Elise's pov:After dinner, everyone went to their tent with their group while some stayed behind the campfire to have a chat with their friends. Seeing them having a good time, it reminded me of Riley. She didn't make a call or message even after I called her many times. Didn't she see those missed calls or did she lose her phone? While I was looking at my phone, someone tapped on my shoulder and asked, "Are you expecting a call from anyone?""Riley didn't pick up my phone."He looked around as he asked, "Yeah, I haven't seen her since I got here. Didn't she come with you?" "No. She informed Mr Grey that it's an emergency and didn't come.""What is the emergency?""That's why I'm calling her but she's not picking up my phone.""Maybe she's not in a situation to pick up her phone. Moreover, it's almost midnight. Call her tomorrow." "Okay." Alex didn't go to his tent and stayed beside me as I looked at the junior year students playing games. I asked him, "Aren't you leaving?""What
Louisa's p.o.v;While I was eating the breakfast brought by Ace, I looked up from my food and caught his eyes. His stare was intense, he almost seemed to be studying every single feature on my face."What's wrong?" I asked.He shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Nothing. Just wondering what you're doing today." He said nonchalantly.I stared into his deep brown eyes for several moments, taking in his features before replying."Me? Nothing really, I couldn't come up with anything since I'm being kidnapped here." I deadpanned, giving him an unamused look.Ace laughed lightly but didn't answer right away. Instead, he just continued staring at me. After a few moments, though, he finally spoke again. "Well I can't go anywhere because it's Sunday so maybe we could go do something together.""Together?" My eyebrows shot up and I raised an eyebrow of my own, "Like..." I trailed off, searching for a word. The corners of Ace's mouth turned up slightly, "Yeah." He replied simply
Louisa's p.o.v;After a week, At hospital, in front of Bernie's room,"Did you get that driver now?" I asked Raphael about the person who ran away after the accident. Raphael answered, "Like i already said, the driver's face wasn't registered in the surveillance camera in that street. Moreover there wasn't any camera where the accident occurred. The car number is also fake. I couldn't get any information about this case."I got mad after hearing him say, "The driver couldn't be traced. The car plate number is fake. Are you saying that he fell down from the sky…" i stopped shouting at him and realised that it could be Pandora gang. They already sent someone to spy on me. And they hurt Antonio when he tried to keep an eye on Bernie. This could definitely be them. I continued to Raphael, "Find him soon, Raphael." And walked into Bernie's room. Everly was feeding him the food using a spoon while Bernie was whining to her. After seeing me, Bernie complained to me, "Louisa, i said my ha
Lucy's pov;Daniel, "We've been walking for quite some time. What are our plans?" "I didn't invite you to accompany me. Please leave me alone." "I won't." "Why are you so stubborn? I'm not interested in seeing your face... At least for now." "Then give me a hint where we're going," he said after some time. "To my home." "Do you mean Tyler's?" I came to a halt in front of him and said, "No, my house." And he kept walking with me. "Where do you live?" "It's about 2 kilometres away." "And do you want us to walk that distance?" He jumped in front of me. "I didn't invite you." "But I just can't leave you alone.""I'm not a kid to have someone look for me." "Did you forget that you and Tyler are being pursued by mysterious men? What if they just appear out of nowhere?" He came to a halt in front of me and said, "Hey, I don't think going to your place is a good idea. What if they're expecting you over there? Will you not be in danger then?" "You're forgetting that I used to be
Emily's POV;I have always been interested in literature, not just about fantasy and science fiction, but about the other side of the coin. It's funny, how I never thought that something like this would ever happen to me. Not because I'm not a good girl or anything like that, it's just that I've had so much experience with relationships in my life and yet it feels as though this is the first time. I mean, yes, there have been guys at school who I've liked over the years, but those were all in highschool, right before college. After that, it was more of a case of if you're into me and I'm into you type deal. This is probably going to sound cheesy, but I think I might be bisexual. That means that I have two things in mind when it comes to guys – one being that they're hot and the other being that they want to date me.Anyway, that's why we're here today, on our first date.It' s the end of summer term, and we've both decided to drive down to San Francisco for the weekend, to spend the n
Emily's POV; I was sitting down on the couch. The lights were dimmed and the room was dark save for a single lamp next to me. My head was resting in my hands, fingers interlaced together as I stared at the wall across from me. It was blank. Empty, devoid of any personality or anything that reminded me of life. Nothing but white paint that matched the rest of the walls.I heard the click of a door behind me and I turned my attention towards it. I saw the silhouette of a man standing there, his back facing me so he couldn't see my facial expression. He stood there for several minutes, silent, until I finally spoke up."What are you doing?"He didn't respond right away, just stood there in silence for a few more seconds before turning around to face me. His eyes were filled with sadness and he looked exhausted. A frown was present on his face and when he looked at me I could tell he wasn't in the mood for conversation. His face was emotionless and he didn't look too good either. The bag
Elise's pov:At house, I came to my room after finishing dinner and turned off the lights like I went to sleep. I changed my outfit to something dark and took a cap and a mask incase if i got caught, to escape using it. I put my phone to vibrate and looked through the blinds to look at Andrew's room. There wasn't anyone. Where did they go? While i was looking through the blinds, i got a message from Cathy. "We're eating dinner." Then, i should wait for some more time. I sat near the window and browsed through the online. I smiled seeing some cute funny animal videos. A message popped up. It wasn't from Cathy. When i opened the chatbox, i found it to be Hannah. She sent me, "Are you awake?" I replied, "In bed, going to sleep." She texted back, "We're in front of your house. Come out." "Why?" "Come and see for yourself." I sighed and stood up from the window. I changed my outfit and came downstairs. I saw my dad and mom in the living room. "Hannah's waiting for me outside th
Elise's pov;I woke up at someone else's house. How did I end up here? I looked around and noticed I was in a small bedroom and the door was closed. I got out of bed as carefully and quietly as possible. The floor was cold against my bare feet and it made me shiver slightly. I remembered what happened last night. The images from last night flashed in my head where Ace stabbed Paulo in front of my eyes causing his blood to splatter on my face which made me disgusted. It was exactly like how I had dreamed but the difference was someone died and not me like in my nightmares. I ran to the bathroom and barfed into the sink. I gargled and washed my mouth and walked out of the bathroom once I'm done.I saw Ace placing a tray of food and looked like he was about to leave. I asked, "Why did you bring me here? Who's house is this?" "This is my house. You can be safe here." "I won't be safe if I'm near you." When I tried to walk out of the room, Ace stopped me by gripping my hand which was
Elise's pov:Mr. Alarcon's embrace was warm and reassuring as he held me close, his voice gentle yet firm as he uttered words of comfort, urging me to release the burden of guilt that weighed heavily upon my shoulders. "Stop blaming yourself, Elise," he whispered softly, his eyes filled with a mixture of sympathy and understanding. He reminded me that dwelling in self-blame would only cause more pain, emphasizing that the past could not define my present or dictate my future. I could sense the depth of his concern as he observed my struggles, his touch tender as he lifted my face to meet his gaze. "Why are you doing this to yourself?" he inquired, genuine curiosity lacing his words. In the midst of our emotional exchange, a single teardrop made its way down Mr. Alarcon's cheek, prompting a surge of surprise within me. "Why are you crying?" I reacted instinctively, moved by the display of vulnerability from someone whom I had always seen as a pillar of strength. His response was unw
Elise's pov:At the bustling bakery store, a sharp-dressed man named Jake Turner caught my eye as he took a seat directly across from me. He exuded an air of sophistication with his tall stature, defined facial features, and sleek black suit, suggesting he had just rushed from a day at the office to meet me. Despite my lack of interest in conversing with him, the curious gazes of onlookers like Theo, Harry, Teresa, and Morgan added to the strange energy surrounding our encounter. To my surprise, even Mr. Alarcon and Brian, whom I had recently discussed this mysterious newcomer with, appeared among the spectators. Teresa, with her usual grace, set down a latte and a delectable strawberry lemon trifle before each of us before mingling with the rest of our acquaintances. Before I could even collect my thoughts on the unexpected turn of events, Jake Turner took the initiative and inquired, "So, you run this place?”With a simple nod, I confirmed his assumption, bracing myself for further
Elise's pov:As I was diligently reviewing the financial records for the past two months, meticulously documenting each expense, my focus was abruptly interrupted by a soft knock on my office door. Theo, my trusted assistant, stood there with a sense of urgency as he whispered, "He's here, boss."Rapidly shutting down my computer and grabbing my phone, I made my way out of my office, the wooden door creaking faintly as I closed it behind me. Mr. Alarcon, a long-time associate, awaited my arrival by the reception counter, his presence commanding attention even in a bustling environment.With a level of composure befitting my leadership role, I turned to Theo, who stood by my side, and issued clear instructions, "Take care of the store in my absence." His response held a trace of friendly banter as he remarked, "This store certainly sees more of the boss than any of us employees."As I gently patted him on the cheek in jest, a light-hearted smile crossed his lips, expressing a mutual un
Elise's pov;When morning light filtered through the curtains, I roused myself from sleep, feeling the need to escape any potential encounters with Mr. Alarcon. Hurriedly preparing for the day, I quietly slipped out of the house, finding solace in the familiar sights and sounds of my store. As my mind flitted anxiously to Brian, a sense of guilt tugged at me, knowing I hadn't bid him farewell. His peaceful slumber seemed suspended in time, prompting me to depart without disrupting his rest. The bittersweet air of my departure lingered, leaving a void where parting words should have been spoken.Teresa stood before me, her eyes filled with curiosity as she directed her question about my attire. She was already donning a festive elf costume, serving as a stark reminder of the occasion we were celebrating. Across the room, Theo, Morgan, and Harry emerged from the changing room, fully adorned in their respective outfits, adding to the jolly atmosphere that filled the space.In response to
Elise's pov;I came to Mr Alarcon house at 8 pm because we cleared out some stuff for decorations. When I came to the house, I saw Mr Alarcon and Brian eating at the dining table. Wasn't it too soon for dinner time? According to Mr Alarcon's rules. Brian yelled, “Emily, be quick. Let's have dinner together.”After seeing them together, I said, “It's alright. I ate out with my friends.” And I headed upstairs to my room in order to not disturb them. I dropped down on the bed as I stared at the ceiling above me. Mr Alarcon told me he'll help me but how am I going to ask him? And how should I do it? Should we make another deal? It's not a big amount to make a deal though. Let's just think of it as a loan and borrow from him. I feel hungry. I should have at least eaten the brownies which Teresa made at the store. I can't even go down stairs since Mr Alarcon and Brian are having their dinner. I sprang up from the bed and took my wallet and went downstairs. I said to Mr Alarcon, “I'm mee
Elise's pov;When I woke up, I was in the hospital bed this time. The white ceiling and the antiseptic smell surrounded me and when I lifted my head, I saw Mr Alarcon on his phone. After seeing me, he hung up on whoever he was on the call and asked me, “How do you feel now?”Why is he acting like he care about me? “What happened to me?” I asked as I sat straight on the bed. “I'll call the doctor.” And walked out of the room. The door opened and Mr Alarcon walked in along with the doctor. The doctor asked me, “When did you had your last meal?”“Morning.”“So that means you skipped lunch and dinner?”When I gave him a nod, he continued, “Skipping meals will make your blood sugar levels to drop that's why you fainted.” “I'll prescribe supplement tablets for you. You can take them after your meal. But avoid taking them in empty stomach.”Mr Alarcon asked the doctor, “Can I take her home then?”“Yeah, you can discharge her now.” And the doctor left. Mr Alarcon said, “I'll finish the d
Elise's pov:pov;When I entered the office, I saw the models who had been chosen for the work, so I went to them and sat next to them. Owen walked into the room as he yelled into the phone, "Last time when you were caught, it was hard to get rid of that reporter. Don't make a mess as much as you want to -" he stopped for a moment when he saw us staring at him and continued on the phone, "Come to the office in ten minutes." And hung up on whoever he was talking to. He smiled at us and said, "Excuse me. I will briefly introduce TA company's rules because most of them are new here. There are three rules you must follow when working with us. First, do not promote other products while working with us. Second, you cannot work for another company until your contract with us ends. Third, if you are in a romantic relationship, wait until the contract is over. That's all for today. Did you all sign the contract?" As we nodded in unison, he said, "Sweet. Thanks for coming, guys. And one more t
Elise's pov;Mike, "I think I made a decent decision in keeping him here.""What?"While he was handing me the meal in the service area, Olivia called him back to the kitchen. What made him say that?I served the food to the customers after bringing it out of the kitchen. The couple who received the food from me, both laughed and glanced at me. Is it my imagination or are they laughing at me?Emily brought me to the counter and said, "I know you were married recently and have a great husband, but do you have to flaunt it like this?" "How many times do I have to advise you not to refer to him in that manner?"She put her hand on my neck and whispered, "Listen to me, Do you want all of our customers to know what a wonderful night you had?""What!?"I dashed to the restroom to see what it was. When I looked at my neck, I thought, "A hickey?" Can he really do this to me? Now I see why everyone was staring at me. I'm humiliated. I'll start by changing my shirt.When I exited the restroom
Elise's pov;After Mr Martinez made a call, The police arrived and then arrested them and left while some remained behind to investigate what had occurred.When they investigated me, I told them what happened in the office. They began investigating Mr Martinez after my turn was finished."They forgot to ask you a question," Big Brother said as he approached me."What?""They didn't question you about why you were on the second floor in the middle of the night when your room was on the first.""I… I couldn't sleep so I wandered around…""Mr Johnson, come here!" said Mr Martinez.Big brother said, "I'll ask you once more. Prepare yourself." And then he left.Should I tell Big Brother about what I was doing in Mr Martinez's office? What if he stopped me from looking into the thing I was looking for? What if he tells me to stop?I have a doubt about Olivia. This isn't retaliation, but I can't let Olivia go free after what she did to my mother.The following day,In Mr. Martinez's office,