At this point, Marcus was infuriated. His grip tightened around the booklet as he scribbled his signature, the force of his hand slamming the door threatened to pull it right off its hinges – anytime now. He heard the delivery boy let out a loud hiss before revving his scooter and disappearing into the distance.
Ignoring the encounter, Marcus stood rooted in place for a while, straining his ears to catch their conversation once again.
"The new guy is going to be a menace in this neighborhood. Who gave him a house here anyway? Was it you, Diana?" His tone was accusing. His voice was sure to drive Marcus to madness if he ever sat down to listen to him speak for an hour or more. The depth of his loathing for him was immeasurable.
"I didn't even know he came to my office – he's a creep and a stalker," Diana's words rang out, affecting Marcus significantly, but his recent actions painted a clear picture. It was only fitting that she viewed him in such a light upon their previous encounters – but she was not finished.
"…at least that's what I thought until he walked out of one of the offices holding a bunch of papers," After she spoke, there was a heavy sigh, likely from her. Marcus felt a softening in his features as he peered down at the box in his hands.
He unwrapped the box revealing a box of cookies he'd intended to give; one of the cultures of the humans included giving a sort of peace offering to a new neighbor, something meant to facilitate the beginning of a friendly neighbor relationship.
Although commonly vice versa, he decided to be the first to initiate, and his reasons were clear. With determined steps, he headed toward his door.
***
Diana pressed her body against the kitchen counter, her backside exposed to Cole's unwelcome presence. She winced as he clumsily attempted foreplay, his fake arousal grazing against her.
The sensation sent a wave of numbing pain through her nipples, which he callously tightened and pulled, eliciting another whimper from her.
"Do you like that?" His breath, tainted with the scent of stale alcohol and cigarettes, invaded her ears and assaulted her senses. The unpleasantness seemed to linger, leaving a bitter taste in her mouth.
She only wished he was satiated with what he got outside so she would not have to suffer moments such as this.
Forced to play along, she managed a feeble nod and leaned back against him, desperate for it to be over.
Someone, anyone, a call…please, help.
Like an answered prayer, a thunderous knock reverberated through the air, shattering the tense atmosphere in an instant. Cole jolted away from Diana; his body collided with the table, sending utensils clattering to the floor. His eyes strained towards the door, as if hoping to pierce through the solid wood and glimpse the intruder on the other side.
And then he turned his gaze to Diana. Eyes wide and slightly parted lips mirrored his shock and confusion.
"The force behind that banging…it could either be a personal issue or a damned robber," Cole hissed through clenched teeth, his words laced with a mix of apprehension and irritation. He stared at Diana intently, searching for answers in her stunned expression.
"Are you expecting a family member?" He added.
If I lie, he might figure it out.
In a moment of vulnerability, Diana's hope faded away as she shook her head, her defeated shoulders slumping in resignation. Cole's eyes flickered between the door and her.
He snatched her wrist, his grip tightening around her wrist. A flicker of anticipation crossed her mind, as she expected him to encircle her in a protective embrace, shielding her from whatever awaited them.
But instead, with a sudden and unexpected force, he yanked her close and propelled her towards the door.
Her body stumbled forward, caught off guard by his exaggerated push. Her expression was that of disbelief as she turned back to find him retreating, his figure secured behind the kitchen wall.
The shock etched across her face as the realization dawned upon her – she had been abandoned, left exposed and vulnerable to face whatever awaited them at the other side of the door.
That coward!
"Go on, see who it is, I'll be here." He whispered and went back to his initial position.
Like hell you will.
She thought to herself, but not that it mattered, whoever that was at the door, saved her from losing her mind, this morning at least. She couldn't predict what lay ahead beyond this moment, but then, experience had taught her to embrace the uncertainty, knowing that tomorrow would take care of itself.
She could count how many times they'd had sex with just her fingers, and all in the past three years. Every other thing had been a touch, maybe more. That was how she uncovered his secret escapades.
The dimwit would've gone mad if he didn't have someone else sating his sexual appetite, and from the little times that she'd experienced his feeble stamina, she knew he had it – despite his lack of strength.
A subsequent knock at the door snapped her back to the present, jolting her from her downward spiral of thoughts. Fixated on the door, she cautiously took short strides forward.
"Who is it?" She called out, but received no response – only the faint evidence of movement discernible through the minuscule gap under the door.
Reaching into the nearby container, which housed various household items including an umbrella, her hand grasped the curved handle of an object that promised a sense of protection –
Dang it!
An umbrella, what is that meant to do? Nevertheless, her determination pressed her onward, her chest felt restricted due to the minimal space her beating heart allowed. In an attempt to soothe its pace, she rubbed her palm against her chest in downward motions, seeking solace.
With both hands now firmly grasping the umbrella, she extended her arm and wrapped her fingers around the doorknob. Swift as a charging animal, she swung the door open and locked gazes with the one person that had been the reason for Cole's earlier reproach.
From the moment their gazes met, she felt a profound stirring within her soul, willing her to a world which she had long grown numb to. Her heart thudded against her ribs, a forceful reminder of the enigmatic effect this person had on her.