Nineteen

 WHEN THE GAME JUST BEGINS.

SIENNA'S POV.

I heaved a sigh as my mind drifted to the mission in front of me. This one that glared at me and needed to be done in the next few minutes. I trembled, knee cracking as if wanting to put me to the ground.

I left the building's entrance and walked in, dressed in corporate suits with files clutched to my arm as I held onto the duplicate device inside my coat pocket.

 My mind races in an uneven breath that I feared…

What if someone could tell I was not a worker here?

I ignored the voice in my head, this was a company that could not differentiate its clients from workers if not with uniform and here I was, in their Tuesday red coat. 

As I walked through the building's hallway, I heard footsteps approaching me, I paused in my tracks and the latter did the same.

Has someone suspected me? I turned back searching for whoever was behind me but I couldn't find anyone. Maybe I was just being paranoid but then I could not wave off the feeling I was being followed.

Should I just turn back? But the truth was, I could not. I already got to the hallway that led to the chairman's office and turning back was calling one's attention.

After ages, I walked into the chairman's office quietly as I crept into it trying not to make a needle drop heard.

 I walked around the office desk subtly and planted the device but as I did, my heartbeat started to ring in my ears and once I pressed the device under the desk, my fingers trembled and as soon as I finished hoping to leave the office, my blood ran cold at the sight I saw.

There, it stood above me — a hidden camera that I had only noticed when the red light blinked from the corner shelf. I stiffened, breath hitching and although I was forced to stay calm, my 'errand' was done.

And that! I did before exiting the office.

I sneaked out of the chairman's office again without being cut but once I walked down back to the hallway, my phone buzzed. I took it out, it was a notification for a message.

I tapped the notification causing the message to pop up, lighting up my phone's screen.

“You're being watched too.“ I shuddered as I read the text I got from the unknown contact.

I froze mid step, scared to take another.

 I held on my breath taking the hallway into cognisance but no one — just no one felt strange.

Was this one of Dominic's games? Or was it someone else?

With my eyes darting the hallway once more, I stared at my phone and terrified , I deleted the message hoping to delete every trace that led to this office.

I drive home today, I got so tired and lazy to even book a ride, so I did just that. 

At the front of the building, I stood outside exhaling slowly as I imagined just another cold night in the house. I shrugged, clutching my bag much tighter as I walked into the living room.

The building suddenly felt off like there was some hint of warmth in it and that alone felt creepy.

Just when I tried to piece my puzzles, Julian walked up to me with a half smile spreading across a part of his lips as he gestured to me at the diner.

“Guess you had a tough time at work.“ He muttered.. I raised an eyebrow.

What was this? He suddenly was nice to ask about work now?

“Work…” I trailed off. That was an errand, one I was forced to do as I had no other choice but to keep every story about my baby.

I sighed, grabbing the cutlery as I used a fork to poke the chicken and used the knife well.

Fot some minutes, it was as if the warmth in the house was fading off somehow as I felt cold right from my feet.

Did Julian cook for me? Or this was some sudden revelation he had been watching me?

“You're not eating.“ His voice caught through my thoughts and I swallowed the lump in my throat before matching his gaze.

I shifted, waving off the thought there was more deliberate issues pressing onto the moment.

There was an uncalled silence and that made heat wash over me. Briefly, I felt his gaze on me and after a while, he takes it off constantly and that alone gave me chills.

I bit my lips when suddenly he spoke;

“Work was stressful here, we heard someone broke into the chairman's office. We are trying to fix it and put those involved in jail.“ He said, spelling out his words coldly.

I forced a chuckle.

“To think that he or she dared most top authorities.“ He muttered before taking a sip from his wine.

“He must really be a guru.“ He concluded.

“Or maybe not.“ I mumbled.

As we ate, one thing I knew or thought was that Julian was already trailing me. He had the power and the thought of him doing that to me sent me creeps all over my body.

“You said something?“ Julian asked, this time, not leaving his gaze off mine.

“Oh no. Just saying there were experts too.“ I chuckled as my hands already started trembling. We ate on, but all through, I was stared at. He watched me with a strange interest that I considered mean.

And Dominic? He had this all already planned out and here I Was playing with fire.