From the direction her voice is coming from, she's almost unrecognizable with all the curls in her dark hair gone, her face is covered in a slight fade of powder, and she's donned in a short red dress. Instead of what any gorgeous woman should do, strutting over with that beautiful outfit, she's practically running down in heels, and it looks I'm not the only one mesmerized, my glaring company is too.

"I'm so sorry I made you wait Leo" she apologizes amidst heavy breaths after getting to where we are stood.
"I just got here" I lie to make her feel less guilty, but someone behind me clears his throat.

"Oh! Cale" she's staring at the stranger in surprise.
"Cale?" I blurted hastily.
Eleanor hesitates, "Yes...Cale, his name is Cale, I'm sorry, do you two know each other?" The stranger whose name is now Cale is confused, "I don't, although, I can't say the same for him".
An aversion, that's what I need to get away from this man.

"Can we get going, Eleanor?"
"Yes, yes, I'm all ready. See you later Cale" she bids he who still looks confused goodbye.
When we are in my car and on the way, I instigate a conversation about Cale, I really need to know him cause Kennedy mentioned Cale as the man who is after the syndicate, I'm not saying he is the one, but there's a chance he can be the one, there aren't many people named that kind of name, it's unique.

"Eleanor..can I ask you something?" the conversation starter.
She nods, taking her eyes off the phone in her palms, apparently, she's texting someone.
"About that man back at your apartment, Cale, who is he to you?"
For a response, she gasps in surprise. Have I said something unusual?

"No way, he's also asking me the same thing about you" she lifts her phone to show me who she's texting, the header reads

'Cale The Boss of Me' and she swings it away from my face, probably, so I can keep my eyes on the road.

"The boss of you, funny one, Eleanor". Beside me, she suppressed a laughter, "it's not a joke Leo, unfortunately for me, Cale is my boss at work".
That's a bomb ass shocking statement. Who lives next door to her boss?
"So...where do you both work?"
Eleanor replies nonchalantly, "At a media firm".

Anxiety takes over me instantly, I press the vehicle's brake on high impulse which makes the car go into a very harsh stop, it threw us both towards the windshield, far away from the seat, although crashing back into it in seconds because of the seatbelts.

"Lord! are you okay, Leo?" my companion screamed.
I shake off my extreme shock to reply, "I am... I am so sorry for alarming you. Are you alright?" she nods, the shock still in her eyes. The vehicles from behind won't let me process everything that just happened due to their ear deafening horns, my car is on the move again.

Back to the matter on ground, I can't believe what I just heard, Eleanor works at a Media Firm, meaning she's a Journalist, talk about life serving you your arch nemesis as a friend and a person whom you've taken interest in.

Concerning this new information about Cale, there is a 50percent chance he could be the enemy because, it's only someone who has access to the press that can publish such article which almost put the Hotel at jeopardy.

On the contrary, he looks harmless, somewhat cunning in speech, but I can't let my guards down, it's always the least expected criminals that commit the gravest crime, I'm a breathing example.

After this dinner, I need to send word to Axel, the investigating team has to run a background check on that man, on Kristoff's Crony and the intruder from Papa's funeral. I'm definitely in a tight spot here, the other woman who needs to be killed hasn't been found and there's an anonymous enemy out there, against me, against the syndicate. Not even a month yet, and I'm already walking on hot coals.

"What are you thinking about, Leo?"
"What is that?"
"I asked, what is it you're thinking about".
"And why did you say that?"
"You are obviously frowning because of something and I want to know what it is"
"Has anyone told you, you're too curious"

She smile in return at my statement.
"That's why I'm a Journalist, Leo. Now, tell me".
There's no getting out of this one.
"I'm waiting too"
"And you're impatient too" I add.

After a cautious hesitation, I reply.
"Let's do it like this, you tell me which Media firm you work for, and I'll honestly tell you why I'm worried"
"That's not a sensible way to go around things, Leo".
I should have known she won't fall for my trick.
"Fine. I'm worried sick thinking you may not like what I've prepared, I made a reservation".
She raised an eyebrow for a moment, then drops it
"What makes you think I won't like it?"

Another question, I won't hear the end of this.
"Your reply shouldn't be another question" I warn.
She adjusts in her seat several times making me take a glance at what has her so restless but when our eyes meets, she stops and heaves a breath.
"Don't answer that Leo, you really don't have to be worried because whatever you have prepared, I know I'll like it and I won't tell you where I work, you'll have to figure that out yourself over time".

Over time?

=======

I haven't told anyone including Axel about Eleanor, Axel wouldn't mind knowing, he'll even set fire to an affair because he's tried encouraging me to find someone but wouldn't say it directly and Gina? heavens forbid.
If the time comes to introduce her; Eleanor, to people I consider friends, which I strongly doubt will ever happen but if it does under any circumstance, I had high hopes there won't be any drama, damages, or disputes but that won't happen anytime because she's a Journalist.

For our dinner tonight, I did the reservations at the hotel I technically own, I've informed Mr. Collins to make sure his staff gives us the best table and the best chef present at the HR's restaurant which is located at the ground floor of the building. I would have desired my privacy with her, to give her a night to remember, but if I did close the place down, it'll make things, suspicious.

I take another glance at her where she is, in the passenger's seat, typing away on her phone, there is this annoyance I feel because of the way her awry straight hair covers the side of her face, it's so hidden except the tip of her nose that's poking out a bit, makes me remember something.

My memory is scrambling through my brain to attend to the eerie feeling of what I'm trying to recall when she asks
"Why are we going this way? I know this way. Where are we going, Leo?" The way she's sounding, so worried and scared, it's feels like I'm going to put her in danger.

"Calm down Eleanor. It's a great place everyone knows in Tarleton and Keght, it's safe" I assure her while putting the vehicle at a halt for the traffic sign.
Eleanor didn't say anything, she faced the window by her side.
"A place everyone knows" she repeats out of the blues.

The car is on the move.
"Yes. Another thing you need to know is, the dinner party has been rescheduled for another day, so it's only us. I hope you don't mind".
I tear my eyes away from the road for a second to see her reaction, but her face is more hidden because her eyes are to the ground and the hairstyle is not helping things either.
Five minutes later, the sign of HR's hotel can be seen from our distance.

When the traffic clears up, and I pull into the driveway, instead of handing the car keys to the valet in waiting, I insisted on parking my car myself at a safe spot which suits it and alight the vehicle. I walk over to the opposite direction to open her side door, Eleanor didn't take my hand nor alight the vehicle, she kept on staring at the sign of the hotel, fright present.

"Eleanor, we are here" I announce, my eyes still on hers, moreover, she still won't bulge.
There has to be something running through her mind that's making her so frightened to
get out of the car and into this building, maybe a traumatic experience.
"Are you okay? if you don't like this place we can go somewhere else" I offer because I'm getting very worried now which isn't supposed to be.

According to what Papa used to say, this hotel has been the best in Tarleton for four consecutive years, apart from the wonderful service rendered, it's been in the headline for its mystery about the ownership and the management that's running it behind closed doors, truly the strangest of things attracts people.

We should go, I grab the car door to shut it, but she stops it midway.

"No, wait, we can't leave yet"
"What do you mean? you can't tell me you're comfortable here with that look" I argue.
"You've already made a reservation, I can't throw that away. I'm fine, Leo, let's go in"she persuades me by leaving the car and shutting the door herself.
"Shall we go in?"

=========

Thank you for reading this far.
Darasimiwrites.