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Chapter 21 - Chapter 21

Miranda paced back and forth with her phone in her hand. Should she do this, she thought. She had to know. Since she came up with the assumption about Carly and Leo, she hadn't had a decent sleep when she came back home from the club in the early hours of the morning.

She looked at the time on her phone and assumed Angel must already be up and maybe having breakfast. Since she was Carly's sister, she obviously knew where she was. That's if the two sisters were even together after what had happened.

Miranda crossed her fingers as she called Angel's number. Hopefully, she was going to answer, Miranda prayed.

But sadly, Angel's phone was off.

"Damn it," Miranda muttered to herself as she dropped herself on her bed, feeling frustrated.

"This cannot be happening to me." Miranda sat up and tried calling again. Angel's phone was definitely off. Could the phone be battery low or did it go missing? Miranda now grew really frustrated. What was she going to do now?

She tried to relax as she took in a deep breath and breathed out. She shouldn't panic and she had to stay calm in order to think of what to do next.

Maybe Angel's phone was off because the battery was low. That thought felt comforting for Miranda and she decided to call Angel later on during the day. Hopefully, she would be able to answer her call.

"I hope I get to talk to Angel," Miranda said to herself. "If I don't find out where Carly is, Mr Walters might get to her before I do."

***

"Well, it's about time you showed up," said Mr Walters as the person he had been expecting for so long walked into his office.

The person who stood before him was tall, well built and wore a black hood over his head. He had a dark look on his face with his black eyes adding on to his look with more intensity.

"Please, take a seat," said Mr Walters as he pointed to the chair in front of his desk. "Tell me you have good news."

"You will be surprised," said the tall dark man as he took his seat. "Carly is where you least expect her to be."

"Don't tell me you found her at some home for the homeless or something." Mr Walters couldn't help but roll his eyes.

"She's now living in a mansion with her sister."

"What? Did you just say mansion?" Mr Walters felt he was going to faint.

"Tracking her down was a lot harder than I thought," said the man as he leaned back on his chair, removing his hood and revealing his shiny black spiky hair. "After a bit of searching, I found that she moved into the McDonell mansion with her sister. Turns out, their late mother was friends with Mr McDonell and he decided to take them in."

"How did you get this information?"

"Got to know about their whereabouts through hospital records. The hospital bills were payed by Mr McDonell himself. I also got to find out about the relationship between Mr McDonell and the sister's mother after some digging."

"Okay," said Mr Walters as he rubbed his chin, deep in thought. "So, we now know that Carly is with the McDonells. It's kind of strange that she is in that house."

The man before Mr Walters raised an eyebrow. His look became darker than before. "Why do you say that?" he asked.

"Because, Leo McDonell was here for his bachelor party and Carly happened to be one of the girls keeping him and his friends company. And now it so happens that Carly is living with him under the same roof. How strange."

"The world is a small place, you know? Do you have any plans of getting her back?"

"Of course I have to get her back. Our clients need her and I do too."

"I am willing to be of service if you like."

"Good, but we'll have to plan this carefully. We will need to bring her back against her own will. I guess now that she's staying at the McDonells, she doesn't have to come back here at all."

"Okay. Just tell me when you need the job done."

"I will. And we will need to do it soon."

***

Angel softly knocked on the wooden door of the study. She heard Mr McDonell's voice telling her to come in. She gently turned the door knob and found herself slowly walking into the magnificent looking study room.

Mr McDonell was behind his desk, going through some papers. He looked up when he saw Angel approaching his desk.

"It's good that you're here," said Mr McDonell. "We need to talk."

"I bet it's something important," said Angel as she settled down on the comfortable office chair.

"It is."

Angel continued to look at Mr McDonell when she asked, "is this about my late mother's house? Because if it is, I wouldn't mind if we were to get it back at any cost."

"Yes, I know. But you have to understand that your mum had a huge debt towards the house and I'm afraid paying back will be a problem."

Angel raised an eyebrow. "It's that bad, huh?"

"It is. And am afraid that the job you do working at the editing company isn't going to give you enough, at least for a very long time."

Angel stared at shining surface of the wooden desk, feeling a little disappointed. She had been planning that she was going to do all she could to get the house back. It was her and Carly's childhood home. They couldn't stay in the hospitality of Mr McDonell for long. He had done enough to take them in until they were back on their feet. Angel thought that as soon as she was better and got the chance to get back to work, she would save enough to get the house back. But then again, there was Carly to worry about with her college fees. That's if she was even interested in going back at all.

"I know how much that house really means to you," continued Mr McDonell bringing Angel back from her thoughts. "But we have to look at the fact that it will take years for you to pay back."

"But it's not like I can pay off the bank with the job that I have, just like you've said. It's difficult to find a job these days. So...."

Angel paused. She replayed their conversation in her head and she knew what was coming next. She looked at Mr McDonell.

"I'm guessing you know where all this is heading to," said Mr McDonell.

"Yes, I do. You want me to work at your company."

Mr McDonell gave Angel a little smile. "At least it will help you out until you can pay off your mother's debt. And your late mother told me how hard working you are. And my mother seems to have a lot of faith in you."

"I don't think Leo will want to work with me." Angel looked down at her hands on her lap.

Mr McDonell almost gave a chuckle. "Yes, my mother told me last night. But he will have to get used to it, that is if you agree."

Angel didn't know what to say. After Amanda had asked her yesterday about the job offer, she hadn't given it much of a second thought. Kim came to the house, Leo caused quite a scene and she had to hang around Oliver by helping him with his homework and watched a movie afterwards that she completely forgot about it.

There was a knock at the door. Mr McDonell and Angel paused for a moment and Angel felt quite relieved when the person who came in after Mr McDonell had told them to, was Carly. It would buy her some time to think about the offer a little more.

"Glad you could make it, Carly," said Mr McDonell as soon as Carly took a chair alongside her sister.

"Sounds like what you have to tell us is really important," said Carly.

"It is. I was just talking to your sister here about your late mother's house."

"Do you think there is a way of getting it back?"

"There is, but it would take time and it would cost a lot."

"Oh," Carly looked a little crestfallen. "But is there a way we could try and raise enough to pay back the bank?"

"I suggested that your sister works for our company. In that way, she would be able to raise enough for the house."

Carly turned to look at Angel who had been silently thinking about the offer.

"Have you agreed, Angel?" Carly asked.

"Not yet," Angel managed to answer without any hesitation.

"What do you think, Carly? Should she take the job?"

Carly looked at Mr McDonell and she quickly nodded her head. "Yes, she should. She wouldn't be paying back for the house, but also my college fees as well."

"I was thinking that Angel won't have to pay for your fees. I will."

Angel and Carly were startled by his statement.

"But why, Mr McDonell?" Angel was the first to ask.

"Because I know you're going to face a tough challenge ahead, Angel. And I don't want to make things hard on you when you start to work for us and also to worry about Carly's college fees. I did promise your mother that I'll take care of you two and that is exactly what I am doing."

"But you've already done so much for us. You don't have to do this."

"It's nothing, Angel. I'm not going to go back on my promise just because I'm doing too much for you. I'm doing all this for your mother."

"I can never thank you enough, Mr McDonell. You've been far too kind."

"So, does that mean you're going to work at the company?"

Angel paused before she could say anything and Carly couldn't help but look at her sister, hoping that she would say yes.

Angel slowly nodded her head. "Yes, I will."

Carly suddenly smiled at her sister and gave out a small victory clap. She couldn't help it anymore as she squealed in delight.

"I'm so happy for you, Angel," said Carly. "Mum would have been so happy that you finally found a better job than the one at the editing company."

"I couldn't be any happier," said Mr McDonell. "You're making a good decision, Angel."

Angel smiled hoping that she made the right decision too. Amanda and Eric would be thrilled with the news, that she knew. Leo and probably his mother wouldn't, and for that, she had to be prepared for the blows to come.

"You will start work as soon as you feel better," said Mr McDonell.

"Of course," said Angel as she tried to put up a smile.

"And as for you, Carly," said Mr McDonell as he turned to look at her. "I was thinking that now that I'll be the one paying your college fees, it's best you move to another institution. What do you think?"

Carly's eyes were filled with excitement upon hearing the news. This was great. She wouldn't have to go back to that crappy place she called a college and she would be as far away from Miranda as possible. She would finally get to go to those prestigious colleges or universities and maybe she could finally do something decent with her life after she graduates.

As much as she was surprised of her own thoughts, Carly was willing to change for the better. After all the pain she had put Angel through, she realised she had to grow up and do something for a change. Her mother's death felt like it all happened due to her own misdeeds and God had punished her for it. But now, she wanted to change. For Mr McDonell who was putting in so much for her and Angel, as well as for Angel, for Leo and for her late mother.

"That will be great," said Carly.

"Good, now that everything's all settled, on Monday, you and I, need to go to your college and arrange the transfer with the administration. Angel, as soon as you're better, you can start working at the company."

"Yes," Angel nodded. "Thank you, Mr McDonell. You've been very kind to us."

Mr McDonell smiled at the two Barclay sisters. "You're welcome," he said. "I'll be getting back to work now, there are a few things I have to finish up here before I go to relax."

"We will excuse ourselves," said Carly as she stood up from her seat and Angel slowly did the same. "Thank you."

The two sisters walked out of the office and as soon as Carly closed the door behind Angel, she couldn't help but hide the grin on her face.

"This is such great news, Angel," said Carly, but not too loud so that Mr McDonell wouldn't hear them behind the closed door. "I can't believe that you will be working for Mr McDonell and I'll be going to another college."

"Well, you seem very happy about this," said Angel who hadn't stopped walking to talk to Carly. She had already turned round the corner.

Carly quickly caught up with her. "Aren't you?" she asked.

"Not really."

"Why do you say so?"

They had soon found themselves at the door of Angel's room. Angel motioned with her head for Carly to come in. Carly quickly did so.

"Are you going to tell me now why you're not happy with the news?" Carly asked as she went to sit on her sister's bed.

"Amanda had proposed the same deal to me yesterday," said Angel without beating around the bush.

"Oh, I bet that's why the two of them went to discuss in the study when Mr McDonell came home last night."

"When Amanda proposed, Leo was there. And he wasn't happy."

"I can imagine. I bet you didn't want to work at their company either."

"No," said Angel as she closed the door behind her and slowly made her way to the bed to join Carly.

"But you're doing so anyway. You already know my opinion. Working there will be good for you, believe me."

"I accepted the offer anyway. So, no reason for you to complain. Except that I'll have to deal with Leo and his mother who I know will not be happy about this at all."

Carly rolled her eyes. "You worry too much. Leo isn't going to be much of a problem because it's his dad's decision."

Angel raised an eyebrow at her sister. "You act like you don't know him at all. And you claim to love him."

"I do. Okay, maybe he will overreact a little, but he will be fine afterwards."

Angel shook her head. "No, he won't be fine and God knows for how long. And as much as his mother doesn't work at the company, she won't be happy either."

"Okay, it seems you do have a point."

"And I hope you're also going to take school seriously, Carly. You see how much Mr McDonell is willing to take you to the best institution? I don't want you betraying his trust and you know exactly what I mean by that."

"Angel," Carly placed her hand on Angel's that was on her lap. "I know I wronged you and I realise that I want to change for the better. I haven't been to the club since that fateful day and I will promise you just like I promised Leo, that I won't go back there again."

Angel continued to look at her sister and didn't say anything for a moment.

"I really hope so, Carly," said Angel. "Because if you break my trust again, I don't know what I'll do to you."

Carly quickly came closer to her sister and gave her a hug. Angel wished she hadn't done that, but she hugged her back anyway. She looked up at the ceiling and hoped that Carly would keep her word.

"Thank you for trusting me, Angel," said Carly after breaking away. "You don't know what this means to me."

Angel tried to smile to comfort her sister. "Just don't do anything foolish. This is the only time you have to get your life back together."

"I know," said Carly with a bright grin on her face as she stood up from the bed.

"And if you're into any trouble, please don't hesitate to tell me, Carly."

Carly nodded her head. "I will. Thanks, Angel."

Carly was making her way to the door when Angel said, "and please don't tell anyone about the news just yet. About me working at the company. I would rather let Mr McDonell handle that."

Carly stopped at the door and turned to smile at Angel. "I know," she said. "You're one who never likes to grab attention when it's necessary."

Carly opened the door and walked out of the room, closing the door behind her. Angel was all alone thinking of what happened from the time she met Mr McDonell till now. She hoped Mr McDonell was right about her working for him to raise enough to pay back the bank. And she prayed Carly would keep her promise no matter the cause.

Angel quickly looked around her room and noticed her phone on the small drawer next to her bed. She moved herself a little closer and she took her phone. She pressed the power button and realized that the phone was off.

"Gosh, the battery must be low," she said as she searched through her drawers for a charger that she found immediately.

As soon as she fixed the charger on the socket above the drawer and put the phone on charge, a knock came at the door and Angel told the person to come in. Oliver slowly came in to the room.

"Hi, Oliver," said Angel. "What brings you here?"

"I came to take you around the house," said Oliver. "You haven't been to most parts of the house, especially upstairs."

Angel smiled. "Okay, let's go. The room was getting boring for me anyway."

Angel put the phone on the tiny drawer's surface, slowly stood up from the bed and left the room with Oliver, who held onto her hand as he led her around the house.