Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 63289 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 253(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63289 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 253(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
“I am. . .truly touched by your thoughtful gesture. The diamond rose is beautiful, and it sounds like this truly represents the depth of your feelings.” I tried to keep the silly smile off my face.
He made me feel like a young girl at the beginning of her first love. I wanted to dance and cheer at the sheer extravagance of it, but I somehow managed to keep my composure.
I cleared my throat. “I am flattered that you would express interest in beginning something with me, and I am excited to see where this might lead.”
“Trust me, Maya.” Ethan’s eyes shone brightly with a powerful intensity that filled me with a deep sense of longing. “This journey will be nothing short of magical.”
“I believe you.” I had just met him, but my mind was made up. I could not deny the emotion that surged through me.
I would follow him eagerly into the unknown.
With an unwavering gaze, he lifted his hand holding the glass of champagne. “Shall we toast to the new adventures and possibility of us.”
“Yes. I think we should.” Smiling, my eyes locked with his. Slowly, I lifted my glass up to my lips and took a sip.
Instantly, I felt a burning sensation in my throat.
What’s that?
An unexpected pain surged through my body. My limbs turned to stone, and I felt my grip on the glass and rose slipping away.
What?
I dropped them.
Ethan set his glass on the shelf. Concern laced his voice. “Maya?”
My tongue and throat burned while an inferno raged inside of my chest. I tried to scream but could barely move my flaming mouth and tongue.
“Maya, what’s wrong?” Ethan grabbed my arms.
My vision blurred.
Pain. So much pain.
I grasped at my throat with both hands and struggled to stay upright.
No. No.
“Jackson!” Ethan caught me as I fell back. “Somebody, help!”
I couldn’t breathe.
Blinding pain shot through my chest. My heart pounded wildly, and it felt like it would explode from my body.
The room spun around me.
Ethan’s face blurred and then darkness swallowed me.
The last thing I heard was Ethan’s voice. “Please, Maya. Don’t die on me.”
Chapter 5
Do You Remember the Time
I jolted awake in the back of the limo. My hands gripped my throat. No pain moved through me. No burning or blurry vision. In fact, I felt brand new.
Wait. I’m not dead?
A feeling of numb disbelief washed over me.
But, I was in Ethan’s arms. . .dying.
Michael Jackson’s Remember the Time, blared out of the limo’s speakers.
The air filled with those now hauntingly familiar notes.
What?
All around me, everyone appeared to being enjoying the song. Claire swayed with the rhythm. Bernard clapped. Horace bobbed his head. Ryan lifted his glass of champagne in the air and moved it to the beat.
Even Shi who sat next to me, snapped her fingers.
And I held my throat completely confused.
Was that some sort of. . .dream? But then. . .didn’t this happen in the dream?
Shi turned my way and paused from swaying. “Are you okay?”
“Huh?”
“Your neck.” She pointed at my hands gripping my throat. “Is there something wrong?”
I slowly moved my hands from my neck.
Shi tapped her purse and let out a nervous chuckle. “I have a whole pharmacy in here—Tylenol, Ibuprofen, anti-depressants—”
“No.” I scanned the space. “I’m fine. I. . .think. I had a bad dream?”
She tilted her head to the side. “Last night?”
“No.” I shook my head. “Just now in the limo. It was a crazy dream.”
Shi gave me an odd look. “But. . .you didn’t fall asleep in here.”
“No?”
“No.”
But, I had to be dreaming. . .
Worry filled Shi’s eyes. “Are you sure you don’t need anything?”
I blinked a few times. “I’m fine.”
Then, Michal Jackson began singing about a relationship that had ended, and this odd wave of deja vu swept over me like I had lived this moment before.
Hadn’t I?
Claire’s voice rose in the air. “Yes. I love M.J!”
She said that before. In my. . .dream. Didn’t she?
Claire gestured at me and pointed to her green purse. “I have a special something in here to relax you this evening. Just let me know at the Gala when you want to go out and have a break.”
I froze in horror.
She said that! Those words! Right?
Claire leaned her head to the side. “Are you okay, Maya? I know when my girl is shaken.”
I slowly shook my head. “I’m. . .fine. My head is just being. . .weird.”
Claire smirked. “Maybe, you need a quick hit now. Would anyone be opposed to our smoking in here—”
“Oh no!” I waved my hands. “The last thing I need right now is to smoke anything.”
“You must.” Claire snapped her fingers to the song. “It will be so much fun. Just like the old days when we were in college.”
She said that. I’m certain of it.
My heart pounded in my chest.
What is going on?
“No way.” Horace raised his voice over the music. “Maya must be an elegant and captivating lady this evening. Keep your eyes on the prize, Maya. Money. Money. Money.”