Her phone rang again, snapping her out of her thoughts. She picked it up, a smile still plastered on her face.
"Yo, Josh!" she called out happily, expecting Joshua's warm and familiar voice on the other end.
But instead, she heard him take a sharp breath, his tone suddenly formal.
"Y...yes, yes... This place is quite lonely," he stuttered, his words laced with a hint of nervousness. "I'm in front of a big wide golden gate."
Joshua was here.
"Yeah, that's it. Hold on, I'm coming to meet you there," she said, her excitement bubbling over, her words tumbling out in a rush.
She didn't know why Joey had sent Joshua, but she was really happy to see a familiar face after all.
Eileen made her way through the sprawling mansion.
She reached out to grasp the cold metal handle of the door and then pulled it open, and a warm ray of sunlight spilled in, illuminating a path she hoped was to freedom.
She walked briskly along the winding driveway.
As she approached the main gate, she spotted him, his tall figure standing out against the backdrop of the mansion's grandeur.
"Hey, Joshua!" she called out, waving her hand energetically as she quickened her pace.
Joshua turned, a look of relief washing over his face as he spotted her, his eyes locking onto hers with a deep sense of concern.
"Ei…Eileen! Thank God," he replied, his voice filled with genuine worry, his words laced with a sense of urgency.
Eileen reached the gate, her breath coming in quick, excited bursts, her heart racing with anticipation.
"I'm so glad to see you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, her eyes scanning the surrounding area nervously. "Let's get out of here. Where's the car?"
Joshua shook his head, looking slightly embarrassed, his eyes apologetic. "I...I didn't bring a car. Joey didn't say anything about a car."
He then held out a plain manila file, looking unsure, his brow furrowed in concern. "But she did tell me to give you this. It's got some sort of information you need, she said."
Eileen's brow furrowed as she took the file from him, her fingers wrapping around it like a lifeline.
"What's in here?" she asked, her voice laced with a mix of curiosity and trepidation.
Joshua shrugged, his expression mirroring her confusion, his eyes squinting slightly in the bright sunlight.
"I have no idea," he admitted, his tone apologetic. "Joey said it was important and that you'd know what to do with it."
Eileen's gaze lingered on the file, her mind racing with possibilities. Secrets, answers, or maybe even a way out?
She looked back at Joshua, her eyes locking onto his. "Alright, no problem about that. I can figure it out later," she said, her voice firm.
After passing the document, Joshua began to fidget nervously, his eyes darting around like a trapped animal, avoiding direct eye contact.
Eileen noticed his discomfort and asked, "What's wrong, Joshua?"
He hesitated for a moment, his eyes fixed on the ground, before looking at her from head to toe, his face turning a deep shade of red.
"You're in a big house, in a secluded area, and you..." His voice trailed off, the unspoken words hanging in the air.
Eileen's eyes followed Joshua's gaze, and she felt a sudden jolt of embarrassment as she realized she was still wearing the bathrobe, her naked body almost visible underneath.
"Shit!" she exclaimed, her face flushing with mortification. "It's not what you think... Haha... I..." She tried to laugh it off, but her voice trembled with embarrassment.
Before she could explain further, the sound of a car approaching made her heart skip a beat.
She turned to see a sleek Maybach pulling up to the gate, its tinted windows reflecting the sunlight like a mirror. Her heart sank, her mind racing with panic.
"Oh no, shit!" she whispered urgently, her eyes fixed on the car. "That's Mr. Frosty."
Joshua's brows furrowed in confusion, his eyes squinting slightly as he tried to process the sudden shift in Eileen's demeanor.
"Who's Mr. Frosty?" he asked, his voice laced with a mix of curiosity and concern.
"My captor. The one who's been holding me prisoner in this house."
Really now? Your captor?
—----
"Levy, change of plans. Turn the car around and head back to the mansion," Cillian barked abruptly, his voice firm and commanding. "I left the TSIA file behind."
Levy, his trusted driver and secretary, responded promptly, his eyes flicking to the rearview mirror before executing a smooth U-turn.
"Yes, sir," he replied, his tone crisp and efficient.
The Maybach's tires hummed against the pavement as it reversed direction, heading back towards the mansion.
"And please drive slowly," Cillian added, his voice laced with a hint of urgency, his eyes fixed on the mansion in the distance. "Safety first."
Levy nodded, his eyes flicking to the rearview mirror before easing the car into a slower pace, the Maybach's engine purring smoothly as it glided towards the mansion.
Cillian leaned back in his seat, his mind racing with thoughts about the upcoming meeting and the importance of the file he had forgotten.
His brow furrowed in concentration, his eyes narrowing as he mentally rehearsed the presentation.
Without warning, the car's speakers blared to life, a news anchor's voice enthusiastically promoting a limited-time sale on the coveted V-sexy Coachella dress.
Cillian's eyes flicked away from the road, his attention drawn to the radio console. "Levy, turn it off," he commanded gruffly, his tone devoid of inflection.
Levy complied promptly, silencing the anchor's cheerful prattle.
As the music ceased, the Maybach's engine seemed to grow louder, its acceleration pressing Cillian back into his seat. The vehicle hurtled towards the mansion, devouring the remaining distance with urgency.