5

Alison clicked on the light switch as she stepped inside. The whole room was a large beautiful space of silence. For a long while, Alison had been used to staying alone. While she was married to Brad, she would be by herself most of the time with Brad going off on some adventure and lying it was work. 

And when he started seeing someone, Alison knew too. But it just didn't make sense that someone would be Ashley. She was supposed to be her best friend...

The sound of her phone jolted her, "Mira?" Alison could not believe. "What part about privacy do you not understand? We're closed, it's goddamn late. No work stuff for crying out loud."

Mira's voice was calm. "Ma'am, it's only past eight." 

Alison sighed. "Okay then, what's wrong? Your calls are always frightening, you know that right?"

"Well...I'm sorry but this is frightening. Remember the Cambridge household, you canceled the deal for selling the mansion. I got a complaint that he's pissed off and is even making threats, ma'am."

"What? Listen, unless you got information from the Dark man, I don't think we should be too bothered." Alison said immediately. The dark man was a local Don in town, very scary but also influential. And Alison never caused trouble that would get that dude's attention.

"We got an email from the dark man. This is why I'm calling right now. I am handling it however. But so far, things are getting messy. This man, Brad? He is posting rumors on your page, making rude comments on your posts. This is gaining unusual attention, and I want to protect you before your big reveal."

Alison felt like all the air around her had disappeared and she was choking. "He just doesn't know when to quit, does he?" 

"What? What are you saying, ma'am?" Mira asked. 

Alison drew a sharp breath, "Mira, I hired you because you're smart.  Figure something out, and we can talk better tomorrow. I need to sleep tonight. Contact Celine too, alright?"

"Yes ma'am. I will. Just be good there, okay? Maybe this man is one of those who secretly have a huge crush on you and don't know how to let you know about it." Mira teased. Alison couldn't even laugh at that joke. 

After Mira had hung up, Alison took in a couple of moments to focus on her breath. It was so scary, what she was feeling. Why couldn't she breathe? 

Brad would just not leave her alone, will he! She knew Celine would be able to sort things out with Mira, still...she didn't like the fact that they might start to realize who Brad was to her. How foolish can he be! Being so petty like leaving negative comments on her page?

"You've always been such a fool, Brad. Damn it!" She walked to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water, suddenly realizing how thirsty she was. 

A calming sensation overwhelmed her and she could breath fine again. "Maria must be part of this too. And that demonic Tania!" How was she going to stand her ground with all these monsters attacking her? What were they even doing in Maeville in the first place?

Her phone buzzed and she saw it was a message. Oh, probably from Mira or Celine?

But instead, it was from an unknown number. Alison rubbed her tired eyes to get a closer look at this message. Could it be from her secret texter!?

That person, whoever it was, had blessed her. She got highly connected meeting big personnels who could help flourish her career in just a platter of gold. She turned out to be successful because she had accepted the help of a stranger who kept a close tab on her. 

This person had also directed her to the hotel where Brad and Lily were getting engaged secretly. And for at least a year and half now, the person had gone silent. 

Only for her to be getting a message that night?  She read through and a soft gasp escaped her mouth. The message was simple enough. She was to attend a party that Saturday by some dude named Harrison, but if she considered going to the party, the mystery figure would reveal his identity and she could finally see who had been behind the mask all these years! 

Who could it be? Being an orphan, she was clear she had no family anywhere at all, and her only friend had been Lily, who she had grown up with. Then Brad, but why would Brad ever want to help her?? That moron was trying everything to ruin her at the slightest chance he got. 

"Wait," Alison read through the message over again, picking in the little details. The owner of the biggest automobile company in Maeville, Harbord company, was the one celebrating his birthday. But then, she had just gotten an invitation from that handsome man at the mall!

Not wasting any time, she hurried to check her purse, rummaging through it to find that invitation she had gotten from Richard. And there it was. 

Richard Harrison. Thirty-fifth birthday.

Fear crept through her veins as the instant thought she had was that this mystery texter could have been following her? Stalking her? How had he known that she would receive an invitation--

Another message beeped in and she could see it was an online invitation card, but just for ordinary guests. Not a VIP card. Was that to ease her mind? To make her feel like he hasn't been stalking her? Besides, who was this mystery man?

"I need to find out." She said firmly. "Before anything then, I guess I'll have to call you Celine. To get a badass dinner dress ready to go."

Something interesting seemed to be happening all at the same time because now, Alison was getting a call from Mira again. 

"Damn it, Mira." Alison muttered before picking up. "Hey there. You're calling again, even though I was sure we agreed to talk till tomorrow?? What's up now?" She asked, not trying to hide her anger. Mira was like a little sister to her now, though because of her betrayal with Lily and Brad, she had decided to keep people at a distance now. 

She didn't even trust to get any live in maids, or workers at all so she lived all by herself. Celine and Mira along with a few staff were all friendly, but Alison made sure she kept their relationship to be strictly professional. Though Mira and Celine were closer to her than others. Still, she never even disclosed where she lived to either of them ever. 

"Ohh. I'm sorry for bothering you again. It's just that I'm out at this bar, and I'm meeting someone pretty interesting here! She says you two used to be best friends before you relocated from Brooklyn! So I just thought about giving her the phone. She is also a huge fan of your work, ma'am!"

Alison's frown was growing so deep now. Her palm was a ball of rage and she didn't like the way her teeth barred. How dare Mira act like they were buddies?? She should fire her as soon as she can and hire someone new, because what the heck!

Then she heard another voice. The same soft sweet voice that would tell her she was confused on what to eat, so that Alison would cook for her. The same voice that cheered her on when no one else did. That same voice that said 'I do' to her own husband! Behind her back!

Her breathing was growing rasped now, every anger nerve on her reaching high. 

"Hey Alison, it's been so long! I've missed you, can we meet up?" Lily said, and that witch even had the nerves to giggle. 

"You're so fired, Mira." Alison promised to herself. "You're so fired."

"Are you there? Alison?"

The only thoughts ringing in her head now was how to click the search button asking 'how to kill a person and get away with it?' And no one was safe now. Not Mira, not Liky. Not any of the Cambridge.