Chapter 2:- Orphanage

I wore a pair of black trousers with a white long sleeve top and a black jacket. These clothes were the finest clothes I have ever had in my wardrobe. Since I didn’t have enough money for shopping used my old clothes and Marina didn’t bother to give me a single penny.

I pulled my hair into a tight ponytail and kept my face natural since I didn’t have makeup. I slipped into the black shoes that were gifted by my brother on my twenty-first birthday. He never missed a chance to make me happy. 

Checking my appearance in the mirror one last time, I opened the door. As long as I got out, a storm of loud music hit me and made me jump. 

What the hell! 

I went around the banister and more voices and laughter coming from the living room. What’s happening? I looked down and found many people were sitting in the living room, laughing and drinking.  

What are they doing here? 

Walking down, I looked across the hall and spotted Edgar sitting next to the blonde. His arm wrapped around her waist as she was leaning toward him and whispering something in his ear. A few boys were smoking around the house. They had made the house look like a pub. 

I jumped out of my skin when an arm wrapped around my waist. “Hey beauty,” a boy said, smirking. “Would you like to have fun with me?” 

I immediately tore myself away from him, scowling. “Excuse me!” 

Surprise registered his face after my rejection. “Are you refusing me, girl?” He snarled. 

“Yes!” I snapped. 

Whatever Edgar and his friends were doing here. It was none of my concern as long as Marina didn’t have any problem with her son. 

“Noelle,” I heard Edgar called me out. Rolling my eyes, I turned around to face him. He had a smirk plastered on his face. “Where are you going?” 

“None of your business!” I snapped and made my way to the door. I had to get out of this hell as soon as possible.

Before I could walk out of the house, Edgar approached me and grabbed me by my arm. “Serve the wine to my friends,” he ordered me, and I frowned. 

“I have an interview.” I gritted my teeth and tried to snatch my hand from his grip. “I can’t work for you today.” 

“You’re not going anywhere.” 

“What!” I exclaimed in disbelief. “Are you serious? I want this job badly, Edgar!” 

“Come on, have some fun with us.” He smirked.

Baring teeth, I snatched my hand from his grip. “Leave me alone!” 

“No!” A boy blocked my way, and I panicked. 

I snapped my head to Edgar. “Please let me go...” 

He grinned in amusement, seeing me helpless. “Nah, you’ll be enjoying the party with us.” 

“Come on, baby,” the boy said.

I shook my head and tried to push them away from my way. I knew Edgar was doing this purposely. He never wanted me to work at Spraggins. He knew I had an interview. I couldn’t miss this opportunity. I had to attend this interview, otherwise, I would lose this job. 

Pushing them away I ran to the door but bumped into someone and the next second, whole wine spilled over my dress. 

Shit! 

“Oh, sorry,” a girl said, and a wicked smile spread her lips. 

Damn it! 

I narrowed my eyes at her. “It’s okay!” I gritted and dashed off the house.

I cleaned my dress with my hand, but it was just making my clothes even dirtier. Now, I had to attend the interview in these clothes because I didn’t have enough time to change. 

Marina’s car entered through the iron gate and halted just before me. I stopped as she got out and narrowed her eyes on me, and displeasure washed over her face. She eyed me from head to toe before her lips formed into a smirk. 

“I’m sure that you won’t last very long,” she commented. “They will throw you out of their company once they discover how useless you are! You are just a waste of human tissue!” 

I swallowed the anger down and ignored her harsh words. I couldn’t fight her, so avoiding her was a better choice at that moment, so I moved out of her way. 

“Remember, darling, going to work wouldn’t make you important. After work, you will take care of cooking, washing, and cleaning,” she shouted from behind. 

**********

I tipped my head up, looking at the dark brick-built building that was taller than the rest of the buildings in that area. SPRAGGINS CORPORATION. A tiny pride settled in my chest, thinking they selected me among the thousands. Many youngsters would dream of working in this corporation because this company was not only famous across the country but the world. 

I headed to the entrance, where two guards had been verifying the ID cards of people who were entering the building. I told them my identity and after a moment they cleared me and let me inside. I walked to the receptionist. 

“Good morning ma’am. How can I help you?” The receptionist greeted me politely.

“Good morning. I am here for my job interview.” 

“Fine, have a seat. May I get you some water or coffee?”

“No, thank you.” I gave her a polite smile and walked over to the brown couch that was rounded on a glass table. I took a seat next to a girl. She might also have come for the interview. 

After a moment, a woman approached me. “Could you come in now? I am going to take you to meet your interviewer, Mr. Lauren.” 

I gave her a nod and stood up before smoothing down my dress. There were a few splotches of spilled wine on my clothes, but those were not that visible since they were dried. 

We entered the elevator before pressing into the twentieth floor. After a moment, the elevator door click opened as it reached the floor. We got out and walked through the hallway, and halted right before a huge glass door. 

“Now you can go inside,” she gestured to the door. 

I smiled nervously and drew a deep breath before walking inside. My hands were sweaty and my heart pounded because of anxiety. 

A man in a blue suit was sitting behind the large oak table as his hands rested on the keyboard and his eyes were fixed on the laptop. 

“Have a seat, Miss Dolton,” he said without glancing at me. 

I took a seat right in front of him. 

He turned his head to me and gave me a sincere smile. “Welcome to Spraggins Corporation, I am Enoch.” 

“Hello, it’s nice to meet you.” I smiled nervously.

“Nice to meet you too. First, let me introduce myself. I am the manager of the human department here and we have an open position, so we have been interviewing applicants to fill the position…….” 

The interview continued for an hour. After that, Mr. Lauren informed me they selected me as an assistant to the Production Manager and I could join the company tomorrow. I was happy that I made it and I could be able to support my brother. 

The first thing I always do whenever I got good news was going to Lara. Lara was a small orphanage where cute and little children were living. Around twelve children were living in that orphanage. I wished I could adopt all of them, but sadly I didn’t have enough money to give them a better life. I often visit there whenever I am sad or happy. They were like family to me. They were part of my daily life and I was grateful that I found them and they found me. 

I entered one of the bakery shops and bought brownies, candies, cookies, and muffins before heading to the subway. I walked down the stairs of the subway station to get the train that would leave in a few minutes.

After half an hour of traveling, I arrived at Lara. A small brownstone building that was surrounded by a lovely garden. That place was perfect for the children. The guard opened the entrance gate for me when he recognized me. He passed me a smile before greeting me. 

I walked inside the house. The four walls were being painted in red, blue, yellow, and green color. The toys were being scattered across the floor and a broken bicycle at the corner of the living room. 

Ugh, the house! 

“Noelle,” a soft woman’s voice said. I smiled and turned to Mrs. Daisy Carpenter, the caretaker of this place. She had been working here for the past nine years. “How are you, darling?” 

I smiled and walked over to her. “I’m doing good and you?” 

“I’m doing well,” she said. 

“Where are children?” I placed the bags of sweets on the dining table. 

Her head turned to a window that was overlooking a huge garden in the house's backyard. “Over there.” 

I followed her eyes and found the children were running across the garden. 

“I have something for them.” 

“Is there something you want to share with me?” 

I smiled, and she found. “I find a new job.” 

Her eyes lit up with happiness. “Really?” 

I nodded. “At Spraggins Corporation.” 

And suddenly her happiness faded, and shock overtook her face. “Spraggins Corporation?!” She exclaimed.

I frowned. “Yeah. Is there something wrong?” 

“Oh, dear...!!” 

Before she could complete herself, the screeching of car tires grabbed our attention as we jerked our heads to the window. The black cars with tinted windows came to a halt outside the house one by one. 

“Oh my God!” Daisy exclaimed, and her face went white.

“What’s happening, Daisy?” 

“Hurry, get the children in the house and lock them in the room, and stay with them until I call you down.” Daisy’s expression was fearful.

“What is happening here?” I asked.

“We don’t have enough time, Noe!” She pushed me towards the house backyard where the children were playing. “Go now and get them inside!” 

Swallowing hard, I paced the backyard and shouted, “Hey everyone.” All it took was my two words and everyone said together. “Noelle!” Everyone ran towards me and gathered around me. “Noelle!!” Their excitement was undeniable. But I didn’t have enough time to exchange pleasantries. 

“Let’s get inside,” I said and forced a smile because I was worried and confused at the same time.

“Why?” Tiara said, one of the orphan girls. “Weather is pleasant, isn’t it?”

I glanced over my shoulder and found several men in black suits entering through the door.

Who the hell were they? 

“Let’s have some fun inside the house,” I said. 

Those cute little children were watching me with their big eyes.

“I brought your favorite muffins and cookies. Now get inside.” 

And they all ran excitedly. But I stopped them and quieted them. “Daisy is sleeping,” I lied, whispering. “Walk slowly, okay.” 

They nodded and went upstairs, one by one. I took them into the room before locking ourselves, but then I counted the children. One of them was missing. And I know who was missing!

Warren! 

“Listen, you all stay here and you won’t go anywhere until I come, okay,” I warned them.

They nodded their heads in unison.

I dashed off the room and went downstairs. Everything was so silent. The house was enormous enough to build a museum. I went to the second floor, but he was nowhere to be found. I didn’t want to go to the ground floor because Daisy had strictly warned me, but I had no choice, either. 

I descended the stairs, looking across the hall. I stepped silently as my heart was pounding under my chest.

I jumped when a cry pierced through the walls. It was Mr. Carpenter’s voice. I instantly followed the voice and went behind the wall where his office was located. And there I found Warren. My eyes went down to his pants that were soaked. He peed his pants. He was watching something through the window of Mr. Carpenter’s office. 

I walked over to him and stood just behind him without touching him so he wouldn’t startle by my touch. I peered inside, and a surprised gasp escaped my mouth when I found blood. 

A man in a black long coat was holding down Mr. Carpenter by his neck over the table and pressing a knife against his nape.  My eyes went to Mrs. Carpenter, who was kneeling before that man and begging him to leave her husband. 

Jesus! 

That long coat man snarled something to Mr. Carpenter before slitting his neck all at once.

Warren cried out. I immediately covered his mouth with my hand and used another one around his waist and lifted him off the ground. He threw his arm and legs desperately, crying louder and louder. And...

Suddenly, the door flew open.

Oh my god! Oh my god!

“Shut the fucking him up!” A dark, dangerous, and powerful voice snarled from behind me and gave me a shiver down my back.

I swallowed hard as my heart rate sped up. 

I heard his footsteps coming closer to me. I closed my eyes and hugged Warren’s little body against my chest. 

No! Please no! Go away! 

“I said shut him up!” He whispered threateningly in my ear, making me jump out of my skin. 

I gave him a nod and stroked Warren’s back, calming him down. And after a moment of struggle, Warren lowered his voice but was still crying. 

“You won’t tell anyone, will you?” That man whispered, and my breath shook. I didn’t turn to him, but his hot breath was fanning across my skin. “If you love those children, you won’t tell anyone!” 

I swallowed hard, shaking uncontrollably. 

After a moment, the cold air hit my skin when he moved away from me. I kept like that for a few minutes, waiting for him and his men to get out of this house. I looked at Warren, who was clinging to me, scared. Terrified!

“Everything is okay,” I whispered to a five-year-old boy who had just watched something horrible he should not have. “Everything is okay, Warren.” 

I hugged him tightly and glanced at Mrs. Carpenter, who was watching her dead husband’s body blankly.

Tears gathered in my eyes. She had lost her husband a few minutes ago. It was heart-wrenching. 

“Listen, Warren, go to your room. Your friends are waiting for you. And you won’t tell them what you’ve seen here.” 

He just nodded and walked away.

I approached Daisy, who was slumping against the wall and watching her husband. Her eyes seemed blank. 

“Daisy,” I whispered and kneeled next to her.  

“He killed my husband,” she cried out. “What will I be doing with my life without him, Noe?” 

My heart sank.

More tears ran down her cheeks as she choked. “Luther Spraggins killed my husband.” 

And I froze.

*********