Louisa Davis had a premonition something bad was going to happen to her that day.
Maybe it was the nature of her profession, but it wasn't uncommon for her to feel impending doom, except that today the feeling was stronger than ever before.
She's had it tough in her life, having lost her parents in murder outside their home when she'd been a child. She'd had no one to take care of her after their death so, of course, she was taken to a foster home, where life hasn't been too great. She was glad when a couple offered to adopt her after a few years, thinking life would change, but it was just as bad, if not worse. The couple never cared much about her, and they fought often, which was no tonic for her soul to watch. During the years that she lived with her adopted parents, she had dreams that were bigger than New York. She wanted to be a policewoman, even though she knew it wasn't a profession ideal for many women.
As soon as she had graduated from high school, she did part-time jobs while she attended the Police Academy. She got her dream job and no single police officer more hardworking than her was to be found.
Her job was her passion, the only thing she lived to do. She had no friends, no boyfriend, nothing, despite having average looks that were considered attractive by many. She suspected her coolness and ambitiousness pushed people away from her. She didn't care much about this, although sometimes, (a few times), it got to her that she was a loner. But every time she felt that way, she spent even more time at work, serving the community as best she could.
Feeling extra down after work, she thought of doing something different to feel a little better today.
It wouldn't hurt to have a drink or two before going to bed. She avoided alcohol if she could help it, only drinking when it was really necessary. And she knew it was necessary to have a drink today, or the empty feeling within her would not go away.
Her life was pretty boring outside of work.
She looked at her naked body in the large mirror in her bathroom, concentrating on her slim but well-muscled body. It didn't matter if people didn't like her, she told herself. she loved herself and she knew that she was beautiful. She had recently adopted this positive mentality, and it played a small part in helping her feel better about herself and her miserable life.
Getting out of the bathroom wrapped in a white towel, she walked to her wardrobe and chose a pair of sweat pants and a plain blue t-shirt before throwing them on. Her black hair was short, cut into a fashionable bob, but that was the only fashionable thing about her. She knew if she wanted to attract a romantic partner at all, she would need to work on her wardrobe as it contained many clothes similar to the ones she had just worn. But a romantic partner was out of the question. They would only stand in the way of her job.
She took her purse and walked out of her apartment, locking the door before leaving for the nearest bar.
The place was lively with neon lights and loud music, too loud for her taste and making her feel like her eardrums were about to explode. She pretended to enjoy the noise and walked to the counter, ordering a tequila shot and a small plate of peanuts before going to sit alone at a table and gingerly sipping on the glass of liquor.
She was a lightweight, already feeling tipsy after just one glass. After downing the first glass, she thought the taste of the liquor improved and ordered for more.
While she waited for her liquor to be brought to her, she noticed a gorgeous man at the door of the bar. He seemed to be scanning the bar and she wondered if he was looking for someone in particular or just anyone would do.
As she watched him, he seemed to zero in on her, making her quickly look away from his blue eyed gaze which she found rather consuming.
She chose a few nuts, picking them out carefully one by one before eating them to avoid looking at the man. The nuts were too salty; a trick to get patrons to drink more.
After a few minutes, she had momentarily forgotten about the guy at the door, and she was surprised to see him come directly towards her.
He pulled a chair out from a table and brought it to sit with her, striking a conversation immediately.
"Hey, need some company? I am new in this place."
He was so handsome that she couldn't help smiling at him. She slid a look at his powerful body, clad in black jeans and a leather jacket.
"Yes, sure. Nice to meet you!"
Louisa was sure that if she had been sober, she would have ignored the guy with a cold stare, but alcohol was now in her system, helping her become someone else just for a moment.
"Do you come here frequently?" the man asked her. He had startlingly blue eyes that left her slightly breathless as he held her gaze.
"No. This is my third time, actually," she said.
"Ooh, I see. Not an alcoholic?"
"Nope, but definitely a workaholic," she said, then wondered if it was the right thing to say to a man on your first day of meeting.
She sucked.
However, he didn't find her weird as she feared. He looked like he found her rather interesting, smiling and pulling the chair closer to hers.