Chapter -4 “Scared”

My hands are shaking from fear as my mind is reeling scenarios, that how bad it can be, ends up on little scolding or big insult show. I look up towards the ceiling as praying to my God to save me or open the floor to engulf me alive, save me from this horrific moment.

But I guess my guardian angel is on break now or busy somewhere else. He stops near the reception area from where he can see every employee directly. He cleared his throat to gain others' attention which not be needed, I don’t know how but it’s happened every time we can feel his gaze on us from the second he enters the office.

Peoples stop working as looking in our direction with curious eyes, waiting for something interesting to happen. I looked down towards the floor, avoiding their curious gaze as playing with my fingers nervously.

“Okay, listen everyone I have something to tell.” He let out in his deep booming voice then stop to look in my direction with the same stone face of his. I caught my breath as praying inside that the floor split open and engulfed me inside.

“Here, Miss Mehra,” He gestured me to come forward, so I can be in the line of sight, and all my colleague can enjoy this drama with a clear picture. I gathered all my courage and step further as look towards my friend who is giving me a questioning and concerned look.

‘Okay, Amber, just calm down it's not going to be hurt.’ I muttered to myself under my breath. Trying to make myself a brave girl, as he starts speaking,

“First is one good news, I would like to share with you all.” I snapped my head up at his words as trying to guessing what he is about to say next? Good news?

“Royal A&A is giving us a contract, to handle their companies accounts and taxes for the next 2 terms of 5 consecutive years. As you all are well aware that how huge opportunity this is for our firm, to handle one of the country's top incorporation's accounts.” He finished, followed by the sound of clapping and cheering by my fellow employees as congratulating him.

And then he turned and looked at me as cleared his throat again to pull us back on the track we were before. “Okay, now back to the term, I have one more announcement to make, yes just a second ago I announced that Royal A&A is giving us a contract for all his companies for the next ten years. They want us to assign our best employee to this work and they especially recommend Ms. Mehra, for this task.”

Now if I say, I am shocked so believe me it is going to be an understatement. what the hell is this I thought he was going to shout at me or, complain that I didn't do my work as per his requirements, in front of my friends, but I never thought that he was going to announce something like this. Royal A&A is a big Empire, and every article dreams to work with them, and yes I am hell excited about this also I can’t even explain it.

I come out of my shock statement when Suzanne hug me and wish me congratulations. Other colleagues also wish me, my boss smiles, finally let me see any expressions other than the stone wall on his face, the first time in the last 30 minutes, I guess. He congratulates me before leaving for his office room.

“I want a party girl!” This comes from my dearest crazy friend, she is always ready for a party. It is silly, right? but that's doesn’t matter it’s cute also.

“Okay okay fine, you will get your treat later but for now, let’s get back to work,” I replied to her, smiling as pulling her with me towards our work station.

Time passed as we all were busy doing work assigned to us.

The clock on the wall shows seven O’clock, time to go back home but I still have to do some work, or I have to come early tomorrow to complete this report on time. I signed, shaking my head as turned to look towards Suzanne’s desk, to see her coming in my direction with her backpack hanging on her shoulder, ready to call off.

“Come on it’s time to go pack your bags, Missy.” She said as arched her brow, challenging me to deny her demand.

I let out another sighed before turning towards my desktop screen as let out in a low and disappointing voice "Sorry, I can’t I have to finish this, I have an appointment with Dr. Malik tomorrow. So, I can’t come early to complete this, you know. You can leave if you want I am ok with that no worries."

"I can stay with you if you want. how can you stay here all alone, how much work you have to do did it get done in an hour, or so?" She offered a warm smile but I know better she has to go home and make dinner for her little sister and mother. So it’s being, selfish if I told her to stay with me here. I smile as denying her politely "No no, I can manage I am a big girl remember so you can go home and rest you must be tired. See you tomorrow, and I am going to finish this work as soon as I can so no worries."

She nodded as turn to leave but not before shouting from the exit Door “Hey! I’m going to order coffee and snacks for you, and don’t stay for long try to finished it superfast see you tomorrow!"

I can’t help but chuckle at my friend's stupid but cute act, she left after that and I left all alone in my office building except guard on night shift outside the office door. I got my food order in the next 20 minutes after she left. I sipped my coffee and munching my fries as working on my report.

I let out a yawn as stretching my muscles, standing up from my chair finally! I finished my work I turned to look at the wall clock, it’s shown at 9 O’clock, okay I’m 2 hours late now. I save my file and turn off my system before picking up my bag from the side table and turn to leave.

I wish good night to the guard on duty as left my office and go towards the elevator. I don’t have any energy left to use the stairs cause my office is on the 7th floor, and I am hell tired, I just want to go home and sleep.

I drag my tired body towards the elevator with a heavy heart, but guess what? I think my guardian angel is sleeping also. There is hanging a board near in front of my sight with a message in well written blood-red letters that 'Elevator is not working today, due to some technical issues. Sorry for the inconvenience, but we will fix it soon.'

'Damn why now! That's not fair God.' I muttered under my breath as dragging myself towards staircases. I look around to found nobody, it's late usually all offices in this building and nearby shut off till 9 pm. So it's looking like a haunted place, and if I said I'm not scared so believe me that was a complete lie.

I fear being alone, and dark also. But I never told these to anyone because I don't want them to think me of as weakling more than they always thinking. After all, I'm big enough to control my fear now, or at least try to control in the exact sense.

“Calm down Amber, come down you can do it,” I whispered to myself try to gather some courage to get out of here. I take a deep breath as taking stairs down with my half-dead body.

I made to the 3rd floor when I heard the sound of someone's footsteps, I stop in my tracks as waiting for whoever this is to come out but then footsteps stop at the exact time as mine, and nobody comes out.

“Hello, who is there?” I asked in a shaky voice well I know the ghost is nothing just myths created to scare children, but still, I am human after all, and not a strong one. Nobody reply from another side, I wait for a moment before increasing my pace, taking two steps at a time, and then I hear that sound again as someone is taking steps also just right behind me.

I don't want to turn around and look, who is behind me, I just want to go out of this place as soon as I can. I didn't dare to slow my speed either to look back, I am tired but I guess my fear gives me energy, but it does not turn out to be a good choice either.

I feel a hand caught my shoulder, but not to stop me, but to push me away and the next thing I know, I am laying on the floor as blood pouring out of my head. I can feel the pain but my body so numb, I can't react not even can move a single muscle, I heard a sound which is someone cheerful giggles.

I try to open my eyes but I can't open them fully, I don't even have the strength to look who is this person, who did this with me but I recognized that sound and the person to who's these voices belongs.

What makes me more shocked is why the hell she did something like this with me? Why she was always so rude to me but that was a different thing, what she did this time it's different, and it's bad.

Like in a queue, I hear her whispered in front of my face “That's what you deserve bitch. You don't deserve any good position for crying out loud, you are a weakling. And a weakling doesn't deserve any status.”

With those words she turns and walks away, I guess as I hear heels tackling on the floor.

'God why she's so jealous of me? What the hell I did wrong with her, ever? I did nothing to make her that angry on me.' I asked my God inside my mind but doesn't get any answers from him but get from someone else which is not an answer which I am looking for and want to hear.

“Don't worry, I am going to make this Bitch pay for what she did with us!” I heard a dark and powerful voice said in my mind before darkness engulfed my senses. I want to stop her but I know, I can't......