Where Am I

Sarah POV

How is it that this man can speak to me so joyfully when I have absolutely no idea who he is? It’s as if he read my thoughts because suddenly he stopped in his tracks, carefully maintaining a safe distance from me. My mind was racing with questions—Who is this man? Why did he bring me here? And how does he seem so at ease despite the strange situation? Then he finally spoke, his voice calm yet somewhat knowing: " It's Lawrence, you don't remember what happened last night?"

As he uttered his name, a vivid flashback of the previous night surged through my mind, bringing with it a flood of memories. I recalled how Daniel had come to my rescue in a moment of danger. John was about to hit me, but Daniel intervened just in time to stop him. As the memories unfolded, I also remembered a kiss—my fingers instinctively touched my lips as the image of that kiss resurfaced in my thoughts.

He explained, "You were quite drunk last night, and I didn't feel comfortable leaving you alone. I wasn't sure where you lived, so I decided to bring you back to my apartment to ensure you were safe." I looked at him gratefully. "Daniel, thank you so much for helping me last night," I said softly. He smiled warmly and replied, "It was my pleasure, Sarah. You deserved better than that scum. By the way, is there anywhere you need to be today? I can take you wherever you need to go."

As Daniel drew nearer to me, I became increasingly aware of myself and my surroundings. The urge to freshen up was undeniable—I needed to wash my mouth and take a shower. I wondered aloud, with a gentle tone, if I could use his bathroom to catch a quick refresh. Suddenly, a wave of nausea hit me, and Daniel immediately recognized my distress.

He pointed silently toward the bathroom, offering silent support. I managed to reach the toilet just in time, and to my astonishment, Daniel was right behind me, softly rubbing my back in a reassuring manner. I couldn’t understand why he was acting so kindly and considerate towards me, especially since I didn’t know him well.

Once my stomach was empty, I straightened up, though my balance was off, and Daniel was immediately at my side, holding me steady to prevent me from falling. Gently supporting me, he guided me over to the bathroom sink. He then offered me a new toothbrush, which I gratefully accepted. Daniel remained close by, holding onto me until I finished brushing my teeth, his presence reassuring. I find myself still wondering who this man truly is, despite his kindness.

My mouth felt markedly better, feeling fresh and thoroughly clean. Daniel then gently released my hand as I turned my attention back to him. "I know you’ve given me your name, but I’m curious—who are you really, and why are you helping me, Mr. Lawrence?" I asked, my voice tinged with curiosity. "Please, call me Daniel," he replied softly, once again brushing a stray strand of hair behind my ear. His hand lingered there for a moment, causing my heartbeat to quicken and my knees to feel unexpectedly weak, as if his touch had an unspoken power over me.

What was happening to me? Why was I at another man's house, feeling such confusion and distress, just after discovering that my boyfriend of one year had been unfaithful? I blinked repeatedly, trying to clear my foggy mind and make sense of the situation. Once again, I asked Daniel the same question, hoping for some clarity. "Who are you, Daniel?" I demanded. He looked at me calmly and replied, "I'm the owner of Lawrence Cyber Security Corp. I helped you because you were in distress, and I wasn't going to stand by and let the slum of a boyfriend hurt you in any way." His words hung in the air as I tried to process his identity and his unexpected presence in my life. He is John's boss

"Thank you," was all I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper. His proximity—just inches from me—held me in a trance, and I found myself unable to look away from his lips, drawn by an intense desire to taste them once more. As I struggled to contain my longing, Daniel reached out with his free hand, gently cupping my chin and tilting my head upward to meet his gaze. His eyes were reassuring and warm as he softly spoke, "Whatever you need, Sarah, just let me know. Don't hesitate to ask," offering comfort and understanding in that tender moment.

I glanced at him and said, "I need to go home." He hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly stepped back to reach into the closet. After a brief pause, he handed me a folded towel and a set of clean clothes, placing them carefully on the bathroom sink. Daniel then stepped out of the bathroom, leaving me alone so I could take my shower in privacy.

The water was pleasantly warm, and as I submerged myself, it helped to relax and soothe my muscles. Gradually, the tension that had been building in my body started to diminish, melting away with each passing moment. However, despite the relaxation, I still felt a dull ache lingering in my chest, a reminder of last night's emotions. After thoroughly cleaning myself, I carefully wrapped a soft towel around my body and stepped out of the shower.

I entered the bedroom, where a stunning dress was neatly laid out on the bed, awaiting me. Once I dried off completely, I reached for the plush sweater dress that Daniel had given me. The dress was long, reaching down to my ankles, providing both elegance and warmth. I felt a deep sense of gratitude for Daniel, who had kindly given me such a beautiful garment that would keep me comfortable and warm.

I left the room to look for Daniel, but the aroma of eggs and bacon was in the air, and I followed the scent. Before I could reach the kitchen, Daniel was in the hallway waiting for me. "That dress looks amazing on you," he commented. "Thank you for giving me the dress," I replied. Daniel invited me to sit down and have breakfast with him, and afterward, we left his apartment so he could take me home.

As Daniel opens the passenger side door for me, I notice my purse on the seat. Once inside the car, I gave Daniel my address, then I took my phone out of my purse and saw 13 text messages and 5 missed calls from John.

"Babe, I'm sorry. That woman didn't mean anything to me."

"Babe, please call me back."

"Babe, I love you."

"Babe, let's talk about this."

Etc, etc, and I didn't even bother to listen to the voice messages. Daniel asked softly, "Is everything okay, Sarah?" His eyes searched mine for a moment before I responded. "That was John. He apologized and wants to talk." A noticeable silence fell between us. Daniel remained quiet, his focus fixed on the road ahead. I watched as his grip on the steering wheel tightened, knuckles turning white under the pressure, revealing the weight of the situation.

The entire ride to my apartment was quiet. As we arrived, Daniel jumped out of the car to assist us. "I'm coming with you," he said. I was confused about why he wanted to come to my apartment with me. "Daniel, you don't have to come with me. I will be fine.

I expressed my gratitude to Daniel for everything he had done before leaving him standing there. Once inside my building, I took the elevator up. As I exited the elevator, my attention immediately shifted to John, who was sitting on the floor in the hallway beside my apartment door. With a look of urgency in his eyes, he called out, "Sarah, I've been looking for you everywhere. Where have you been?" A sudden shock flooded over me upon seeing him at my door. I wondered, why was he here now?

Somehow, summoning a surge of courage I didn't know I possessed, I managed to voice my defense. "John, you have no right questioning where I’ve been after everything you’ve done to us, to me," I spoke softly, trying not to disturb my neighbors. John approached me, closing the gap between us. Still, I instinctively took a cautious step back, eventually pressing myself against the wall as I tried to maintain my composure and stand my ground.

John pressed his body against me to prevent any movement, his grip firm and insistent. "I don't have the right to question you," he muttered, his voice thick with anger and laughter. "Don't forget your place, Sarah. You are my woman, and you obey me—not the other way around. Now, tell me, where the hell have you been all this time, and why haven't you answered any of my texts or calls?" His words were sharp, his tone accusing and furious.

I looked him squarely in the eyes and stated firmly, "I don't have to tell you anything. I also don't appreciate you showing up at my place unannounced." My voice was steady, but there was an underlying tone of frustration. "Don't think I forgot what you tried to do last night, and the fact that you had my boss help you. I refuse to overlook that so easily." As he finished speaking, John's hand suddenly slammed down on the wall near my head, making me flinch involuntarily. The sudden force and aggressive gesture caught me off guard, sending a shiver down my spine and intensifying the tension in the air.

Daniel shouted fiercely, "Get the hell away from her now!" as he hurriedly sprinted down the hall toward us. His voice echoing with urgency, he continued angrily, "Do you actually think you can tell me what to do outside of work, boss? Why are you even here? This is none of your business, so go away!" John responded with a thunderous roar, staring him down with intensity.

"I warned you," Daniel said firmly. Without hesitation, he grabbed John by the collar of his shirt, forcefully pulling him up against the wall. His fist shot out, landing a hard punch to John's stomach. John grunted in pain, clutching his torso. Daniel’s voice tightened with menace. "The next time you come anywhere near Sarah, I will do something much worse to you. Heed my warning or else you will regret it."

Daniel quickly dropped John, who then bolted away as fast as he could. Daniel’s gaze shifted to me, and I found myself paralyzed in shock, unable to move or speak. He called out my name, but no words came from my mouth. Suddenly, I felt Daniel's warm hands gently cupping my cheeks, tender and reassuring. His touch sent a tingling sensation through my body, gradually awakening me from my frozen state and breaking through my shock.

"Sarah, are you ok? Did he hurt you? He asked sounding concerned. I didn't say a word. I didn't know what to say. Tears began to form, and I threw myself into Daniel's arms.