Chapter 22: A Kind of Problem
Elrisha
Morning – 4:45
I didn't get any chance to get to sleep after receiving a call from my mother which totally caught me off guard. So, since that call, I carefully get up from the bed since I don't want to wake my beloved who was sleeping peacefully. I took my time to get another glass of my blood win and went to the library to pass time by doing my other work since the research laboratory wasn't the only one that I owned.
Doing that, I received some questions regarding holidays or the funds for the employees to their overtime. But among those questions which were easy to respond to, there's something that caught my attention. I received three emails regarding the employees who didn't report after a month in a half of being sent to hike at the Mt. Uktena. Just by reading that my eyes went wide since that mountain was very dangerous especially at night.
"It might be one of the tourist spots but there was a certain trail that shouldn't be taken." I told myself and quickly made an urgent phone call to the three companies that I owned.
'Greetings from Cross Hotel Suite Agency, this is Sandra speaking how can I help you?'
"Good, it's you who answer the call. They hold the line." I said to the first one I made a phone call before putting it on the hold line and call the second one.
'Good morning from Cross Camp Agency, this is Anita speaking, how can I help you?'
"You will just keep the line on hold." I quickly told her before I call the last one.
'Good morning, this is Malik from Cross Travel Agency, how can I help you?'
"A lot actually. I'm gonna put the three lines on and I hope the three of you answer the reports that I just received from each one of you." I directly informed him as I pushed again the hold button for the three lines to be connected to each other.
'Milady.'
"Tell me, what's the meaning of the report you sent me? What happened? You start first Sandra." I directly asked the three of them as soon as they all greet me in chorus.
'They were sent there for mandatory travel meetings for a month and my roommate-best friend was among them. She hasn't been contacting me ever since the third week of their first month there. Though, they've been staying at one of the hotels that we own, the Sky Cross Hotel. The reception there was very clear that's why I've been wondering what happened to them. I even informed our department and he told me that they've been checking the sights which some don't have reception.'
Hearing that, something clicked into my mind since at the Mt. Uktena the reception wasn't the issue there unless you went to a trial uninvited or without any local tour guide.
"How long you can't contact her?" I asked her.
'It's going to be two months this Friday. In the last conversation, we've shared that they were going to explore the mountain with some locals there.'
"I see. How about you Anita, was it the same issue?" I turned my question to the next one since I want to connect some dots in my hypothesis that's already forming in my mind.
'Yes, Milady. My fiancé was at that mandatory meeting as well and like what happened to Sandra's best friend, I've lost contact with him three weeks before the first month ends. And the last talk I had with him was regarding the hike some tourist was saying.'
"Hike?" I wondered if it was the same trail that I'm thinking.
'I think it's about the new trail. Locals were trying to access it bit by bit lately and that's what they were about to show them. The only trail that the locals could show them.'
"I see. And was it the same for your issue Malik?" I directly asked the third one while I was scribbling some keywords regarding what they were telling me.
'Yes, but my wife told me that the trail was a totally not a friendly vibe and even the locals were wary about it that's why it will take them a month to clear the trail that the locals provide.'
"Did she come along with them?" I wondered.
'Yes, Milady but she also warned me about something.'
"What was it?" I curiously asked.
'She told me to report it directly to you that's why I asked the other company if they've been dealing with this but none answered me except these two.'
"Alright. Later, your bosses going to receive a memo and none of you will speak about this but let me go straight to the point; I'm afraid that they took the forbidden trail of the Mt Uktena without permission from the mountain that's why the locals were wary and taking careful steps on making a trail." I cleared to them.
'Would the local survive it?'
"They could if the mountain takes something from them as an offering." I answered Sandra's question.
'So the legend of that mountain was real.'
"Indeed that's why you can't go any further to a trail that even the local wasn't familiar with. If not careful and step into the wrong track, better to ready the peace offering. But don't worry, I'll handle it but don't expect too much of getting them back as what you knew about them if they were found alive." I added to my explanation since their loved ones were in that critical situation that I have to deal with as soon as possible.
'Yes, Milady, and thank you.'
"Thanks for your work." I told them before hanging the three-way call then I released some sighs before making another call. A kind of call that I would never think I would give to my mother who had just called me earlier.
"Mom, I need help. Witchy help." I directly told her as soon as she picked up my call.
Mirna
I woke up as I turned back to my right and there's no one beside me which there was supposed to be someone sleeping next to me. I groaned and let my eyes adjusted to wide awake then I sat up on the bed. I looked around to see where my girlfriend was. Damn, saying that to my thoughts really sent butterflies in my tummy. Anyway, I stretched my chubby but curvy body before I got up and stretched for more till I glance over the coffee table where Elrisha left her blood wine bottle and no wine glass. I wondered where she went to leave me sleeping alone in her bed. I shook my head and just went straight to her huge master bathroom suite. I even took the liberty to look around for some clothes that I could use and I choose her unused slim-fit pastel yellow polo which I think wasn't her taste. I also took her high waist grey slacks and black ankle boots then put them aside since I need to take a bath first before wearing them.
I was having a relaxing bath over the shower which made me sing like I'm having a live concert. It's funny since it's totally my routine inside the bathroom while taking a bath and the song that I am singing was entitled Girlfriend by Avril Lavigne.
"Hey, hey, you, you
I don't like your girlfriend
No way, no way
I think you need a new one
Hey, hey, you, you
I could be your girlfriend
Hey, hey, you, you
I know that you like me
No way, no way
No, it's not a secret
Hey, hey, you, you
I want to be your girlfriend…" I started singing with such energy that I really need the most after the incident last that I don't want to dwell much except being saved by my girl. Gosh, I am blushing with that thought flashing in my mind.
"You're so fine, I want you mine, you're so delicious
I think about you all the time, you're so addictive
Don't you know what I can do to make you feel all right?
Don't pretend, I think you know I'm damn precious
And hell yeah, I'm the motherfucking princess
I can tell you like me too, and you know I'm right…" as soon as I sang the first stanza I could remember the very first night that we've met and the alcohol that took my system to take the dare seriously. Well, I kiss the very first girl in my life and she's my boss yet that doesn't stop me being and keep falling in love with her.
"She's like, so whatever
You can do so much better
I think we should get together now
And that's what everyone's talking about…" then there were times that I caught a glimpse of her talking with some ladies who definitely have a thing for her. I could see on the sidelines how they talk or even looked at her like she's a piece of meat in their lustful appetite. Just recalling that sent shiver down my spine and irritates me big time – a good thing, she couldn't read my mind even she's a vampire.
"Hey, hey, you, you
I don't like your girlfriend
No way, no way
I think you need a new one
Hey, hey, you, you
I could be your girlfriend
Hey, hey, you, you
I know that you like me
No way, no way
No, it's not a secret
Hey, hey, you, you
I want to be your girlfriend…" I kept singing to the point that I am pretending that I am seriously having a blast in my own bathroom concert.
"I can see the way, I see the way you look at me
And even when you look away, I know you think of me
I know you talk about me all the time, again and again
So come over here and tell me what I wanna hear
Better yet, make your girlfriend disappear
I don't wanna hear you say her name ever again
And again, and again, and again, 'cause…" but in all in fairness, after that party, there were times that I could catch her staring at me even before we became research lab partners. Well, before we're working in one building but in a different department yet looked at where we at now.
"She's like, so whatever
And you can do so much better
I think we should get together now
And that's what everyone's talking about…" I honestly can't stop myself from smirking at how Elrisha has been looking at me ever since we've met that very night. I know it's not the best way to meet and to make a contact with but it does happen and here we are – a couple.
"In a second you'll be wrapped around my finger
'Cause I can, 'cause I can do it better
There's no other, so when's it gonna sink in
She's so stupid, what the hell were you thinking?..." I am not sure why I am grinning from ear to ear as if I won something that no one could ever obtain or maybe I am just happy that I finally feel what love was and not from the stories that I've been reading or watched before. Oh, I sounded like I am longing for someone to love me and I loved in return. Well, I'm guilty on that part but no one knows that I do.
I kept singing the song till the end that exactly I am also done with taking my bath to the point I didn't get any chance to hear that someone already entered the bathroom and listening to my concert. I mean, my singing in the bathroom if Elrisha didn't clap her hands to notified me that she's there already.
"So that's a concert." Elrisha was smirking as she said that.
"Did you knock?" I wondered as I crossed my arms meeting her intense gaze.
"I did but you're having a blast and didn't hear me." She answered but her smirk was starting to bug me.
"Right." I suddenly felt conscious and I turned around to turn off the water from the shower.
"And even you're chubby; it's still curving and sexy." She was staring at my body really intensely that sent a shiver to my spine and I felt hot. I shouldn't be feeling that but I do.
"DON'T LOOK YOU PERV!" I shouted at her as I threw anything that my hand could grab inside the shower area.
"Already did." She teased which made me blushed even more but instead of being embarrassed for more, I glared at her as I started marching toward her.
Out of the blue, I grabbed her collar to pulled her closer to me and we almost kiss but no, we just stared at each other intense orbs before I pushed her aside and wrapped my wet naked body with her towel. I stopped from walking toward the closet inside the bathroom, I glance at her way.
"Naughty girlfriend." I winked at her before closing the barn door of the closet, leaving her in her jaw-dropping moment. But to be honest, I am totally steaming hot because I never have thought I had that in me. Seduction.