Darker The Forbidden Berry

Chapter 2

Jaleeyah stayed the next few nights and Aja was honestly intensely grateful. This house was large and imposing. Sometimes Jaleeyah would wander off in search of more expensive wine or cheese and Aja would be left alone. She did not like the way her voice echoed and bounced off the walls in every room she went to. She did not like how she got vertigo when she looked over the hand railing from the third floor. Maybe taking this job was a mistake. Or maybe she was just thinking too hard about it.

She came to that final conclusion as she tossed back another glass of wine, her vision swimming even though it was only eight in the evening. She was draped over the arm of the plush couch, her cheek resting on her arms as she watched some sh*tty reality show where a bunch of girls tried to win the affection of a has-been rapper.

“This is just sad,” Aja said, her words a bit slurred as she pointed at the TV accusingly.

“You think?” Jaleeyah asked.

“How do you fall in love with someone with like nine other people in the room, glaring at you and just hoping you fu*k it up?”

“I don’t think anyone on this show is trying to fall in love.”

“Why are they there then?!” Aja asked.

“You’re really committed to this starving artist bit, huh?” Jaleeyah asked with a chuckle. “It hasn’t occurred to you that maybe they just want this guy’s money?”

 “Money is overrated,”

“I’m sure it loses its novelty when you can always pay your rent and buy anything you want,” Jaleeyah said, glancing over at Aja. “If I got the chance to live like this….” She motioned around her. “I would marry any man who would look at me.”

“Even if you did not love him?”

“With a house this big? Man, I wouldn’t even have to like him,” she said with a chuckle. “We’d just spend our time in our separate parts of the house. It would be incredibly easy to avoid each other.”

Aja turned her gaze back to the TV, but she was not really listening to it anymore. Jaleeyah said that she’d be happy with the mansion and the money, but Aja had seen this kind of situation enough to know it was only wishful thinking.

She’d landed her first gig as a personal assistant three years ago when she moved to Detroit to pursue her education. That job had led her to a plethora of mansions and even more unhappy marriages. She often sat with the miserable wives of men who ran off with women half their age. She’d never had the guts to ask any of the women why they stuck around, but she had a feeling she knew the answer. It would be harder to leave their lifestyle than it was to watch their husband’s run around with women who were barely old enough to be called that.

“Be careful what you wish for, Jaleeyah.”

“Don’t worry. I’m too busy to find a sugar daddy. I just think about it sometimes.”

The dating show ran for a couple of episodes before eventually turning into some sketch comedy show. Aja and Jaleeyah were spread out on the couch, focused on the show and cradling their wine glasses when Aja’s stomach began to gurgle.

“Sh*t. We never ordered dinner,” Jaleeyah sighed. “Wanna go see if there are any take out menus in the kitchen?”

“Yeah, yeah. Let me go look,” She said, pushing herself off the charcoal couch.

When she got to her feet, she wavered for a moment, trying to blink away the buzzed feeling. She steadied herself before wandering towards the kitchen. The house was large and dark at night and she could not help the fear that crawled up her throat when she wandered through the unfamiliar halls. The darkness was Aja’s childhood fear, but it had never really gone away. She was smart enough to know that there was not really a monster lurking in the shadows, but she just could shake the way the hair on her arms stood on end.

They’d left the kitchen fully lit and she could not help but take a breath when she finally reached the comfort of the light. She walked over to the counter and pulled the drawer open, rifling through the stacks of take-out menus.

“Um…Who are you?”

Aja jumped at the strange voice and let out a shriek. She stumbled back from the counter, her back hitting the corner of the island hard enough that it was sure to leave a bruise. Out of pure instinct, she grabbed a knife out of the knife block and swung around with it, her eyes wild with fear.

When she turned she was pointing the knife at a tall man with dirty blonde hair and eyes the color of storm skies. He was wearing a fitted suit, though it looked a bit disheveled. His eyes were hazy and he swayed on his feet, hands up in defense.

“I’ve never been held at knife point by such a pretty lady.”

His voice was as smooth as velvet, despite the slight slurring. It had a slight lilt to it and it made it sound like he’d spent most of his life outside the country. It was not quite an accent, but it was something.

“What…? Who the hell are you….?”

He dropped one hand and held a finger up, mouth hanging open for just a brief moment as if he’d forgotten his own name.

“Honestly, it’s odd that you’re being so demanding. You’re the one who’s not supposed to be here.”

“Bold of you to say, considering I’m the one with a knife.” She took a step closer for good measure.

“My name is Finn and I live here.” He waved a hand at her. “Alright. I’ve introduced myself. I believe it’s your turn. I’d really like to know who broke into my house.”

Relief washed over Aja and she felt her buzz come back as quickly as it had waned. The rush of adrenaline had sobered her up, but now she had to lean against the kitchen island for support, setting the knife down and taking a deep breath.

“I did not break into your house. My name is Aja.”

His thick, groomed eyebrows pulled together before those stormy eyes shot open again. He crossed the room and a few long strides and offered a hand – his rolled-up suit sleeves matched the casual nature of his loosened tie.

“Good lord what a wild mistake,” Finn said, letting out a soft chuckle.