DEEP CONTEMPLATION. BRIDGET At the office I sat at my desk, my computer screen glowing faintly in the dim office light. The open tab of Smith’s I*******m profile still lingered in my browser, though I had minimized it hours ago. The image of him in his perfectly tailored suit, standing confidently in front of a city skyline, was burned into my mind. I couldn’t help but admire how effortlessly he carried himself, both in person and online. But the admiration was tinged with anxiety, a nagging worry that had been gnawing at me since the day he made his intentions clear to me. Smith was everything I found intriguing—charming, ambitious, and undeniably handsome. He had called him on a video call earlier, where we exchanged polite smiles and brief conversations. But lately, our interactions have grown warmer, more personal. He had started asking when we could meet up, asking about my weekend plans, and even complimenting my work on a recent project at the company. I couldn’t deny the fl
Chapter X: A Dangerous PropositionFrank’s voice crackled through the phone, casual and confident, but my grip on the device tightened. My pulse pounded in my ears. Kidnapping? I hadn’t signed up for that. I just wanted to see Vera suffer—to make her feel even a fraction of the pain and loss she had put me through. To knock her down a peg, not drag her into some criminal underworld.“Nah, man, this is too much,” I said, lowering my voice. “I thought we were just gonna humiliate her, find a way to expose her—not this.”“Not what Derrick?” Frank cut in, still annoyingly relaxed. “Not make some real money while we’re at it? Think, Derrick, Think. Do you know how much we can make from this?”“This isn’t about money, Frank!” I hissed. “This is about payback. You’re talking about something that could get us locked up for life if we get caught.”Frank sighed heavily on the other end, like I was some naive kid refusing to see reason. “Look, Derrick, I know you’re scared, but think bigger, thi
A Dangerous Proposition (Continued)Noah leaned forward, his eyes glinting with a mix of determination and cunning. “Vera’s entire life is built on her image. She’s a socialite, a businesswoman, and a philanthropist, or at least that’s what she wants everyone to think. But we both know she’s not as clean as she pretends to be. If we can expose her for who she really is, it’ll ruin her. No kidnapping, no jail time, just a well-executed takedown.”I raised an eyebrow, intrigued but skeptical. “And how do you propose we do that? Vera’s not stupid. She’s probably covered her tracks. What makes you think we can find something she hasn’t already buried?”Noah smirked. “Because she’s arrogant. People like Vera always slip up eventually. They think they’re untouchable, and that’s when they make mistakes. We just need to dig deep enough. And trust me, I’ve got some connections that can help us with that.”I leaned back in my seat, considering his words. The idea of destroying Vera’s reputation
The Call from the Kindergarten Bridget The office buzzed around me, keyboards clicking, phones ringing, voices murmuring in hushed conversations. I shifted in my chair, rolling my shoulders back to relieve the stiffness that had settled in from hours of work."Bridget, have you checked the updated client list?" My colleague, Mark, leaned against my desk, holding a steaming cup of coffee. His tie was slightly loosened, a sure sign that the day was beginning to take its toll on him too.I tapped my fingers against the desk, staring at the endless rows of numbers on my computer screen. "Not yet," I sighed, rubbing my temples. "I was just about to go through them."Mark smirked. "You need a break. Want to grab a coffee?"I smiled, considering it, but before I could respond, my phone buzzed on the desk. I glanced at the screen, Davis, My sister rarely called during work hours. A strange feeling settled in my stomach as I reached for the phone."Hey, Davis, what's up?" I answered, still h
The Weight of a Single Call*The fluorescent lights buzzed faintly overhead, casting a glow over the small waiting area outside the emergency room. I paced back and forth, my arms wrapped tightly around myself, as if the pressure could hold me together. My sneakers squeaked against the linoleum floor, the sound echoing in the otherwise silent space. Davis sat on a plastic chair nearby, her leg bouncing uncontrollably, her hands clenched into fists on her lap.Every second stretched into an eternity. My mind raced with terrifying possibilities. What if they couldn’t bring Liam’s fever down? What if it wasn’t just a virus? What if it was something worse…something irreversible? The thought of losing him, my sweet, bright-eyed boy, was like a knife twisting in my chest. I couldn’t breathe."Bridget," Davis said softly, her voice cutting through the fog of my thoughts. She reached out and grabbed my wrist, forcing me to stop pacing. "He’s strong. He’s going to be okay."I nodded, but the
A Stranger In Her Life.Derrick The sterile hum of the hospital filled the air, a constant reminder of the fragility of life. I sat in the waiting room, my mind drifting back to the past, back to Bridget, to baby Liam, to the life we once shared. It felt like a lifetime ago, yet the memories were vivid, as if it were just yesterday. Vera’s betrayal and downfall had brought me a strange sense of closure, and now, with Bridget back in my life and my son Liam who I've made up my mind to be there for, I dared to hope that things were finally falling into place.Bridget had gone into the emergency room to check on Liam, who was undergoing treatment. My heart ached for him, for her, for the time we had lost. She had always been beautiful, but the woman I just saw was a completely different version of Bridget. She was stronger, more radiant, as if the trials she had endured had polished her into something extraordinary. She was no longer the same girl I had once known; she was a woman who h
Derrick I left the hospital in a daze, My chest felt heavy, like a weight had settled deep inside me, pressing against my ribs with every breath. The image of Bridget leaning into Smith, his hand resting on her shoulder, played on a loop in my mind. *Fiancé.* The word echoed in my head, a sharp, unrelenting reminder of what I had lost or maybe what I had never truly had.I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms as I walked quickly to my car. The parking lot was quiet, the occasional sound of a distant siren or the hum of a passing car breaking the silence. But all I could hear was the sound of my own heartbeat, pounding in my ears like a drum.I slid into the driver’s seat, gripping the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white. The engine roared to life, and I sat there for a moment, staring at the hospital through the windshield. Liam was in there. My son. And Bridget was with him, with *him*. Smith. The name felt like a punch to the gut every time I thought abo
The Weight of ChoicesBRIEIt was 6:22pm in the evening. The fluorescent lights of the emergency room buzzed faintly overhead, casting a sterile glow over the tense atmosphere. The faint scent of antiseptic lingered in the air, a persistent reminder of where I was and why I was here. My mind was a whirlwind of emotions. fear, guilt, exhaustion, all battling for dominance.“I’ll be taking my leave now, Brie,” Smith muttered, his voice soft but firm. He rubbed his hand on my shoulder, the warmth of his touch offering a fleeting sense of comfort. “I have to be at a short meeting with some clients. I was headed there before I got your call and decided to rush here to meet up with you.”I looked up at him, forcing a smile that felt more like a frown. “It’s fine, Smith. Thanks for stopping by.”He nodded, his kind eyes filled with concern. “My pleasure, Brie. And get some rest, okay? He’ll be fine.” With that, he turned and walked toward the exit, his polished shoes clicking against the ti
GymDerrickAt the gym, the barbell moved in rhythm with my breathing. Each rep burned through my chest and arms, but the pain was a welcome distraction. The gym had always been my escape, a place to silence the noise in my head. Lately, though, no amount of weight could press away the burden I carried. There were too many moving pieces, too many loose ends.Smith had been a major problem, and for now, he was out of the way. But was it really over? I exhaled sharply and racked the barbell, my arms trembling slightly from exertion. Sitting up, I let the sweat drip down my face, wiping it off with the back of my hand. My heart was still racing, but it wasn’t just from the workout. Tomorrow was the day I was supposed to meet up with Bridget and baby Liam at SYNLAB for the D.N.A test, but since Smith's disappearance, I became hesitant.I had lost the guts to call her to talk about it. I kept thinking, what if she thinks I did it? The last thing I wanted was getting in the cross hairs. If
The rescue mission. Brie"Madam?" I jerked my head up. Mr. Donald stood before me, holding the small briefcase I had brought with me. "Your withdrawal is ready." I nearly sobbed in relief, snatching the briefcase and clutching it to my chest. The weight of it. $300,000 in crisp bills felt like both salvation and condemnation. "Thank you so much," I whispered. He hesitated, then slipped a small piece of paper into my hand. "My direct line. If you need help… call me." I nodded numbly and rushed out, clutching onto the briefcase. Outside, the night air was thick with humidity. I walked over to where I had parked my car. Got in and said a few words of prayers before igniting the engine and hitting the road.The ride was a blur of fear. The road looked like a haunted ghost highway. All I could see was darkness as I sped ahead. The car's engine roared in my ears, matching the frantic rhythm of my heart. After a long ride, I finally arrived at the old and abandoned gas station. I sat
Desperate WithdrawalBrieThe bank was crowded, a sea of impatient faces and restless bodies shifting in slow-moving lines. The air hummed with hushed conversations, the rhythmic clicking of keyboards, and the occasional sharp ring of a telephone.My legs trembled as I stepped forward, clutching the withdrawal slip in my damp fingers. The pounding in my chest was so loud I could barely hear my own ragged breaths. The bank official, a middle-aged man with wire-rimmed reading glasses perched low on his nose, barely glanced up before taking the slip. His name tag read Mr. Donald. His expression was neutral and professional. The kind of man who followed procedure without question. My stomach twisted. "Madam," he said, adjusting his glasses, "you’re requesting to withdraw $300,000 in cash?" His voice was steady, but his eyes flickered with curiosity and suspicion. "That’s a substantial amount. May I see your identification, please?" I swallowed hard, my fingers clumsy as I pulled out
The Call Bridget It was 6pm in the evening. The fluorescent light filtered weakly through the kitchen as I sat hunched over the counter, my fingers wrapped tightly around my second cup of coffee. I have been stuck to the burner phone I had bought earlier, like my life depended on it. Waiting patiently for the next call since the last one, which came the day before yesterday, but nothing was coming through. The bitter warmth of the coffee in my mouth did little to soothe the restless knot in my stomach. After tonight would make it three days. Seventy two agonizing hours since Smith had vanished without a trace. The police had visited earlier to ask a few questions cause somehow they got to know Smith and I had something going on. I constructed a statement carefully, not giving out too much information that might end up putting Smith in jeopardy. The kidnapper from the phone earlier had warned me never to get the police involved, so I was super careful and selective with my words.A
The Wrong MoveDerrickThe sun was a merciless beast today, pounding down on the construction site like it had a personal vendetta against us. Sweat trickled down my temple as I bit into my turkey sandwich, the bread already soggy from the heat. The little café across the street was our only refuge. Air-conditioned, stocked with cold drinks, and, most importantly, far from the dust and noise of the site. Trevor, my foreman and the closest thing I had to a friend on the job, wiped his forehead with the back of his hand before taking a swig of his iced tea. "Man, if it gets any hotter, I swear I'm gonna start stripping layers right here," he joked, fanning himself with a napkin. I chuckled, but my mind wasn’t really in it. I’d been distracted all morning, ever since that call from Tyrell last night. The guy was unstable on a good day, and after what I’d asked him to do, or rather, not to do, I wasn’t sure if he’d actually listen. Then the TV above the counter caught my eye. The ne
The News of Smith's kidnap.It was Monday morning again. The office hummed with its usual morning inactivity. Keyboards clacking, hushed conversations, the occasional ring of a phone. I sipped my lukewarm coffee, scrolling through emails, my mind already drifting to the dinner plans Smith and I had made for tonight. He had promised to take me out to this new exquisite 5 star restaurant downtown. Somewhere low-key, away from prying eyes. Our secret had been held for months, and though sneaking around was exhausting, it was necessary. The last thing either of us needed was office gossip painting me as the woman who slept her way to the top. Suddenly came a shouting from the hallway. A sharp panicked voice sliced through the dull morning, followed by the heavy thud of the director’s door slamming open. My head snapped up. Across the floor, clusters of employees had frozen mid-task, necks craning toward the commotion. Murmurs spreading like wildfire. “What’s going on?” I muttered, mo
TakenSmith The first thing I felt after hours was the cold splash of water hitting my face, shocking me awake. My body jerked instinctively, but my arms were bound tightly behind me, the rough bite of the rope cutting into my wrists. I gasped, blinking rapidly as droplets of the water splashed rolled down my cheeks, some slipping past my lips, salty, like sweat or seawater.My head throbbed, a dull ache pulsing behind my temples. Where the hell was I? The last thing I remembered was leaving the club. I had spotted those three weirdos at the club staring attentively at me, I got uncomfortable and decided to leave there. A few minutes drive into the highway and bang, we were Ambushed by a vehicle I think, gunshots fired. Then nothing. A sharp pain at the back of my skull, darkness swallowing me whole. Harsh sunlight burned through the fabric of the hood over my head. A hand yanked it off, and I winced as the glare stabbed at my eyes. I squeezed them shut, my pulse hammering in my thr
The AmbushSmith I rested my back against the soft Vip couch, A Cigar in-between my fingers. The deep, pounding bass of the club’s sound system reverberated through the walls of the VIP section, drumming against my chest like a heartbeat. The low lighting cast long shadows across the leather booths, and the air was thick with the mingled scents of expensive liquor, cigar smoke, and the faint metallic tang of wealth I swirled the amber liquid in my glass absently, watching the ice cubes clink softly against the crystal, but my attention wasn’t on the drink. It was on them. Three men sat across the dimly lit club, sitting in a shadowy booth near the back. They weren’t laughing, weren’t drinking, just staring. Their gazes were locked onto me with an intensity that made my skin crawl. The tallest of them had a face like chiseled stone, his cold eyes unblinking. The other two flanked him like sentinels, their postures rigid, their hands resting too casually on the table.Cold prickle wo
D.N.A TEST. BrieAt the office, I couldn’t get my head to focus on the load of paperwork sitting on my desk. My fingers tapped restlessly against the mahogany surface, the rhythmic sound doing little to drown out the storm of thoughts raging in my mind. I couldn’t focus.My mind kept drifting back to Derrick. I had a gut feeling that he wasn't going to stop, and it amplified my worry. I knew Derrick, I've been with him almost all through college, and he wasn't the type that gives up that easily. Once he set his mind on something, he pursued it with relentless determination. And now, that determination was fixated on Liam.A cold feeling of anxiety tightened in my stomach. What if this changes everything between Smith and I? Smith had been nothing but patient, understanding, but how long could that last? What if one day he woke up and decided this was too much..that I was too much? He hadn’t called since I’d told him about Derrick’s threats, and the silence was deafening. Was he pulli