SECOND CHANCES
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters except for the new ones that I create.
CHAPTER 5-DARK DEALINGS AND REVELATIONS
She held her breath as long as she could, and for her that was a long time given the fact of her being the slayer, before she nervously and cautiously dared to take another quick breath, thankful that Angel and the others had stopped in the doorway instead of coming fully into the office. She shifter her weight off of her one foot after she felt it beginning to fall asleep on her. For a time she tried to come up with ideas of what she'd say if she got caught hiding underneath the desk in Angel's office, many potential ideas came up but all were quickly discounted as being to unlike her, for she wanted to make a good first impression on the newbie's that had joined Angel. And being found underneath his desk was not a good first impression for the slayer that they had probably been told was more dangerous than all of the demons that they had ever fought and couldn't be trusted.
The question suddenly hit her of had Wesley told them anything about her, because now that she thought about it Wesley's version of what she had done to him would probably make them all want to kill her upon laying eyes on her. She continued to hide underneath the desk until she couldn't hear the voices anymore. After waiting for a few minutes she slowly crept from her hiding place and poked her head up above the desk and looked around. She could see Angel standing at the Hyperion's front doors; sadly gazing out of them and making him look almost like a lost puppy dog, while the two newbie's were leaning on the old hotels front desk and looked deep in a private discussion, with their backs conveniently to her. Sensing that this was perhaps her one chance to get out of the hotel undetected Faith slowly and cautiously slipped out of the office. When Angel turned around suddenly she was forced to dive for cover and roll under the front desk, and with Fred and Gunn only inches away she quickly held her breath and hoped that they hadn't seen her when they had turned to look at Angel.
She overheard a short conversation having to do with what at first Faith thought was a joke, Angel wanting to go and find his son. As far as she knew Angel didn't have a son, but with everything that she had seen as the slayer she wasn't going to count anything out, all the while hoping that all three would leave together. Her prayers were finally answered as she heard Angel give out assignments for something and then came the sound that told Faith that she was able to come out of hiding, the sound of the front doors opening and then closing. She slowly crept out from underneath the front desk and dusted off her pants before her fascination with weapons drew her to the weapons locker. She stood there, silent as a mouse, for a few minutes just looking all of the weapons over before her curiosity got the better of her and she opened the doors and took out a short sword.
With a gleeful smile on her face, one that a person would say resembled a young child with a brand new toy, she began to put the sword through its paces, parrying, thrusting, and slashing. She got so deeply involved in the swordplay that she didn't notice when the Hyperion's front door opened and a rather amused Lilah walked in. For a time Lilah simply stood at the base of the stairs and watched Faith go through her mock training regime with the short sword. But as Faith was about to put the sword away Lilah couldn't wait any longer and began to slowly clap with a grand smile that spread across her face from one ear to another. Faith spun around with a look of true surprise in her eyes and the sword raised.
"Who the hell are you.," Faith growled, with a determined look in her eye, dropping into a defensive stance.
"Oh come now Faith.what are you going to do.kill me," Lilah mused with a small laugh as she crossed her arms and cocked her head to one side.
"The thought had occurred to me.I'm new at this but I'm thinking that you're not a friend," Faith said calmly as she took a step backwards but kept the sword raised in front of her, aiming to be ready for anything.
"Gold star for you.looks like we got the smart slayer.now you're going to come to my office tomorrow afternoon because there's something that I want to discuss with you," Lilah said with a holier than thou smile on her face as she coolly and calmly walked down the steps and towards Faith, all the while reaching for something in the breast pocket of her coat. For her part this only seemed to make Faith ever more nervous than she already was.
"I said who the hell are you," Faith stated again in a firmer tone of voice as she eyed the middle aged woman walking towards her. Faith started to take a step towards Lilah, sword in hand, but stopped when she saw what Lilah had in her hand, a small white business card with red and black letters. "What's this.," she said with a look of confusion spread across her face as she let her guard down a bit.
"It's my business card, show it to the woman at the front desk when you come tomorrow and she'll get you to my office," Lilah said with a half smile as she handed Faith the business card before then turning and starting to walk away as Faith read the name on the business card.
"Wolfram and Heart...fuck.," Faith exclaimed with a look of both confusion and anger on her face before she continued until she was stopped by Lilah, "You know what.you can take your little business card and skinny ass and get the hell out of here before I.."
"I'd hold your tongue if I was you.you wouldn't want to end up back in prison again.would you," Lilah said with an arrogant smirk on her face as she slowly spun on her heel and eyed Faith with a satisfied look on her face.
"What do you.how.," Faith stammered out as she tried to put things into place in her mind while keeping an eye on Lilah.
"What.you didn't actually think that you got paroled for good behavior.we went through a lot of trouble to get you out.and you're out now to serve us...or rather me.you'll do what I say when I say is that clear.," Lilah said with a firm and slightly angry tone to her voice before she continued her way to the doors. When she got the front doors she turned around again to face the stunned and slightly confused slayer, still with the sword up in a defensive manner, before she said, "Oh.there's one more thing.if you know what's good for you that is.stay the hell away from Wesley." And with that Lilah was gone.
* * * * * * * * *
He awoke to the sound of someone banging their fist on his front door. With the gummy taste phlegm in his mouth he slowly pulled himself to his feet as he was reminded that his wounds from the bar fight hadn't fully healed. He made his way over the door and then opened it to find Lorne standing there with an impatient and slightly scared look on his face as he kept looking down the hallway out of the corner of his eye. "Lorne.I must say that I never thought that.," was all Wesley could get out before Lorne hurried past him into the apartment.
"Yeah well you're not the only one, I still haven't forgiven you for the whole knocking me out before you took Conner but.I had to tell someone," Lorne said with a scared look on his face before he walked over to a window and peered out.
"But why come to me and not Angel," Wesley said through a yawn as he shut the door and turned back towards the frightened empathy demon.
"I was going to, but that's when I spotted them, they tried to hide the fact that they were following me but they weren't very good at it," Lorne said as he slowly made his way back to the couch, all the while still keeping an eye and ear open for anything out of the ordinary.
"Wait..them.they.who's after you Lorne," Wesley said growing more concerned by the minute at Lorne's words and body language. He had seen Lorne scared before but there was just something different about him this time.
"I don't know who exactly.but I know that they work for Wolfram and Heart.so you might know them," Lorne said as he sat down on the couch and began to study his surroundings.
"Why would I know them, I don't work for Wolfram and Heart," Wesley shot back with a slightly angry tone to his voice as he sat down on the couch and began to straighten up some of the askew papers on the coffee table.
"Well Angel said that you and the bitch queen from hell.," Lorne began with a slight shrug of his shoulders as he kept himself from making eye contact with Wesley.
"My rela.what I do with my time is none of your.or Angel's business, are we clear," Wesley shot back angrily slammed closed one of the old dusty volumes that he had spread out of the coffee table. Lorne cringed a bit before speaking again.
"Crystal.listen I did a reading on an executive from Wolfram and Heart and.," Lorne said with a slightly faltering voice as he continued to scan the room, but this time a little less intently.
"I'm sorry Lorne.but why would an executive from Wolfram and Heart let you do a reading for them, knowing your connection to Angel," Wesley said with a less than believing look on his face as he leaned back and shook his head.
"Okay you got me.it wasn't an official reading.I don't think they even knew that I was there until he was done singing, then he had two of his goons try and grab me," Lorne said now acting fearfully again.
"So what was so important that this executive had you followed," Wesley said with the conversation now beginning to peak his interest.
"Because I saw him and some of his friends torch the Hyperion tomorrow night at the costume party," Lorne said with a sigh after swallowing hard and eyeing Wesley intently, hoping to judge by his reaction whether or not he was in on the plot.
"Wait.they're going to torch the Hyperion why.tomorrow night at the costume party.what costume party," Wesley exclaimed with a confused look on his face as he slowly began to stack one volume on top of another.
"Why the party that Angel's throwing tomorrow night to drum up some funds to pay for rent so they don't get booted out onto the street.didn't you get an invitation.," Lorne shot back with a festive tone to his voice and a smile on his face as he saw the confused look on Wesley's face.
"Not that I know of.wait.what's that," Wesley began to say with a slightly unhappy frown before he turned his head to look back at his front door and noticed a small slip of paper on the floor just in front of the door. Before Lorne could say anything Wesley was on his feet and walking towards the door. "You didn't answer my question," Wesley said with an unhappy frown on his face as he bent down and picked up the piece of paper.
"What question would that be exactly," Lorne said with a small sigh as he hung his head and looked tiredly up at Wesley.
"Why would Wolfram and Heart want to burn they Hyperion down," Wesley shot back angrily as he walked back over to the couch and was about ready to sit down when Lorne spoke up sadly.
"They want Angel.simple as that.they've already tried to take the hotel from him more times that I can count," he said sadly.
"So they'd rather just destroy the bloody hotel.that's crazy.," Wesley said with his voice and his anger level rising steadily throughout his words.
"Well like that old saying, there's more than one way to skin a cat," Lorne said back with a shrug of his shoulder and a modest smile.
"I never liked that saying.but how are they going to do it.I mean Angel's smart enough to figure that something's up if he sees a large number of people from Wolfram and Heart.," Wesley said as he scratched his chin and pondered the sinister plan.
"They thought of that.they have some ace in the hole that they're going to spring on Angel.to keep him busy, don't know what it is though," Lorne said sadly as he leaned forward and shook his head.
"This is not good news.not at all," Wesley said softly and seriously before scratching his chin and humming the chorus of an old tune that his father had used to listen to when he was in deep thought, with it being patterned after one of the techniques that Sherlock Holmes had always used in his mysteries. Wesley's father had originally smoked during his times of deep thought but was forced, although reluctantly, to change when he had children. At first Lorne disregarded the humming but as the visions started breaking through his barriers and flooding into his mind he sat up straight and began to listen intently to it. It was a few minutes before Wesley noticed that Lorne was looking at him oddly, and Wesley had always hated being stared at and given a confused look. He had hated it even back in Sunnydale when everyone had looked at him with disdain and as if he was the dumbest man that they had ever met. But that had been years ago and he had changed much since then, there was almost nothing left of the squeaky clean newbie watcher that they knew, leaving him to often wonder what Giles, the council, or even his family would think if they saw him now. But for almost the first time in his life he really couldn't care less what anyone thought about him. Breaking from the humming he turned to Lorne and spoke up. "What.why are you looking at me like that?"
"N.nothing.it's probably just static.," Lorne said with a sigh as he shook his head with the intent being to clear the confusing reading out of his head, but for some reason the visions remained and even seemed to intensify until it got to the point that Lorne thought that his eyes would explode if he didn't say something.
"No that's not it.you're a horrible liar Lorne.just tell me what you saw before your head explodes," Wesley said with an angry tone to his voice as he set the slip of paper down on the table, forgetting to read it.
"I'm not sure exactly.it's not one clean vision.they're all jumbled together, there's true and lifelong love from your darkest fear, a whole lot of death.not sure whose death though.then a lot of pain followed by happiness and hope.and old friends.with a little bit of war thrown in at the end to spice it all up," Lorne said through the pain in his head as both he and Wesley tried to make sense of it all as he spoke. After he finished they sat in silence for several minutes, Wesley deep in thought and Lorne trying to calm down and not pass out. * * * * * * *
After Lilah had left Faith had stood there in the lobby, motionless, for she knew not how long before her slayer sense although dimmed from all of her time spent in prison sparked to life and alerted her to an approaching vampire. Cursing out loud she took a step towards the weapons cabinet but stopped when out of the corner of her eye she saw Gunn and Fred walking through the front gate and starting towards the hotel, however they were luckily deep into some conversation at the moment. She quickly shut the doors of the cabinet with the tip of the short sword before she spun around, her mind racing for an idea as to a place to hide, before she simply gave up the fight and raced up the stairs and around the corner just as the front doors opened and Fred and Gunn entered the hotel, still in a deep discussion about something that Faith didn't really care to know about.
She raced through the halls, thankful that only Gunn and Fred had come in because otherwise Angel would have sensed a slayer and come after her. She tore around a corner and saw a staircase at the far end of the hallway. Without a second thought she took off down the hallway and was up the stairs and off towards the next staircase just as a door was jerked open and Conner stuck his head out and looked around before reluctantly closing it again and shaking his head in confusion. She finally had to stop running when the hot sharp pain in her side became to much to bear, so she dropped to her knees and leaned against the wall, the beads of sweat running down her arms and then onto the carpet. "What the hell am I going to do now," she thought with two conflicting emotions running through her head, that of anger and for almost the first time in her life, fear. Seconds later she was on her feet, intent on finding the fastest way out of the hotel and to the one person that she felt that she was finally ready to face, the man from her nightmares, and more recently a few fantasies, Wesley Wyndam Pryce.
END OF CHAPTER 5
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters except for the new ones that I create.
CHAPTER 5-DARK DEALINGS AND REVELATIONS
She held her breath as long as she could, and for her that was a long time given the fact of her being the slayer, before she nervously and cautiously dared to take another quick breath, thankful that Angel and the others had stopped in the doorway instead of coming fully into the office. She shifter her weight off of her one foot after she felt it beginning to fall asleep on her. For a time she tried to come up with ideas of what she'd say if she got caught hiding underneath the desk in Angel's office, many potential ideas came up but all were quickly discounted as being to unlike her, for she wanted to make a good first impression on the newbie's that had joined Angel. And being found underneath his desk was not a good first impression for the slayer that they had probably been told was more dangerous than all of the demons that they had ever fought and couldn't be trusted.
The question suddenly hit her of had Wesley told them anything about her, because now that she thought about it Wesley's version of what she had done to him would probably make them all want to kill her upon laying eyes on her. She continued to hide underneath the desk until she couldn't hear the voices anymore. After waiting for a few minutes she slowly crept from her hiding place and poked her head up above the desk and looked around. She could see Angel standing at the Hyperion's front doors; sadly gazing out of them and making him look almost like a lost puppy dog, while the two newbie's were leaning on the old hotels front desk and looked deep in a private discussion, with their backs conveniently to her. Sensing that this was perhaps her one chance to get out of the hotel undetected Faith slowly and cautiously slipped out of the office. When Angel turned around suddenly she was forced to dive for cover and roll under the front desk, and with Fred and Gunn only inches away she quickly held her breath and hoped that they hadn't seen her when they had turned to look at Angel.
She overheard a short conversation having to do with what at first Faith thought was a joke, Angel wanting to go and find his son. As far as she knew Angel didn't have a son, but with everything that she had seen as the slayer she wasn't going to count anything out, all the while hoping that all three would leave together. Her prayers were finally answered as she heard Angel give out assignments for something and then came the sound that told Faith that she was able to come out of hiding, the sound of the front doors opening and then closing. She slowly crept out from underneath the front desk and dusted off her pants before her fascination with weapons drew her to the weapons locker. She stood there, silent as a mouse, for a few minutes just looking all of the weapons over before her curiosity got the better of her and she opened the doors and took out a short sword.
With a gleeful smile on her face, one that a person would say resembled a young child with a brand new toy, she began to put the sword through its paces, parrying, thrusting, and slashing. She got so deeply involved in the swordplay that she didn't notice when the Hyperion's front door opened and a rather amused Lilah walked in. For a time Lilah simply stood at the base of the stairs and watched Faith go through her mock training regime with the short sword. But as Faith was about to put the sword away Lilah couldn't wait any longer and began to slowly clap with a grand smile that spread across her face from one ear to another. Faith spun around with a look of true surprise in her eyes and the sword raised.
"Who the hell are you.," Faith growled, with a determined look in her eye, dropping into a defensive stance.
"Oh come now Faith.what are you going to do.kill me," Lilah mused with a small laugh as she crossed her arms and cocked her head to one side.
"The thought had occurred to me.I'm new at this but I'm thinking that you're not a friend," Faith said calmly as she took a step backwards but kept the sword raised in front of her, aiming to be ready for anything.
"Gold star for you.looks like we got the smart slayer.now you're going to come to my office tomorrow afternoon because there's something that I want to discuss with you," Lilah said with a holier than thou smile on her face as she coolly and calmly walked down the steps and towards Faith, all the while reaching for something in the breast pocket of her coat. For her part this only seemed to make Faith ever more nervous than she already was.
"I said who the hell are you," Faith stated again in a firmer tone of voice as she eyed the middle aged woman walking towards her. Faith started to take a step towards Lilah, sword in hand, but stopped when she saw what Lilah had in her hand, a small white business card with red and black letters. "What's this.," she said with a look of confusion spread across her face as she let her guard down a bit.
"It's my business card, show it to the woman at the front desk when you come tomorrow and she'll get you to my office," Lilah said with a half smile as she handed Faith the business card before then turning and starting to walk away as Faith read the name on the business card.
"Wolfram and Heart...fuck.," Faith exclaimed with a look of both confusion and anger on her face before she continued until she was stopped by Lilah, "You know what.you can take your little business card and skinny ass and get the hell out of here before I.."
"I'd hold your tongue if I was you.you wouldn't want to end up back in prison again.would you," Lilah said with an arrogant smirk on her face as she slowly spun on her heel and eyed Faith with a satisfied look on her face.
"What do you.how.," Faith stammered out as she tried to put things into place in her mind while keeping an eye on Lilah.
"What.you didn't actually think that you got paroled for good behavior.we went through a lot of trouble to get you out.and you're out now to serve us...or rather me.you'll do what I say when I say is that clear.," Lilah said with a firm and slightly angry tone to her voice before she continued her way to the doors. When she got the front doors she turned around again to face the stunned and slightly confused slayer, still with the sword up in a defensive manner, before she said, "Oh.there's one more thing.if you know what's good for you that is.stay the hell away from Wesley." And with that Lilah was gone.
* * * * * * * * *
He awoke to the sound of someone banging their fist on his front door. With the gummy taste phlegm in his mouth he slowly pulled himself to his feet as he was reminded that his wounds from the bar fight hadn't fully healed. He made his way over the door and then opened it to find Lorne standing there with an impatient and slightly scared look on his face as he kept looking down the hallway out of the corner of his eye. "Lorne.I must say that I never thought that.," was all Wesley could get out before Lorne hurried past him into the apartment.
"Yeah well you're not the only one, I still haven't forgiven you for the whole knocking me out before you took Conner but.I had to tell someone," Lorne said with a scared look on his face before he walked over to a window and peered out.
"But why come to me and not Angel," Wesley said through a yawn as he shut the door and turned back towards the frightened empathy demon.
"I was going to, but that's when I spotted them, they tried to hide the fact that they were following me but they weren't very good at it," Lorne said as he slowly made his way back to the couch, all the while still keeping an eye and ear open for anything out of the ordinary.
"Wait..them.they.who's after you Lorne," Wesley said growing more concerned by the minute at Lorne's words and body language. He had seen Lorne scared before but there was just something different about him this time.
"I don't know who exactly.but I know that they work for Wolfram and Heart.so you might know them," Lorne said as he sat down on the couch and began to study his surroundings.
"Why would I know them, I don't work for Wolfram and Heart," Wesley shot back with a slightly angry tone to his voice as he sat down on the couch and began to straighten up some of the askew papers on the coffee table.
"Well Angel said that you and the bitch queen from hell.," Lorne began with a slight shrug of his shoulders as he kept himself from making eye contact with Wesley.
"My rela.what I do with my time is none of your.or Angel's business, are we clear," Wesley shot back angrily slammed closed one of the old dusty volumes that he had spread out of the coffee table. Lorne cringed a bit before speaking again.
"Crystal.listen I did a reading on an executive from Wolfram and Heart and.," Lorne said with a slightly faltering voice as he continued to scan the room, but this time a little less intently.
"I'm sorry Lorne.but why would an executive from Wolfram and Heart let you do a reading for them, knowing your connection to Angel," Wesley said with a less than believing look on his face as he leaned back and shook his head.
"Okay you got me.it wasn't an official reading.I don't think they even knew that I was there until he was done singing, then he had two of his goons try and grab me," Lorne said now acting fearfully again.
"So what was so important that this executive had you followed," Wesley said with the conversation now beginning to peak his interest.
"Because I saw him and some of his friends torch the Hyperion tomorrow night at the costume party," Lorne said with a sigh after swallowing hard and eyeing Wesley intently, hoping to judge by his reaction whether or not he was in on the plot.
"Wait.they're going to torch the Hyperion why.tomorrow night at the costume party.what costume party," Wesley exclaimed with a confused look on his face as he slowly began to stack one volume on top of another.
"Why the party that Angel's throwing tomorrow night to drum up some funds to pay for rent so they don't get booted out onto the street.didn't you get an invitation.," Lorne shot back with a festive tone to his voice and a smile on his face as he saw the confused look on Wesley's face.
"Not that I know of.wait.what's that," Wesley began to say with a slightly unhappy frown before he turned his head to look back at his front door and noticed a small slip of paper on the floor just in front of the door. Before Lorne could say anything Wesley was on his feet and walking towards the door. "You didn't answer my question," Wesley said with an unhappy frown on his face as he bent down and picked up the piece of paper.
"What question would that be exactly," Lorne said with a small sigh as he hung his head and looked tiredly up at Wesley.
"Why would Wolfram and Heart want to burn they Hyperion down," Wesley shot back angrily as he walked back over to the couch and was about ready to sit down when Lorne spoke up sadly.
"They want Angel.simple as that.they've already tried to take the hotel from him more times that I can count," he said sadly.
"So they'd rather just destroy the bloody hotel.that's crazy.," Wesley said with his voice and his anger level rising steadily throughout his words.
"Well like that old saying, there's more than one way to skin a cat," Lorne said back with a shrug of his shoulder and a modest smile.
"I never liked that saying.but how are they going to do it.I mean Angel's smart enough to figure that something's up if he sees a large number of people from Wolfram and Heart.," Wesley said as he scratched his chin and pondered the sinister plan.
"They thought of that.they have some ace in the hole that they're going to spring on Angel.to keep him busy, don't know what it is though," Lorne said sadly as he leaned forward and shook his head.
"This is not good news.not at all," Wesley said softly and seriously before scratching his chin and humming the chorus of an old tune that his father had used to listen to when he was in deep thought, with it being patterned after one of the techniques that Sherlock Holmes had always used in his mysteries. Wesley's father had originally smoked during his times of deep thought but was forced, although reluctantly, to change when he had children. At first Lorne disregarded the humming but as the visions started breaking through his barriers and flooding into his mind he sat up straight and began to listen intently to it. It was a few minutes before Wesley noticed that Lorne was looking at him oddly, and Wesley had always hated being stared at and given a confused look. He had hated it even back in Sunnydale when everyone had looked at him with disdain and as if he was the dumbest man that they had ever met. But that had been years ago and he had changed much since then, there was almost nothing left of the squeaky clean newbie watcher that they knew, leaving him to often wonder what Giles, the council, or even his family would think if they saw him now. But for almost the first time in his life he really couldn't care less what anyone thought about him. Breaking from the humming he turned to Lorne and spoke up. "What.why are you looking at me like that?"
"N.nothing.it's probably just static.," Lorne said with a sigh as he shook his head with the intent being to clear the confusing reading out of his head, but for some reason the visions remained and even seemed to intensify until it got to the point that Lorne thought that his eyes would explode if he didn't say something.
"No that's not it.you're a horrible liar Lorne.just tell me what you saw before your head explodes," Wesley said with an angry tone to his voice as he set the slip of paper down on the table, forgetting to read it.
"I'm not sure exactly.it's not one clean vision.they're all jumbled together, there's true and lifelong love from your darkest fear, a whole lot of death.not sure whose death though.then a lot of pain followed by happiness and hope.and old friends.with a little bit of war thrown in at the end to spice it all up," Lorne said through the pain in his head as both he and Wesley tried to make sense of it all as he spoke. After he finished they sat in silence for several minutes, Wesley deep in thought and Lorne trying to calm down and not pass out. * * * * * * *
After Lilah had left Faith had stood there in the lobby, motionless, for she knew not how long before her slayer sense although dimmed from all of her time spent in prison sparked to life and alerted her to an approaching vampire. Cursing out loud she took a step towards the weapons cabinet but stopped when out of the corner of her eye she saw Gunn and Fred walking through the front gate and starting towards the hotel, however they were luckily deep into some conversation at the moment. She quickly shut the doors of the cabinet with the tip of the short sword before she spun around, her mind racing for an idea as to a place to hide, before she simply gave up the fight and raced up the stairs and around the corner just as the front doors opened and Fred and Gunn entered the hotel, still in a deep discussion about something that Faith didn't really care to know about.
She raced through the halls, thankful that only Gunn and Fred had come in because otherwise Angel would have sensed a slayer and come after her. She tore around a corner and saw a staircase at the far end of the hallway. Without a second thought she took off down the hallway and was up the stairs and off towards the next staircase just as a door was jerked open and Conner stuck his head out and looked around before reluctantly closing it again and shaking his head in confusion. She finally had to stop running when the hot sharp pain in her side became to much to bear, so she dropped to her knees and leaned against the wall, the beads of sweat running down her arms and then onto the carpet. "What the hell am I going to do now," she thought with two conflicting emotions running through her head, that of anger and for almost the first time in her life, fear. Seconds later she was on her feet, intent on finding the fastest way out of the hotel and to the one person that she felt that she was finally ready to face, the man from her nightmares, and more recently a few fantasies, Wesley Wyndam Pryce.
END OF CHAPTER 5
