XI

The day she'd been awaiting had finally come! After toiling away from the past three weeks Luka finally received her first paycheck. Though it was minus the $500 that was given to her as an advance, it was still a check that managed to barely push itself into four digits. The remainder of her money had been spent on more clothes and other necessities for her daily life, but now she finally had some cold hard cash which could be used for whatever she wanted. Luka had been stuck in the house for the past three weeks, but now she can actually go out and have some fun.

Already plans began to formulate but a small nagging voice in the back of her mind echoed "Don't go too far." That's right. Only two weeks had passed while on the job (though what actual work could come into question) and she received her first scolding. It was during her morning shower (she switched to bathing in the mornings just to irritate Sana). After exiting the bath she found that her clothes had vanished, and not just the dirty ones. Luka was certain she'd placed the day's wares next to the sink, but even if she hadn't, what happened to her pajamas she just discarded? It only took half a heartbeat to realize the culprit. It was Sana. That damn brat was as quiet as a ninja, and as vindictive as a dictator.

It started about two week ago.

When Luka finally got herself situated and ready to work, assignments were given to her to preform on a daily basis. It seemed that the Lancer family hadn't quite been ready to put to work the assistant they hired. Most of the tasks given to her were general home maintenance issues and cleaning, which were done quickly and with little difficulty. At some point Sana realized that Luka had an excess of time and should be kept busy. That was when she started sending her assistant out on her "errands." Most of which was absolute nonsense.

Quickly did Luka discover that Sana's hobby was puzzles. Not necessarily video games, Sudoku (she finally remembered the name), or word searches (her latest craze), but anything that challenges her reflexes and intellect. The harder the better, and only as long as it catches her interests. She became bored with Sudoku and word searches, so those hobbies lasted about a day each. That game of her's is besting her at the final boss, but it's also mind-numbingly frustrating. Though she packs it away every so often, she'll eventually return to it in hopes of it's conquer. Meanwhile, however, she needs something to keep her busy.

That's when she started sending Luka on errands. Sometimes Luka believes it's an excuse, but because Sana is androphobic and afraid of men, she can't go to busy places and buy the books or games she wants. At the beginning her assistant was fine with this, as Sana provided lists for what she wanted to purchase, but once she ran out of ideas she wanted Luka to chose on her own. Luka thought she understood Sana's tastes, but Luka was wrong. Nearly all of what was brought home was rejected. If her assistant didn't have anything that caught her interests, she'd send the girl back out to fetch something that did. Sometimes this would involve three or four trips. Luka could understand Sana's need for stimulation, Sana was a very intelligent and cleaver woman, but this was an obsession. Despite having a sweet voice and never speaking a harsh word, she was picky and irritating as hell.

Only so much could Luka take before feeling the urge to retaliate, and her first strike was childish and demeaning. Sana, exactly like Luka, enjoyed bathing before going to bed. The difference between the two, however, was that Sana slept during the day leaving her active hours after most have gone to sleep. About as much one could expect to challenge their supervisor, Luka readjusted her schedule to allow her to shower after waking. Often did she interrupt Sana's routine. Her excuse was valid, wanting start the day fresh and clean like a professional, and it wasn't like she could have used all the hot water, but it was enough of a wrench in the system to cause Sana to steal her assistant's clothes a create a very embarrassing scene.

After being scolded by her employer, Luka confronted Sana regarding her missing clothes.

"I washed them," Sana served.

"Why would you wash them and leave me with nothing!" Luka returned.

"I only took the dirty clothes," Sana set up.

"You took my clean clothes too!"

"Oh, I'm sorry. You wore that outfit only yesterday. I thought it was dirty as well."

Luka had only four outfits. She was forced to do her laundry three times this past two weeks. Point-Sana.

"You left me with nothing!"

"I didn't want to invade your privacy and enter your room. There were plenty of fresh towels left-over."

"And Mr. Lancer caught me in it!"

"I apologies for that. I hadn't known when my father would return nor that he would be upset. He's never said anything when I've done that." Match-point, Sana.

"You're his daughter!"

"And I'm also an adult woman. I thought that if the sight of my body didn't bother him, then yours wouldn't either." Game-set.

Luka lost on every argument. Worse yet, Sana nearly made her believe that she didn't do it on purpose. Nearly anyone watching would have thought it was an honest mistake. However, that wasn't the case at all. One could only tell if it was directed squarely on them. There's something about Sana, something that cannot be seen and is difficult to describe. When you're facing her, or she has you in her sights, you can feel a pressure in your chest and you start to get the sensation that your naked, defenseless. It makes it hard to act and hard to think. Clearly, at least. It's not simply because she's beautiful or seemingly as delicate as a flower. No. There's something behind those dark eyes that glows eerily in the absence of light. Luka's closest estimation was that of a panther, or wolf. A stalker in the night who's awaiting a moment of weakness and a chance to strike. When she's upset or irritated you can nearly feel her hot breath and sharp teeth near the back of your neck, which is exactly what Luka felt when asking about her clothes. She forced herself to stay strong, but she couldn't keep her volume in check. Luka was nearly certain she was close to yelling the entire exchange.

All the more reason to leave the house and blow some money. Just don't come in stumbling drunk is all.

Sana was still up when Luka walked out the door. She told her charge about her plans and asked her approval. In one of those rare instances Sana actually seemed interested in what her assistant had to say. She put down her controller and listened. Not only that but she asked questions. The answers she received weren't very exciting or intriguing. All Luka wanted to do was buy some more clothes, stop somewhere nice and have lunch, and maybe go for a drive. All of which was the truth. Yet Sana was pleasantly engaged and inquisitive. Luka found it odd but not at all uncomfortable. The attention she received was...nice.

Bidding fair well Luka took her money and old red Toyota and hit the town. First and foremost was clothes. Of all the things she wanted to do once she got money, shopping was the first. Heading towards downtown LA she passed through a neighborhood she'd grown familiar. Back before her luck turned south she worked for her boyfriend and frequently paid a visit to the homes in these parts. Not particularly the highlight of her life but it was fun while it lasted. Shame her "fun" ended the one and only time she said "No." If at all possible she'd never want to pass through this area again.

But back when she did have to, she always glamorized over the high-end fashion boutiques that were somehow stationed nearby. Now that she had a bit of change she could hold her head high and march into that place and be treated by the money she earned. However, once she walked inside she almost expected to be thrown out like in that Julia Roberts film, but that never happened. The girl working the store was a cute little Hispanic perhaps a few years younger than Luka herself. She was friendly and very helpful so Luka tipped her 50 bucks just because she could. Luka almost thought the girl wouldn't accept, but she snatched the money without a second thought, never faltering with her smile.

That was the fastest Luka ever spent $600 ($650). Now she had a wardrobe that could last her an entire two weeks, and half her funds have yet to be withdrawn. On her way out the cute girl mentioned a good seafood place to have lunch. Even if she was fishing for another tip she wasn't going to get it, but the girl seemed to be generally good natured. Luka accepted the tip and filed her within her memory. Luka would remember to ask for her by name the next time she goes shopping.

It was a bit of a drive (How could she go there for a 30 minute lunch break?) but the lobster was excellent. Luka's father had brought them to the East Coast, so she's had fresh crab, but this was in a whole-nother league. Every bite brought forth a wave of excitement, and the previously financially challenged assistant wanted to scream with joy each passing second. Like a child she kicked her feet out of her chair just to contain her voice.

Somebody bumped into her chair.

Something happened.

Luka shot from her seat and turned as she went. Facing her with a wide-eyed expression was a careless man being lead by a waitress. The man froze in place with his feet and hands extended wide, like a linebacker preparing to tackle a runningback who's ready to juke to the right or left. Somebody from behind bumps into him and he takes a step forward, but with all his strength he holds them back. By now this scene has gotten everyone's attention. The hall goes silent.

"Calm down Lady," the man speaks. "I'm sorry. Just put down the knife."

Luka had a knife? Looking down she realized she did. Immediately she slams the utensil down on the table as if she just found a beetle crawling up her arm. Back at the crowd she sees her own eyes reflected in their's. Shocked, surprised, scared. The one who bumped into the clumsy patron is seen peeking over the shoulder of his companion.

"What, did she catch you trying to grab her ass or something?"

His good-natured friend broke the tension as giggles and laughs filled room. Soon enough, and it was soon enough, everybody resumed with their individual conversations and ignored the cause of commotion. Luka, the waitress, and the assaulter (or maybe assaulted?) did not. They were too close to the situation and couldn't find any humor at all. With her head hung low Luka rushed to back to her seat and sat down. To the woman, who was also her waitress, she asked for the check. Silently she agreed and brought the two men to their table. The humorous one kept shooting Luka a questioning look as he seemed to have missed intensity of the event. What little food remained of her very expensive lunch would be thrown away. Certainly Luka had lost her apatite.

I thought I've grown past this, Luka thought as she sat atop the slide at the children's park. I've been with the Lancers for half a month and I'm still jumping at crickets.

After leaving the restaurant she pulled over to the first place she could find to relax. It was a children's park in the middle of one of those neighborhoods she never wanted to see again. Presently it was absent of it's intended demographic and she was it's sole occupant. This time of day all the kids were still at school. Only the welfare moms and the jobless went about their business, or more precisely lack thereof, at this time of day. The calendar has turned a page and it was currently March, but to Luka it felt as hot as a Thanksgiving oven outside. There was a slight breeze in the air that gently pushed her bangs and tickled at her forehead.

Things are supposed to be better now. Why can't I accept that?

Back while she was still living in the motel room, she jumped at every distant footstep and any unidentifiable sound. It's been three weeks since she moved into her new home and she received a splendid night's sleep every day. Marcus Lancer made her feel incredibly safe, but her defenselessness at lunch followed by an everyday misshape shattered all sense of security.

How much longer will this go on?

Luka did not know. Now she was safe. Financially, physically, mentally, and in every other way that mattered. So why couldn't she completely shake the sense of immanent danger? The money she owed could be repaid, and when it was all of this could be put behind her. So why didn't she believe it herself?

She missed her brother's gun. Daniel had given it to her as a going away present; not as something that she may actually use, let alone need, but a gift from brother to sister.

After several minutes of hugging herself atop a slide, her face finally started to cool and her heartbeat normalized. The doom which lurked over her shoulder also faded. At least for a while.

Whatever plans she had now dissipated like dust in the wind. Did she expect to do anything after eating? If it were anything important she would've remembered. Pointless activities they must have been. If she needed a place to spend her time she might as well do so in the house that felt so warm and secure. When she slid down the kid's slide she felt for half a second the glee that she had, but now forgot, back at the seafood place. A faint of a smile fought it's way to her lips, but as far as her heart was concerned, the day was done. Luka packed up her things and returned to the house.

She never noticed the car that tailed her.

Dun dun dun...the next chapter is one of my favorites. Why? Because you get to see XXXX being XXXX and totally XXXX. Okay, so it's not much of a preview, but this is where the stakes are raised and the opposition finally plays a hand. Things heat up starting soon, so don't miss it.

~Kyle Castorena