FRIEND OR FOE

Keith's eyes probed mine, seriousness replacing the playful moments we had before. "I've got a confession. I'm not here solely for the art."

I frowned, bewildered. "What do you mean?"

He took a deep breath. "I've been working undercover for some time trying to look into the hacking incident at your father's company."

My mouth sprang open in shock. "You've been doing what?"

"Yes, and I have discovered something significant. The technology was not just taken; it was sabotaged from within. And I believe my father planned it to push the merger.

Even with the suit jacket slung over my shoulders, I felt a chill. "Why are you telling me this? "Isn't Elliot your father?"

"I need your help. The wedding needs to take place, "he said.

I scoffed out a little laugh and looked back at him. His face was stern and he had a serious expression on his face.

“Wait, wasn't that a joke Keith? I came to the exhibition trying to convince you out of it but it looks like you were all in it together.

“Look here Cora, I'm just trying to help. You can choose to drive the car seat yourself or be driven around by a masked foe. It's your choice.

“Why do you wanna help? I directed at him and looked at him suspiciously. We haven't met in ages. It was stupid of me to think you'd agree with me. I can save Dad's company all alone.

He looked at me for a second before he spoke. “If you think you can, I'm afraid I need to leave now. It was nice meeting you after a long time. He said and stretched out his hands to me.

Before I could respond, a sleek black car pulled up to the curb. The driver rolled down the window and handed Keith an envelope. "Just in time, Keith said, tearing it open. His expression darkened as he read the contents.

"What's that for? I asked, curious, and stretched my neck to take a look at the document he received.

"You need not concern yourself with it," he said, looking at me, and hurriedly folded the document into his inner pocket.

The rain slowed to a drizzle, and Keith offered to drive me home. As we traveled through the city's streets, I couldn't shake the feeling of his eyes on me. I shifted my body with uneasiness but he didn't stop staring.

The car came to a stop in front of my house.

“We are here, " I whispered under my breath and turned to him. Thank you for the ride.

“You're welcome, " he replied and I got down from his car. I straightened my dress before I walked to the door and he just sat in the car and watched me as I walked.

A few steps closer to the door, I walked back to his car and knocked on his car’s window. “Do you wanna say hi to my parents? I asked him with a grin on my face. I'm sure they'll be surprised and happy to see you.

“I'll pass Cora, I'm sure we'll meet some other time. He said and signaled his driver to leave. Embarrassed, I walked back to the front door and heard noises in the house. I rushed and opened the door knob and as I entered the house, the scattered pieces of furniture were the first thing that struck me. The chairs were overturned, the cushions thrown across the floor, and my father’s face was red with fury. My mum sat on the cold floor and she wept silently. “I don’t care about your concerns and scares,” he shouted, his voice echoing off the walls. “The wedding will happen, and that’s final!”

“Papa, what are you doing? Did you hit Mum?” I raged at him fiercely and helped my mum get on her feet.

“I heard you went off on your own to the art exhibition. So, did it go well? I'm sure it didn't go as you planned. Your face says it all” my father said and slammed the reading light on the table to the wall.

“I told your mother and I'll tell it to you. The wedding is in two weeks. Be duly prepared and don't you dare think of sneaking your way out of this, I'll make you regret it.

I stood there, my heart pounding, as my father stormed out of the room, leaving me alone in the chaos.

“Did he hit you, mum? I asked while I patted my mum's back. It was a way I learned to comfort her.

“No, he didn't, "She responded. Your father isn't violent. He is being like this because he is frustrated. Elliot sent an email saying he is considering other companies for the merger. Then he found out you went to meet Keith. The silence that followed was deafening. I let her go out and started to clean up the mess Dad made. My mother left me after some time and went into the room she shared with my father. I finished cleaning up and retired to bed late at night. Around midnight, a soft creaking sound woke me from my sleep. My eyes fluttered open to the darkness of my room. “Who’s there?” I whispered, her voice barely audible. No response came.

“Maybe I misheard, I thought to myself and adjusted the duvet on the bed. A few minutes later, I heard scattering sounds in my room and I got up rapidly from my bed. Someone had invaded. I walked backward and slowly to where the bulb switch was. “Who's there? I asked in a low voice but no response came.

“Dad? Is that you? I was met with another silence. Mum? Do you want something? There was another moment of silence. I tiptoed and reached the switch. As I pressed on the switch and the light in the room came on, a hand with black gloves on covered my face and mouth.

“Who are you? I screamed with my ruffled voice.