Sphinx

It's been five years since Rachael lost her dad to a car accident. Every year she visits his grave on the anniversary of his death to talk and share her story of life. Like he could hear; this time she was with John, a friend.

After a bit more talking she decides it is time to leave.

She gets into the car and John drives off; there is silence as he drives.

"Why do you keep hurting yourself?" John asks, Rachael just keeps quiet. John sighs "Rachael… " "Don't worry John, I'm fine" she interrupts him.

John knows she isn't okay.

She needs to move on.

John parks at the parking lot provided by the bank they work in, Peoples United Bank.

Rachael works at the customer care center in the bank. Yes, she is the receptionist alongside her friend, Mary Sullivan, who is covering for her.

"Hey Mary, I'm back. Thanks" "Sure, but you owe me" Mary says with a lovely smile that shows her dimples on both sides of her face, something Rachael secretly envies in her friend.

Mary is 5'8ft with long black hair, she is fair in complexion and has lovely curves.

Rachael on the other hand is a few inches shorter with black hair tied as a ponytail, she has a fair and smooth skin. She has brown eyes and a nice body.

Mary packs some of her belongings so she can leave, "Eh. Before I go, I've got to give this to you" Mary says as she hands a file over to Rachael.

"Some guy came in requesting for you, dropped this for you on his way out" "I see, thanks".

Rachael checks the file's contents; she realizes that it is a job offer from a club, Clouds.

"Me? Work in a club. This must be a joke," the thought of her working in a club holds no solemnity.

A couple of hours later.

Rachael has just closed from the bank and is waiting for John outside the bank.

"Hey, sorry to keep you waiting" John apologizes as he arrives, "No problem. It's not like you have to drive me home" she says as she removes dirt from his blonde hair.

"Hey do you mind driving me to this club. Um…. What's it called..? ", she struggles to remember it's name.

"Clouds? " John asks, "Yeah. That's the club, how'd you know?" "That's the bubbling club right now" "Bubbling? Didn't take you for a party guy", John just smiles.

About 25 minutes later they arrive at the club where they see different women dressed in revealing clothes stand close to the club, probably prostitutes, Rachael assumes.

There is an alley not far from the club, Rachael can see two men nibbling at a woman's neck.

"They should get a room,".

She turns her attention back to the club, 'CLOUDS' is boldly written on top of the club on a board of neon lights.

They walk to the door where a bouncer stands at 6'5ft, the bouncer stands with his bald head reflecting the light behind him.

"We aren't open" the bouncer says before they can speak, "The boss invited us" John says and the dark skinned bouncer just stares at John.

He grins as he motions them to go in.

The club is a bit foggy and cold, different people stand at different places all in groups.

Their eyes are fixed on Rachael and for some unknown reason they all share a weird grin.

"Okay. Now that's creepy,".

Why is everyone smiling at us?.

Must be drugs or something.

"We are here to see the boss" John speaks out as if to announce their presence, "What do you want?", they both turn to the direction of the voice.

He is 6'3ft tall, he has black hair that matches his black eyes, dark in complexion with pink lips; he walks halfway down the stairs of the club before he stops, "Can I help you? " he says.

Suddenly Rachael's heart starts to beat fast, this voice; I've heard it before.

Could it be. Could it be him?

Rachael thinks as images of the accident that took her father's life flashes in her mind.

He was there that night, who is he?

"Can I help you?" the six foot man says as he adjusts his well fitted suit while he eyes the two strange faces in the club.

John shakes Rachael to bring her out of her thoughts.

"Rachael." "Uh? O yeah right. I got a job offer from this club" she says.

"Then you must be Rachael McQueen" the man says, "Yes, that's my name" "Leave " he raises his voice, the few occupants of the club begin to disperse.

"Miss McQueen… " he starts "…we've been watching you closely and we have found that you are quite qualified for a certain position at our club.

Please have a sit" he offers as he comes down the stairs.

He sits on a sofa across Rachael and John, "We? " "My assistant and I, he isn't present" "How long have you been watching me? ", she is curious.

"How long do you think, Miss McQueen?" he asks with a grin, he looks more handsome with a smile, "It sounds like you've been stalking me" she says and he chuckles.

"How often does that happen?" "You tell me," she says and he laughs a little.

"Look Miss McQueen, I know you have potential but come on, you and I know you don't really want to just be a receptionist".

"I am a customer care provider and I love my job by the way, sir" "Please call me Samuel" he says with his smile still intact.

"I'm offering you a job here as my secretary and I'm willing to double your salary" he adds, Rachael is speechless.

"What about your assistant? " she asks, "He will be alright" "You will fire him? ", Samuel giggles.

"I wish, but I can't. You will both have different responsibilities, Miss McQueen" "I will think about it".

"May I?" Samuel takes her hand as he notices the little jewelry on her finger.

She watches as this gorgeous man assesses her silver ring on her middle finger, right hand.

His hands, his touch so soft and so familiar.

I think I know you, I am not sure.

"Its beautiful" he says, "Thanks. It used to be my dad's" Rachael said, Samuel just smiles at her.

His dark eyes piercing into hers, Rachael feel her cheeks turn red "Beautiful eyes," he adds.

Rachael holds his gaze and slowly feels herself drown in a whirlpool of imagination.

"Are you trying to hit on me already?" "Not yet,".

She doesn't notice when his hand comes close to her face until John coughs hard to break their moment.

"Thank you for coming, Miss McQueen" Samuel stands up with a calm smile and an extended hand which she takes.

John and Rachael stand as well, "Please do consider my offer" he says, "I will," she says with a smile.

Rachael and John leave the room and go outside, "Hey I think I left my phone inside, I'll be back" John says.

John steps into the club.

It is empty or so he thinks. The lights in the club goes off and something swiftly slams John against the wall.

Samuel jerks John by the neck and holds him against the wall, "What is she doing here?" Samuel's voice is deep and his eyes has a blue glow, he throws John to the floor.

"Hey man, calm down. She is the girl I was talking about. You said you'd help, man", John says while crawling away from Samuel.

"I had no problem with that until I found out that she is Frank McQueen's kid"

"She needs your help. They are going to come after her too".

"Five years ago I stopped them because it was Gabriel's mess and now, I'm not getting involved", Samuel starts walking away with a frown.

"Samuel, she has it, she has Nightmare" "Isn't that why her father was killed?" "Yes but if you can get it from her…" "I can kill him" "So what do you say? ".

In an instant Samuel appears in front of John with anger glittering in his eyes, " You better be right".

Rachael stands beside the car, John comes out of the club and walks to join her, "What took you so long? " she asks, "The stupid phone was toying with me".

Rachael stares at the ceiling in her room, she sits in her two bedroom flat with a window open and she watches the sun ride it's way to the west.

She can feel the cool breeze that now blows through her hair.

"You will be alright" the voice keeps echoing in her ears.

Though she has never known her rescuer, his words always comfort her whenever she is careworn.

It couldn't have been a coincident that Samuel's voice sounded like that of her rescuer. Her rescuer had blue glowing eyes, now those were something out of this world or her mind playing tricks on her.

She can take the job and investigate, besides Samuel said he was willing to double her present salary.

She hears a crack at her window, like some kind of ceramic broke. She sees a figure move past the window.

Rachael's heart races hard as she slowly walks toward the window.

She peeps out and sees a man in hood some meters away from her house.

He turns his head slightly towards the direction of her window to take a look, she can not see his face under the shade of the evening sky but there is no mistake.

His eyes; blue glowing eyes. It's him.