"No, not really, I thought I would talk to her over lunch and see what is she in the mood for. I just hope we don't end up walking for hours at a mall." I chuckled and he joined me on the other side.
"I heard from a friend of mine that she had a bad breakup actually, maybe that can be of some help. My friend said she is in town to have some fresh air away from the guy."
"Oh poor girl, she seems so sweet! Thank you, that will help me avoid love subjects with her. Hmm how did your friend knew about her?" This was intriguing. Was he talking about me to his friends? I blushed deeper and walked closer to the security line for the check out. I already could see her waiting for me outside, waving.
He cleared his throat and I thought it was cute. "It happens that I was talking about an estate I wanted to purchase and my friend advised me your company. I found it more than interesting. One thing lead to another and it turns out he was her classmate at college his first year before he dropped and went for the tech area."
I was surprised, the world is a tissue. Who would have thought how small it would be. "Oh I am next on the security check, I have to go."
"Have a good lunch, enjoy your day. I will call you later."
"Caleb... don't get too stressed ok?"
"I won't. I promise. Until later Meadow."
"I hope so, Caleb." I said with a smile and heard him chuckle before he cut the call. I am definetly a teanager all over again.
I met Sheila and we both decided to get lunch at the Mall. I sighed, I didn't want to be hours walking there specially since I would be tempted to buy things and I am on a tight budget. But after what Caleb told me about her, I felt compelled to just do what she wants and let her enjoy.
I grinned, she was a salad girl and picked up one at the same time as I did. We both laughed and got some fries just to make a balance with our food. We talked about what else to do, and where to go. I was glad to hear she only wanted to see a few stores then she didn't mind leaving for another place. I wasn't sure where to take her so I thought maybe she would enjoy visiting the Zoo. My mother always said that animals were the best therapy for a broken heart. She would say "If you break up with someone, get a pet that fits your personality, pour your love there and you will heal faster." I never dated someone too long to actually hurt with their departure, and we were not picking up a pet either, but maybe the walk and sight would help her out.
When we were looking at the last store, I noticed this beautiful dress that resembled the one Caleb got for me. It was last year's season and the price almost blew my mind. I gasped when the image assesor at the store said it was over 400$. This made me swallow hard, and I thought about it carefully. Perhaps it belong to an old girlfriend. Suddenly my insecurities hit high and I felt horrible by having worn the ensemble. I was not even sure how to bring it up to him, I felt conflicted; he was being nice to me and had just rescued me from my lame condition at the cemetery, he surely wasn't expecting anything from me. I was being stupid, crazy even. I should just be grateful and thank him, maybe I could ask him about it when I did. No, I would better just return them to him. Or perhaps.
"Hey! I love that dress! you should try it on!" Sheila interrupted my thoughts. I sighed, not really that happy about it anymore.
"I actually was just checking it out to see the difference with one I already have." And was going to return to Caleb as soon as I had the chance.
"Oh very nice Meadow, you have good taste." She said and I faked a smile.
We finished her last checkpoint at the mall and decided to go to the Zoo. At first she wasn't so sure about it but she didn't fight it either. We arrived around 3pm and after I paid for our entry, we started to walk around not really aiming to see anything in particular. She loved the birds, more than that, she was fascinated by them. She got as close as she was allowed to their cages and was amazed at their colors and wings; the graciousness with which they would move, their singing. I admit I never saw them in much detail until she started to mention the qualities in them she admired. We saw the elephants and giraffes and both gave a step back at the lion's den. One male and two females. "So macho." She mocked and I laughed. We went to see the tigers and I loved the couple they made; a white male and a normal orange female. They were cuddling and snuggling so comfortable next to a small stream of water, not even bothering on the visitors. We heard a siren and looked around in surprise. A group of people near us started running and looking for shelter. I took her hand and pulled her with me. "We better go find somewhere safe, doesn't look like it is something good." She was scared and nodded.
"Attention please, there has been a breach at one of the mammals cages and we encourage visitors to find safety in one of our many information booths. Our security staff is already trying to contain the situation. Please do not scream, this will make them nervous and they will become aggressive. We repeat, there has been a breach in one of our mammals cages, we encourage..." I stopped hearing as I started to run with Sheila to one of the information booths that I had spotted. I was in survival mode, I needed to get her and myself safe. Once we got there, one of the information staff opened the small door and let us in, locking the door behind her. It was a small 1 by 1 square but we were better there than out in the open.
I heard the information guide yelp and she covered her mouth. When I looked around I saw behind us five wolves surrounding the booth. They were smelling us and watching. Sheila was paralyzed and couldn't move nor make a sound. I was nervous but had to be the one in charge as both of them were completely in shock. "Ok girls, calm down, remember the warning, dont scream... we don't want them to get aggressive... they are just smelling us." I whispered lowly. One of the wolves, who seemed bigger than the other ones and probably their leader, gave a step towards us and I cursed myself for having said anything. The others walked around the booth twice then settled behind the bigger one. Two more had cornered another group at a booth not far from us. I was starting to feel my hands cold and got nervous when I saw something that left me in awe. She was tall, leather from neck to toes. She exudered confidence and walked like she owned the place. Her short straight hair didn't even move an inch as she walked towards us. Behind her, the biggest wolf I had ever seen, brown fur and honey eyes. I almost panicked but I gritted my teeth trying to keep my focus. He acted different though, like he was aiming at the other wolves. As they approached, the ones surrounding us turned and started growling. The huge wolf accelerated his pace and walked in front of this woman until they both stopped together a feet from them. Where they part of the security team?
"Girls, you will be fine. Please hold on there a few more minutes." I heard her say in confidence. We all nodded and I shuddered as the seemingly leader of the Zoo wolves howled. The other two who were not too far replied and ran to join them. This was becoming more dangerous and I couldn't see how she would help.
She smirked and clicked the concrete floor with her boot's heel. The bigger wolf showed his teeth and growled at them in a way it made me shiver. I heard the guide behind me sob and I turned to shush her with a stern look. She put both hands in her mouth.
The wolves from the Zoo actually gave a step back and kept growling. Their leader did not move and growled at the big one. I could not believe what I was witnessing. She clicked her boot again and her wolf, because it definitely looked like it was hers, gave a step ahead and showed his canines more, growling louder. It was only then when I saw the real security team arrive with their uniforms and guns. She lifted a hand making them a signal and they stopped. "Guys, you better shoot your tranquilizers to your wolfs and not touch mine or I swear you will be in trouble." She sounded threatening and the guys nodded and aimed at the other wolves. In a matter of seconds, dards flew to the other wolves and they whimpered and howled before they laid on the floor and started to fall asleep. They finally walked to the sleeping animals and she smiled at me directly. She clicked her boot once more and her wolf walked back to her, she caressed his maw and he pushed his head on her hand. The security team asked her about him and she showed them his papers.
We finally left the small booth and Sheila started to talk to the PR representative who came after trying to apologize for the situation. I walked towards the woman who saved us and she smiled at me when I stopped a feet away, not sure of how her wolf would react. "Thank you, you were amazing." I managed to say.
She giggled and extended her hand. "Your welcome, my name is Cara by the way."
"A real pleasure to meet you Cara."
"You are a brave one Meadow." She said looking at me, her wolf huffed and she laughed. Wait a minute, she knew my name?
"Who are you?" I managed to ask.
"I am one of the security people that Caleb asked to keep an eye on you. Now don't hold it against him, he asked us just to watch out over you after we found out some things on this Gideon guy. And it is only me and my husband. You don't have an army of bodyguards looking out for you."
I was shocked. Caleb sent his people to look out for me? I felt flattered, confused, happy and worried at the same time. They found out something about Gideon and it was important enough for him to make his people look over me. I involuntarily had my hand in my pocket already playing with my cellphone and I felt like I needed to call him and ask some questions.
"Look darling." She said with a smaller smile. "I only got in this since this morning. And he had plans to call you and tell you himself. This situation though, made the need of my presence."
