling wife?" my mother teased back.
We all laughed a little as my father kissed her properly.
"Well, there is something I want to talk to you about, Selena," my father said.
"Dad, it will have to wait," I said. "I have an early assessment before going to the office."
My father thought for a moment and nodded. "Make sure we talk this evening when you get back."
"Alrightie!" I said as I turned to leave, but quickly remembered something. "Quick question, Dad. Did anyone visit yesterday?"
My parents looked at each other like they were puzzled.
"I don't think so," my mother said. "I left earlier... same time as you. Maybe your father did."
"You know I was with Alpha Magnus all day. That is part of what I wanted to discuss with you but it can wait."
"Why do you ask, darling?" my mother asked.
"It's nothing," I said and shrugged. "I was just curious."
I walked out to the garage in a pensive mood. Who was at my door last night? Because I heard footsteps. I don't know if it was the right thing not to bother my parents about it. Maybe it was nothing.
I turned off the flight mode on my phone as I entered my car. Lots of voicemails and messages from work popped up. There was messages from Caleb, Amara and Val, my best friend. I made a mental note to call Val later in the day and apologize for missing her engagement party.
As I turned out the gates and drove down the street, I checked my rearview mirror once, then again. A black car lingered at a corner. Maybe it was nothing but I felt our house was being watched by the person because that position was strategic, yet clandestine.
As I stepped into the highway, I perceived a scent that felt both familiar and strange, and I struggled to place it in my memory, but it vanished too fast.
"Calm down, Selena," I muttered to myself. "You're just being paranoid."
But my heartbeat disagreed.
At the intersection, the light turned red suddenly as I slammed the brakes just in time. My eyes went to the side mirror again, and there it was... that same black car, slowing behind me but keeping its distance.
When the light turned green, I didn't waste a second, I turned sharply onto the next lane which wasn't the way I was supposed to follow and sped off hoping to lose whoever it was.
"Who are you?" I whispered under my breath. "And what do you want from me?"
I'd lose the person, but I still felt a sense of danger. Maybe today wasn't going to go according to plan, but first things first.