He had just signed the last paper. He squinched his eyes shut. He could feel a headache coming on. He had some Aspirin somewhere in his drawers. There was a knock on the door.
A head poked in. It was Katherine.
"Mr. Pole, I just got off the phone with TTPs. They have agreed to shift the meeting till monday. You are free to go home, Sir". She said and left.
He murmured his thanks and gathered his briefcase. As he got into the elevator, he pulled out his phone and called Ross, his driver. The car was ready and waiting as he got outside.
The drive was silent. On the bridge, there was a hold up. People were gathered at the overlook. He became curious.
He stepped out of his car and walked towards the scene. A woman was attempting suicide. Another hopeless case in the society, he mused.
People were trying to convince her to come down, but she refused.
He walked forward and pulled off his jacket.
People cleared a path for him. When he got to her, he just stretched out his hand. She looked at him wearily.
For a moment, they just stared at each other. No one said a word. Then, to everyone's amazement, she took his hand and came down. He draped his jacked around her shoulders and led her back to his car.
He seated her first before entering. His driver raised an eyebrow at him.
Yeah. What the hell had he been thinking?
The deed was already done. People who were filming the whole thing were trying to get closer for a nice shot of the saviour.
They had to take another route back to his penthouse. The girl had been silent throughout.
They entered the elevator and he pushed the button for the last floor. When the doors opened, she refused to come out.
"It's alright, I won't hurt you. This is my house". He coaxed.
But, what the hell was he thinking, bringing her to his house? His safe place.
She slowly walked out of the elevator.
"Would you like something to eat? I cook".
She said nothing.
"Have a seat, then". He said.
She stared at the seat before she gently sank into it.
"So what is your name?" He asked.
She said nothing.
He decided to wait for Ross to bring all the information he could gather on her. He noticed that she had pale blue eyes. She was quite pretty.
Ross walked in just in time and handed him a folder.
"Thank you, Ross. That would be all". He said as he opened it.
She was a Law graduate from Yale. Her dad had also been a lawyer. Her mother had died of cancer two years ago. She was an only child. Her name was Cassandra Wilson. She had participated in human rights activists programs. She had a steady income of forty thousand dollars a month. She worked in a prestigious law firm. She was engaged to be married. Her fiancee's name was Frederick Duckweed. He was a Londoner. She had no children. She had graduated as the best student in high school. She had no criminal record.
"So tell me, Cassandra Wilson, why did you want to take your own life?".
Her eyes widened at his mention of her name. Then she looked at the file he was holding.
Still, she said nothing.
"I won't be able to help you if you don't tell me anything".
"Because I don't need your help, or anyone else's!" She yelled.
At least he got her speaking. For a moment there, he was almost afraid that she was dumb.
"Did your fiancee dump you. Is that why?" He asked, leaning forward tenderly.
She looked up at him, her face expressionless.
"Why don't you look into your file and find the answer there". She said sarcastically.
"I only had this file done because I urgently needed to know more about you. I didn't want to bring a criminal into my house".
She looked a bit understanding.
"From what I see here, you have a job and an apartment. Would you like to go back to them?".
She violently shook her head. He was desperately curious.
"Why not?" He asked.
She only shook her head more and began to cry. She should rest, he thought.
"Let's get you in the shower". He said and grabbed his phone from the table between them.
She slowly rose up and followed him.
He led her upstairs and down the corridor. He unlocked a room and handed her the keys.
"This is your room. You can stay as long as you like. I have arranged for new clothes for you, it will be here soon. In the meantime, the shower is to your left. There's towels and soap. Let me know if you need anything else". He said and turned to leave.
She quickly grabbed his wrists. Her eyes were filled with terror.
"Please don't leave me alone". She pleaded quietly.
He almost didn't hear her.
"Don't go". She said more audibly, tightening her grip on his wrist.
"There's no one here. You're perfectly safe". He said, trying to loosen his hand from her grip.
If anything, she tightened her grip.
"Don't go". She pleaded again.
He decided to give in.
"Alright, I'll stay". He said and closed the door behind him.
He settled down on the bed and took off his shoes. He watched her enter the bathroom and close the door.
When she came out, Ross had already brought clothes for her. He had even arranged them in the closet.
But knowing Ross, he was confused. He was probably wondering why he was in her room.
When she came out she grabbed the clothes and whispered a little thank you.
"Let me put these in the machine". He said as he picked up her old clothes from the chair she had left it.
"No. Don't go". She quickly said.
He looked at her. She was wearing a towel on her body and wrapping a towel on her head. She looked terribly terrified.
He had to sit down again.
She went into the walk-in closet to dress up, leaving him confused.
What was she so afraid of?