The Guru: Shadow (Dark Triad #1)

10. Emma

10

EMMA

PLAYLIST: POISON IN THE WATER -VON GREY

H er whole body froze as if the temperature in the room had dropped to minus twenty-degrees Celsius. For a fraction of a second, her stomach plummeted as if she were in free-fall. Immediately, all her muscles tensed, and her hands began to tremble as she re-read the words from the message that just appeared on her phone. Her heart hammered against her chest, racing as if she were being hunted from uptown all the way to downtown. Only she was hunted in her own apartment.

He’s a stalker.

A hunter.

I knew it.

I told him as much.

And now I am receiving the consequences.

So, he had been in here this morning. She was not paranoid or imagining stuff, he had violated her privacy and broke into her apartment, watched her get off on her own, and left.

What else is he capable of?

There was only one way. She had to get away from him. Had to forget whatever it was she was feeling, stuff her curiosity an d thrill into a black box, and hide it somewhere in the internal oceans of nowhere.

That would be the reasonable thing to do, after all.

Only I am not reasonable.

Next time there will be cameras

Deis

You like to be watched, don’t you?

I like to sleep in peace and quiet

Stay away from me and my apartment

You look lovely today, dark widow. Have a good night later.

What the hell?

And it was then that she understood the hint, understood what all this was about.

He is a hunter.

Observing.

Playing.

Lingering.

Jumping up, she wandered all around her apartment, checking everywhere for hidden cameras. And sure, as hell, there it was: eyeing down on her bed from up in the A/C outlet. As she searched for the other outlets, she found one in the living room and the bathroom.

Holy. Crap. Shit.

So, he went as far as installing cameras in her apartment. I n the bathroom, for god’s sake.

It was invasive and overstepping on a cringe-worthy level, but something in her had a completely different take on it: there was this obviously wealthy and successful man who wanted her. Who went after her.

I am wanted. And not just by anyone. By someone who can have anyone.

Being wanted was a feeling she longed for her whole life. Now, it fed the hurt part in her that strived for praise and being desired like oil poured into fire. The very same fire that made her bold. Bold to a level of idiocy. So, maybe it was the stupidest decision she had ever made, but hell, she would not play by his rules.

I am no fucking prey.

Hi J, feeling better! Wanna have drinks later to catch up?

Julie

Sounds good!

Still in meetings, may be free around 8

Works for me, Anson’s?

Anson’s was a bar with a club area on a lower level, and it was frequented by all sorts of people, mostly single men and women, queers as much as heteros, and in a relatively open space, where almost everything was allowed and welcomed. Usually it drew in people who were looking for something for a night or two, and that was exactly what she needed. She’d not let Deis fuck around with her.

Julie

Uh-oh

Are you out to get your head spun?

More that Chris need to spin far away

It was a white lie. She had to get Chris out of her head, but the real reason was something she couldn’t tell Julie, not in a million years. Deis was, after all, her biggest client. So it was not entirely false, and that was okay for today.

Julie

Legit. Meet at 9 then.

Dress up dear ??

The last message made a corner of her mouth twitch.

Oh how I will dress up.

She groaned internally as the time on her phone told her it was 7.30p.m. The rush she had felt in the early afternoon had left her, and her introverted, self-loathing self now sure as hell had absolutely no joy in leaving the house nor dressing up. Let alone, she had to go for her last savings in her piggy bank. It was so stupid. The money was for emergencies.

Why did I make the plan?

For what?

Getting back at him for the cameras?

Why not rip them out and tell him to fuck off?

Because she was Emma Richardson, a stupid mess, making all the dumb and bad decisions a person could make in a single attempt. Tonight, however, she won’t be Emma Richardson. It was time for a mask.

Get a fucking grip on yourself.

Put on the mask and pull through with the plan.

He fucked with you first.

And somehow, the pep talk she gave herself seemed to work.

She decided on a very tight, short black dress with a deep waterfall cutout in the back, which she wore without a bra. With her breasts, there wasn’t much need for it anyway, as they were small. She tamed her long brown and thick hair into beach waves, put a ton of make-up on her face, including black eyeshadow and eyeliner, and even chose to wear a necklace, several bracelets, and rings. Normally, she hated jewelry, but today, it was about the show.

Scrutinizing herself in the mirror, she felt extraordinary, not like herself, and as that was exactly the whole point of it, she almost congratulated herself on the move. Tonight, she would be someone else. One of her most favorite things in the world. Slipping into another self.

Turning around, she couldn’t help but smirk smugly into the bathroom’s camera. He was supposed to see. All of it.

And as she wore the curated mask, she even curtseyed a little, a smug grin on her face.

I am probably going to regret that one, but whatever. What was he thinking installing cameras in my fucking bathroom and everywhere else?

With that thought, she slipped into her black plateau-high heels, which made her at least four inches taller. She wasn’t small at 5'8" but with the four inches, she was an impression. It was one reason she never wore them; she didn’t want to draw attention to her. Only today it was exactly what she aimed for.

She grabbed her coat, as late October usually brought colder nights with it, and left. While she took the elevator down to the entrance, her inner voice made one last attempt at convincing her to turn around, giving her a million reasons, from no money to Deis probably freaking out. But she was the queen of bad decisions, so what did it matter? Tonight, she was Em whoever, a seductive professional who would get what she wanted.

And with that, she stepped out of the elevator. A last glance at her phone, it was 8.33p.m. and she would sure be too late.

33 again.

The moment she stepped out of the apartment building, an icy shudder ran down her spine.

“Where do you think you are going?” growled Deis’ deep voice behind her.

Focus. You prepared for this.

So, without turning, without giving him the satisfaction of a glance or reacting in any sort of way, she just walked.

“Emma!”

But she did not listen.

“You stop right now.” And his hand grasped around her arm.

“Let go of me.”

“The fuck I will.”

“I’ll scream.”

“No you won’t. Because I will–”

“Help! Somebody help me!” And she wiggled herself free. “Let go of me!”

His eyes had become slits, dark as ever, firing heavily at her. And as people stared and walked up to them, he let go of her.

“Nice try, Emma,” he whispered darkly in her ear. “You’ll pay for that. ”

“I am sorry, sir, you must confuse me with somebody else,” she said coldly, turning around and leaving him standing there.

I will regret it. So very much.

She had seen it in his eyes, felt it in the aura he radiated the moment she opened the playing field. It was her who shot the gun to start the hunt. Well, actually, he did by invading her space. This was her defending herself, and he had to deal with the consequences.

Running late, a stranger thought me to be someone else

It was a good excuse, she thought. Not the whole truth, but not a lie. The whole ride in the subway, her heart raced. It raced from all the thought strings chasing each other in her mind. Would he follow her? Or wait at her home for her return?

‘You’ll pay for this.’

Damn.

A part of her was frightened to the bone, while that weird part of her was thrilled in anticipation.

The whole way from the subway station to Anson’s, she had a strange suspicion of being watched, and maybe she was. If he had someone install those cameras in her apartment, he would surely have the same person, or worse, people, observing her.

He was the one who stopped me.

He was the one who drove me out.

He has no fucking right whatsoever.

Julie waited for her in the lobby where the elevators led up to Anson’s. She was wearing a dark red, very tight dress today, usually the first thing anyone would look at, but the collier she had chosen was so monumental it took all the fame. Only from looking at it, Emma felt pain in her collarbones.

“Look at you! You really followed my advice!” beamed Julie at her.

“Thanks, J,” she said with a grin, while cringing internally. “You look radiant as ever.”

“Aww, sweet as ever. So ready to spin the man away?”

“Oh yes.”

In the elevators, Julie, of course, rounded on her for all the details.

“Before we forget him for the night, you gotta tell me exactly what happened. Have you seen Insta?”

“Oh, I have.” In her, the blank rage was cooking up. “I have also seen them fucking on our couch a week before.”

“Damn, that’s so low.”

“What’s even lower, the resort in Bali, it’s the one I looked up for our wedding.”

“No spine. But to be honest, I never liked him. He was always flat like flounder, equally slippery.”

She had to laugh really hard. It was a moment of lightness she hadn’t had for a long time.

“That one was gold,” she said, still snickering as they arrived at the top floor.

“So, bar or club?”

“Let’s start with the bar, I need some alcohol to make my world spin.”

“Sounds good,” answered Julie with a wide grin. She was always up for heavy nights with plenty of liquids.

The bar was packed. Generally, she hated crowded places, but tonight, it did not matter. Tonight, she was not her usual self. She was a normal version of human. So they went for a table, Julie, of course, made it possible for them to get a space there, however, she was doing it – it was her kind of magic.

Julie ordered them two Cosmopolitans, and while she was a gin and tonic girl, tonight was supposed to be different. So she just let Julie be Julie and blended in with her character.

“To you without Chris.”

“To you getting married.”

Instead of sipping, she gulped down the whole glass. She needed it to brace herself for what Julie would do to her and for wha t she was to do later.

And for sure, Julie did not disappoint. After an hour, she felt like she had been in an interrogation room, and when she finally stopped, she had squeezed every last bit of the happenings with Chris out of her. So much about having him spin far away.

“Em, listen. I’d like to invite you to something. It’s a surprise, but I promise you it will make your life a lot better.”

Eyeing her with her fifth Cosmopolitan in her hand, she asked, “A surprise? You know how much I like ‘em.”

“I know. But it’s got to be that way. I’ll be there, too. It’s research, and I thought it would be a good fit for you, as it’s all about reaching goals in life and transforming your life.”

What goals?

The dreams I gave up on?

Transforming my life?

Sounds a bit like the girl in the ad and the shit mother would go to.

“What kind of event is it? And who’s doing it? Not that Lauren, whatever girl who’s all about manifesting stuff into your life?”

“No, it’s not her, she’s a big name from what I’ve heard however, but no. It’s a weekend in November, all costs covered. Give yourself a push, Em.”

And maybe it was the alcohol or the fact that she felt utterly unlike herself at the moment, that she said, “Okay, but if it’s any of the manifestation shit, I’ll leave immediately.”

“It won’t. Deal.”

“Good, how about we go down to the club now? I feel the need to shake off some things.” Not that she wanted to, but she wanted to find a nice guy to take home with her.

Downstairs, the music hit her ears like cannon blasts. Her brain vibrated in her head, something she hated.

More booze, I need more booze.

“ Do you want another Cosmo or something else?” she asked Julie.

“Yeah, sounds good.”

“I think I need something stronger. ”

The club was equally packed with people, and it took them quite a while to reach the bar. She ordered a Cosmo for Julie and a neat whiskey for herself. A masc-looking woman sat alone at the bar next to her, and as she waited for the drinks, she glanced over to her.

All of her was breathtaking. She had blonde hair styled in a curly mullet cut, gorgeous light makeup, strong eyebrows, and dark eyes. As their eyes met for a moment, a small smirk appeared on her thin rose lips, which made her chest flatter a bit.

Focus.

And she averted her eyes back to the bar.

You need a guy to fuck you tonight. This is about revenge.

Only something in her had other plans, and she couldn’t help but glance over at her again. She wore a suit-like vest with a loose tie, underneath only a laced bra, while she combined it with suit pants and very chic verity loafers. It was sexy beyond anything.

She had secretly admired women for years, but Chris had always told her a disgusted ‘No’ when she brought up her interest in opening their relationship. Chris, the hypocrite.

Focus!

Right now was not the moment to dive into her past, nor into the multiple layers of her sexuality. Today, she needed a guy to fuck her on camera so Deis would learn not to mess with her.

“Interesting choice,” said the masc with a slightly rasping voice as the barkeeper handed over the drinks.

The same words Deis used last night.

She did not answer. Maybe it was rude, but false hope and using women for her game was nothing she’d ever do. So instead, she reached for Julie’s glass, gulped down her whiskey, with one sip and placed her empty glass with slightly too much force on the counter.

“So, is she your protective girlfriend, or can I buy you another because you seem thirsty,” asked the masc.

The way she did it was so hot that it made her stomach tingle. Her plan had been to single out a guy and take him home, having Deis witness he fucks her. She could not get distracted right now, but then…

Damn.

Glancing over to Julie, who stood there watching her with a grin and tilted her head, signaling to her she would be mingling, she then smirked and said, “Not my girlfriend, not protective, so I dare say you can. Macallan, please.”

“Good,” the masc said, with such a sexy undertone that it made the hair on her arms stand up. “So, you are a whiskey kind of girl?”

“Nope, gin and tonic, but needed something else tonight.”

“And why might that be?”

“Someone needs to spin far, far away,” she answered dryly, and sat down onto the barstool next to her.

She laughed.

“You know, I might be able to help you with that.”

“And what do you have in mind-?”

“Ri, as in Riley. And you are?”

Gods, small talk is so awful.

“Em, as in Emma.”

Ri leaned herself towards her, and the moment she did, a prepossessing scent of old oak mixed with a fruity note streamed up her nose. Ri’s right hand wandered up her thigh, and as she leaned further to her, her left hand grasped her face with her palm before her lips smashed onto hers. Soft and yet strong, she completely forgot that she was kissing a woman in the middle of a public club. The demanding energy of it made her insides spin and flutter. Ri knew exactly what she was doing and when her tongue entered her mouth, she felt how much more passion was in the kiss. It was not a fight for power; it was a sweet exploration of her mouth, an invitation.

The kiss alone made her core prickle, and the sensation of it made everything else vanish from her mind. Maybe it was the absence of judgement, maybe the whiskey, or both, but without thinking, she took both her hands up, encased Ri’s face in her palms, and pulled herself towards her.

“Mhhm,” breathed Ri against her lips as her tongues parted. “You taste lovely.” And she trailed down to her neck with her lips, kis sing her all the way down, and it made her let her head fall sideways. Only then did she remember that they were still in the club, and it made her pull up her head immediately. She opened her eyes while taking in the sensation of the kiss and glanced into the space behind Ri.

Her whole body became rigid as she saw him. It made her heart miss a beat or two, only to then pound heavily against her chest.

There he stood, staring at her. A dark shadow frozen between all the flashes of light. The eyes staring at her shouted a single thing. Murder. It made the blood in her veins turn to ice. It should repulse her. The only problem was that it sizzled through her body like a light of pure lust.

Fuck.

“What’s wrong?”

“I… I…there’s–” she stammered, unable to phrase a sentence and tried to move away from Ri.

“Let me guess, it’s either you’re not ready or you just saw the person who must spin far away.”

How did she know?

“The latter,” she said and gulped down the rest of the whiskey. “Thanks for the drink, I don’t want you to get caught in-between. I’m sorry.”

She wanted to flee. Get to Julie, get home. This had all been a terrible idea. She’d pay for what she did; she saw it in his eyes. She had no idea what he was capable of. And for the first time, something in her was truly frightened.

“Stop.” Ri gripped her arm as she tried to get away, her gaze strong on her.

“Ri, please, you don’t want to get caught in this, he’s–”

“Give me your phone.”

She could only stare perplexedly at her. Ri took matters into her own hands, grabbed her purse, pulled out her phone, held it in front of her face to unlock it, and entered her number. It was so overstepping; it was somewhat hot.

When Ri handed her the phone back, she saw she had saved her contact under call me to spin far away. A small smirk ran over her face .

But she had to get out of here before either Ri or Deis turned her world upside down. She brushed over Ri’s thigh with her hand before she turned and left. And when she glanced back to where Deis stood, he was gone. Her heart pounded hard, and the feeling of being hunted crawled up her.

Fuck.

She slipped through people on the dance floor, but Julie was nowhere to be seen. Taking out her phone, she typed in ‘Where are you?’ and then kept looking, glancing behind her every other step as she feared Deis following her again.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!

Where are you, Julie?

I need you. I need to get out of here.

Deis wouldn’t pull anything in front of her.

Or would he?

How complicated could it be to spot her in the red dress and that collier that was such an eye-catcher? Or did she leave?

No, Julie wouldn’t just leave.

And then she saw her from the back, standing with some people; she probably just met or, as it was typical for Julie, who knew someone everywhere, she would have met people she knew.

“Julie,” she gasped, a hand on her shoulder. “Found you”

“That was fast,” she said. “Not good then?” She only gave her an all-knowing look to not inquire further. “Well, it doesn’t matter, I just met a client of mine, may I introduce you?”

And then her heart sank to the floor. In all the rush, she hadn’t noticed the guy standing with Julie slightly hidden in the shadows of a steel poster.

“This is Emma, an old friend of mine, Emma this is–” But he fell for Julie’s word. And as he moved towards her, it was in the best manner of a lion circling a deer.

“Deis,” he said ever so friendly and stretched out a hand. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Emma, we haven’t met before, have we? ”

It’s a game.

Her mind raced so much that it felt like it had stopped working, unable to grasp a single thought. She just acted and shook his hand.

His touch.

Electrifying.

His eyes.

Stripping her soul.

His aura.

Danger.

Get the fuck out of here.