Angel put the article she was looking at aside on her desk as she sat back on her chair feeling troubled. Carly kept coming onto her mind now and then and it wasn't making her think properly. She thought about what her mother had said. And it was quite clear that her mother didn't trust Carly like she did before.
Angel was too lost in her thoughts that she didn't even hear a knock on the door. All she realised afterwards was someone standing in front of her.
"Lost in your own thoughts I see," came a deep voice.
Angel looked up and she was staring at the director of the editing company, Mark Dean. His tall frame cast a shadow over Angel and he wore a magnificent navy blue suit. His sleek black hair was combed back revealing a handsome face. His dark blue eyes stared right down at her and Angel couldn't help but feel nervous.
She quickly stood up from her chair and yet Mark Dean still seemed a whole lot taller than her.
"Good morning, Mr Dean," greeted Angel, "I wasn't expecting you here."
"Just thought of passing around to see how everything was going," said Mark, "and you seem a little preoccupied, Angel."
"I... well, somethings have been running through my mind, thats all."
"Is it family related?" Mark's voice sounded deep and serious.
"Well, it is, Mr Dean."
"You know I don't like being formal, Angel. It's best if you call me by my first name for once."
"Sorry, it's just that you're my boss and all," Angel looked down at her fingers as she blushed.
"Well, from now onwards I want you to call me by name. I'm not old you know?" Mark gave her a cocky smile.
Angel smiled back at him. Mark held her chin to lift her face a little higher.
"That's the smile I was looking for," said Mark, "you look beautiful when you smile."
Angel could feel her cheeks blush even more. The temperature in the room seemed higher than normal. The spot where his fingers held her chin sent electric pulses down her body. Her body started to shudder a little and her knees felt like they were going to buckle.
"I seriously like it when you smile. You look like an angel just like your name says it."
"I...eh, thank you, Mr De.... oh, I mean Mark," hesistated Angel.
Mark's fingers finally let go of her chin and the spot where his fingers touched Angel's chin felt hotter than her face.
Mark just smiled at her and Angel turned to look the other way. She knew Mark Dean was a very handsome man and every female who worked around here always talked about him. They always tried to flirt with him whenever he came around. He too was also a flirt and he could take any girl's heart away just by a single word and crushes it so easily afterwards. He was a heartbreaker, that's for sure.
"I came here to ask if you would be busy this afternoon," said Mark, "but seeing that you have too much on your plate, I came at the wrong time."
"Well, you might say that," said Angel, "too many things are on my mind right now."
"Why don't you just take the day off? I'll grant you that if you want."
"No, its okay, I..."
Suddenly, Mark's index finger rested upon Angel's lips to silence her. Angel looked at him, stunned.
"You take the day off," said Mark, "and don't try to refuse, okay?"
Angel nodded in agreement like a little child and Mark just smiled. His index finger rested on her lips for a moment and he slowly backed away. He gave her a wink and headed out of the office.
"Well, that was something," Angel said to herself.
As Angel sat back down on her chair, her phone on the desk suddenly rang. She picked up the phone and saw a number on the screen that she had never seen before. She accepted the call and put the phone to her ear.
"Hello?"
"Hello, is this Angel Barclay, Carly's sister?" came a female voice at the other end of the line.
"Yes it is, may I know who I'm speaking to?"
"I'm Miranda, a friend of your sister. I called because what I'm about to tell you is very important."
Angel's heart skipped a beat. "Is it about my sister?"
"I'm afraid it is and you're not going to like it."
***
Carly took in a deep breath before she could open the door to the club. She looked left and right down the street hoping that anybody she knew didn't see her come here. Luckily, the street seemed a little quiet and for the first time, it felt awkward.
She stared at the neon sign above which was off during the day and on at night, which read "Walters' Club." For a moment she wondered what would happen if her sister and her mother found out about this place. They would obviously be disappointed and probably devastated. But all that didn't matter now, she had to meet her client and she had to have a clear mind.
Angel breathed out heavily and she pushed the door open and stepped into the partially dark club. The place looked a little empty with a few chairs up on the tables. People who worked around the club as janitors were busy sweeping up the place and by the bar where they served drinks, she saw Mr Walters taking a few shots of whiskey.
Mr Walters was a big tall man, with a bald head and an enormous pot belly. He was a good man, but if you ever took him for granted, he wasn't the type of person you would like to hang around with.
Mr Walters noticed Carly and beckoned her with his huge fingers filled with gold and silver rings to come over. Carly did as she was instructed to.
"It's good you made it, Carly," said Mr Walters as he took in another shot of whiskey. "He's been waiting for you."
"Why is Leo here when he's supposed to be getting married today?" Carly asked.
"That, I'm not so sure," answered Mr Walters, "did you do something to him last night?"
"Apart from getting down dirty and dancing for his friends, no."
"Oh, I hope so," said Mr Walters sternly, "you obviously did something to him. I hope he doesn't have any feelings for you."
"I'm hoping the same. So, where is he?"
"He's waiting for you in my office. Let's go."
Mr Walters got up from the stool and started heading towards his office with Carly at a steady pace behind him. His office was based upstairs where the VIP lounge was also. They got to the end of the hall after the VIP lounge and they came across a wooden door which led to his office.
Mr Walters turned the door knob and they went inside his office. The dark velvet colour of the wallpaper in his office made the room seem a little darker than usual even if it was daylight outside. The bloody red soft carpet added to the scene and it made the room seem so seductive.
Carly took in a slow deep breath and held it for a moment as she took in what she saw standing in front of her.
He still looked as gorgeous as she had seen him last night. His amazing blonde hair, his dark blue eyes that you could easily get lost in when you look right into them and his physique drew Carly's eyes all on him. She couldn't stop staring at him and he couldn't stop staring back.
Carly thought of saying something but she was stuck in between words. What would she say? 'Hi' or 'What the hell did you come back here for?' For a second, she didn't want to be rude but then she needed to know why he came here to see her. And at this early hour.
"Mr McDonell, I brought what you asked for," said Mr Walters, sounding more like a servant fulfilling his master's wish. "Should I give you two a moment?"
"Yes, a moment will be fine," answered Leo.
Carly shuddered at the sound of his voice. She couldn't explain how she felt about it. Even though he didn't touch her, all it took was his voice to make her feel like she was struck by lightning.
Mr Walters quickly left the room, and Carly didn't notice until she heard the sound of the door close behind her. She was left all alone with Leo. Her legs suddenly felt like jelly. This was the first time she had ever felt this way towards a client. And the question that was running through her head at the moment was 'Why?'
Leo put his hands into the pockets of his trousers and started coming towards her. Carly felt like backing away as his tall huge frame made her feel so small and insignificant, but she just stood there. His blue eyes looked straight into hers and his strong musky scent made Carly crave for him.
When Leo was just inches away from her, he stopped in his tracks and stared at her. Carly swallowed as no words still came out of her mouth.
"So, we meet again, Carly Barclay," said Leo.
***
A knock on the door made Mrs Barclay almost drop the broom to the floor. She was stuck in the her thoughts busy thinking about Carly while she cleaned the kitchen. She went to the front door to open it.
"Oh, it's you," said Mrs Barclay, "could you've knocked properly? You almost startled me to death."
"Sorry, Lisa, I knocked twice and you didn't seem to answer. May I come in?" came a voice from the person who was standing by the door.
"Oh, yes, please do come in," offered Mrs Barclay as she stood aside to allow her visitor in.
Her visitor stepped inside the house looking really smart in his black suit and his shining black hair with a little grey by the temples was combed back making him look handsome.
"Well, you look smart today," commented Mrs Barclay as she led her visitor to her sitting room, "oh, I remember now. It's your son's wedding today, isn't it?"
Mr McDonell couldn't hide that brilliant smile on his face and that even made him more handsome despite his old age.
"It is, Lisa, and I couldn't even feel more proud of him," said Mr McDonell, "why shouldn't I be happy?"
"You have every right to be, my friend," said Mrs Barclay, "but why are you here? Aren't you supposed to be at the wedding?"
"My wife is getting things ready and I felt bored just standing around that busy house doing nothing."
"I bet its going to be a grand wedding since your wife is doing all the preparations."
"I know it will. And I just didn't come here because I was bored. I came here to invite you to the wedding myself."
Mrs Barclay looked at him with a surprised look on her face. "What? Me to your wedding? No, I don't think thats appropriate."
"What are you saying, Lisa? You've been my best friend since we were kids. At least let me share my happiness with you."
"I don't know. Your wife scares me sometimes, you know. The last time we met, things didn't go well, remember?"
"Ya, I know. But she will have to go through me first. And besides, my mother will be very happy to see you after such a long time."
"I will consider that. It would've been lovely if I had to go with one of my daughters to the wedding."
"You can come along with one of them if you like. I don't think it will be that much of a big deal."
"Well, alright. You just make yourself comfortable and I will see if I can call Angel from work."
"Yes, you do that."
As Mr McDonell took a seat on one of comfortable sofas, Mrs Barclay went to the kitchen where she left her phone. As soon as she walked into the kitchen and headed towards the sink, she suddenly felt dizzy as though something just hit her head hard. She stood for a while to control the dizziness.
As soon as it went, she slowly continued walking towards the sink and right on top of the sink was the window. And on the window sill was the phone. As she got the phone, she suddenly felt her heart ache and that something was really wrong. Was any one of her daughters in trouble? Or is it something else?
Then she heard footsteps coming in from the sitting room and she knew Mr McDonell was coming in to check up on her. The pain in her heart increased and Mrs Barclay wondered what was happening to her.
"Lisa, are you alright?" Mr McDonell's voice could be heard by the door which led to the kitchen.
Mrs Barclay looked up and realised that her sight was getting all blurry. The dizziness came in again and the phone in her hand dropped to the floor.
"Angel, call her, call Angel," she muttered weakly. She could hear Mr McDonell rushing towards her to keep her from falling to the floor.
And the next thing she knew, she was falling into oblivion.