*
*
Faith was still reeling from shock even as Sterling started to drive.
Out of all the possibilities, she couldn't think of any reason Dan would stalk her. It's been more than a year, why would it be now?
The day she had married Sterling was the last time she had seen him, the last time she had heard anything related to him had been when Natalie had told her that he was arrested by the police for abusing substances and even murdering a person while intoxicated.
Did he escape from prison? Was his intentions to harm her?
Seeing Dan just now filled her with all sorts of weird feelings.
"Faith__"
"I'm not hiding anything! I didn't see anyone!" She jumped when Sterling touched her shoulders. Her eyes widened at him, she didn't mean to yell out like that.
He was already suspicious, but that was nothing compared to the intent look in his eyes at this moment.
"Who did you see out there? is someone after you? Answer me! Damn it!"
She flinched at his sharp tone, his eyes tearing through her like a knife. Stubbornly, she kept mute. He sighed frustratedly, some seconds tickled past before he spoke again.
"I'm concerned about your safety, you have to let me know if you're in any danger, don't keep things like this from me." His voice was gentler this time, Faith stared at where his hand clasped hers, then slowly rose her eyes to meet his, perhaps it was the worry she saw there__ She was tempted to just tell him everything.
"I think a person is following me, This afternoon, and now, I don't know who it is, I might also be wrong about it though." She decided to go with a half-truth.
"You could have said so earlier, this isn't something that you joke about!"
He withdrew his cell phone and started to place some calls. Faith couldn't hide her defiant expression when he ended the call and spoke.
"I will find the person, but before this situation is resolved, you are not allowed anywhere if I don't accompany you."
She knew this was exactly what would happen, this was why she was avoiding telling him. Stupid Dan for bringing such troubles to her.
*
*
It was several days later that Barbara announced that she would be visiting her hometown and would stay there for some weeks.
Faith hadn't objected to moving back to Sterling's mansion. She didn't expect to be overwhelmed with bittersweet memories, and regrets.
The designs were exactly as she remembered, it didn't feel as though she had left this place for more than a year, and every curve of the house was still engraved in her memories.
The doorbell sounded, she wasn't expecting any visitors, she had no close friends, whoever the visitor was, they had to be here for Sterling. Faith glanced towards Sterling's room, it didn't look like he would come out, so she strolled to the entrance and twisted the door open.
"I heard you were back___" Faith stared at the woman who paused without finishing the sentence. Both women's eyes widened, but it was for different reasons. Faith recognized the woman instantly, she had seen her with Sterling before, and also during the hearing.
"Sorry, I was expecting Mr. Hunter." The woman spoke. Faith looked down to see the cake and bottle of wine in her hand, she knew today wasn't Sterling's birthday, so__
"I've never gotten a chance to introduce myself, I'm Stacy, Mr. Sterling's assistant. Is he in?"
Faith didn't know why she just stood there staring, she didn't have any reason to dislike this woman except the fact that she was extremely pretty and it seemed that she was close to Sterling.
"Can I come inside?__"
Faith realized that she was awkwardly blocking the doorway.
"Yeah, sure." She murmured, telling herself that she wasn't jealous because Sterling found a more beautiful assistant or the fact that this woman took the position that once belonged to her. Have they ever slept together? Surely, Sterling couldn't be celibate for so long. How many times have they done it here in this house?
She felt more miserable than she was willing to admit.
"I'm Faith, I am__" She paused, suddenly confused about what she and Sterling's relationship could be called.
"Oh, I know who you are." Stacy completed with a smile and Faith lifted a brow, she didn't know if she was surprised or annoyed.
Faith watched Stacy place the cake on the nearby table.
Sterling even mentioned her to this woman! Faith was almost sure now that they must have had a romantic affair.
Sterling chose that moment to appear, catching her attention, the way his shirt clung to his athletic physique, his hair was still damp from the shower he just had.
"Stacy, you said there was something important?" Faith's eyes followed him as he casually strolled toward his mistress without even sparing her a second look.
He was ignoring her now that his mistress was here?
"You didn't come to the office, so I had to bring these." Stacy gestured at the table.
"They were sent by our associate company to you to celebrate five years of working together!" She announced.
"You know I'm not interested in__"
"No, you need to celebrate, everyone knows how much effort you put into ensuring the company's growth, enjoy your cake! The other gifts are still in the car."
Faith stood there awkwardly, even though they only discussed work, the bitter sensation in her heart didn't go away.
She doubted they would notice her absence even as she silently walked away.
She wished Maya wasn't asleep, at least then she could play with her.
Grabbing a sweater and an umbrella, Faith decided to take a short stroll, completely disregarding Sterling's warning not to go anywhere unaccompanied.
He wouldn't care that she was disobeying, after all, he was having the best time of his life with his secretary.
She didn't plan to venture too far from the house, nothing would happen to her over such a short distance, right?
*
*