When I got to the cafe I ordered a coffee and sat down with the others. I was far to nervy to even attempt to eat. I made small talk over lunch so I didn’t come arouse any more suspicion than I already had with Janie. As our lunch break drew to a close though I realized my attempts were futile when Janie let the boys walk ahead of us.

“So. I saw your face before. You like Nick.” She replied as if it was nothing, as if it was a perfectly easy thing to admit.

I knew it was true, and even though it had only been two days since I’d met the guy, something inside of me told me I felt even more than a simple adoration. Still the fact remained, that while being in his arms had been amazing, he didn’t love me, he wasn’t engaged to me.

“It’s not a big deal. People have crushes all the time,” I replied. “Besides he’s engaged and happy.”

“So you need to distract yourself. You’re young and beautiful. Don’t let yourself get hung up on the first guy you like here in LA. Shop around!” Janie exclaimed, her voice was bouncy and bubbly

“I think I may just do that.” I replied, hoping distraction would be effective.

When I was back at my desk, processing the letters my email bleeped.

From: Unknown 47ak47@Zmail.com

To: SJenkins@bookedout.com

Subject: Hello.

Hello Daughter,

I bet you didn’t think I’d find you huh. Well seems you forgot to change some forwarding details. You need to return home. Or I’ll have to come and get you.

My blood ran cold and I got up and ran through the corridors for the ladies bathroom. I was so distracted and shocked that I jetted straight past Nick, who was returning from lunch, alone. I burst through the bathroom door and vomited into the porcelain. I flushed the toilet afterward and slid down the toilet cubicle wall. How could I have been so stupid?

Tears fell thick and fast down my cheeks, ruining what little makeup I’d applied that morning. Not that I cared. I’d have to move on now. I couldn’t risk him finding me.

Taking every bit of strength I had, I stood up walked out to the basins and washed my face. He only knew where I worked. Not where I lived. I’d simply have to quit. I grabbed a few paper towels and dried my face off then walked out of the bathroom. Luckily everyone had returned to work, so my breakdown was unnoticed. When I got back to my desk I noticed I had another new email.

I didn’t want to open it, afraid that if I opened my in-box my fathers email address would be staring back at me. I began working, pushing everything else to the back of my mind. Unfortunately I was interrupted by the phone ringing. I picked it up and held the handset to my head

“Sarah Jenkins, How may I help?” I said, trying to hide the evidence of the shock and dismay I was currently feeling.

“Sarah, It’s Nick. I sent you an email but you didn’t reply.” Nick voice rang down the receiver, he sounded worried

“Oh, sorry. I must have missed it.” I said opening my in-box

The unread email was from Nick. Asking if I was okay.

“Are you alright? You seemed a little frantic before.”

“Actually no, I need to quit. Sorry I’ve been such a terrible employee.” I replied my hands were shaking so much I worried that I was going to drop the phone.

“Quit?”

“I was stupid to think that I could escape my past Mr Jackson. I mucked up one thing and he knows I’m here. I received an email from him after I returned from lunch.” My voice was breaking and tears were threatening to surface again, but instead I forced them away and tightened my grip on the phone.

“Are you alright?” He asked again, this time with more urgency, he knew the things my father was capable of and it showed in the depth of worry in his voice.

“He said he’s going to find me if I don’t go back. I’ve never felt weaker.”

“Sarah. I’m taking you home. Gather your things. We’ll work out a plan alright. I am almost positive quitting is the worst thing you can do.” Nick spoke with authority, demanding me to agree with him.

“Mr Jackson, after the past couple of days, I really don’t think that is wise.”

“This is just an employer doing right by one of his employees. I promise you.”

“I’m a useless filer, can’t even manage a full days work without some kind of drama.” I huffed, sinking in to my chair.

“You’re not useless. You do a perfectly good job from what I have seen. Through put is up from our last filer even with the half days. Trust me. Still you’re better at singing.”

“I can’t be a musician, not with my insane psychotic father haunting me.” I laughed down the phone, I wanted to hide from him, not be thrust in to the limelight, or the soft glow of singing in a beat down pub.

“That… Is exactly why you should be a musician. Your cover of Creep was full of emotion and anger. You felt what you were singing. This is all beside the point Sarah. Nice attempt at changing the topic though.”

“It worked for a minute.” I replied.

“I’ll meet you in the basement in 10 minutes. No arguments.”

“Ugh, fine.”

I quickly emailed Janie and explained that I needed to head home early, although given that Nick was also leaving early, I knew I’d have explaining of some description to do when she got home. I grabbed my wallet and left. I rode the elevator down alone and walked over to Nick’s car, he was sitting in the drivers seat waiting for me to get in so once I was in he started the car and we left. Surprisingly Nick knew where the house was.

“How did you know where to go?”

“I Googled before I left. I have all my employees address details on record. Remember.”

“Oh.”

We hoped out of the car and walked along the path and up the steps.

“This is definitely a few steps up from the motel you were in.” Nick laughed as we walked inside.

“Coffee?”

Nick nodded at sat at the table. I walked into the kitchen and flicked the pot on and grabbed two coffee mugs from the cupboard. I could feel Nick’s eyes on me, watching me move. I stopped, turning to look at him. Our eyes met and I had to physically restrain myself by holding the bench, so that I didn’t try and kiss him. I looked back down, breaking the contact.

“I’ve already asked the security staff to implement the new security tagging system. It was going to be rolled out next month anyway, but I’ve asked for it to be rolled out as of Monday.”

“I’m not sure I want to risk it. I think it’s just better I walk away.”

“Let me protect you. I owe you that much.” Nick replied his voice low and husky.

I was shocked by the suggestion, and annoyed that he thought I needed protecting by him.

“I don’t need someone else to protect me! I’m an adult. I can protect myself!” I shot back at Nick.

“I didn’t mean it like that Sarah. You have a stable job, if you stay in this job then you have the money you need to take care of yourself. As your employer I owe you the right to safety. I don’t doubt you can protect yourself Sarah, but don’t run away from the first resemblance of a life you’ve had.”

I didn’t reply, the words were caught on my tongue and my mouth was dry. I took a sip of my hot coffee and poised myself.

Nick was right, I had to admit that. Until I’d moved here and started working my life had seemed like hell. I was trapped in a psychotic horror film that replayed every night.

Even before I’d began working, and I had been staying in the horrible decrepit motel, I’d felt suddenly normal, my life was suddenly far more normal than it had ever been.

“Fine. The tagging system sounds great. I think I will also need a new email address though.” I replied finally, I raised my eyes to nicks and he shot me a small smile.

“I’ll arrange to change your email address and Name tomorrow. I mean stars have stage names all the time. We’ll give you a stage name.” Nick shrugged as he spoke, as if it were no big thing to change my name.

“So I’m going to be someone completely different?”

“Name wise, yes. You’ll have to let your roommates know, you don’t have to give them all the details I have of course, but enough to know why you’re going by a different name at work.”

I nodded, I’d hoped to keep anyone from knowing about my past, so I could pretend it never happened. But then Nick had ‘researched’ me. Him knowing was bad enough, I’d have to tell my roommates something, but not everything.

“Fine.”

“So who would you like to be?”

“Can I still be Sarah? I know my mom gave me my name I’d hate to change it.”

“You’ll still be Sarah. But you need to be indistinguishable.”

“Roxy. My middle name is Roxanne another name my mom gave me.” I replied, smiling, remembering the day she’d told me the story of my name. I looked over at Nick, hopeful to gain his approval, he had a cheeky smirk on his face and his eyes were dancing. I frowned, annoyed that he was finding my new name so amusing.

“What!” I almost shouted.

Nick’s smirk turned in to a grin, and as he let out a soft chuckle he muttered

“I was just thinking that Roxy really is a good stage name. For when you let me put you on the talent books.”

“Ugh!” I replied in frustration. I stood up and put my mug in the sink

“Roxy….. what?” Nick asked, referring to a last name. I looked around the room, urging something to inspire me. I saw Josh’s Levi’s hanging over the couch and I tilted my head and smiled. Roxy Levi. It had a certain ring to it, a real rock star ring, which was the exact opposite of what I wanted. Which is exactly why it would work.

“Levi… as in the jeans.” I replied with a chuckle that matched Nick’s from before.

“Roxy Levi it is then.”