K A I

Chapter |4| Already Calling

E M E R Y ' S P. O. V

I'm still smiling by the time I park up. Kai's phone is stuffed deep inside my jacket, anxiously awaiting for me to open it and press call.

How the f**k he'll answer, I have no idea. I hope he figured out a plan in which I call his phone and the one in my jacket doesn't ring. He seemed smarter than he lets on, and I desperately want to hear his voice again.

Adrenaline still surges through my body, even as I climb the fifty millionth stair to reach my apartment on the top floor. Kai was nicer than most people, he had this strange warm aura that was so inviting you couldn't help but move closer.

I don't know if he even liked me as woman, or he just wanted a friend. A guy like that must be lonely, cracking jokes to divert away from any real truths. I know because I was like that once. Back when I had friends.

Now I mostly live alone, travel to work alone, then work alone and come back home.

Sure I have acquaintances but no-one I would really every consider a true friend. No-one who actually cares enough to ask me how I'm feeling.

I round the corridor, heading to my tiny little place burrowed in the depth of the building. As I pass Mr Jenkin's place, I remember to visit sometime tomorrow with a pie in repayment for the one he brought me last week.

We're the only two apartments on this floor, so it kind of helps in the friendly neighbour department. He's a nice man, turning seventy next week, but I don't get too attached.

Because I know all too well to just expect

disappointment after they leave.

"Holy s**t!" I jump up startled, dropping my jacket alongside the phone. It falls hard with a crunch. Quickly, I snatch them off the floor and examine it. There's a c***k in the centre but it's still working enough that I can reach the phone app.

Then I stare up at the man who caused it all. "Jason what the hell are you doing here?"

Yes Jason. Remember I mentioned him as the creepy stalker who liked to walk me to my car. Well, he's standing outside my apartment. An apartment he's never even been too. He dropped me outside once, but never have I mentioned my apartment number.

"I finished early at the dentist and figured you might be upset I wasn't there to walk you home."

"I'm fine." I mumble tersely. Then more clearly . "What are you doing here? How do you know where I live?"

"Your neighbour let me up. It was a funny coincidence that I was walking up as he was leaving and I asked if he knew you and he said you were neighbours and told me the floor." He looks around the hallway in mild disgust.

"This place isn't very nice for a girl like you. It's not safe either." Clearly, if you managed to find your way up psycho.

"Okay, well you've seen me now so...you can leave." Please leave.

He frowns and takes a guarded step towards me. f**k. I quickly side step him so I'm in front of my door now and jam my key into the

hole.

"I thought we could talk for a little bit. Maybe order some food?" He wants a date? Why wouldn't he just ask for a date then? Because you would say no.

Maybe I wouldn't have a few months ago when he was first hired? He fast established himself as wanting to be my friend, and I admired his forwardness but never did he straight forward me ask me out and I didn't like him enough to muster the courage to do so.

He's attractive, in a conventional way. Brown matted hair, very straight and uniform, glasses that perch on his slightly crooked nose. He's older than me too, I think around 8 or 9 years so. Not that it matters, but as people we don't have a lot in common other than the fact we both work at the clinic.

"It's late and I'm tired. Sorry I don't think..."

"Oh come on, one drink." I unlock my door, preparing to slip in and then shut him out as I turn to reject him.

"Maybe another time?" He shoves forward and barges into my apartment before I can even enter. What the f**k?

"Jason..." I hastily follow him in, setting the phone and everything else on my counter. He ignores me, perusing my apartment as though he's moving in.

"It's different than what I expected. Cosier." He grins, making his way onto my couch.

"Please leave. Jason, I just want to go to bed." I hate the look in his eyes at the thought. His dirty twisted mind believes it as in invitation, I can already see it now. "Leave."

Now his eyes darken at my tone. He's clearly a man who believes women as subordinate to men, it's why he's only ever promoted men to supervisor positions.

It angers me, in a way that I'm fuelled to kick him out. Storming towards him, I kick his feet off my coffee table and point angrily to the door.

"Get the f**k out!"

"Or what?" He suddenly grips my arm and twists me around so I fall onto the couch.

My breath hitches in fear at the way his body entraps me, it looms over me, asserting a physical dominance I can no way match. I can smell the fresh mint in his mouth, and that scares me more than anything.

Because he's sober. This is all him, no influence, just his vile intentions and the possibilities of what he could do to me now are terrifying.

"Jason please..."

"Oh now you're being nice. Now you're begging." He slams his hand on my thigh and I tremble. Never did I think I would be in this position, but the threat is still, lingering between us like thick suffocating smoke.

He can r**e me, kill me, beat me. I don't know which is worse, expect I'm powerless stop him because no-one could hear me scream from up here and I'm not strong enough to fight back.

"Why didn't you just let me in?"

I whimper, as his hand rises to touch my cheek. I don't even realise I'm crying until his hand pulls away, wet with my fresh tears. His face contorts with disgust, purely at my sadness, at the fact I would be scared of a man pinning me down.

"f**k's sake don't cry." I can't stop. Tears flood down my cheeks, whilst my body shakes with fear.

I've never felt so powerless. That's what f*****g terrifying me. I want to scream, to hit him, to kick him out and take back control but I'm stuck within this state of utter paralysis because of fear.

"I just wanted to..." His hand strokes my cheek again, brushing softly over my lips.

A kiss? He wants a kiss...I could...maybe if I just closed my eyes and let him...no Emery it's never just a f*****g kiss. Don't let him humiliate you even more.

He stops himself, noticing my revulsion and pulls away. I can't help but listen to the quiet murmurs he whispers to himself, as though trying to convince himself he's in the wrong.

"You can't Jason, don't be a f*****g i***t. This is my only chance. I have to...no no this is wrong." With that revelation, he lifts himself off me and suddenly I feel like I can breathe again.

My lungs inflate with as much rich oxygen as it can devour and I start breathing heavily, almost panting, and I know I'm heading towards a panic attack.

"I'll see you at work." He mumbles, walking away from me.

I don't make a sound until he's left my apartment and only when the door clicks shut do I scream. My hands violently slap the couch, claw at the plush material, anything to expel the anger and fear inside of me.

My body moves before my mind can register it. I slam the door again and again and then lock it twice before breaking down.

"You bastard! You f*****g bastard!" The worst part is I feel guilty for crying, for being scared and so angry.

I wasn't r**e, he didn't hit me, he didn't even a***e me verbally but I feel so violated and trapped...what the f**k do I do?

I can't call the police. What would I say? That he barged in and pinned me to the couch. What offence would that take? I don't have money for lawyers or to move to a new place and that could make it all worse. He could become angry and come back to hurt me more.

I need someone. A friend. Just someone to talk to. My parents would worry too much, and I don't have any siblings to speak to. No-one else would understand this, expect...maybe him?

I stagger towards the counter and fumble for the phone. It's still working with 10% battery left so I quickly type in the number listed as his into my own and press call.

Whilst the phone dials, I realise how crazy I must be. Calling a stranger, a guy who probably just wants a quick f**k, crying over being almost but not actually molested.

I should hang up. Throw the phone away.

Kai was trouble. In every way, and here I am actively seeking it.

Yeah, I'm gonna hang up. I'll call a hotline or just take a hot shower and wait until tomorrow to call my mo.. ""Emery, hey listen I made a mistake and I shouldn't have..."

"I need you." The words blurt themselves out before I break down again.

"f**k. Hey, hey what's wrong? Are you hurt? Did someone hurt you? Are you alone? What..." I can hear shuffling on the other end, the sound of a door opening.

"Don't come over." The line quiets.

"First of all I wouldn't even know where to go." I laugh quietly, both of us probably realising how catalysed our relationship has become.

Less than four hours ago we were together. I was laughing, entranced by this incredibly funny but sad man, and I felt something. Suddenly I wasn't so numb inside anymore.

"What's wrong?" I hear the creak of the bed. He's realising I just need to talk, and the way he's willing to listen makes me smile.

"I think I need a drink first."

"Me too." He laughs, and I hear the clink of the flask in the background. I grab a bottle of wine and top a glass to the brim.

The rich dark liquid soothes my anxiety as it silks down my throat, easing the pounding inside my head.

"What are you doing?"

"Reading comics if you believe it. My mom was less than please I came home shot and she ushered me upstairs to look after me." Weirdly I can imagine Kai with his mom. He seems the type to treasure her with everything he has, but I can't say the same for other women.

"My mom would always make me this sweet potato pie when I was sick or injured. It just warm me up inside and I forgot that I was in pain."

"Mine makes hot chocolate with roasted marshmallows melted in." My stomach rumbles at the thought so loud it echos through the phone.

We both laugh, and I'm glad he doesn't witness my flushing face in embarrassment. "That sounds really good."

"If I came over, we could order pizza."

"If you came over, I would be late for my shift at seven tomorrow."

"f**k that's earlier. I don't think I've ever woken up for work at seven."

"What time do you start?" I ask, then realise I have no idea what he even does.

"It's flexible since my family owns the company. I mostly just go in when called."

"Do you like your job?" He falls quiet, and I find remnants of the lonely man again.

"Do you like yours?"

I roll my eyes. "You can't answer a question with a question."

"Well if I was there you could put your hand over my mouth to physically stop me. Or wait...you disinvited from your place."

"I didn't but we just met." And I don't think I could handle being alone with a man again.

"And yet you called me...crying." There's a long pause. "What happened Emery?"

"I have this co-worker. He's a little too friendly and he was at my apartment when I showed up, kind of forced himself in and then...he pinned me to the couch. That's it, he just pinned me but I was so terrified. I don't think I've ever been that scared of anyone before. Then he just left and I...I couldn't just go to bed and forget I need to talk to someone."

"I was fresh in your mind?" I laugh quietly.

How does he make the burden of it all feel so light?

"You were just the only person I could call. My parents would go crazy and they live hours away. As for friends, there aren't any." My job makes me isolated. I work with mostly men, white, over fifty, and the few women are all married with kids so they bond over that. I'm the only single one.

"What was this guy's name?"

"Jason."

"Last name?" His tone is light but there's something menacing beneath it all that I can't decipher.

"It doesn't matter."

"I can help you Emery. I know people that...deal with these types of situations."

"Like police?" His father is rich. Maybe they have connections?

"Yeah sort of. They'll make sure you never have to deal with him again."

"I just want to forget it Kai, and he didn't actually touch me so I doubt he would be arrested."

"Trust me. There are worse things than prison for scum like him." I don't like this side of him. It's strange, associating such darkness with Kai.

"How did you get shot?" I realise now I didn't even ask. I just helped him, but getting shot can mean a lot of things, and I doubt Kai would ever just be a victim.

His silence creates answers I don't want to assume. "My friend bought a g*n and the i***t accidentally shot it."

"Why was your sister there? And her husband?"

"What is this 20 questions?" He jokes, trying to change the topic again. I let him. One, because I don't want to have this conversation over the phone and two, it's getting late.

"I should go to bed."

"I wish I could see you."

"Well I still have you phone, which was a nice touch by the way. Very romantic."

He laughs. "I'm anything but a romantic."

"I think you'll surprise yourself Kai. What did the phone mean? Did you want to be friends or were you asking me..."

"Friends." He abruptly declares. My heart sinks. "I just, I really liked talking to you and anything more than friends with me could only ever be transient."

"Why?"

"Because I'm not a good man to fall in love with Emery. Get some rest, and call me tomorrow. I want to know you're okay."

The call ends and my mind is left spinning.

________________________________

A/N: I loved writing this chapter!!

What are your thoughts on Emery??

On the two of them??

What do you think will happen next?? Will Emery call or will Kai find her again??