“Separate duties?” Asher whined.

  “Only for a few minutes,” Daphne replied, a small smile growing on her face.

  “Fine,” Asher grumbled, turning to go back to the kitchen.

  Daphne grinned as she made her way back to her bedroom and began opening the boxes of clothes and putting them away in her armoire and closet. It's so nice to have a reliable partner. I don't know if there is anyone else in the world I've relied on as much as I've relied on Asher. She pursed her lips together. I'm so used to having to do everything myself that depending on someone else, feels incredibly foreign. But it's so much more convenient than I ever imagined it could be.

  Butterflies fluttered in Daphne's stomach. Asher and I could have a future together. I always was trying to make things work with bad men, but now that I have a good one, I have to make sure that I don't let him go.

  She gulped. But I'm getting far too ahead of myself. I have to survive. Whatever Rose and the month of December throw at me before I can even think about having a future with Asher. A lump grew in her throat and her eyes pricked. At least if I die this time I'll get to die happy.

  “What you doing there?” Asher asked, peeking into her bedroom. Tanpopo creaked at Asher from the bed.

  Daphne looked down at what she was holding and started blushing. “Don't look,” she exclaimed, throwing a pair of panties back into the box she was pulling from.

  Asher chuckled. “Why not?” he asked. “I've seen everything else. I don't see a reason for you to feel embarrassed.” His voice was suave and flirty, and Daphne scowled, feeling her face heat up even more.

  “Only once…” she murmured.

  “We can make it twice,” Asher replied.

  Daphne covered her face with her hands for a moment and then scowled at him. “We're both supposed to work tomorrow,” she shot back.

  “I'm sure Ellie would understand if you explained how you're moving.”

  Daphne glared. “No,” she replied firmly. “I'm not missing my first day of work.”

  Asher sighed. “Fine, fine,” he said with a cat like smile. “What do you want me to work on next then?” he asked.

  “Will you start pulling these hangers out of their bags?” She asked, lifting a bag and plopping it on the bed in front of them.

  “Sure,” he said, beginning to pile them up on her bed.

  They worked in silence for a few moments before Daphne spoke. “Do you think this will really work?” she asked.

  “Do I think what will really work?” Asher asked.

  “Do you think that Rose won't be able to find me here?”

  Daphne remembered the second threatening letter she had received. Rose was clearly able to see in my house who's to say she didn't follow me to the new place on one of my many trips back and forth between the two apartments?

  She felt a shiver run down her spine, and she met Asher's brown eyes his face was concerned.

  “Do you think that she's already found your new apartment?” Asher asked. “Has anything suspicious happened?”

  Daphne shook her head. “No,” she replied. “It's just a gut feeling. I'm afraid that with all the changes we've made that we have inadvertently sped things up.”

  Asher shook his head. “We can't know that,” he said. “But it's possible that Rose could have followed you and knows that you moved. There's also a chance that she hasn't noticed yet and may not even notice for a while.” He paused and reached for Daphne's shoulder. “Worrying about it isn't going to make it more controllable than not worrying about it, right? You know I'll do what I can to protect you. But there is at least a good chance you'll be safe in the apartment.”

  Daphne nodded, frowning. “She just strikes me as the type who's not going to give up easily,” she answered. “Why else would she have been willing to kill me with her own hands and risk getting caught last time?”

  Asher looked as though he had swallowed a fish. Daphne waited a few beats for him to say something and he didn't reply. He must not know what to say. Her heart aching in a deep, tight knot forming in her stomach. For all either of us know, I could be in great danger still.

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  ~

  Tuesday morning, Daphne woke in her new bedroom to Tanpopo chirping at her to feed him. She stretched, noticing that her alarm was expected to go off in a couple of minutes. She sat up on her bed and yawned, turning the alarm off. Tanpopo made an excited chirp and jumped off the bed. Daphne slid her slippers on and got off the bed herself. Today's the day. My first day of work at Asher's company.

  Her heart skipped a beat as she made her way into the kitchen. Tanpopo mewing at her as they went together. “All right, buddy,” she said, washing his bowl and grabbing one of his cans of food. His meowing went up an octave and she couldn't help but smile at him.

  She chopped his food and up and popped it in the microwave, surveying the apartment. The warmth of her heart wavered a little. I still have so much unpacking to do. I wonder if this move will actually be worth it, or if all this work will have just been for naught.

  The knot that had been in her stomach when she had suggested to Asher that Rose would likely still be able to find her had yet to go away. She was feeling a bit nauseated from it all and pools of ice were forming in her stomach.

  I just can't help but feel that Asher is wrong. I think that this move is going to do nothing to protect me and end up just being in a big inconvenience. Rose probably already knows where I am.

  Daphne put the food bowl down in front of Tanpopo and he happily began mowing down. She smiled a little, trying to ignore the pit in her stomach.

  Stop it. Focus on the day ahead. Worrying about Rose isn't going to stop things from happening. I need to focus on what I can control.

  Daphne sighed and returned to her room, pawing through the clothes in her closet, looking for something appropriate for her first day of work. I wonder what the new team I'll be working with will be like. I'm excited to work with Ellie, but I hope to find friends like Holly…

  Daphne's heart sunk a little in her chest. I've been so busy, I haven't had much time to think about Holly at all... I wonder how she's doing.

  Daphne pulled on a nice crisp blouse and grabbed a blazer out of her closet, pulling it on. I wish Holly could have moved to the new company with me. It would have been a lot of fun to work with her again.

  Daphne grabbed her phone off her nightstand and went back into her kitchen. She prepared herself a cup of coffee and some breakfast. As she was sitting down to eat, her cell phone vibrated.

  I hope you have a good first day at your new job, Holly had texted.

  Thank you so much, Daphne typed as a smile spread across her face. I was just thinking of you. How is work going now that Trevor is gone?

  It's so much better, Holly replied. The culture has already started to heal. Fiona is on probation and may even get fired if she can't stay on top of her projects. People smile so much more…

  Daphne bit down on her lip. I wonder if I made the right choice to leave if it's that much better with Trevor gone, it would have been so much easier to stay... She pursed her lips and shook her head. No. It would have been hard in other ways to stay. I didn't want to be a manager either.

  I'm really glad to hear that, Daphne replied. Have you heard anything about the new manager yet?

  Yes, Holly replied with a smiley emoji. I'm the new manager.

  Daphne's jaw dropped and she squealed in her kitchen chair. Oh my gosh, she typed back to her friend. Congratulations.

  Thank you, Holly replied.

  What a well-deserved position! I'm so happy for you!

  Thank you again! Would you like to meet up at the Irish pub after work for drinks? I really miss working with you and would love to catch up.

  Daphne was grinning from ear to ear. I'd love that, she replied.

  Perfect, Holly answered. How does five thirty sound?

  I'll be there, Daphne replied, adding a smiling emoji to her message.

  She glanced at the clock and her stomach dropped, the knot that was there, tightening even further. I need to leave. She chugged the last bit of her coffee.

  She slid on her favorite pair of flats and pulled her puffer winter coat on. She grabbed her bag and her keys before looking over at Tanpopo in his new nook by the couch. His eyes were shut, and he looked as though he was peacefully sleeping. Daphne's heart warmed a little. “I wish I could just stay home with you today.” She noticed his breathing was deep and slow, signaling that he was likely sleeping.

  “I love you so much,” Daphne said, smiling, closing the apartment door. She locked it, her stomach tightening even more, enough to make her gag a little.

  I can't be late. She tried to pull herself together. It's my first day and I want to leave a good impression on Ellie.

  Daphne took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. It's going to be okay, she attempted to convince herself. No matter what happens this time. I have Asher on my side. He will make sure I am okay.

  She turned and headed down the single flight of stairs from her apartment. At least I'm no longer on the top floor. She trudged down the stairs. That's at least one thing to be grateful for.

  She opened the door at the bottom of the stairs, stepping out into the frigid December air. There was a powdering of snow on the ground, and Daphne's breath came out as puffs of smoke in front of her.

  She took a deep breath just as something was shoved against her nose and mouth. Daphne's heart started pounding in her chest. She attempted to elbow whoever was holding the rag against her mouth, but failed, missing them entirely. She tried to push her captor back up against the wall of the apartment, but her energy and strength were quickly falling fast. Her breaths came quicker, her heart beating erratically in her chest.

  Wait! No! I can't die this way. At least give Asher away to find me!

  The snowy landscape in front of her turned dewy and wavy, becoming a blender of colors in front of her. I can't die. Not like this.