Visitor Part 1

Visitor




Sleep came easily after Mr Vargar's afflicted visit, but it didn't go as deeply as she thought.
Suddenly, she was in the garden; the sun was blindingly bright instead of its usual pale. She walked through the fringe of trees that led to the heart of the garden. There was a clearing instead, rolling with lawns and a rock wall on the far side. She tottered towards it and found an opening in the wall concealed by lush shrubs. It was the mouth of a cave. She could hear the sound of water echoing off the rocks inside the cave. Curiosity drew her forward.
As she crossed the threshold, she fell. Just as she was about to hit the floor, she bolted upright in bed. Harry had just walked in with Cairo's daily dosage. The rain still poured outside.
'Morning, Miss Lady. You look dead on your feet, or your back rather.' said Harry.
'You don't say...' said Cairo sarcastically. 'What time is it?'
'Just gone half eight.' Harry said, eyeing Cairo suspiciously.
'What?' Cairo demanded. The effect she aimed for was soon lost in a yawn.
'What time did you get to sleep anyway?'
'I don't know. I haven't been doing much of that recently.'
'What's bugging you?'
'The whole situation is actually. I need to call a friend.'
'No problem, dear! I'll see you around lunch, ok,' said Harry, the worry didn't quite leave her tone.
Cairo picked up the phone, and inspiration hit her,
'Harriet!' she called and waited for a few moments. No answer. She hit the buzzer under the table's eaves. Three minutes later, Harry strolled in with a mildly curious expression.
'Yes?'
'Is Mr Vargar out?' asked Cairo, fingers crossed.
'No, dear. Would you like to see him?' asked Harry, eyes narrowing with suspicion, no doubt.
'No!' she squeaked, not quite ready for another close encounter with him so soon. 'Could you ask him something for me?' She was careful to keep her expression blank.
'What's that love?'
'Please ask him if I could have a guest over, you know, a friend to talk to for a day or two. From work-' She stopped herself before babbling got the best of her.
'Will do love. Get back to you as soon as I can, yeah,' said Harry, ducking out of the room.
Anticipation had Cairo on tenterhooks. She couldn't sit still. Twenty minutes later, she slipped into the shower, worried about the approval of her request. When she got out of the shower, she found her bed made and a breakfast tray. There was a note on the tray.
She opened the letter with damp hands. It was from Mr Vargar.


Dear Cairo,

I have been informed of your desire to have a guest over. That can be arranged. Please let me know when you would like to have your guest over and the approximate duration of their stay and I will make the necessary arrangements to bring your guest here.


A.S. Vargar.




Relief saturated her at the mere prospect of having Alex over. They could speak endlessly, and Alex could share her uncannily accurate suspicions with Cairo, here at Amar Vargar's house. How awesome would that be?
Hastily, she picked up the phone. After three rings, Alex picked up.
'Hello?'
'Brah, when are you off?' asked Cairo in a rush.
'Erm, I get off today at half three. Why?' asked Alex, somewhat befuddled.
'Do you have any plans for your off days?' asked Cairo, unable to keep her eagerness under wraps.
'Erm, Cleo's shooting a Givenchy ad in Moscow this weekend. I won't see her till Wednesday,' irritation coloured her tone.
'How many off days have you got?'
'Jurr girl! What's with the Spanish Inquisition? I'm off till Thursday at 11 to be exact.'
'Sharp, I'll call you back in a bit, don't go anywhere. Please keep your phone on, Brah,'
'Wha-,' said Alex before Cairo cut her off.
Cairo rummaged in her drawer for some paper and wrote Mr Vargar a note detailing her friend's whereabouts and how long she would like Alex to stay over. She hit the buzzer, and this time, Inez appeared with a tray of biscuits and Chai.
'You never touched your breakfast, huh? Why is that? Mr Vargar wants you to eat so you can get better.' she chastised in a motherly fashion.
'Guess I'm not hungry,' she smiled apologetically, curious about Mr Vargar's desire on the back of her comment. 'Inez, can you please give this note to Mr Vargar for me?'
'Not at all,' she teased, taking the note and leaving Cairo to get dressed.
Fifteen minutes later, the phone rang. Reaching for a biscuit and settling herself into the pillows, she answered. 'Hello,'
'Hello. Did you sleep well?' asked the Devil himself.
'Yes, sir, thank you.'
'About your guest, is it a girl or a boy?'
'Girl,'
'Will she object to my driver collecting her at The Grand?'
'I don't think so, sir. I need to call and ask her.'
'When would you like her over Cairo?'
'Erm, I need to check with her, sir. Can I get back to you on that?'
'Certainly,'
'How do you suggest I go about that, sir?'
He hesitated, then said, 'I'll come to see you at 10:00 am. Is that alright with you?'
'Of course,' breathed.
'See you then,' he replied warmly.
'Ok,'
Cairo called Alex to ask if she would mind spending her time off at Cairo's rehabilitation centre. She jumped at the opportunity with both arms and legs.
Now comes the trouble. She thought wryly.
At ten sharp, Mr Vargar walked in with a tentative smile and cautious eyes. He stopped just inside the door.
'How are you feeling?' he asked gently.
How had she missed it? He was beautiful. He took her breath away, and she instantly hated the thoughts that followed his appearance. The scent that walked in with him was wonderful, fresh, sweet, warm and something else.
'I'm good, thanks, and yourself, sir?' she said, looking at his clothes instead. At least that was to be expected. He had an immaculate style. He donned a charcoal shirt and grey slacks. He stood with his hands in his pockets; shoulders inclined, and then sighed.
'So, have you spoken to your friend?' he asked in a soft voice, careful to keep his eyes adrift.
'Yes, sir, she'll be ready at 4 pm.'
'Is there anything else I could arrange for you? Would you like me to get you anything?' he asked.
'No thanks. Alex is all I need.' she chirped, animatedly. She was so excited to have someone safe around. Someone she didn't have to be careful around. She was giddy with excitement that she missed the storm brewing in his eyes.
'Ok. She'll be here around five or six this evening. If you need anything else, leave me a note ok?' he asked, his eyes narrowed.
'I'm fine, sir. Really,' she insisted cheerfully.
'Why?' he asked sharply. She felt the confusion painting itself over her face.
'How much more could I possibly accept from you, sir?' she asked carefully, not letting the indignation bubble to the surface. She was feeling incredibly off-balance enough as it was. The more she accepted, the more indebted she would feel towards him. 'What you've done and continue to do is more than I could have ever dreamed of asking. It's gluttonous to ask or accept any more. Isn't it enough that I've asked you to allow me a guest?'
'You make it sound like I mind,' he said keenly. Something had shifted. There was interest in his eyes.
'I can't accept any more from you, sir,' she added, now glowering at the floor. Before she knew it, he was at her side with his gentle hand under her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. His eyes were ablaze with tacit questions. He seemed beside himself with curiosity. 'What are you so afraid of? Why do you lock yourself up like this? You're almost closed and unapproachable. How does your boyfriend get close to you?' he asked softly, almost to himself. There was an edge of frustration in him.
What the hell did her love life have to do with the matter at hand?
'I don't believe that is any of your business,' she replied reticently. A look of triumph came over him.
'I thought as much,' he said, positively smug. 'You're terrified of being close to anyone...' he stopped abruptly, his expression darkening.
'Why?' he breathed in her face again, almost to himself, looking down at her. She remained silent and kept her face blank.
'Why,' he asked a second time, a furrow etched his brow, searching her face, looking for an answer.
'Why do you need to know?' she deflected. 'You're a rich, successful man, with so much. I don't want anything else from you. I can't afford it.'
'I have no intention of buying you over. I want to know why you won't accept my offer. Most women would jump at the opportunity for much more,' he asked again.
'I am not them. I have everything I want and want everything I already have,' she said finally. Shock flickered across his face; it was like she threw ice-cold water on his head as she explained her contentment. 'I've never had a lot of money, so I don't care much about money I didn't earn. I don't like it being wasted on me either.'
'Why do you want to pay me back then?' he asked sharply.
'Because I don't like being indebted to people–' she stopped abruptly, 'Why then? Why did you do it?' She knew that he had enough money to chuck her in a hospital and leave her there, but why was he taking this case so personally?
'What?' he asked, perplexed. 'I don't understand?' he said, his hand dropping from her jaw, moving away from the bed.
'Save me. Pay for everything, then take me into your home to recover? Get me a therapist?' It felt like taking a deep breath after being submerged underwater to ask him the questions that had plagued her since she opened her eyes
Surprise, confusion and agony filtered across his face in quick succession. There was a vulnerability of intangible quality to his face and the way his voice broke when he said 'I don't know anymore...' before he stalked out of the room.