STUCK WITH HER

Samuel looked at the wall clock at Fredrickson's bar; it was 3 p.m. He shifted his gaze to the lady drinking away her sorrows next to him. They haven't spoken to each other since they walked into the bar. He'd tried calling his grandmother but couldn't get through, and he didn't have Fiona's phone number offhand.

He placed her phone on the table and stood up to order a nonalcoholic beverage for himself; he prefers not to consume alcohol. If he also drinks, who will drive the car?

"I might as well drink my problems away," he muttered to himself.

"Where are you going?" She mumbled a question.

"To get me a drink," he explained.

"Come sit," she said, motioning to him with her fingers.

Samuel's expression was the epitome of confusion.

Did this lady believe she was the only sad person in the room? Before he could confess his feelings to his love, he was completely rejected.

"I won't take long, I just need to..." He was about to say when she banged the table and stood up biting her lower lip.

"I said you you should..." While she was speaking, she let out a hiccup.

"You should sit down because you're drunk," Samuel approached her and sat her down.

She pouted and rolled her eyes.

"Who will drive if you drink?" She inquired.

"I've already considered that; I'm not drinking alcohol, so don't worry." He replied with a pursed lip.

How is he going to get so high? When he is waiting for her car technician to call and update them on the status of his truck!

"And I haven't thanked you yet," he said as he returned to his seat. He forgot to thank her because he was attempting to contact his grandmother.

"Please do not thank me," She refilled her glass and sipped a little more.

"Why?" Samuel questioned. If he was going to wait, why not get to know the person who is assisting him or rather the person he saved from getting a cold?

"It's a give-and-take situation, Lucas," she replied laughing.

Samuel combed his hair with his hand. What was he thinking? She's drunk, so they can't have a proper conversation, and who the hell is Lucas?

"I see you're having a heartbreak. "What the," He was still speaking when her head dropped on the table.

"She's passed out," He sighed and looked around, he called on the waiter and sought to pay the bills.

"Don't worry, she's a regular here," The waiter refused payment.

"I knew she was the sophisticated type," Samuel muttered. Fredrickson's bar was for rich people and she was a regular there?

He stood up and carried her out of the bar to her car.

It had stopped raining, so he decided to take them to Claire's road and inspect his truck; as he started the engine, she woke up.

"What am I doing?" Her gaze darted around her car, looking for answers.

"You do sober fast, What's your name?" He turned around to face her.

"Why did we leave the bar?" She didn't even blink at him as she asked.

"You've drunk your sorrows away; it's time you face reality," he replied, his gaze fixed on her phone.

She exhaled deeply as she stared out the car window.

"Did the car guy call?" she asked.

"Not yet; I was hoping to go back to Claire's road before you woke up."

"My name is Agnes Davies, by the way," she said as she extended her hand for a handshake.

Samuel smiled as he shook her hand. They were finally having a conversation.

"My name is Samuel Zeres."

"Sure, let's drive to where my truck is, okay?" He went on to say.

"It's cold," she said, rubbing her hands together.

He fixed his gaze on her, she was dressed in a sleeveless red gown. He had to take his shirt back before they entered the bar earlier.

"Let's go to a nearby boutique and get some warmer clothes."

His smile quickly turned to a frown. There was no time, and his grandmother was about to close the restaurant. He could have simply brought his phone from the car and charged it in the bar, but he forgot.

"What do you think?" She inquired, a smile on her face.

"Let me try my grandmother's number first," he said as he took her phone and dialed her number. This time the phone rang, but she did not answer.

"Didn't you bring your phone?" she asked with a concerned face.

He sighed and answered, "I forgot it in the truck,"

"But it's chilly, so we have to go there, I promise we'll be quick."

As she spoke, his lips parted. This was one stubborn lady. He thought.

"All right, let's go," he said and started the car.

---

"Are you not getting clothes for yourself?" she asked him as the saleswoman selected some sweaters from the rack.

"No, I'll go home, so there's no need," he replied, his gaze fixed on the wall clock in the boutique; it was 6:00 pm.

"Don't you live here? Why do you need clothes?" He was perplexed as to why she wanted to go shopping when she could have simply gone home.

"No, I live in Eston," she explained.

"So, what brings you here?"

When he asked the question, her expression shifted radically.

"I came here to surprise my fiance, but instead he surprised me," She let out a sad chuckle.

"I see," Samuel said, nodding. He decided not to ask any further questions because his guess was correct, she had been cheated on.

"I'm done, let's go check on your truck," Agnes said as she removed her sweater.

"Finally," Samuel muttered under his breath as he rose to his feet.

————

"Did you find him at school?" Fiona inquired as she pushed open the door for Eric to enter.

Eric gave a negative nod. "I asked the security guard, and he said Samuel hasn't entered the school building since when he left,"

"His line isn't working, where did he go, if he was going to stay this late, he would have called," Grandma paced around the living room, a worried expression on her face.

Eric dashed over to calm her down.

"Grandma," he said as he sat her down, "Samuel is a man, maybe something happened and his phone battery ran out or..."

"But he'll find a way to tell me, Alan hasn't even seen him," Grandma interrupted. She was on the verge of bursting into tears.

Meanwhile, Fiona's mind went blank, and she had no idea what to do. What if Rogers or Samson had kidnapped Samuel? What will she have to say? Grandma will be heartbroken for the rest of her life, unaware that the person she helped was the one who caused it.

"Come on, Eric, let's talk," she said in his ear.

"Can you tell me what happened?" He inquired, his eyes wide open.

"Perhaps they took him," she muttered, biting her nails.

"What exactly are you..."

A knock on the door interrupted their conversation, freezing everyone inside.

"Let me go get it," Fiona quickly offered, walking to the door, praying and hoping it wasn't Samson's men knocking.

"Go on, open it," Grandma exclaimed.

Fiona opened the door and, to her delight, it was Samuel; she wanted to hug him but her gaze was drawn to his shoulders; he was carrying someone.