Page 28 of Framed Obsession

“N-No. You said concrete. How did you know it was concrete?”

Chapter 23

The Stalker

Time Alone W U - Artemas

Iraced my way back to Parker Raines Therapy Center, hoping to catch my girl. I made sure to snag my mask with the green neon LED strips attached to it, which I so proudly made myself. I haven't shown up as my alter ego in a while, and I feel I’m due to pay her a visit.

I’ve been leaving her notes with flowers, but I don’t want her feeling like her stalker abandoned her. That's the last thing I would ever do. I pull into the garage on my bike, circling around, looking for her car. I smile, seeing it still parked.

Damn, she’s here too fucking late.

I glance down at the time, doing a double take as it reads a quarter till eight. I make my way up to the office. Sliding the mask over my face, hiding my identity like a thief in the night. I take my phone out of my pocket, pressing on the surveillance software. A few clicks and the cameras are now on a loop, leaving no trace of me having been here.

I pick the lock with ease and quietly push the door open. I’m light on my feet as I make my way down the hall, glancing around the empty rooms as I pass, ensuring solidarity. I see that my Little Flower’s door is open, and I make my presence known as I stand in the doorway.

Disappointment fills me quickly. Where is she? I was certain she was here. If her car is here, then where is she? I whip out my cell again, clicking on the tracker. Her cell shows she is at a hotel downtown.

What the?

I leave the office in a hurry, making sure I lock the place back up and re-set the cameras to record live. I run down to my bike, remove my mask and replace it with my helmet. I don’t give the engine a moment to breathe as I zoom out, making my way to the Baltimore Hotel.

A million thoughts and questions enter my brain. This is out of her routine. It pisses me off ‌with how confident I was, thinking she was working late. I'll check her phone’s location first before her car’s next time.

Who the hell is she at a hotel with? I’ll murder whoever it is, without thought. That is, if she is out with another man. My blood begins to boil, and I can feel rage seeping through my veins at the thought. I park in front of the valet and hand the guy a hundred bucks.

“If you scratch this, I'll end you,” I threaten. He cowers at the insane look in my eyes and nods. I leave the key in the ignition and walk in.

“S-Sir, you can't just—” The man at the host stand tries to interrupt me, but I keep walking. There's a restaurant to my right and the entrance to the overpriced hotel to my left. I glance in both directions, contemplating which area I should check first.

I turn to the right, walking into the restaurant. If I look here first, it will be faster. I don’t think I have the patience to look through forty floors with this irritation flooding me. She better not be here with another man or I’ll fucking—

My thoughts are cut short when I see beautiful icy hair in the dimly lit back corner. There she is. I remove my helmet and run a hand through my disheveled hair, trying to tame it. It looks like she is talking to someone, but I can't quite see who with the darkness.

A tap on my shoulder makes me jerk my head sideways. I’m on a fucking mission and I keep getting disrupted. She is right there. I can smell her from here. The man from the entrance catches up to me.

“Sir, you can’t just dine in without a reservation,” he states, breathing heavily.

“Get me a table in that back corner there.” I point in the direction of my Little Flower.

“I can’t without a reserv—” I cut him off by shoving a wad of money into his chest.

“How much?”

Not a moment later, I’m being escorted to the back area. Not as close as I'd prefer, but I’m a few tables away, close enough to watch yet far enough for her not to notice. The bewilderment on my face could be painted and framed. Why is she here with her boss? I could have sworn by the way she acts toward him, she wouldn’t want to be within ten feet of him.

She doesn't look like she is exactly enjoying her time, anyway. My hand glides down my face at the sudden memory of him asking her to dinner a few days ago. And she never said “no.” I’m the only one ‌she obeys to. He will find out soon.

“Hi, how are you doing?” the male waiter in my periphery asks, and I know he doesn't actually care. I don’t stray from looking in the direction where my angel and her boss are sitting. I give the waiter a wave of my hand before responding.

“Yeah, yeah. Just give me an Old Fashioned and I’ll take an eight-ounce sirloin, medium rare with the brussels sprouts,” I say, sounding like an asshole. I know I am.

“Of course, Sir,” he complies before leaving. My finger impatiently taps the table in anticipation. I want to smash Parker’s head until it’s a bloody fucking pulp. Then kidnap my girl and fuck her until her body gives out. A quaking feeling simmers into my pants, and I adjust myself as I go stiff.

She makes me so fucking hard. These thoughts of having her are going to drive me insane.

A clink of a glass being set on the table has me looking down. The waiter sits my drink in front of me and leaves without saying a word. Just how I like it. I’m never in the mood for small talk.