Chapter 3: Strange Encounters

After an uneventful evening, Caliope decided to go to bed and take a nice rest. In the morning, she felt a strange sensation as if she was being watched, even though she was half asleep and slowly waking up, those feelings were creeping into her mind until she searched around her room to find everything was in order. She rolled on her bed a few times, then decided to take a long shower before preparing to go to work.

Just as she was finishing picking up her bag, she remembered to print the report from the day before. Then as she was heading for the door, her bell rang, announcing a visitor.

She felt some embarrassment after seeing Miss Clark's driver waiting for her again. It was a very nice gesture to send him to pick her up every morning, but she felt it was a little too much for her role in Miss Clark's life.

During the trip to the Clark's Residence, the traffic became unusually busy for that early in the morning. As they were waiting for the cars to move, Caliope noticed a group of cats on the park fighting. Even though she knew street cats fight for territory or food, she found it unusual to see several fighting. The cars started moving, and as soon as they continued their route she had already forgotten about the cats.

Miss Clark was waiting below at the entrance, visibly upset. When Caliope walked down from the car, she was nervous to confront her.

"I am very sorry Miss Clark, traffic was heavy, I should have left earlier."

"Caliope, I am in a hurry, do you have the report on the properties?"

"Here they are, I hope you have a good day today Miss."

Caliope gave Miss Clark the folder which she quickly peeked into then closed it. A small tired smile on her lips helped Caliope feel better. On the door of her car, Miss Clark turned to Caliope again.

"Caliope, I know you don't have control over traffic, so don't beat yourself up for this. I left you more paper work on my study. See you in the afternoon."

And with those words, the car door closed and left. Caliope felt relieved and entered the building with more confidence.

As she came to the main living room, she found several papers scattered around the main table. She thought Miss Clark would not be the kind of women who would leave things a mess. Then she remembered that Magna was not with her this morning, which could explain what she was seen. If Magna was in charge of doing Miss Clark's paperwork at night, and she was not around, trying to find something could result in frustration. Within a half hour she put the papers in order on Miss Clark's desk. A special folder with her name on the front drew her attention. They were lists of different research clinics that were sponsored by Miss Clark's company. A little note said "Find the one who invested the most time without good results".

Around noon, Caliope found herself making the difficult choices between DNA research studies that seemed to have stuck to the basics for years, and a cure for aggressive behavior with only inconclusive results. She took a break and went to make herself something for lunch. While she was having a chicken breast and vegetable sandwich, she started wondering why she was in charge of making decisions on new land acquisitions and investment possibilities when she was only an assistant. Didn't Miss Clark have a staff who managed such important issues? She was not going to complain as she felt very lucky to be getting such wonderful job experiences to build her future resume.

The next couple of days went on without any other notable events. Miss Clark assigned her some simple tasks one day, and more difficult ones the next, always including some choices to make.

Friday arrived and Miss Clark took the day off and went through each report with her, dismissing her earlier. Caliope found an envelope on the reception desk of the building with the week's payment, and a little extra to reward her good work.

Saturday morning, that strange feeling of being watched became stronger, enough to pull her out of her dreams. She could have sworn there were shadows near the window, but it was locked, and there were no platforms outside, making it impossible for anyone to be standing there.

Around noon, Caliope went out to meet an old friend for lunch. The restaurant was very crowded and she could not find her friend. She sat at a table on the terrace so she could enjoy the view, and left a message for her friend to inform her where she was sitting. While drinking some water, she watched some distant buildings and the gorgeous park near her. A little gathering of people drew her attention and she noticed some animals fighting again. 'Twice in a week?' she thought it was more than strange, the people near the cats were both scared and curious. A small child tried to pull the tail of one of the cats and his mom quickly pulled him away. An older man threw some stones to break the fight with the cats angrily scattering. One of the cats scratched the old man's arm while running away.

"Well, aren't you a gorgeous sight?"

"Far from it! You are stealing the spotlight as usual!"

Caliope stood up quickly, holding her childhood friend with a tight embrace. Both smiled, enjoying their reunion after a long time apart.

"It has been too long, please don't go away too soon, and give me time to enjoy you more."

Vanessa laughed. "You always had the chance to come with me, you were just too stubborn to join me. And I am staying for one more week, then it is Paris."

"Paris? It seems work is treating you well!"

"It is wonderful to make these trips, I can live my dream of new worlds with each new destination, but then it gets boring so quickly" she sighed.

"Really? I thought you would be enjoying it more..."

"The meetings are long, I have to meet with the author or artist of whichever piece of art the gallery wants to acquire, then discuss the price, and negotiate... I don't like that part a bit..."

"How about love? Any romance going on at any of your destinations? Any new rich boyfriend?"

Vanessa laughed "I don't have time to fall for anyone, and the time is always too short..."

Vanessa's phone rang and she excused herself, picking up the call and talking to someone in Italian, probably a new client. Caliope smiled and looked around for the waiter to order something to eat. Suddenly, a familiar face caught her eye, inside the main room, she knew it wasn't her imagination, even though she only saw him once, she recognized him.

"Amra?"

Vanessa had just finished her call and heard her, turning her head to follow Caliope but could not see anyone she knew.

"Who is Amra?"

"It can't be him, he should not be out."

Caliope stood up and looked again into the main room but he wasn't there anymore. She quickly walked to the door and right there, she saw him again walking down the stairs towards the exit. Vanessa followed her and pulled her by her arm.

"What is going on Caly? Who is this Amra?"

"Amra is the son of my employer, and he is not supposed to be out, it is not easy to explain, but I need to go get him... can we meet later?"

"Sure, just don't forget about me, ok?"

"I won't, thank you! I am so sorry!"

She kissed her on the cheek and grabbed her purse, turning to the exit looking around for Amra. She walked a few meters to one side then looked every possible way he could have gone. Far on the opposite side, he was sitting on a bench, in the park, a few meters from where the cats were fighting earlier.

Caliope hurried to meet him, and a few meters from him, she felt that intense sensation again, the same one she felt that first time they met. Hair rising on the back of her neck, goosebumps on her arms.

"Amra, are you ok?"

"I hope you are."

"What do you mean? What are you doing here? Does your mother know?"

"It's not too late."

Caliope didn't understand what he was saying, but she didn't even try to, either. Taking her phone out of her purse, she dialed Miss Clark's private number who answered at the third ring.

"Caliope? I thought I gave you the weekend off."

"Miss Clark, there is no easy way to say this, but I found your son... he was at the restaurant I was, and I followed him to a park."

There was a tense silence before she spoke "Is he ok?"

"Yes, he is."

"I am on my way, text me the address please."

"Yes Miss Clark, right away."

Caliope hung up and texted her their location, then walked a few steps closer to him. He was still, staring at the grass without even blinking. She was nervous around him, but she didn't want to move her eyes from him. Against all the warning signs she could feel on her body, the strange electricity and the heavy atmosphere, she carefully sat next to him in silence.

Amra tilted his head slightly, towards her.

"It mustn't be easy, to be always locked inside... did you miss the fresh air?"

More silence, Amra listened to her but did not reply. She didn't push either. Then suddenly, Caliope heard Miss Clark's footsteps as she rushed to them. Amra smirked. Miss Clark rested her hand on his shoulder and took a deep breath, visibly worried.

"I can't thank you enough Caliope, I am sorry... if he made you interrupt any of your evening plans."

"It is ok Miss Clark, he is ok too, nothing happened."

Miss Clark was disturbed and upset but didn't say a word to him. Caliope on the other hand, found her arrival extremely sudden, then again, perhaps she was just nearby.

"We are leaving, again, thank you Caliope, I will see you on Monday."

Miss Clark rubbed Amra's shoulder and he stood up without looking at anything but the distant grass. They left to their car and the driver disappeared with them quickly.