Chapter 2.1: Frustrated

Nathalia’s POV

 

“What were you doing at the hotel yesterday? And why did you suddenly run off? You told me that you’d talk to us later that day. But what happened? You’re not even answering our calls!” Harold bombarded me with questions before taking a sip of his frappe.

I was about to respond when Albert intervened.

“You have no idea how worried we were! We were taken aback when Harold told us that he saw you in the hotel lobby and you hurriedly left. We thought you got into some trouble.” He shook his head before taking a small piece of his blueberry cheesecake on a plate.

I was about to answer when Damon suddenly interjected. I gave him a disapproving look, but it seemed like he didn’t catch the message I wanted to convey.

“Knowing you and your heroine act, I can’t figure out whether I should be pleased or regretful that we taught you self-defense and all those safety precaution techniques.”

I took a deep breath, anticipating Mads’ imminent interruption. I quickly preempted her, raising both my hands in the air as a sign of surrender to their interrogation.

“Wait a minute! Can you please let me answer and explain first? How can I possibly answer your questions if you won’t even let me speak?”

Finally, they fell silent. However, I could sense that other people in the cafe glanced in our direction due to my loud speaking. I chose to ignore them and took a deep breath to calm myself before speaking again.

“First of all, I just want to remind you guys that you were the first ones who didn’t respond to my texts, calls, and chats! Weren’t we supposed to go to the university together yesterday? We had a clear plan the other day.”

I took a sip of my juice before continuing. “If you knew you couldn’t make it, you should have at least let me know. I couldn’t start until you arrived.”

I couldn’t help but think about it. If they had just answered my calls and told me what happened to them, I wouldn’t have worried so much and wouldn’t have thought about going to that place.

I wouldn’t have witnessed that scene in the basement. I didn’t follow them because I thought I could save that man; I stumbled upon a live crime scene!

Mads scratched her head while closing her fists.

“I’m sorry, Thalia! We were suddenly called to the hotel because some staff couldn’t come in. We had no choice but to go there.”

“Yeah, even though we didn’t have enough sleep, we had to go. We were so busy that we couldn’t even check our phones in the locker room,” Harold added.

I nodded, but I couldn’t deny that I still felt a bit upset.

“Okay. Apology accepted. To be honest, I also thought about that. That’s why I decided to visit you to surprise you and treat you after your duty, even though I was a bit mad. I know how hard you guys work, and you deserve it. Then, I saw Mads—”

“You saw me?” she asked in disbelief. “But I didn’t see you,” she added, puzzled.

I coughed a little before continuing. “I saw Mads and followed her. Imagine my surprise when she walked down the basement. What did you do there anyway?” That incident still puzzles me to this day.

She was so fast and quickly recovered from the shock. “Our superior just ordered me to get something there,” she said, furrowing her brows. “But wait, why didn’t you call me?”

I shrugged and continued, “I didn’t see you when I got down there. You just disappeared. I was about to go back when...”

Automatically, my gaze fell on my phone resting on the table. I’m sure that once I show them its contents, they will know the true identity of their respected and admired boss, Stephen. That way, they will all be aware that the rumor about him is true.

But the last words I heard from him before I completely left that building seemed like a haunting melody echoing in my mind.

“This is just a warning to all of you: whoever comes in my way will suffer the same fate as him.”

I involuntarily swallowed. I knew he was referring to his men, but I couldn’t help feeling afraid. If I reveal what I know to my friends, they will surely get involved, and their lives will be at risk.

Especially since Stephen is close to them. It would be easy for him to do to my friends what he did to that man.

The mere thought of him dragging them to the basement to hurt them before taking them to an abandoned building to kill them sends shivers down my spine.

“Thalia, are you okay? You’re shaking and gripping your phone tightly.”

I blinked as I felt Mads’ reassuring grip on my hand. I hadn’t even realized I was holding my phone tightly while trembling.

I looked up and was met with their concerned faces. I took a deep breath before slowly releasing my grip and forcing a smile.

“I’m sorry. I just remembered the accident that I saw yesterday.” Those words of lies automatically slipped out of my mouth.

They all gasped at the same time.

“An accident? Are you okay? Were you hurt or wounded? Oh, shit!” Damon bombarded me with anxious questions. I can say he’s the most overprotective one in the group.

I couldn’t help but laugh because they all rushed to me as if to see if I was alright. It made the other customers look in our direction because of their actions.

I nodded repeatedly. “I’m fine. I was just startled by what I witnessed yesterday; that’s why I couldn’t return to the hotel immediately and didn’t answer your calls. I’m sorry.” Another lie. Though it’s partly true.

Because I wasn’t traumatized by an accident but rather by a crime that I witnessed.

That incident kept me up all night.

They all sighed in relief. “The important thing is that you’re okay. But why did you leave the hotel? You only had to wait for half an hour more because our duty was about to end,” Albert asked curiously.

Okay. It looks like I need to keep lying.

I stared directly into his eyes without blinking. “I left some documents that needed a signature at school. That’s why I hurriedly went back. It’s essential, and I was afraid it might get lost.”

They nodded, and I secretly felt grateful that they didn’t seem to doubt my answer. I wanted to commend myself for quickly making up an excuse without showing any signs of suspicion or hesitation.

Mads taught me about doing that kind of thing anyway. She said it could be useful in desperate situations.

But I never thought I would use that tactic on them.