Buzz-Buzz-Buzz…
The phone kept vibrating with an incoming call from Declan on the coffee table in the hall. But Yasmin couldn't hear it as she was busy chatting with her mother in the kitchen. She munched on an apple, propping her hips on the kitchen counter.
"She has taken out all her savings," Maya continued, her face dark. "Your dad is so mad. He has blocked all her credit cards now. People in this building are constantly gossiping about her. Even the servants didn't hesitate to slander us. It is so embarrassing." She grimaced, letting out a frustrated groan. "Your father has fired all the servants."
"Don't you think it is strange?" Yasmin asked, her eyes narrowing. "She is more knowledgeable about the financial condition of the company than I am. She is also aware of how much money Dad owes Mr. Wilson. But she ran away, abandoning everything as if she didn't care about whether the company went bankrupt or the family suffered. This is not the Natasha I know. Something must have happened that we don't know about. We need to find her. She must be in trouble."
"What trouble are you referring to?" Maya snapped, dropping the spatula on the plate. She glared at her and added, "Two days have passed. She could have contacted us if she needed help. But she withdrew all her savings. Your dad looked for her everywhere. He contacted all her friends. He even hired a private investigator to track her down. But she has already left the city."
"What?"
"Huh…" Maya turned aside, sighing in dismay. "Don't bring up her name. She is dead to us. We don't care about her even if she is in trouble."
"Mommy…"
"Enough, Yasmin." Maya held up her hand and silenced her. "Do not mention her in front of your dad. And do not even think of saying a word about her to Declan."
The warning in her eyes frightened Yasmin. She nodded frantically.
While she was spending time with her mother, Declan became increasingly restless after not being able to reach her on the phone. It was the tenth time he had dialed her number and received no response.
"Fuck…" He kicked the sofa, running his fingers through his hair.
He phoned Francis. The call connected in two rings.
"Give me some time," Francis grumbled. "I am trying to track her location."
"What took you so long?" Declan roared. "Find her where she is. I swear I will kill her and her boyfriend."
"Relax, boss. She is probably with her friends."
"Humph…" Declan snorted, his face dark. He firmly believed that she was with Caleb. "All women are the same… cheaters. They do not know anything but cheating. I will kill her. Before that, I will let her see her family die."
He disconnected the call and tossed the phone on the sofa.
"Juice, Sir…" Harry put a glass of kiwi juice on the coffee table, his hands shaking in nervousness.
"You…" Declan pointed his finger at him. "Why didn't you ask her to take a car? Is there a lack of cars in my garage? Hmm?"
"I… she…"
"What I? What she? Hmm?"
"I am sorry." Harry hung his head down.
"Sorry!" Declan scowled at him. The word sounded annoying to him. "Do anything and say sorry. Then it is over. Isn't it?"
"No…" Harry shook his head.
Declan was so mad that he wished he could smash something on his head.
"Out…"
Harry pivoted and dashed away.
Declan sagged on the sofa. "Oh, man." He sighed, holding his head. His gaze was drawn to the phone beside him. "No… I am not calling her." He averted his gaze. "I should wait for Francis' call."
However, he could not stop his eyes from going to the phone. He soon looked away, but his desire to call her intensified. He eventually picked up the phone and called her once again.
Buzz-Buzz-Buzz…
Brandon entered the house and heard the phone buzz. When he looked down at the phone, he saw Declan's name on the screen. He shifted his gaze to the kitchen, his face becoming gloomy.
"Yasmin, your phone is ringing," he yelled. "Stop gossiping for a while and check your phone."
Yasmin flinched at her father's loud voice. She hurried to the hall.
Brandon shot her a dissatisfied look as he proceeded to his room.
Yasmin reached out to pick up the phone, but it stopped ringing. She sighed as she took the phone. When she noticed 11 missed calls from Declan, she felt a shudder in her spine.
"Oh, gosh… He must be mad at me." She quickly called back to him.
Declan dropped the phone, annoyed. "Fuck, this woman." He leaned back on the sofa, his hand pressing against his brow.
Buzz-Buzz-Buzz…
The buzzing of the phone drew his attention. He instantly sat up straight, assuming Francis had called. But he was taken aback when he saw Yasmin's name. He felt a wave of relief wash over him.
"Hello." He sprang to his feet and went out of the house. "Where are you?"
"I came to see my parents." Her response came almost immediately. "I will be back soon."
Declan's restless heart calmed down when he heard it. The rage began to dissipate. "I am coming," he said.
"There is no need."
"I am coming to pick you up, okay?"
"…"
"Hello…" Declan yelled, his eyebrows twisting. There was a deafening silence on the other end of the phone.
"What the hell?" He yelled and looked down at the phone. The call had already cut off. His nostrils flared as his temper spiked. "This woman is getting on my nerves. How dare she hang up on me?"
The phone vibrated again, startling him. It was Francis this time.
"Hello." He snapped as he got into the car.
"Relax. She is in her parents' house."
"I know."
"You know it already!" Francis exclaimed. "Why didn't you call me then?"
"I am driving." He started the engine and drove off. "I will call you later." He ended the call without waiting for his response and tossed the phone into the passenger seat.
"Oh, no," Yasmin groaned. "Is it necessary for the battery to die now?" She sulked and sat on the sofa dejectedly. "Why was he calling me so many times?" Her face turned pensive. "Is everything okay? Wait a minute. What is the time?"
She moved her gaze to the wall clock to her right. It was seven in the afternoon. "How come he is free so early?" She squinted at the clock, checking if it was giving the right time.
"Why are you talking to yourself?" Maya asked, approaching her. "Who was calling you?"
"Declan."
"Okay." Maya sat beside her. "Have you told him you are staying over for dinner?"
"I didn't get the time. The battery is dead." Yasmin threw the phone aside. "By the way, he is on his way here."
"He is coming!" Maya exclaimed, her jaw falling apart. "Oh… I…" She leaped to her feet. "Then I have to prepare something rich. Can you tell me what he likes to eat?"
"Tsk…" Yasmin shrugged and leaned back on the sofa, crossing her arms over her chest.
"What? Forget it." Maya waved her hands. "I will go prepare something nice." She turned to go to the kitchen.
"Relax, Mommy. Don't be paranoid. He won't eat here."
"Why? How do you know?" Maya looked back at her, frowning.
"He is a man with very unique taste. It is useless to cook anything for him, especially when you don't know what he likes to eat."
"You, you…" Maya couldn't come up with anything to say. "Young lady, you better get to know your husband." She turned around and went back to the kitchen.
"Huh…" Yasmin dropped her head to the back of the sofa. "I will grow old to get to know him."