Daniel's POV
Daniel leaned back in his plush office chair, a smug smile spreading across his face as his assistants handed over the dossier on Fiona. It was complete, down to the most mundane details about her daily routine, her favorite places, and her closest friends. Yet, the information wasn't enough to satiate Daniel's curiosity.
"Listen," Daniel said, his tone businesslike yet commanding, "I have another task for you. I want to know if she has a boyfriend. Who she spends her time with. I need every detail—her routine, her interactions. Everything."
One of the assistants, uneasy with the extent of the assignment, hesitated. "But, sir…"
Daniel's expression hardened. "I don't want to hear excuses," he said icily. "Complete this job, and you'll find a generous raise in your paycheck."
The assistant's hesitation melted away, replaced by the allure of a higher salary. "Alright, sir," they agreed.
Daniel's grin widened as his assistants left the room. He was certain they'd do as they were told—money had a way of erasing doubts.
---
The following day, Daniel's assistants staked out Fiona's college. They talked briefly to the watchman under the pretense of a casual inquiry and noted the times when classes started and ended. An hour later, students began trickling out of the building, and there she was—Fiona—leaving the gates with a bright smile, arm-in-arm with another girl. The assistants followed discreetly, watching as Fiona and her friend walked away.
---
Fiona's friend, Maya, was unusually observant. As the two strolled down the street, chatting and laughing, Maya's attention was drawn to a pair of men trailing behind them. She slowed down, glancing back.
"Fiona," Maya said cautiously, "Did you notice those two guys back there?"
"What guys?" Fiona asked, oblivious as she continued talking about her day.
Maya subtly nodded in the direction of the men. "Those two. I think they've been behind us since we left the college."
Fiona looked over her shoulder. "Oh, them? Maybe they're just walking in the same direction."
"They were standing near the college gates too," Maya insisted. "It's strange."
Fiona shrugged, unfazed. "Don't be paranoid, Maya. It's probably just a coincidence."
But Maya's instincts told her otherwise. "There's no harm in being careful," she said sharply. "Look, there's an ice cream shop. Let's stop there for a moment."
Fiona, still unconcerned, agreed, and they made their way to the shop. Maya kept an eye on the men, who had stopped a short distance away, loitering and glancing in their direction. Her suspicions solidified, though Fiona continued to dismiss them.
---
The Bus Ride
After finishing their ice cream, Maya suggested they take the bus home. They boarded and sat near the back, Maya deliberately choosing a seat with a good view of the door. Just as she feared, the two men got on the bus a few moments later. They took seats halfway down the aisle, trying too hard to appear casual.
"Maya, you were right," Fiona whispered, finally catching on. "They did get on the bus."
"I knew it," Maya replied. "We'll get off at the next stop. If they follow us, I'll make sure they regret it."
Fiona nodded nervously, now realizing this was more than just a figment of Maya's imagination.
When the bus pulled into the next stop, Maya and Fiona stepped off quickly. The two men hesitated but then followed, getting off just a little further ahead. Maya's eyes narrowed as she saw them pause, pretending to check their phones.
"See?" Maya said, a triumphant yet worried edge to her voice. "They're definitely following us. Let's go home, but be careful."
---
Fiona's house was closer, and the route required them to walk down a quieter street lined with trees. Maya kept glancing back, confirming that the men were still shadowing them, though they kept their distance. Enough was enough. Maya stopped abruptly, tugging Fiona's arm. The two men hesitated and halted as well, their behavior too deliberate to be a coincidence.
"Where are you going?" Fiona asked, alarmed.
"I'm ending this now," Maya said, determination radiating from her.
"Wait, what are you doing—?"
Ignoring Fiona's protest, Maya stormed towards the two men. They stiffened, looking caught off guard.
"Excuse me!" Maya called out, her voice sharp.
One of the men, Adam, blinked in surprise. "Yes?" he replied with forced politeness.
"I've noticed you following us since we left college," Maya said bluntly. "What's your problem?"
Adam's face twisted in a mixture of panic and indignation. "We're not following you," he lied. "We just happen to be going this way."
"Don't play dumb," Maya shot back. "You were at the ice cream shop, on the bus, and now here. You're following us."
Adam tried to deflect. "You're imagining things. We have our own business."
Maya's eyes narrowed. "Oh, really? Then what kind of 'business' is that?"
When Adam hesitated, Maya's patience snapped. She drew in a deep breath and suddenly shouted at the top of her lungs, "HELP! HELP! These men are trying to kidnap us!"
Pandemonium ensued. Pedestrians nearby turned in shock, their expressions morphing from confusion to outrage as they rushed to Maya's aid. The men, caught off guard by the commotion, raised their hands defensively, attempting to calm the growing mob.
"No, you've got it all wrong—" Adam began, but Maya's desperate pleas for help drowned him out.
Taking advantage of the chaos, Maya grabbed Fiona's hand and sprinted down the street. They ran as fast as they could, leaving behind the sound of yelling voices and the scuffle that had erupted.
---
The Aftermath
Daniel's other assistants, who had been observing the situation from their car, saw the disaster unfolding. They quickly drove up, dragging Adam and the other man into the car before things got even worse. They sped away, just as bystanders began pulling out their phones to call the police.
---
Fiona's POV
Maya and Fiona didn't stop running until they were safely inside Fiona's front gate, both of them laughing breathlessly. Fiona was a mix of exhilaration and shock, her heart pounding from the adrenaline.
"Maya," she gasped, "What did you do? Those guys were getting beaten!"
Maya, grinning widely, shrugged. "They were following us. I called them out, and they couldn't come up with a good explanation, so I let the crowd handle it."
Fiona was half-amused, half-terrified. "That was insane! They didn't even get a chance to explain themselves."
Maya's expression turned serious. "I don't care. We don't know what they wanted, and I'm not taking any chances. Better they get a scare than us getting hurt."
Fiona nodded, her laughter dying down. "Yeah, you're right. They seemed so suspicious."
"Exactly. This way, they'll think twice before targeting anyone else."
"True," Fiona said, smiling at Maya's bravery. "But I have to admit—seeing you go from calm to shouting like that was terrifying. You were amazing."
Maya chuckled. "What can I say? I don't back down when I feel threatened. Alright, I need to head home. You be safe."
"I will," Fiona replied, touched by Maya's protectiveness. "Text me when you get home, okay?"
"I will," Maya promised.
Fiona." Ok bye maya .
Maya." Bye .
---
Back in his office, Daniel seethed with anger as his assistants recounted the chaotic events of the day. What had started as a simple surveillance task had turned into a full-blown disaster. His men had been humiliated, and the information he needed was no closer to his grasp.
"This was supposed to be a straightforward task!" Daniel snapped. "How could you mess this up so badly?"
Adam, nursing a bruised jaw, kept his eyes lowered. "We didn't expect the girl—Maya—to cause such a scene. She was too sharp, too suspicious."
Daniel clenched his fists, his frustration barely contained. "We can't afford any more failures. Keep a low profile, and stay out of sight for now. I need a new plan."
The assistants nodded, knowing better than to argue with Daniel when he was in one of his rages. They left the room, leaving Daniel alone to plot his next move.
Daniel's thoughts whirled with rage and determination. He wouldn't let one minor setback derail his plans. One way or another, he would get the information he needed, and Fiona's secrets would be his.