CHAPTER ONE

“We will expect the table and chairs by Monday next week, but the clean-up crew will be here tomorrow so we can set up the mixer at the back when they are done. Hopefully, we will be done with fixing up this place before the opening.” Her best friend Jennifer said as she strikes things off the to-do-list. Propping her hands on her hips, she rolled her head between her shoulders to ease the tension.

“Hmm… good. Don’t forget to send me the invoice.” Emily replied.

Jennifer nodded, satisfied with the progress they were making. She looked at Emily and smiled. “I can’t believe your dad relented about you joining the family business and even gave you a shop.”

“I know, right!” Emily said with a wide grin as she paced back and forth.

 Emily couldn’t believe that she was actually doing this. Especially when her father expected her to join the family hotel business after finishing her degree in business management. But she had always harbored a dream of opening her own bakery with Jennifer. This is the first time she really did something for herself and not to impress her father.

“Can you follow me somewhere?” Jenifer asked.

“Where?”

“It’s far out and I don’t really want to go out there alone,” Jennifer Grimaced

“Why can‘t you wait till tomorrow? It's quite late, you know.” Emily Eyebrows knitted together.

“I know that’s why I'm asking for this favor. I wouldn’t have asked, if it wasn’t important.”

“What is it you want to pick, anyway?”

“I can’t say.” Jennifer looked away.

Emily hesitated.

“It would have been nice if you came with me, but it's okay,” Jennifer said with a heavy sigh.

Emily took a deep, pained breath and closed her eyes. “Okay, I would go with you.”

“Thank you! We should take my car.” Jennifer suggested to Emily.

“But mine is better,” Emily argued.

“Trust me, let's just take mine. It would be easier,” Jennifer said as she picked up her bag and locked up the shop after Emily.

“Okay,” Emily said, deciding to go with her friend.

As they walked towards the car, Emily’s phone rang. She fished it out of her pocket. On the screen was a reminder of her date with Ryan.

“Oh, I almost forgot my date with Ryan. I hope he won't mind if I cancel.” Emily ran her hand through hair.

 “He wouldn’t mind.” Jennifer rolled her eyes. “I mean, you have dated him for three years now.”

Emily dialed Ryan's number immediately, as she got into Jennifer's car, but he wasn’t picking. She quickly gave him a text.

Hey, I know we planned to go out, but something came up with Jennifer. I am really sorry for bailing out on you. I promise to make it up to you tonight.

Kisses.

“You are texting Ryan” Jennifer glanced quickly at Emily, then looked away.

“Yeah, it’s the least I can do, since we haven’t seen each other for days now, because of our hectic schedule.” She said, smiling at Jenifer.

“Don’t you think that’s clingy?” Jenifer said.

“Clingy? If telling him everything about me is clingy, then I am okay with it.” Pushing a hair off her face.

“It’s cute how you and Ryan always try to make out time to go on a date with each other. Even when it’s been three years since you have been dating.” Jennifer shook her head.

“It’s called trying your best to make your relationship work. You should try it sometime,” Emily smiled..

“I don‘t have time for a relationship, except he is willing to reduce my burden. "

They both chuckled.

After a while, Emily began rubbing her hands on her pant leg as she looked around. “We have been driving for a while. And the road is quite lonely”

“That’s why I asked you to follow me, but we will soon be there.” Jennifer said as she turned into a tiny road, off the Main road.it was eerily dark except for Jennifer's head light.

“Where is this place?”

Jennifer didn’t answer her. She parked her car in front of what looked like an abandoned warehouse. There was no sign of life.

“There is no one here. I think you should call them.”

She turned to Jennifer, only to see a gun being pointed to her face.

Emily flinched. “What are you doing, Jennifer?”

“I am sorry,” Jennifer whispered, a tear slipping from her eyes.

“Jenny, put the gun away.” Emily pleaded, her heart racing

Jennifer shook her and said. “I can’t. This is the only way.”

“You can do the right thing jenny,”

“Ha! Are you kidding right now? Try leaving with debts and a sick mother. This is rich coming from you that all you need to do is get married to come into the wealth your grandfather left you. So don’t tell me about doing the right thing. Get out of the car now! ”

“Jenny, we have been friends for years… we are literally about to start a bakery together.”

“Don’t blame me. Blame your family that wants you dead. They offered me better, including sole ownership of the bakery and lots of money too, to give me a head start. I don’t want to stain my car, so don’t make me repeat myself.”

“Who wants me dead?”

“A dead person shouldn’t concern themself with that. "

Emily knew there was no getting through to Jennifer. She lunged at her and grabbed Jennifer’s hand, holding the gun. And began banging it on the dashboard until she lost her grip. Jennifer bent to search for the gun. Emily grappled for the door and let herself out of the car.

“Damn it!” Jennifer muttered.

Emily bolted across the field. When she heard the first shot. The second shot rang out and found her belly. Emily doubled over in pain and nearly passed out. But she knew if she did that, Jennifer would definitely kill her. 

She didn’t know for how long she crawled and stumbled across the field, but she made it to the main road. Just in time, she saw the headlight of a car. Praying it was a stranger and not Jennifer trying to kill her.

She screamed at the top of lungs, “Help! Help!”

The last thing she saw was an Italian male leather shoe getting out of the car. Before everything went black.